The last we saw of former Jets second-round quarterback Christian Hackenberg, the Penn State alum had decidedly washed out of the NFL, and wasn’t doing much better in the now-defunct Alliance of American Football. His last pro football performance came with the Memphis Express of that league, and Hackenberg — who never attempted a regular-season NFL pass — just 10 of 23 passes for 87 yards and an interception against the Birmingham Iron and started throwing F-bombs all over the place as a result.
Now, with his football career obviously over, Hackenberg is trying his hand at another sport. Per John Clark of NBCS Philly, Hackenberg is ready to move on from his “trials and tribulations” with the NFL and wants to try and make his bones in the major leagues — as a pitcher.
Christian Hackenberg is now trying to become a pitcher
“I’ve had my trials and tribulations with the NFL”
“I’m sitting here at 25. I feel like I have a lot left in the tank”@rkuestnernbc10 with the story. See how fast @chackenberg1 can throw @NBCPhiladelphia 620pm pic.twitter.com/eVFBECPjEi
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) June 13, 2020
“I just want to compete, man,” he said. “I had that roller-coaster ride, and at the end of the day, I’m sitting here at 25, and for me, I feel like I’ve got a lot left in the tank.”
That is former Penn State quarterback @chackenberg1 who is aiming for a pro career in baseball and throwing better than 90 mph. His story tonight @NBCPhiladelphia at 6 and 11. pic.twitter.com/Pt9ENO7RY4
— rob kuestner (@rkuestnernbc10) June 13, 2020
Well, he is able to bring it with 90 mile-per-hour heat, so perhaps he does have an athletic future in a professional sport, after all.
To be fair, Hackenberg isn’t just ginning this up out of nowhere. Before his Penn State days, he was a pitcher at Fork Union Military Academy, one of the nation’s most prominent athletic preparatory schools. There, he logged 33 strikeouts and 40 walks in 25 2/3 innings. So… accuracy was a problem in that regard, as well.
“He isn’t rushing anything and is being smart about not putting his health in a bad situation,” Hackenberg’s agent, Noel LaMontagne, said in an email to ESPN. “He’s young, has the work ethic, a ton of natural arm talent, plenty of athleticism and the focus it takes to put himself in a position to have a chance.”
To have one’s athletic dreams blow up in one’s face so quickly is unfortunate, so perhaps Hackenberg can turn it around. His career arc now resembles a lower-rent approximation of Tim Tebow’s — the former Broncos standout has tried his hand as a Mets prospect once the NFL figured him out.