The underdog who defied scouts to win a Super Bowl
In short: Despite being labeled a low-tier prospect with limited speed, Jake Funk transformed from a high school record-breaker into an NFL champion. His journey reveals how persistence can overcome scouting skepticism and physical setbacks like consecutive ACL tears.
Jake Funk's path to the NFL was defined by a mismatch between his raw production and scout perceptions. In high school, he was a standout at Damascus High School, setting a state record with 57 touchdowns in a single season. However, professional scouts were wary of his lack of elite speed, giving him only two-star ratings from major outlets like ESPN and Rivals.com. Despite these concerns, his versatility—including experience as a high school safety—earned him scholarship offers from prestigious institutions including the Ivy League (Harvard, Yale, Penn) and service academies.
His collegiate career at Maryland was a gauntlet of physical adversity. After debuting in 2016, Funk faced a grueling cycle of injuries, including two separate ACL tears. He eventually found his stride during the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season. Leading the Terrapins' ground attack, he achieved an average of 8.6 yards each time he carried the ball—placing him at the top of the Big Ten and second across the Football Bowl Subdivision for running backs. This breakout performance allowed him to overcome 'straight-line' runner labels that led some analysts to predict he would go undrafted.
The Los Angeles Rams chose Funk during the seventh round of the 2021 NFL draft, overturning previous expectations. Though he spent much of his rookie year on special teams and dealing with a hamstring injury, he ultimately secured a Super Bowl LVI ring. His career since then has been a masterclass in professional resilience, moving through various practice squads and active rosters for the Saints, Colts, Dolphins, Ravens, Lions, and Jaguars.
Beyond the field, Funk's journey is supported by a deep athletic lineage. His father played for Penn State, his mother was a national title-winning swimmer, and his grandmother was one of Penn State's first female athletes. Notably, his half-brother, who holds a doctorate in physical therapy, personally assisted Funk through the grueling ACL rehabilitation processes that nearly ended his career.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Jake Funk
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