Eric Beverly

From a Job to the NFL

I wish I could say playing in the NFL is a dream come true. It’s not – not because it isn’t wonderful, but because it’s something I never dreamed could happen.

My mom wanted me to be a teacher, and my goal was to get a job in my major when I graduated from college. My major was in Operations Management, and I wanted to find work in the automotive industry. I even went to interviews with a couple of automobile companies, thinking I needed to get a job.

And here I am, playing in the NFL.

I had a few college scholarship offers and decided on Miami of Ohio because of their academics. I played tight end through college, up until my senior year, when the coaches asked if I would switch positions. We were short on tackles. I agreed because it gave us the best chance of winning, but it was not an easy year. Adjusting to a new position means not only learning all new blocking schemes, it even has a different “feel.”

I had heard a NFL teams were interested in me, including the Lions. They called me during the second day of the draft and told me they wanted to sign me as a free agent and make me a center. I spend the first year on their practice squad and then, in 1998, I made the roster as a backup center.

I remember the very first NFL game I played. We were in Pittsburgh. It was the 3rd quarter. I heard the coach yell, “Hey, Beverly”, and my heart dropped into my stomach. I remember everything about it. I remember running on the field. I even remember which direction we were going. It was a thrill.

The next year, I started my first game. That was a thrill as well, especially since we won. And I’ve started many games since.

It’s quite a journey – to go from trying to find a job in the automotive industry to being a starting center for an NFL team.

Football and Life
I love football. I love playing on Sundays. I love being with the guys – the camaraderie that comes from going through difficult times together, and working together to achieve a goal.

Football has taught me many things. It’s taught me to work together with different people – people of different races and backgrounds, and from different areas of the country. We may be all different, but we learn how to work together.

Football has also taught me how to focus, how to develop a mental approach that sustains a performance level.

And football has taught me that there are many things you can do if you just put your mind to it. There are things I have to do to prepare to play and to improve my ability. Those things aren’t always easy, nor are they fun. But I’ve learned how to push through the difficult tasks in order to make myself a better player.

Coming to Faith

Growing up, my mom took us to church almost every Sunday, until we got old enough to decide for ourselves. I always believe in God, and knew that Jesus had died for me, but I just didn’t take it seriously. There just wasn’t a connection with my life.

When I got to the NFL, with the Lions, I went to some Bible Studies. Our chaplain, Dave Wilson, showed me there was more to the message of God’s love than I had ever understood. I became more and more interested.

When my wife, Danielle and I were engaged, we felt it was time to take God seriously – to be followers of Jesus. There wasn’t a single event or incident that made us move in that direction – it was just something we grew into. And we’re still growing into it.

We’re learning to walk with the Lord in our daily life. Having faith in Jesus impacts the things we do, the things we watch, even the music we listen to. It’s changed our lives. It’s far from perfect, and there is still much for us to learn. But I keep praying that God will give me the patience, understanding and strength to walk with Him in the way He wants. And I trust in His grace – His love that picks me up even when I fall.

Journeys

From trying to find a job to playing in the NFL is quite a journey. Learning to trust in the love of God and walking with Him as my Lord is an even greater journey.

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