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Matt Lombardo is away on vacation, and he reached out to several current and former NFL Players, Reporters, and Analysts to tell their stories and lend their insights in guest columns while he’s away. Today, New England Patriots Defensive Tackle Jeremiah Pharms shares his football journey, including what the experience is like to be on the practice squad of a Super Bowl team …
My Name is Jeremiah Pharms Jr.
I am a child of God, A father to Jaylah, Jayda, Jaylynn, Jaylani, A husband to my beautiful wife Baylee, and an active player for the New England Patriots.
During my NFL journey, it has been a challenge balancing my family and my dreams. I missed a lot of time with my kids and my family chasing my dreams, but I also created a lot of first-time experiences because I chased my dreams.
I realized that to have a better future, you first must let go of the past.
First Down: My Phamily is My Why …
So I sacrifice my time and what I am used to.
I am creating a better future for my kids, like my mom created for me.
Growing up, I learned what sacrifice was early on, by watching my mom sacrifice her time and sleep for her kids to have the love and support we needed growing up.
So, throughout my life, I do the same thing with my family.
My wife makes it easier to chase my dreams.
She is a stay-at-home mom and always supports me on my journey.
My Phamily is my why … my 4 daughters, my wife, brothers and sisters, and my mom.
I am creating something for them that we have never seen before. My phamily has been my biggest supporters.
They helped with my kids when I had them young, and told me, ‘Don’t worry about the finances, just focus on school and football.’
I am blessed to have that.
It is a true village I am a part of.
My wife would do the same thing when I met her, she raised two kids like they were hers early in the relationship—telling me how she sees the vision.
My whole family saw the vision. Even when the rest of the world didn’t.
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Second Down: Five Years of Ups and Downs
Going into Year 5 of my NFL career, I have had a lot of ups and downs.
During my rookie year, I spent the whole season on the practice squad.
I spent that year learning and figuring out what the NFL was, and what it takes to succeed.
I learned that there are opportunities you just have to maximize them.
Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images
In Year 2, I didn’t make the team again, but by week 3, I found myself playing in 13 games that season, and it felt good going into the offseason with games under my belt.
That offseason, I trained to play because I knew what the feeling was like.
By Year 3, I made the team and only missed one game that year. I started in seven games and earned myself a contract extension.
Third Down: God Has a Way of Humbling You
As soon as I relaxed, GOD found a way to humble me …
My fifth year saw a new coaching staff, and basically, a new team arrived in Foxboro.
I knew it would be a challenge to make the team, but I still found a way to make the roster.
I knew in the back of my mind that something was wrong.
I was right.
The day before the game, entering Week 1, I was released and put on the practice squad.
The season did not go the way I wanted it to personally, but the team goal was to go to the Super Bowl, and that was a great experience.
Although I wasn’t playing, I was excited to experience that moment with the team.
Fourth Down: Sharpening the Sword
Eric Canha-Imagn Images
The feeling Year 4 gave me was both good and bad.
I was so mad at first, that I didn’t understand why the season was going the way it was. When I looked deeper within myself, I realized I am in control of my own journey.
After Week 4, I put my head down and worked, grinded, and sharpened my sword.
My life has been comparable to the process of making a sword.
I have been beaten, burned, dipped in water, and the process has been repeated. But, I’ve never complained.
This offseason, all I have been doing is grinding and being a father.
No breaks. No vacations.
Everything is going into this season.
My trainer and brother, James Tabor, and I have been crafting, and we know what to train for, so we switched up a few workouts in recent months.
I am taking ownership of what is mine. I will maximize what God has for me.
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