10 Things About FilAm NFL Kicker Jason Myers
On any given Sunday or Monday in the Fall, many of you might be rearranging your Fantasy Football roster, glued to the television, and plopped down on the sofa indulging in Sunday and Monday Night Football! As you’ve noticed, the number of Filipino Americans in the National Football League (NFL) is a very short list. In addition to the guys we featured in our last blog, Jason Myers is another Filipino American football player firing it up in the league.
Jason Myers just entered his ninth season with the NFL. The place kicker is in his fifth season with the Seattle Seahawks. For the first time, the two time Pro Bowler was named captain this year! He was also named First Team All-Pro by the NFL Players' Association.
Here are 10 facts about the Seattle Seahawks kicker that you should know as you settle in for the season.
1. He’s got Filipino roots.
Myers’ great grandfather is from the Philippines, and made his way to the United States via Pensacola, Florida as a US Navy Seal. Unfortunately, Myers was unable to meet his great grandfather since he passed away before he was born.
2. He’s proud to be Filipino!
Myers takes pride in being one of the few Filipino American NFL players. Earlier this summer, ABS-CBN reporter, Steve Angeles, had the opportunity to interview Myers during his inaugural specialist performance camp. Myers shared: “I wish I would take more opportunity to dig into my Filipino roots, but I am proud to say I am Filipino. It’s made me who I am. It's a tiny little group when you get to pro sports. There are some names that don’t sound Filipino, but once you find out, it’s always met with a smile and a hug.”
3. He grew up in Chula Vista, California.
He was born and raised in Chula Vista, a suburb of San Diego, California. He attended and graduated from Mater Dei High School where he played football. In his junior year, he was named the “South Bay Kicker of the Year”. During his senior year, he was named “Mesa Kicker of the Year” and “First Team Offense”.
4. He loves soccer!
In an interview with Seattle Sports, Myers shared that he grew up playing soccer, which he still loves. It wasn’t until he got to high school that he discovered football. He intended to run cross-country to stay in shape during the fall. However, two days before the freshman game, his buddy, Matt Martinez, the kicker and running back, broke his leg. Both Myers and Martinez played little league baseball together, and if it weren’t for this incident, Myers would have never been introduced to football. That’s when Myers decided to give football a shot, and from there he fell in love. Eventually, he moved up to varsity even though he was still undersized.
5. He took the road less traveled.
Myers played football from 2009-2012 at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York. During his time in college, he was the Red Foxes’ all-time leading scorer among place kickers. Marist isn’t exactly a feeder school on the radar for NFL scouts. Unfortunately, Myers left college with no offers. After graduating in 2013, he returned home to San Diego, and got a job working valet at night while continuing to work out so that he stayed ready for any opportunity that would arise. In his interview with Steve Angeles, Myers shared that he took the road less traveled – “It took me a while to get in. I took the hard road to get in. I had some ups and downs but I just kept grinding away and working hard day in and day out.”
6. He got his big break with the Arena Football League.
In 2014, Myers ended up kicking in the Arena Football League. He spent time with the San Jose SaberCats and was signed by the Arizona Rattlers during the 2015 off-season. Around the same time, Myers began working with Michael Husted, who kicked in the NFL from 1993-2002. A year later, Myers was invited to workout at the Senior Bowl thanks to the connections he made through Husted.
In March 2015, Myers eventually made his way into the NFL when he was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars as a free agent. Myers became the newest place kicker after Josh Scobee was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
7. He made it to the NFL, but he’s been fighting ever since.
Once you’ve made it to the NFL, you’ve got to try out to keep your job each season! Even though Myers led the league with the most field goal attempts above 50 yards in 2016, that wasn’t enough to keep his spot. At this level, you’re only as good as what you’ve done lately. After missing three long field goals including two 54-yard attempts against the Los Angeles Rams, Myers was released by the Jaguars mid-season in 2017.
It’s not ideal to enter a contract year after having one of the worst seasons in the NFL. In January 2018, Myers signed his first contract with the Seattle Seahawks. Unfortunately, he was released that summer. Despite losing the starting kicker job to Sebastian Janikowski, Myers bounced back even stronger!
In free agency, Myers became the starting kicker when he was claimed off waivers by the New York Jets in 2018. In October 2018, Myers broke the Jets’ franchise record for field goals against the Indianapolis Colts. His determination and outstanding performance earned him accolades and recognition, including being named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week and becoming the only kicker in Jets’ history to make the AFC Pro Bowl.
In 2019, Myers signed a four-year deal worth more than $15.45 million with the Seahawks as a free agent. And since then, he’s been kicking it in Seattle.
8. He is the 2nd highest-paid kicker in the NFL.
Earlier this year, Myers signed a second four-year contract extension for $21.1 million with the Seattle Seahawks. On top of that, Myers has the opportunity to earn up to $22.6 million in incentives. This makes him the 2nd highest-paid kicker in the league, behind Matt Gay of the Colts.
9. He continues to work on his craft.
Myers is at the top of the list in his position, playing at the highest level. He is very aware of the pressure and determination that it takes to perform and succeed in the NFL. It’s not something that he takes for granted. Like many professionals, he works with a trusted team that helps him grow as a kicker. Even outside of his sport, Myers works with someone on his golf swing. Week to week, he’s always looking at film, studying, and figuring out what to fix and what feels right. Let’s not forget about mindset! Since his rookie year up until now, Myers has worked with a sports psychologist.
10. He’s a family man.
Whether he’s on or off-season, he’s putting in work, but he also makes it a priority to spend quality time with his wife, Katie, and two daughters, Kenzie and Hailey. Somewhere in between, he manages to squeeze in giving back to his community. This past summer, Myers hosted his first free youth specialist performance camp at his alma mater, Mater Dei Catholic High School. He invited youth and high school students to come get coached up, compete, and have fun with him and his fellow friends and colleagues in San Diego.
San Diego will always be home and will always have a special place in his heart. You can catch him in SoCal during the off-season. For now, while he’s in season, you can find Myers kicking it in Seattle.
Written by Jennifer Redondo
Co-Founder and Co-Author of In Her Purpose
Filipino names are truly some of the most diverse names you’ll ever come across. Our last names alone can have Spanish influence, Chinese influence, and in some cases American influences due to the involvement of the U.S. during World War II.
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