How to get into pro,semi-pro football

[Titan]

I'm wondering, is it possible for people who never played football in high school or college to go down an lifepath which could possibly lead to a job in the NFL? Assuming the person is still young enough (mid-early twenties) and in very good athletic shape, has been an athlete in another sport, and they already attended college. Naturally this person wouldn't start out as a starter, they'd have to prove themselves. How would this be done, go back to school? can grad students play on the football team in most D1 schools? Howabout starting in amatuer and arena leagues and working maybe up to NFL europe (isn't this how some players made their way?). I'm just curious if anyone knows the details of the careers not started by drafted players.

 

[etalns]

If you were still in your early teens, yes. Ed Jovanoski (a Vancouver Canucks player [NHL]) started skating when he was 13 and was playing in the NHL once he was 18. But not once you're in your twenties.

 

[Mr N8]

Most Semi-Pro teams have walk-on tryouts before every season. I've got a couple of friends who play for the Racine Raiders who got in as walk-ons.

 

[Whisper]

Originally posted by: MogulMonster
Most Semi-Pro teams have walk-on tryouts before every season. I've got a couple of friends who play for the Racine Raiders who got in as walk-ons.

Yeup. With football especially, I'd imagine that early-mid twenties would not be seen as too old. Hell, I'm guessing that most pro football teams would actually see anything much younger than that as too young.

 

[scorp00]

Some 5th year seniors are grad students, so you can play in grad school. Also, I think a lot of pro teams have open tryouts.

 

[GasX]

You would have to be an absolute monster athletically to make the NFL. You basically do anyway, but to have never played before, you would have to be some sort of Jonah Lomuesque freak of nature.

exception: assuming you have the skills you could make it as a punter or kicker...