Jarryd Hayne’s journey in the NFL will continue after it was announced he made the cut for the San Francisco 49ers 53-man squad.
Since leaving the NRL at the end of last year, it has long been debated whether Hayne had what it takes to star in one of the most competitive football leagues in the world.
Hayne has had a phenomenal run through the NFL pre-season, eliminating all doubts around whether he can hold his own in the NFL.
Considering he has only played four games of American football in his life, it has been a remarkable start to a professional career.
49ers coach Jim Tomsula says Jarryd Hayne beat astronomical odds to make the team’s 53-man squad.
Tomsula said it’s hard enough for Americans who played the game to make an NFL roster, but for a guy from Australia to travel to the US without experience and be successful is unique.
“It’s a tremendous achievement,” Tomsula told reporters on a conference call.
“I think that’s why people are so enamoured.”
Tomsula said he told Hayne via a text message that he made the 53-man squad.
The coach declined to say if Hayne would start as the punt returner for the 49ers’ first game of the regular season against the Minnesota Vikings.
But, he did say it was Hayne’s all-round skills as a punt returner, his tackling, running the football and other aspects of his play, as well as his dedication to learning the game, that convinced the coaching staff he was an NFL player.
Tomsula also added Hayne had plenty of work to do.
“He’s by no means a finished product,” he said.
“But the type of person he is and the approach he has taken, he’s the kind of player we want here.”
Hayne will suit up for the 49ers in their September 14 NFL regular season opener against the Minnesota Vikings on their home field, Levi’s Stadium.
Just months ago Hayne had to tuck a piece of paper with NFL plays into his pants because he struggled to retain the volumes of plays and terminology most players learn growing up playing American football in high school and college in the US.
All the hard work and study has paid off.
On Saturday he learned he survived when 37 other NFL players, many veterans or prized college players, had been cut from the 49ers.
“IT ALWAYS WORKS OUT!” Hayne tweeted.
“I thank GOD for WHAT HE has done and going to do on this incredible journey!!”
Hayne was a sensation in the pre-season, topping or near the top in running back and punt return statistics for all NFL players.
You could say Hayne was pretty happy about it when it was announced.
Here is Hayne’s list of achievements in preseason
WEEK ONE: 49ers lose 23-10 in Houston
* Hayne makes his debut for the 49ers and immediately makes an impact
* Hayne leads both teams in rushing yards – makes 63 yards, with a best run of 53 yards, run leads to 49ers only touchdown of the game.
WEEK TWO: 49ers defeat Cowboys 23-6 at home
* Hayne again makes the most rushing yards in the match with 54 and a longest run of 34 yards.
* Hayne shows off his NRL fullback skills for the first time making a game longest punt return of 34 yards and averaging 28 yards on his three punt returns.
* Takes one of the punts “over the shoulder” astounding commentators before another scything run actually sees it ended when Hayne is tackled by the punter himself.
* Commentators “They might just have to find a roster spot for this guy.”
WEEK THREE: 49ers lose 19-12 at Denver
* Hayne plays limited minutes in the match as coach Jim Tomsula assesses other options.
* Only makes one punt return but still makes a game-high 12 yards with it.
* Makes 18-yard reception off a Colin Kaepernick pass.
WEEK FOUR: 49ers defeat San Diego Chargers 14-12 at home
* Hayne leads all teams in rushing with 58 yards and a game-high rush of 19 yards.
* Learns to get out of bounds instead of being tackled and drops the shoulder into a Chargers defender at the end of the run.
* Makes over 100 all purpose yards for the game.
* Hayne makes a 28-yard punt return and averages 14 yards on punt returns.
* Hayne also shows his value as a defensive player making a tackle on punt coverage.
Timeline of Jarryd Hayne’s career to date:
Born: February 15, 1988 (age 27)
Height: 189cm or 6’2″
Weight: 100kg or 220lbs
NRL club: Parramatta Eels – Played 176 games for 103 tries
NRL Debut: Round 11, 2006 vs Penrith
REP CAREER:
Tests: 15 Tests for Australia scoring 11 tries
4 Tests for Fiji scoring 3 trie
Test Debut: 2007, Australia vs New Zealand
State of Origin: 20 matches for 9 tries
State of Origin Debut: Game One, 2007
NRL Games: 176
NRL Tries: 103
AWARDS AND HONOURS:
Dally M Rookie of the Year 2006
Brad Fittler Medal: 2007, 2008 and 2014
Dally M Winger of the Year: 2007
Dally M Fullback of the Year: 2009, 2014
Dally M Player of the Year: 2009, 2014* (Ties with Johnathan Thurston)
RLIF Fullback of the Year: 2009
RLIF Player of the Year: 2009
Dally M Representative Player of the Year: 2014
MILESTONE MOMENTS
2006
– Scored 17 tries in 16 games in his debut season as Parramatta move into NRL finals.
2009
– Produced a sparkling run of form which propelled Parramatta from mid-table all the way to the grand final which they ultimately lost to Melbourne Storm.
2013
– Named co-captain of Parramatta. After being knocked unconscious early in the World Cup final for Australia, Hayne produced a man-of-the-match performance to help win the trophy back.
2014
– Leads the Blues to a drought-breaking win over Queensland in the State of Origin series.
– Announces he will leave the Eels to chase his dream of playing in the NFL.
2015
– Announces he has signed a contract with the San Francisco 49ers. After shining in pre-season games and at camp makes the final 49ers squad.
With AAP
Kevin dustby
Guest
So a couple of tweets mean he is big in America ?
