Jed Weaver ’98 NFL Success: Former Duck Thrives as a Dolphin

Jed Weaver has made a name for himself surpassing others’ expectations. Though he was a star on his high school football team in tiny Redmond, Oregon, he had to walk on to the University of Oregon’s football team his freshman year. For his first two years, he stayed on the scout team, working part-time to help support himself while playing ball and getting degrees in both environmental studies and anthropology, as well as minoring in biology. His first year playing the traveling team wasn’t particular stellar -- he only caught four passes during the entire season. Then, during his final year playing for Oregon, Weaver blossomed. As a starter, Weaver picked up thirty-nine passes for 623 yards and five touchdowns in a single season, earning a position as a second-team All-Pac-10 choice during his final season. He was one of three UO football players to be drafted by the NFL the year he graduated, in 1998. "I never lost my focus," Weaver says of those first, rough years. "I just kept on the path and worked the way I had for so long." UO football coach Mike Bellotti agrees. "He was focused; he was tough," Bellotti says. "He had great intensity... but he needed to refine his technique -- and he did." "Jed improved more than any player I’ve seen in twenty years of coaching," adds Tom Osborne, the tight ends coach for the UO during Weaver’s stint. Weaver, who says that he has "been playing football for so long I don’t even remember the first time I actually picked up a football," has indeed been working for a long time to get where he is today. He credits his father, who was offered a football scholarship at the UO himself, and his mother for constantly supporting him and encouraging him to do his best. "They were the greatest, most supportive fans in the world," he says. "Their support helped me love the game even more. I knew how much they enjoyed watching me play, so I put pressure on myself to succeed for them, because of the sacrifice and time they put into working with me." Tom and Denny Weaver’s sacrifice and effort, and Weaver’s own hard work, began to pay off in high school. Though he had played organized tackle football since junior high school, he first began to shine at Redmond High School, and was chosen to play in the East-West Shrine game for Oregon’s West team. When it came time to choose a university, Weaver had a tough decision ahead of him. Some smaller schools were actively recruiting him, but "the only thing I ever wanted to do was play pro football," he says, and his likelihood of being professionally recruited from a small school was slim-to-none. "I decided to walk on at UO," he says. The decision paid off. "I am the person I am today because I went to the UO," Weaver says. Memories of post-game barbeques and the way his coaches pushed him linger in his mind. He was finally playing college ball, but his true dream -- playing professionally -- had yet to be realized. "Deep down, I didn’t know if I was going to be drafted," he says, "because I only really played my senior year." Those concerns weren’t to be, however; in the seventh round of the 1999 NFL draft, Weaver’s dreams came true. The Philadelphia Eagles drafted him. He quickly worked his way up to the second string until an ankle injury sidelined starting tight end Jamie Asher. All of a sudden, the once-walk-on, now-rookie was starting an NFL game in his first month as a professional football player. "When I went out on the field the first time, I couldn’t believe it," he says. "I was a starter in the NFL. My dream had come true, what more could I ask for? It was amazing." Then, after a few short months of NFL bliss, Weaver’s happiness hit a new level -- he was cut from the Eagles. "Being drafted by the Eagles was one of the best days of my life," he says, "but getting cut by the Eagles was the best day of my life so far." Almost as soon as his name hit the waiver wires, Weaver received offers from two top teams -- Seattle and Miami. Miami had first pick; they asked and Weaver said, "Yes." Three hours later, he was on a plane to Miami. Four days later, he was on the field against New Orleans. "It was fast and furious," Weaver says, "but I loved every minute of it." In his first game, Weaver caught three passes and one touchdown -- the same number he caught during his entire junior season at the UO. He had arrived. "I’ve got a little more knowledge about how the game works now," he says. "I’m getting more comfortable playing, so my performance level is climbing, which will only bring more opportunity in the future. I’m having a great time just trying to enjoy the chance I’ve gotten to live out my dream -- and to live it as long as I can."

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