That 10-Minute Daily Grind Russell Maryland Put His Son Through? It Just Got RJ to the NFL.
Alright, listen up, 12s, because this isn't just a story about another rookie signing. This is the kind of raw, gut-check NFL family story that makes you remember why we love this game. We're talking about RJ Maryland, a rookie tight end, who just signed with the Green Bay Packers after the draft. And who's his old man? Only Russell Maryland, a true NFL legend: the No. 1 pick in the 1991 NFL Draft, a three-time Super Bowl champ, and a guy who finished his career starting 16 games for, yep, the Packers back in 2000. This Father's Day, it's all about legacy and a dad's pride hitting different, and you just know every dad in the Emerald City feels this one deep.
"I Am 100, 1,000 Percent Behind Him"
Russell Maryland isn't holding back a single ounce of excitement for his son getting this shot in the league. You can hear it in his words, right? He said, "It’s an incredible feeling to know that he even has a shot to do something that I was able to do all those years ago." Think about that, man. A guy who reached the absolute pinnacle of professional football, and he's still blown away by his son just getting a chance. That's real talk. He added, "If anybody has a son or a daughter, for that matter, but in this case, the son to make it to the highest level of the professional ranks of the NFL, it’s always a special thing. So, I am 100 , 1,000 , percent behind him." You don't get much clearer than that. That's a father's unwavering support, straight up.
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More Than Just a Football Dad
What's even cooler is that Russell Maryland wasn't just drilling football into RJ's head 24/7. When his NFL career wrapped up in 2000, he leaned into the "next phase" of life, as he called it, with the same passion. He shared how rewarding it was "to see a kid get out there and take charge of something and really work to be really good at something , and it doesn’t matter if it’s sports." Russell spent a huge chunk of his retirement being a "cheerleader dad, a volleyball dad, a chauffeur to volleyball and track meets" for his two older daughters. He just loved seeing his kids "doing something, making something of themselves, and not having idle time and really working towards being the best at something." That's the stuff that builds character, whether you're tackling on Lumen Field or spiking on a volleyball court.
The 10-Minute Masterclass That Made an NFL Dream
But let's get back to RJ and that daily grind. Russell remembers those mornings waiting for the school bus when RJ was just six. For 10 minutes every day, they'd work. Basketball season? Right-hand dribble, left-hand dribble, shooting form. Football season? Throwing and catching the pigskin. Ten minutes. Every day. Think about it: "by the time the week was out, he had 50 minutes extra working on different skills." That adds up, year after year, transforming a kid's dream into a reality. Russell was just "glad... that I had the time as a dad to be able to do that and... I had the ability to be able to work with my son on something that he absolutely loved, and I loved to see him do." That's the kind of dedication that builds NFL players, man. RJ Maryland is now officially on the Packers' roster, ready to carve out his own legacy. It's early days for this rookie, but with that kind of foundation, you just know he's going to attack it like every moment matters. Keep an eye on this kid, Emerald City. It's a reminder that sometimes, the biggest dreams start with just 10 minutes a day.
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.