When the call came, Rick Lovato was working behind the counter at Joyce’s Subs and Pizza.
It’s a quaint family-owned sandwich shop nestled in the 7,000-person town of Lincroft, New Jersey.
As one Google reviewer wrote: “This is kind of old school place you only see in movies.”
Rick had been working there since junior high.
“It’s not very big, but it’s the spot everyone goes to,” he said.
Rick worked the register, washed dishes, and chatted with customers while making breakfast sandwiches, hoagies, pizzas, and “anything you could name.”
Until then, he’d been biding his time. Waiting patiently for a chance to live his dream of playing in the NFL.
“Long snappers sometimes have to wait three or four years or longer before they get their chance,” he said. “You have to be patient.”
He’s right, long snapper is the oldest position group in today’s NFL for that reason.
But when his phone buzzed, he hoped his salami-slicing days were over.
It was an unknown number from Green Bay, Wisconsin.
The Packers’ veteran long snapper, Brett Goode, just tore his ACL.
They were signing Rick to replace him and he needed to report immediately.
“I was surprised when the Packers called. I figured I might have to wait until next season.”
Since middle school, Rick Lovato dreamed of playing quarterback.
But coaches told him he was too big, so long snapper it was.
By high school, he’d gotten pretty good. He started going to snapping camps as a junior, and college teams took notice.
Rutgers wanted him to walk on, but Old Dominion won him over.
Their special teams coach offered Rick a half scholarship and promised a full ride if he became the starter.
“Coaches at Old Dominion kept their promises,” he said. “I loved it there.”
He played 50 flawless games for ODU, without a single errant snap. He’d kept a low profile the whole way, never once finding his name in the paper.
Which is a very good thing.
“Whenever a long snapper gets in the newspaper, it’s because there was a bad snap.”
After going undrafted in the 2015 NFL Draft, Rick signed with the Chicago Bears. He made it through training camp until the end of August before being released.
From September until right before Christmas, he worked the deli counter to make ends meet.
“I’ve been working out at my gym at home 15 minutes away from my house,” he told ESPN after the Packers called.
“I’ve been training for this and waiting for a moment like this for a long time now. I’m ready. I’m ready to go show everyone that I can do this, and no one should know my name.”
His position is unique in that way.
If they were walking down the street, you’d probably recognize your favorite team’s quarterback, running back, or star receiver.
Meanwhile, most NFL long snappers can strut through town without being bothered.
In his debut, Rick Lovato became the first Old Dominion alumnus to play in an NFL regular season game.
But he only lasted two games in Green Bay. The team released him during the final round of cuts in September 2016.
So he went back to Joyce’s and made sandwiches again.
“I was definitely getting a little nervous,’’ he told The Asbury Park Press.
“I got a call from the Cardinals and they said they might want to work me out but they never did. I knew I still had some kind of an opportunity but it was decreasing with each week. I was starting to get really frustrated.’’
He waited another few months before Washington called. He was there for 10 days before they cut him too, right after Thanksgiving.
Yup. There’s a reason people call the NFL “Not For Long”.
It took another severe injury to a long-time veteran for Rick to land his next (and biggest) opportunity.
Two weeks after Washington released him, he got a call from Philadelphia.
Eagles veteran long snapper and fan-favorite magician Jon Dorenbos landed on injured reserve with a broken wrist.
Rick once again had to fill in on short notice.
He did his job well for the final three games of the season, even if none of the fans noticed.
Members of Philadelphia’s front office were so impressed that they made the tough decision to trade Jon Dorenbos to New Orleans and stick with Rick as their long snapper.
“To get my first full-time job an hour and 10 minutes away from home so my parents can easily make it to every game…it’s pretty incredible to be able to play here and represent everyone in New Jersey.”
In his first full NFL season, Rick Lovato played every game and helped the Eagles win their first Super Bowl in franchise history.
In 2019, he made his first Pro Bowl – the first for an Eagles long snapper since Dorenbos.
Three years later, he helped the team to another NFC Championship.
This past offseason, he signed a one-year extension to stay in Philadelphia.
“You never know going into the NFL how long you’re going to last,” he told NJ.com. “I can’t believe I’ve made it this far.”
But no matter how far he goes, Rick Lovato will never forget his roots.
Whenever he’s back in Lincroft, he swings by Joyce’s Subs and Pizza.
These days he’s a customer – an important one.
His picture is framed on the wall, and he never has to pay a dime for a meal.
“I still miss those days, but I can’t be making sandwiches and playing in the Super Bowl.”
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