Former major AFL standout goes viral for campaign to land NFL job

It's rare for a football player to earn an opportunity at the NFL level, even if they have excelled at prior levels of the sport. That's been the case for Freddie McGee III, and he's putting in the extra work to try to land his opportunity.

McGee III, a former starting cornerback at the FBS level of NCAA Division 1 football and the 2024 Arena Football League (AFL) Defensive Player of the Year, was spotted outside team facilities for the Detroit Lions on Monday with a sign bearing his stats from his award-winning season playing arena football and asking for an NFL opportunity. He's hoping to make an impression with the franchise's staff.

"God put it on my heart," he told ERPN reporters. "I’ve had this goal since I was 5."

McGee stuck close to home, looking for the opportunity. He's a Canton, Michigan native and a former walk-on at Eastern Michigan, where he played for five seasons and finished his collegiate career with 85 total tackles, 10 pass deflections, and one interception. And while his collegiate career was solid and he posted strong numbers at his Pro Day, it wasn't enough to earn an opportunity in the league.

He would end up with the Salina Liberty in the AFL in 2024, where he recorded 25 pass breakups and 14 interceptions on the way to earning his Player of the Year honor.

“(When I) came out (in 2021), I had a solid pro day. Ultimately, I didn’t get a shot in the NFL, so I had to take the (Arena Football League) route,” McGee told MLive. “Last year, I won defensive player of the year in the AFL. I led the league with 14 interceptions and 25 pass breakups. Like I said, no agent. Just looking for a shot, man. One opportunity, one workout. See what it does.”

McGee, who says he models his game on Hall of Famer Darrelle Revis, is looking for an invite to an offseason workout or training camp session, or even just an individual tryout with an NFL team to prove he deserves a chance to earn a 53-man roster spot for the regular season. And while he could have started by campaigning for a shot with any team, he decided the coaching staff for his home state's pro team was the best fit for his mentality.

“I mean, grit, man. It’s right here,” McGee said. “I feel like I’m the epitome of that. Underrated kid, small school. Walked on and earned a scholarship. I always put my head down, and I just worked, man. So I feel like if anybody was to give me a shot, it’d be (Lions coach) Dan Campbell. Hopefully, he receives this message, man. Hey, you’re going to get a ball player.”

This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: Former major AFL standout goes viral for campaign to land NFL job