By Mark Eckel, Player Engagement Insider
Tony Jefferson’s first NFL game didn’t go as he hoped, which was kind of symbolic of the Arizona Cardinals’ safety’s first impression of life in the NFL.
Then, it just kept getting better.
The Cardinals lost Jefferson’s first NFL game to the then St. Louis Rams, 27-24, on a last-second, 48-yard field goal by Greg Zuerlein on opening day of 2013.
They would finish that season, 10-6, just missing the playoffs on a tie-breaker after going 18-30 the previous three years.
And that too relates to Jefferson’s story.
Undrafted out of Oklahoma in 2013, Jefferson signed as a free agent with the Cardinals.
“It was rough, going through that whole process,’’ he said. “I left school early as a junior, because I had a high draft grade coming out. So I took my chances and it didn’t work out.’’
Although it actually did.
One of the more sought-after rookie free agents, Jefferson chose his team, instead of the other way around. He picked Arizona and has yet to miss a game in his three-year career.
“Once it gets to the sixth, seventh rounds, you kind of want to go undrafted,’’ Jefferson said. “You can pick where you want to go for the best situation. You have an opportunity to look at rosters. I had a lot of opportunities. I could have gone almost anywhere. I was lucky enough, blessed enough, to join the Cardinals.’’
Still that first year, that first training camp is difficult. Jefferson parlayed his resentment of not being drafted with the Cardinals’ need for help in the secondary to make an early impression.
“I was mostly upset,’’ he said “I had a chip on my shoulder. I didn’t fear anything, or any of that. I had a bunch of confidence in what I could do. I just had to show everyone I belonged.’’
That didn’t take long. He had a two-interception game against the Dallas Cowboys in the preseason and made his mark with his play on special teams as well. It was obvious to those who watched the Cardinals that the rookie was going to make the team, but remember Jefferson was told he was going to get drafted, too.
As cut-down day drew near, the natural anxiety arose.
“I was very nervous,’’ Jefferson admitted. “I had a very good preseason. I was productive. I had that game with two interceptions, so I put some good film out there. I was confident that if I didn’t make the team somebody else would pick me up. But I wanted to make the team.
“And I do remember final cuts and coming in that day. I knew it was between me and another safety. When I went in the locker room I saw his name plate was down. When I saw that, I knew I made it. I actually went in the bathroom and cried a little bit. Nobody knows that.’’
Once the team was made preparation for the season and opening day began. And for the undrafted rookie there were again some anxious moments.
“I was playing mostly special teams at the time,’’ Jefferson said. “I played a lot in that preseason, but you felt the difference as the regular season got nearer and then that first game. You just sensed everything was different. It was a surreal feeling for sure, that you’re really in the NFL. I mean as a kid growing up, you’ve watched a lot of NFL games, but it’s very different actually being in one.’’
In his three seasons with the Cardinals, Jefferson has played in all 48 regular season games, his teams have gone 34-14 and made the playoffs the past two years.
With his and his team’s success, Jefferson still thinks back to that rookie year, and his Draft day snub.
“It keeps me going every day,’’ he said. “You look at the people who were drafted at my position and a lot of them haven’t panned out at all.’’