Glenn Innes
Guest
There are only ten places on the practice squad,he obviously did enough to get one I repeat a journeymen Rugby player leapfrogged thousands of college players to make an NFL roster and got game time that is a fact...spin it however you like mate.
mike
Guest
Happy for Jarryd, hoping he will get a few opportunities this season. any player that can make the 53 is extremely talented. One thing to remember is only 45 players get to suit up, so taking in a 4th RB is a maybe, which Hayne is. The big thing to watch will be to see if they use Reggie Bush and Ellington at returner. Its all a numbers game. He truly has soo much to offer and if he gets a shot, I think he'll do well. I hope the Australian media don't ruin it by calling him a failure if he immediately doesn't get opportunities out there, they will come and 16 games doesn't sound like much, but its a battle of attrition and injuries will play a big part in the amount of chances he gets. I see Hayne getting alot of opportunities later in the season
Pickett
Guest
It is a niche sport in many countries. I seriously doubt it is the third biggest sporting event in the world, except in the eyes of fanatical rugby fans.
Jackso
Guest
Manfred Moore and Chambers played first grade without any background in the reserves. Fenech walked straight into Parra reserves. Lots of RU/RL players have played both so you don't own them because they played one or the other. Someone the other day claimed Andrew Walker as RL - he played both as a kid before going to the Wicks then RL Easts/Saints? and then back to the RU -yet they claim him as a Leaguie good grief...
Jackso
Guest
This shows your lack of understanding and poor analysis. The Rexona athlete series ( a sponsor of Slater BTW) is one example of some athletic tests which Slater happened to very good at. Slater was the RL choice every year because he is their best athlete. They chose athletes ? from memory AFL's Luke Hodge and Cameron Ling from the AFL in 2 different years - Ling and Hodge while great AFL players are hardly athletes - ones a stopper and the other a guy who gets the ball but neither would win a sprint or feature in the Olympics distance races. Perhaps gary Ablett was unavailable for example. The NRL equivalent of the AFL choices would be Gallen and Thaiday. More paltry evidence but good luck to Jarryd - RL wont be truly great till Shane Hayne, a lover of entertainment, makes the NFL officiating crew.
josh
Roar Rookie
I'd expect Hayne will be an impact bench player or sorts. While he's down the list in RB he will used in rotation with Ellington for KR and PR. If Ellington has a big game, I doubt the 49ers will use him too much on the return positions, when Hayne can provide more than adequate ability in that position. His ability on the special teams coverage units will come into play too.
josh
Roar Rookie
Hayden Smith isn't the right comparison.
Red Kev
Roar Guru
I seem to recall being a Dolphins fan when I was a kid, although that may have had more to do with their cheerleading squad than the sport itself...
nerval
Guest
How about comparing a typical NRL season with Parra + State of Origin with NSW + the odd World Cup at season's end + All Star Games with the regular 16 week NFL season... Can you not see how gruelling the former is, and how little time there is in the off-season recovering from such an arduous schedule? Since last October's announcement of his departure, until a few weeks ago, Hayne has not played a single game of any type of football. All he's had to do is adapt his training to suit the NFL specialisms over a period of about 9 months. Why wouldn't his body shape change? How could it not?
up in the north
Roar Rookie
Fair call nerval. I was being just a teensy bit tongue in cheek. I'm fully aware they don't use ped's, I suggested supplements which are apparently different. But you explain how he's beefed up so quickly.
Mark Richmond
Roar Guru
Congratulations to Jarryd Hayne, I hope you get the chance to show what you can do in all but 2 games this season!! :-)
Mark Richmond
Roar Guru
And then he would have been up against Tyler Lockett this year........no contest as a returner. Lockett has returned a punt 67 yards for a TD, and a kick off 103yds for a TD in pre season this year, as well as a 63 yard TD reception at wide receiver. Hayne has done really well, and I hope he makes it, but Lockett has the two thing most NFL coaches are looking for safe hands and electric pace. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZ6C_oY_9c8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lr0F6KyfoYo
Snickometero
Guest
Hayden Smith was just one of many athletes to be granted a chance to play in the NFL from other sports. For half a century, NFL teams have been taking chances on different athletes with minimal dividends paid (world class track & field, etc. etc.). If anything, Hayden Smith is one of the least successful of the bunch. He was merely a practice squad spot holder for one team. They had to call him up from that practice squad to fill a roster spot due to many injuries. This only meant that he would be dressing to play in 5 games, but not actually playing in them. To be honest, Most fans of that NY Jets team would not have heard of him to this day. If you were to look for his stats/game footage, you wouldn't find much of anything. To even mention him as an NFL player at all would be pretty funny to most people in the know.
Faithful9er
Guest
Not true rabbitz, I'm an American and I can tell you this is not the case anymore. The US is becoming increasingly secular as it moves left becoming more liberal. The fastest growing religion in the us is no religion. Im sure lots of people rolled there eyes after his tweet especially after his anti sematic tweets earlier this year. However as a christian he has a right to his freedom of religion. The only way he will be accepted here is by playing well. Sounds like you haven't been to America in years
Super-Human
Guest
Would you rather him to snort powder? That's a silly thing to say.
Super-Human
Guest
Well that is arguable with how much of a bad off-season the 49rs have had, possibly one of the worst in the History of the NFL.
Super-Human
Guest
Too bad he didn't come last year, and to a better team (SEAHAWKS), Would have been 10 times the returner of "catch-n-kneel Bryon Walters. He would have started for sure (well started once The Locker Room Germ was removed from the team).
piru
Guest
How many NFL players were in the Australia's Greatest Athlete show? Quade Cooper won it too - it means nothing
dropkick
Guest
Rugby or union as you say is the original nrl and nfl are just cheap versions Rugby is not big aus.It is big worldwide .third biggest event in sports starts soon .i think you underestimate the money in it some of the guys that own french teams could buy the nrl