RU alum Joseph-Day grateful for another chance with 49ers
LAS VEGAS >> Sebastian Joseph-Day, Super Bowl winner.
It’s a box the Rutgers alum has already checked in his career, having been a part of the Los Angeles Rams team that won Super Bowl LVI just two years ago.
“It changed my life for the better in every single way,” Joseph-Day told The Trentonian. “Words can’t describe what it’s done for me. It’s helped me so much tremendously on and off the field, especially with the bonds I’ve made with those guys. It’s forever.”
His time with the Rams, however, was anything but. Taken in the sixth round of the 2018 NFL Draft, “SJD” spent four seasons in their organization — including being inactive for Super Bowl LIII in their loss to the New England Patriots — before the sixfoot-four, 310-pound defensive lineman signed a three-year, $24-million deal with the Los Angeles Chargers.
A starter and team captain, things didn’t go quite as planned, however, with a somewhat shocking release on Dec. 22 that JosephDay has elected to publicly remain mum on.
“I’ll say that I appreciate the Chargers, I thank them for everything and I wish them the best of luck,” he said, while offering a “no comment” on the timing of the move. “That’s all I can say about that.” It was, however, something of a blessing in disguise, as the San Francisco 49ers came calling just five days later.
“There were a lot of teams that called after the parting of ways with the Chargers,” he said. “I was actually preparing to get surgery, I’ve been playing with a wrist injury. But, there were some playoff teams that were interested. All of them were great teams, but this one I thought had the best shot, for sure. Honestly, I was really debating packing it up, but it was all really good teams that started contacting me. … It was a no-brainer for me at that point.”
The 28-year-old slotted right in, recording five combined tackles over two regular season games, and two more in the Divisional Round of the postseason against the Green Bay Packers. Now a veteran presence, the Stroudsburg, Penn., native knows that with the experience that surrounds him in the locker room, there isn’t much he needs to do or say with a group that knows how to go about their business this time of year.
“The one thing I’ll say about this team is that they’ve been here before,” Joseph-Day said. “They’re hungry. There’s nothing I really need to say. I see the looks in their eyes and the looks in the coaches eyes, and they’re ready. I’m blessed and thankful that they wanted me to be a part of this journey. I’m going to do whatever I can to help them win and accomplish the goal.
“Two years before, we barely got in and then we did it, and that really put in perspective how hard it is. I’m thankful for everything that I went through, because it gave me a different outlook. I was on the Rams with so much talent, and then I was on the Chargers with so much talent, but it went two different ways. That helps you grow, helps you see the things that breed success. I’m thankful to be here and that Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch thought enough of me to bring me in.”
Whatever happens in Sunday’s Super Bowl 58 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs, Joseph-Day has already had some bowl game success to celebrate, albeit from afar.
“Of course I’ve been following,” he said of his alma mater. “They got that big win over Miami, and (head coach Greg) Schiano is doing his thing. He’s doing exactly what I knew he would do. I’m excited for Rutgers, I’m excited for what Schiano is doing over there, and they’re only going to get better. He’s a winner, he demands excellence. I’m just really excited for the future for Rutgers for sure.”