Myles Jack is no stranger to hard work – so much so that he was set to abandon his NFL career and pursue the trades before signing with the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday. The linebacker had been cut by the Steelers back in March, with no offers from other teams in sight. Rather than lounging around the house, he began looking into enrolling in trade school – plumbing and electricity were of interest to him.
“I like to work,” said Jack. “Blessed to make a lot of money, I could retire and sit at home; but I want to be innovative.” His pre-Apocalyptic mentality saw him considering what sort of accomplishments he’d need to survive in the event of a Zombie apocalypse: “I want to be able to build something,” he reasoned.
Luckily for Jack, that idea was put on pause Saturday when Eagles general manager Howie Roseman made contact while he was at home in Jacksonville. Thus began his journey with Philadelphia – one that has extended beyond the football field and into the realm of preparedness.
Jack, 27, was unsure what to expect when he arrived in Philadelphia for his workout. He only packed two pairs of drawers, two pairs of sweats, two pairs of socks and his bible — not expecting to stay in the city any longer than necessary.
The UCLA product hit the ground running, however, receiving reps with the first-team defense within two days of joining the team. “One week, I’m sitting at home, the next I’m playing for a Super Bowl contender”, Jack said excitedly. To make up for his austere packing arrangements, Jack quickly made a trip to Ross to buy some white t-shirts so he could fit right in. With his new wardrobe sorted, Jack’s ready to go and embrace whatever new challenges come his way.
The Philadelphia Eagles have signed veteran linebacker Avery Jack, adding an experienced presence to their linebacking corps after the injury to starter Nakobe Dean. Jack brings seven years of NFL experience to the defending NFC champions, with his most recent stay with the Pittsburgh Steelers ending after 15 games and 13 starts last season. In 2019, he racked up 104 tackles and three tackles for loss.
Jack has managed to record at least 100 tackles over four seasons throughout his career, and is now primed to embark on a new journey with the team. “Time waits for nobody” said Jack in response to his move to Philly – a sentiment that could not be more reflective of this exciting opportunity.