‘Crazy’ happy day, dad
Tight end Niklas signs, then becomes a father
FOXBORO — Troy Niklas said his path to becoming a Patriot was “kind of a crazy story.”
Niklas wasn’t kidding. The free agent tight end flew from his home in Arizona early on Easter Sunday in advance of meeting with the Patriots.
The catch? His wife Chloe was nine months pregnant with their first child. They momentarily wrestled with the idea of him not going. But he flew across the country with the hope of getting his dream job while praying his wife wouldn’t have the baby while he was gone.
“I got the call on Saturday from my agent saying, ‘Hey they’re interested, they want you to come up and visit,’ ” said the former Cardinals tight end. “But my wife was almost nine months pregnant. We could have the baby any day now. So I was telling my wife, ‘I’d really like to go up there. It’s a team I’d love to play for.’ So, she said, ‘Get up there and get back as soon as you can.’ ”
Niklas visited with the coaching staff and was sold.
“They’re just awesome. They’re just on top of everything,” Niklas said. “You could tell they’re really specific about everything, so I was really excited about that, and then I was driving back in the van and I called my wife. ‘Are you all right? I just want to make sure everything’s good.’ ”
Well, of course, everything wasn’t quite right. Chloe was headed to the hospital to have the couple’s first child. Niklas was pretty much done with the interview process with the Patriots, so it was a race to get back home.
The story does have a happy ending as Niklas not only signed with the Patriots, but made it home in time for the birth of his daughter Romy that Tuesday morning.
His wife and newborn are now in Foxboro as he participates in the Pats’ offseason program.
“The biggest impression is everyone just comes in here on a daily basis and works their (butts) off, no matter what it is,” Niklas said. “Everyone’s here to get better.”
Niklas, who is 6-foot-6, 270 pounds, played for Notre Dame and appeared to be on the Patriots radar before the 2014 draft. He had a pre-draft visit here but was selected by the Cardinals. Last season, he caught 11 passes for 132 yards and one touchdown in 15 games.
Niklas knew the minute he arrived in Foxboro, “this was the place I wanted to be.”
“I just really love the culture, and everything about this place,” he said. “It really wasn’t a question. I told my wife before I flew back, ‘Hey, I really think this is the place for me.’ And she was like, ‘OK great. Just get back!’ ’’
Niklas likes that the people are “dedicated, hard-working, and put the team first.” That reminded him a lot of his time at Notre Dame.
He doesn’t know exactly what his role might be, but he knows he’s not just going to be handed a job.
“Everything I do here is going to have to be earned,” he said. “I’m just looking forward to getting to work, and showing them what I can do. I have faith they’ll place me where I can best help the team.”
Naturally, Niklas can’t wait to meet Rob Gronkowski and get to play with him.
“I’m really excited about it,” he said. “He’s obviously one of the best tight ends to have ever played. I’m excited to learn from him, and play with him.”