Punter Ryan fired up as training camp nears
Jon Ryan always gives back and never gives up.
The Regina-born punter, who is in his hometown this week for his annual charity events, will embrace the spirit of competition at the Seattle Seahawks’ training camp.
A veteran of 12 NFL seasons, including 10 with the Seahawks, Ryan will go head-to-head — or foot-to-foot, as it were — with 2018 fifth-round draftee Michael Dickson.
“The only thing I have control over is what I do on the field,” the 36-year-old Ryan says. “That’s how I’m approaching it. I can’t control who they pick or who they draft or what guy they want to go with.”
But he can control how he handles the situation.
“I’ve always been pretty motivated, but this has probably gone a step further with lighting a fire under me,” Ryan says. “I went up to (Seahawks head coach) Pete Carroll at the first practice that we were back (after the draft) and I told him I was going to compete harder than I ever have before.
“I went up to (general manager) John Schneider right away and said, ‘I’ve known you for a long time. I love you. You and I go way back and I have nothing but respect for you, but on this particular thing I’m going to make you look real stupid one way or the other.’
“It gets my competitive juices going more than they already have the last 15 years.”
Ryan, a graduate of the SheldonWilliams Spartans and University of Regina Rams, spent his first two pro seasons with the CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers before joining the Green Bay Packers in 2006.
He became a Seahawk two years later, after surprisingly being released by Green Bay.
“I feel like I’ve been trying to prove myself every game since I was playing for the peewee Steelers,” says Ryan, who is now a benefactor for Regina Minor Football. “I’ve always had a bit of a chip on my shoulder trying to prove that I belong at whatever level I’m at.”
Ryan is also an owner of the Portland Pickles, a summer baseball team for college players.
“Ninety per cent of the time it’s amazing,” he says. “Ten per cent of the time it sucks, but the 90 per cent of the time is a lot of fun.
“The baseball side is fun and the business side is a lot like football.”
Ryan also speaks out about social issues, such as homophobia.
“I think I have a platform to use my voice that a lot of people don’t,” he says. “When I do see injustices, I speak up about it.
“Sometimes I use my heart more than my head, but it has gotten me this far and I don’t regret anything I’ve put out there, so I’m going to keep on doing that.”
The same applies to his annual Wednesday Night Live event, a comedy show at the Casino Regina Show Lounge.
Then comes Thursday, when the Jon Ryan Charity Golf Classic is to be held at the Royal Regina Golf Club.
This week’s events will benefit the Gear Up With Jon Ryan Foundation. One of the foundation’s initiatives is to provide quality, safe equipment to minor sports teams and organizations.
“Being born and raised in Regina, I feel like I’ve taken so much from that community and I owe the people there so much that I’ll never be able to repay that debt,” Ryan says. “I’m trying to do that a little bit with this charity.”