Nate Boyer - American Hero - Now a Seahawk

[WizardHawk]

No, his name isn't something most would recognize. And his pickup by the Seahawks as an undrafted free agent is mostly a footnote story on a couple of wire services with just a short blurb about this 34 y/o long snapper.

His story is worth a read. No, really.

The unlikely story of a long-snapping Green Beret with an NFL dream - Yahoo Sports

Synopsis: Didn't know what he wanted to do out of high school. Saw the horror of what was happening in Darfur and wanted to help. Couldn't find anyone that would send him there so he flew there on his own and found a christian organization that put him to work. After going into hostile regions and doing his part he decided to come back state side and join the military to help. He didn't go in just to pick up a rifle, no, he went with the intention of joining the special forces where he could make a bigger impact. And he did.

As his service was winding down he decided to go to college. Never played football in high school but that didn't stop him from wanting to walk on to a top tier program and giving it a try. Well, he chose the university of Texas. After his red shirt year the long snapper left the team and he told coach he wanted that job. It would have been a special enough story to just say he eventually earned it, but no, this American hero was in the reserves and was still going out in theater for 3 1/2 months of his summer break from his college classes. So he wasn't able to even work on learning that position over the summer. He actually taught himself to long snap while deployed in Greece over that summer and was named the starter after he returned.

Read that above article. This guys story is fucking amazing. And now at 34 his dream of becoming an NFL player is within his reach. UDFA's rarely make teams. This is one guy no one is going to count out at this point.


Nate, no matter whether or not you make it to opening day on the roster as a Seahawk, I salute your service and dedication to your country.

BTW, see the article below for his reaction when he found out he was just picked up by the Seahawks.

Former Green Beret Nate Boyer joining Seahawks - NFL.com

 

[Southieinnc]

Great story. Thank you!

 

[WizardHawk]

After one game I believe during his first season as a starter a navy admiral came to visit him after the game. Not just any navy admiral mind you, the one that organized the operation to take out bin laden. He asked Boyer if there was anything he could do and what was his reply? He wanted to go to Afghanistan for his next summer deployment.

Who the hell walks onto a major program like Texas having never played and makes it as a starter? Who goes to college full time and is a starter on a major college football team and goes to serious war theater as a special forces op over every summer while doing it?

Oh, and he has a bronze star.

 

[JMR]

Good to see a teammate join my fave NFL team.