Xavier Grimble – A Story of Perseverance

Every player has a story.

A unique set of circumstances that allow them to wear an NFL jersey.

From the earliest moments in their life players are in Pop-Warner and on to adolescence they continue the journey to college with hopes of making it one day, in the National Football League.

The visual of walking across the stage to be greeted by a hug and handshake from the NFL Commissioner is not in the cards for every player, but the same enthusiastic memory is shared as the rounds get later. Even undrafted players rejoice knowing they will be in an NFL camp. The happiness is equal regardless of how you find your way into the NFL.

That leads us to the Pittsburgh Steelers back-up tight end Xavier Grimble.

Leaving Bishop Gorman High School, in Las Vegas, Grimble earned about every accolade desirable for a football player looking to make his mark at the collegiate level. Parade All-American, Sporting News Top 100 and USA Today All-USA Second Team all helped make him one of the top prospects at his position of tight end.

USC won the recruiting process and landed Grimble who was putting the finishing touches on a 15-0 season, in 2009, that was capped with a state 4A title.

Grimble redshirted (2010) as a freshman with the Trojans and would modestly build on his resume with hopes of playing in the NFL. He would earn All-PAC-12 honorable mention in back-to-back season (2012-13) before forgoing his remaining eligibility and entered the 2014 NFL Draft.

The 6-foot-5 and 255-pound projected seventh round selection would not hear his name called on draft day. He would sign immediately afterwards with the New York Giants. Signing on May 11 with the Giants, Grimble would be waived by New York a few months later on August 24th.

“There is so much I can say,” said Grimble now a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers when reflecting on what life was like as a rookie undrafted free agent. Arriving in the league in 2014, he would sign with the Giants, San Francisco 49ers, New England Patriots before finally settling down in Pittsburgh.

“I bounced around so much,” said Grimble. “I had stuff here. I had stuff there. I actually left a trail of trash before I actually made the team.”

Over the course of the 2014 seasons alone, he was waived by New York in August then placed on the 49ers Practice Squad a month later. Grimble was let go two months after and then signed to the Patriots Practice Squad.

Guess what?

A month later he was again waived and returned to San Francisco’s Practice Squad where he would spend almost nine months on the roster before being waived once again with a partially guaranteed contract.

“It’s a roller coaster,” said Grimble who has been with the Steelers since the fall (September) of 2015. “Especially getting signed and cut again. Man, I kind of feel it has shaped me as a man and human being, my character.”

Nestled in the corner of the Steelers locker room No. 85, sitting between guys like Vance McDonald and JuJu Smith-Schuster. They are the ones commonly sought after by media after games, but guys like Grimble are left to shower and change unknowingly as the microphones and cameras search for the juiciest sound bites. He is the face of many, many players in the National Football League. He represents those who had to face adversity time and time again.

“It sucks man,” laughs Grimble looking back at how he got to where he is today. “Just imagine having to break (apartment) leases. Move stuff. Have movers coming in all the time. Rental cars and getting to try to get everything back when you have been flying cross country to different teams to workout. It’s tough.”

Pittsburgh has been the place he has called home since 2015.

Although his past likely will always keep him in the mindset of the unknown when it comes to making the 53-man roster.

He takes nothing for granted. Telling himself that practicing hard and staying healthy are key contributors to his longevity on the league. In 2016, two years after being in the league he caught his first pass and touchdown in the same game. Since that time, Grimble has compiled 22 receptions for 236 yards and three touchdowns.

Not every tight end is Travis Kelce and not every player could withstand the mental fortitude to endure the hardships of being waived time and time again.

Grimble has prevailed regardless if his career would end tomorrow.

Last year he appeared in all 16 games for the Steelers for the first time in his career and finished with six catches for 86 yards. Grimble has established himself as a solid target for Pittsburgh with three of his six catches going for first downs. Strategically filtered into the offensive game plan, Grimble makes the most of his opportunities, which may be why he has found a way to stick in the NFL.

“My mom. My dad. My daughter. That’s all that motivation I need,” says Grimble. “Seeing my mom, she still works. Wakes up at 530am every day. That’s tough. That’s hard. So, for me to see that its like what I do. I love what I do. I love playing for the Steelers. I love preparing to play for the Steelers.”

Grimble feels for those currently in the same situation he faced a few years ago. He understands their struggles and knows navigated his way to sticking. There is a player who is being waived and resigned that goes unnoticed. Likely the only people paying attention to that player are his parents and agent. Other than that, no one else is eyeing the transaction pages for a undrafted guard out of Cincinnati, just doesn’t happen.

“I lived in that world for three years,” says Grimble.

His advice to those chasing their dream to play in the NFL.

“Live cheap,” smiles Grimble. “I’ve always had to stay ready. I lived in that world for three years. I’m active (53-man roster), but I live like I’m on the Practice Squad. Just prepare and slow it down for yourself. An opportunity of a lifetime. You wouldn’t be here if you couldn’t do the job.”

Grimble is making the most of his opportunity.

 

Photo Credit Frank Hyatt/College2Pro.com