Column: For David Long Jr., persistence led to a Super Bowl title

Rising up in Pasadena, David Lengthy Jr. had his first soccer apply at age 5 on the grass outdoors the Rose Bowl as a member of the Pasadena Trojans. He by no means imagined that one week after his twenty fourth birthday, he’d be a Tremendous Bowl champion as a beginning cornerback for the Rams.

“Truthfully, I’m so early in in my profession, I can’t grasp what it means,” he mentioned. “I don’t know what to check it to.”

It was on the eve of the Tremendous Bowl three weeks in the past that the Rams held their ultimate apply on the Rose Bowl. Discuss coming into reminiscence lane.

Lengthy thought again to his days working the hills and trails whereas in center college and highschool. He remembered watching Reggie Bush and USC in opposition to Texas within the 2006 nationwide championship sport. And he thought of that first apply in 2003.

“All these moments got here full circle. That is my second. Every part I’ve been working for is correct right here on this grass,” he mentioned.

There are such a lot of classes to study from a participant who was an A pupil at Loyola Excessive, three-year defensive again at Michigan and third-round NFL draft decide in 2019.

The primary is don’t be afraid of adversity. He had misplaced his beginning spot with the Rams through the season.

“Loads of would have checked out. This isn’t honest,” he mentioned. “Lots of people would have turned away. I wished to maintain bettering. Growth is huge. It’s important to proceed and need to develop.”

Accidents thrust him again into the lineup. So there he was on the ultimate snap in opposition to the Cincinnati Bengals in Tremendous Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium overlaying the tight finish on fourth down. Whereas most consideration targeted on Aaron Donald pressuring Joe Burrow on that ultimate play, it was Lengthy utilizing his instincts to remove Burrow’s No. 1 passing choice that gave Donald time to make the play that preserved the Rams’ 23-20 victory.

“I glanced again to have a look at the quarterback and realized ‘fast sport,’” Lengthy mentioned of Burrow trying to ship a fast move. “My physique place discouraged him to return again to the tight finish. I flashed again for a second and noticed him clutch the ball. I knew that was all we wanted. We had an awesome move rush all through the playoffs.”

Lengthy mentioned his journey to Tremendous Bowl champion wouldn’t have been attainable if he hadn’t been uncomfortable at instances, as a result of that’s the way you enhance.

“Quite a bit will miss alternatives as a result of they take adversity as one thing adverse,” he mentioned.

Lengthy needed to sit out six video games his sophomore yr at Loyola after transferring. He mentioned he didn’t complain or make excuses.

“I used that yr as a time to develop, mature, stand up to hurry,” he mentioned. “I didn’t waste any time. You’re going to have these moments in any profession path. There’s going to be a fork within the highway. You both be content material or push by means of.”

Lengthy and one other former Loyola participant on the Rams, lineman Coleman Shelton, introduced pleasure to Cubs gamers, in response to Loyola coach Drew Casani.

“It’s wonderful,” Casani mentioned. “I’m simply pleased with these guys. It’s one thing for our guys to look as much as and understand something is feasible and so they can dream huge.”

For Lengthy, successful the Tremendous Bowl was about delivering a championship for such veteran gamers as Donald, Matthew Stafford and Eric Weddle.

“I wished to do what I wanted to do to win for these different guys,” he mentioned. “Being so younger in my profession, I didn’t know what to really feel. I used to be feeding off everybody else’s power. I’ve by no means skilled something like this or been in any video games like this.”

Lengthy mentioned he didn’t go away the stadium till after 10 p.m.

“I used to be in shock,” he mentioned. “I couldn’t consider I gained the Tremendous Bowl three years faraway from faculty. I by no means obtained to win something. It was loopy we truly did it. Von Miller was speaking about being in soccer heaven and there was nothing to explain what you’re feeling. You’re exhausted and overflowing with feelings.”

Lengthy mentioned the parade “was tremendous cool,” however it was additionally a goodbye, for the reason that teammates won’t ever be the identical.

“You’re without end bonded with these gamers,” he mentioned.

For 2 weeks he rested. Then this previous week, he went to the Rams’ facility to start energetic restoration. A brand new season beckons. The journey continues.

Lengthy mentioned a video he noticed of Nick Saban and Kobe Bryant discussing why some individuals succeed and others don’t rings true.

“I’ve all the time believed you recognize what it is advisable do as a way to go the place you need to go,” he mentioned.