Everybody who follows the NFL knows the stars of the game.
These athletes are highly popularized and easily recognizable from the amount of press they receive and through the mass following that the league receives. Fans can even interact with these players on a personal type of level through things such as fantasy football or playing the popular video game Madden.
However, through this mass media exposure and virtual games, it allows fans to view these players as pieces in a game and not value them as actual human beings that go through life just as you or I might with feelings, family, friends, and problems of their own.
Something that usually goes under-appreciated or unnoticed is the lives of these NFL player’s families and what it is like to have a son that is a major star in the number one sport in the United States.
I was recently able to talk to the family of former Wisconsin Badger linebacker TJ Edwards, who just finished his 4th NFL season with the Super Bowl runner up Philadelphia Eagles and recently signed a 3-year contract to play with the Chicago Bears.
TJ is from Lake Villa, Illinois where he grew up with his parents, Vince and Cathy, and his sister, Mia. Both of the Edwards children were active from a young age, playing as many sports as they possibly could.
Cathy mentioned the chaos of having two highly active children, stating, “They loved playing sports and some weekends we went from soccer to basketball and then softball or baseball.”
Through all of these sports, both TJ and Mia gained the work ethic needed to succeed and developed a high level of competitiveness.
“We were incredibly competitive with one another from HORSE games after school, to flag football at the park. Even playing catch on our street, was a hard-fought battle, on who had better form,” stated Mia, who played basketball at Edgewood College here in Madison before a career ending injury, when talking about her childhood relationship with her brother, “Our lives revolved around sports, so playing any sort of physical activity interested us”.
Eventually, this competitiveness paid off for TJ as he started to gain recognition from college coaches during his high school career.
TJ committed to Western Michigan University in June of 2014 before eventually flipping his commitment to Wisconsin 6 months later.
“Honestly, we thought it was crazy that TJ’s high school football coach came to the house to discuss the offer from Wisconsin. Our response was that he had already committed and we believe in holding firm in commitments. It was only after learning more about the process itself that we realized some kids change their minds and that was okay. There really was no decision after that – – we all knew it was the much better choice and he was so proud and excited, especially after we went on his official visit”, said Cathy when talking about TJ’s recruitment process.
TJ’s de-commitment from Western Michigan proved to be a stroke of genius for the Wisconsin recruitment staff, as it directly paid off in the form of a game-altering interception from TJ against the Broncos in the 2016 Cotton Bowl victory for the Badgers.
However, TJ’s commitment to Wisconsin had an impact outside of his own football career as well.
When it was time for Mia to make her decision about where she wanted to play her collegiate basketball, TJ’s decision to play for the Badgers made an indirect impact, “I picked Edgewood because it was the best place for me in terms of location and environment. But because of TJ I was able to experience Madison every weekend which I think made it more comfortable for me because I knew the area and was able to see how energetic the campus life was.”
As an outsider, I always imagined it would be surreal to watch someone I was really close to playing at one of the highest levels on national television for the first time.
However, when I asked Cathy about this, she said it was nothing she hadn’t seen before and come to expect from TJ.
“We’ve been watching TJ compete at high levels ever since he was young,” she said. “We know he gave and continues to give his all every single time he steps on the field to play.”
TJ was able to become a vital part of one of the nation’s consistently best defenses at Wisconsin from 2016-2018, where he helped the Badgers win three bowl games, including two New Year’s 6 bowls in 2016 (Cotton Bowl), and 2017 (Orange Bowl).
His success at Wisconsin was enough to get the attention of NFL teams going into the 2019 draft.
There was a lot of anticipation and nerves going into 2019 for TJ and his family. Unfortunately, the draft concluded without TJ hearing his name. This took its toll on TJ and his family.
“That was a rough time, but we always knew in the back of our minds that there was a chance that could happen,” Cathy said. “But towards the end of the draft, TJ was getting offers from several teams as an un-drafted free agent which made the events of that weekend a bit easier to handle. We were all so disappointed for him but knew everything would work out the way it should.”
Luckily, TJ’s hard work paid off and the Eagles signed him as an un-drafted free agent in 2019.
He was able to make the 53-man roster to start the season and was utilized as a special teams player as a rookie. Many players would fold under these responsibilities, especially after being a star at every other level, but Cathy knew her son would succeed if given the opportunity.
“This sounds so cliche but we knew once TJ was given a chance, he would excel. There was never any doubt he would get on the field as a rookie and knew his role would continue to grow from there. He’s talented and extremely coachable,” said Cathy.
Her prediction proved to be correct as over the next three seasons TJ became a starter and has molded himself into one of the leagues better linebackers.
This was highlighted last season when he was the leading tackler for a veracious Eagles defense that made it all the way to the Super Bowl before falling to the Kansas City Chiefs. When asked about this journey about her brother Mia said, “I have been watching TJ play sports and succeed my whole life, he was always a dedicated athlete, and I knew he could do well in college, but seeing the dream come true was inspirational. He has always been known as the underdog or just someone that is not appreciated as much as they should. I knew that even with him going undrafted he would work unbelievably hard to make the lineup. He has just always had the drive that no one is going to be better than him if he works hard enough. Seeing him in the Super Bowl just made me feel that he deserves this, the time and dedication he puts in, the mental toughness just all led to that moment, it has been surreal to be able to experience this life he has”. This past offseason life got even more surreal for TJ as he entered free agency.
Naturally TJ had a number of teams lined up to acquire his services, but one piqued his interest more than the others. That was his hometown team, the Chicago Bears.
Growing up in the Chicago area, the Edwards family are big Bears fans, so the idea of TJ being able to sign and play for Chicago was incredible.
I asked both Cathy and Mia about what it felt like for TJ to come back home and play for the Bears.
“Disbelief really. He had mentioned before how awesome it would be to play for the Bears, but we didn’t really consider it. When he played as an Eagle at Soldier Field in December, it felt like it was a precursor of what is to come. He loved that experience. We were in disbelief (again) and truly excited for him. He has so much support from friends and family in the Chicago area and that makes it that much more comforting that he will be surrounded by those that want the best for him,” said Cathy.
Mia’s response followed the same line of thinking.
“I was first shocked, the Bears are the team we would watch every football Sunday, because my dad is a die hard fan. Those are the jerseys we would get as kids, the players we would impersonate, the games we would go to. For him to go to the Bears I think is a dream come true, to see those colors on him, I cannot wait for the season. It feels full circle, that everything he has worked for in his life was for this, to be a part of a team we have always loved and always rooted for. Truly feels like he is home,” she said.
TJ’s story to the NFL is an inspirational one. By diving deeper and understanding where he came from as a player and how his family has been by his side every step of the way and continues to be there for him shows that there is more to NFL players than what you see on television every Sunday, on your fantasy football app, or when playing as their characters on Madden.
They are real people who have their own stories and families who support them, just as TJ’s has for his entire career.