Being a successful professional athlete is an attainment worthy of praise in every respect. The level of commitment and hard work required for this task is enough to turn even the bravest of people away. Here is a round-up of Jewish boys who have managed to attain outstanding achievements in the NFL.
Saints and sentinels
During the 2014 NFL season, there were nine self-identified Jewish players. One of them is Erik Lorig, a fullback who's played for the New Orleans Saints since 2014. He was born in Rolling hills, California, and is of Jewish and Scandinavian descent. He won several awards and accolades in high school before he was drafted in 2010. The number of passes he manages to catch make him an invaluable player for the Saints.
Some athletes impress both on and outside of the field. Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson, who made $28 million in his career, spends 12 hours a day on his farm when he's not playing. Jordy's parents are farmers who had the season tickets to Kansas State football games, and that seems to have sealed his fate. His lifestyle is a true inspiration for many fans, even those who are not into sports. But, if you are a keen follower of football rumors, you already know that he might be sidelined for some time because of the torn ACL.
Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?
Another notable Jewish player is Taylor Mays, who didn’t have doubts about his life path, since he began playing football at an early age. He is a safety who signed with the Oakland Riders this season, after a career with the Cincinnati Bengals. He was raised as a practicing Jew, and even had a football-themed Bar Mitzvah in 2001. Parker Mays, his brother, is preparing to follow in his footsteps, as he is a freshman at San Diego University.
Geoff and Mitchell Schwartz are brothers who are both offensive tackles. These benevolent giants were too big and heavy for size and weight restrictions when they were younger, but that didn’t stop them from fulfilling their dreams. Despite their wishes, however, they are playing for different teams leaving them no chance to show the power of brotherly love. They are not the first Jewish brothers to play in the NFL, as that honor goes to Ralph and Arnold Horween.
Gabe Carimi is a guard and a tackle who played for the Atlanta Falcons last season. Both his parents are Jewish, and raised Gabe to be a practicing Jew, not only an accomplished athlete. But, that doesn’t always come easy. In 2007, the Yom Kippur fell on Saturday, and he feasted just before the Conference opening match. He still managed to show up and put up a good performance. His ability to face challenges head-on earned him multiple awards, including the top collegiate interior lineman in 2010.
Big Boys
Professional football players might be earning good money, but they have a lot on their plate. With their passion, determination and superb skills, they are under tremendous pressure to take up the challenge on every game. And when eyes of so many people are on them, throwing in the towel is not an option. These boys represent the best of the sports world, but they also haven’t forgotten that there are some important aspects of life beyond the sports arenas.
