HIS ‘DREAM COME TRUE’
Road to the Bears wasn’t an easy one for tenacious Oswego product Joseph
Michael Joseph has practiced writing his autograph since he was 8. He was preparing for when he made it to the NFL.
The 23-year-old rookie cornerback put his practice to good use over the last few weeks as he strolled by Bears fans at training camp in Bourbonnais.
However, what fans might not realize is the improbable journey Joseph took to the NFL — one that consisted of limited playing time in high school, a barren college-recruiting process and a dream.
Joseph grew up watching the Bears. He admired players such as Devin Hester and Charles “Peanut” Tillman.
“The Peanut Punch — I always tried it but sometimes, it hurts your fist,” Joseph said with a laugh. “He made it look a lot easier than it is.”
In youth football, Joseph was one of the team’s go-to players.
“There was always something special about him. He was the best athlete on the field,” Joseph’s youth coach, Dustin Keenan, said. “Anytime he touched the ball it was electrifying.”
As a freshman in high school, Joseph was incredibly undersized, standing 5-2 and weighing 92 pounds. He quickly went from starter to benchwarmer.
Joseph’s playing time at Oswego was sparse, but he never complained. He didn’t start a single game and made no more than a dozen tackles.
“[Joseph] was still small and wasn’t really getting the opportunity to play,” his mother, Nicole Rogers, said. “It was getting discouraging for him.”
Joseph went unnoticed by college recruiters and settled for a Division III school, the University of Dubuque.
“I don’t think he really believed [his NFL dream] was going to happen,” Rogers said.
But his No. 1 supporter, his mom, encouraged him to push forward.
“I kept telling him to keep working hard,” Rogers said. “It doesn’t matter where you start, but how you finish.” Joseph took it to heart. After not playing as a true freshman, Joseph had a breakout sophomore season and earned first-team all-conference honors in three consecutive seasons. In his senior year, Joseph intercepted eight passes and deflected 16. He ranked fourth on the team in tackles.
In April, Joseph’s hard work paid off. He signed a rookie freeagent contract with the Bears. And last week, Joseph made two tackles in the Bears’ preseason opener against the Ravens.
“It was a dream come true, it’s something you always dream of and what a moment,” said Joseph, who likely will play in the preseason game against the Bengals on Thursday.
“It was just something that I’ll always remember forever. And I just want to go up from there.”
If Joseph makes the team, he’ll likely find himself on the practice squad, where he’ll have time to adjust to the NFL. If he doesn’t, it won’t deter him. If anything, it’ll serve as motivation.