Green Beret Signs With Seattle Seahawks
I’m sure many of you were watching the NFL Draft the other night. You cheered with joy when your team picked up a good player, felt pride when a player from your school was drafted by a good team, and made bold predictions of how each team would fair in the coming season. In all, it was an exciting night. The excitement didn’t end that night, though. In fact, what is arguably the coolest recent development in terms of NFL news happened after the draft had already ended.
Nate Boyer, a long snapper for the University of Texas was offered a contract with the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent. Interestingly, Boyer never played on an organized football team until he started playing for the Longhorns. Even more interesting, though, is that Boyer, soon to turn 34, is an Army Special Forces Soldier — a Green Beret.
Boyer has served in Special Forces units both on active duty and in the Army National Guard. He’s deployed multiple times to different war zones. In fact, while playing for UT, he deployed twice to Afghanistan during the summers, making it back home in time to play. This, as you’d expect, led to some difficulties.
From NFL.com:
“I played at 190 pounds mostly because in the summer time I was deployed, you know,” said Boyer, who now weighs 220 pounds. “So I had to stay at a fighting weight for special forces, it’s just a different job, they’re totally different worlds. So I had to be true to that. Putting weight was a challenge and it’s still a challenge.”
You’ve got to respect the man’s dedication. As soon as he gets back from Afghanistan, he starts getting ready for football. Damn.
As you’d imagine, Boyer is pretty pumped to be living his dream of playing professional football.
From NFL.com:
“Yeah, I’ve done things that are more difficult,” Boyer told NFL Network’s NFL Total Access on Saturday. “You can’t really compare the two in a lot of ways, but this is a huge challenge in itself. This is the best athletes in the world. Just to get an opportunity and be able to compete… And I’m playing for a great team in a great city. I couldn’t be anymore thrilled. Just for the chance that’s all you can ask for.”
I’m no Seahawks fan, but I think I just became a huge Nate Boyer fan..
[via NFL.com]
Image via Youtube
Much respect to this man. A true life Maximus: this man will succeed at whatever he sets his mind to.
11 years ago at 9:42 amAmerica
11 years ago at 9:44 amThat last part at the end was what got me, when he talked about carrying the flag out onto the field. Thank you for your service.
11 years ago at 9:45 amI’d imagine you could put a Green Beret anywhere on the field and he will excel. Tip of the hat to Nate Boyer.
11 years ago at 9:47 amBeing able to legitimately say you’ve done something more difficult than play NFL football TGreenBeretM
11 years ago at 9:48 amMy Uncle Alexander got an almost new gold Volkswagen by working part time from a macbook… visit here… http://goo.gl/GuGUuE
11 years ago at 6:10 amHype
11 years ago at 1:15 pmPlease die already
11 years ago at 1:09 amWhat penalty gets called for snapping a defensive linemans neck?
11 years ago at 4:09 pmSeaHawks are a buncha apes. Hopefully this white dude can make them less chimpish
11 years ago at 8:51 pmI might be confused but how is he able to play in college if he’s 34?
11 years ago at 9:27 pm10th Special forces group to the Seattle Seahawks. Fuck yeah
11 years ago at 8:38 am