Jordan Poyer of NFL fame and Astoria's sacred son returns for weekend event

On paper, Jordan Poyer has a life that most young athletes would aspire to. The 34-year-old National Football League All Pro has accomplished everything from winning a high school state championship to playing college football at Oregon State — where he was named an all-American — and finally, transitioning to play in the NFL. Not only that, but Poyer is now entering his 14th season, which is 11 years longer than the average NFL career.

According to most recent data from statistia. com the average NFL career lasts just under four years. Poyer outlasting most of his peers is an impressive feat in itself, but the road to sustained NFL success has not been easy.

Being the last line of defense as a safety can create a lot of internal pressure. Think of it like a goalkeeper in hockey or soccer. The safety’s job is to clean up whatever mess the defensive line and linebackers left in front of them or help out a cornerback who gets beat by a speedy wide receiver.

Sometimes, a safety might miss a tackle that costs their team the game. Of course, the fans are quick to blame the person they deem responsible, instead of looking at the bigger picture. For lots of NFL players, the stress on both their minds and bodies takes a toll that most people don’t know or think about.