The 8th Round: The journey from overlooked to acknowledged for three undrafted players

A couple weeks ago, Robert Spillane returned to his alma mater of Fenwick High School in Oak Park, Illinois, to give a commencement speech to the Class of 2024.

The moment put a lot of things into perspective for the NFL linebacker. Admittingly not someone who does a lot of public speaking, he was initially conflicted over what he should tell the young students that roamed the same hallways as him.

“Should I tell them about proper tackling techniques? Should I tell them about Cover 4 defense? Or should I tell them about my life?” Spillane said.

He settled on telling the tale of how he broke into the league.

After switching from running back to linebacker, he became a standout at Western Michigan University. He totaled over 300 total tackles, 10 sacks and four interceptions in his collegiate career.

“I thought I was going to be a drafted player,” he reflected. “Then the draft comes, it goes by, and I get no calls.”

Initially, his phone didn’t ring with any UDFA offers either. He ended up getting a call from Rick Spielman, the Minnesota Vikings general manager at the time, who extended a rookie minicamp invitation to Spillane.

“Those three days go by, and I got one rep in three days during rookie minicamp,” the linebacker said. “I go home and I’m like, ‘Damn, my NFL journey is over before it even started.’ I’m sitting at the house like, ‘What the hell do I do next? Where do I go?’ Football is all I’ve ever done and all I ever wanted to do.”

The following week, he got a call from the Tennessee Titans. Another linebacker was injured in the first half of rookie minicamp, and Spillane was given 48 hours to jump on a plane from Illinois.

In his mind, this was his last opportunity for a shot at the NFL.

Instead of waiting to arrive for the start of practice, he went to the Titans facility at 5 a.m. and stopped by linebackers coach Tyrone McKenzie’s office.

“I told him, ‘I need this opportunity, I need to be a part of this team. Teach me the defense now. What can I do to be a part of this team?'”