The Story Behind Jags QB/Patrick Mahomes Impressionist Nathan Rourke Captures Why The NFL Preseason Can Be So Enjoyable
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Totally not trying to encroach on Chaps' territory here. Just happen to be around on a Saturday night watching preseason football like the sicko that I am. eager to get a look at Stetson Bennett with the Rams here soon. But this ain't about Stets. This is about Jacksonville Jaguars QB1 backup quarterback Nathan Rourke.
As is mentioned in the NFL's X post — so confusing to articulate that in such a way due to football schematics terminology but on we go — Rourke went from a dynamic dual-threat Ohio University quarterback, to the CFL. Look at the numbers he put up in Athens — what a runner!
...And he threw for 7,457 yards (8.3 YPA) with 60 TDs and only 20 INTs. A rather paltry 58.7% completion percentage, however.
OK so, at least initially, Rourke went back to Canada where he's originally from. Got picked in the second round, 15th overall in the 2020 CFL Draft. Unfortunately, COVID wiped out our pigskin neighbors' entire football season, which led to Rourke going undrafted by the NFL in 2021 and trying out for the New York Giants as a wide receiver. Related: The G-Men are still desperate for a surefire go-to wideout.
Rourke retreated North of the Border once again and started only two games for the BC Lions in '21. Kind of middling numbers. Nothing special. Suddenly, a fucking furious spark of gridiron nirvana exploded into this man's consciousness, and the Victoria, British Columbia native went on to set the CFL completion percentage record for his hometown team last year (78.7%).
Only problem was, a Lisfranc injury knocked Rourke out of action for a couple months. He appeared in 10 games and started nine, and required foot surgery in January. That operation came exactly two weeks after the Jags signed him, yes, as a quarterback on January 16.
Looks like the ol' wheels are just fine! In case you're wondering about the possibly obscure Patrick Mahomes reference, it's in relation to the final play — an incompletion (WTF?) — in this highlight package from the Chiefs' Super Bowl loss to Tom Brady and the Bucs:
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Ooh sweet, there's a freeze frame of Mahomes right before he lets that throw go. No descriptors necessary I suppose.
Looks like the man himself took notice of Rourke's contortionist theatrics:
Doug Pederson would know better than just about anyone in the history of the sport how vital it can be to have a reliable backup QB (See: Philly Special statue).
Perhaps that's why Jacksonville signed Rourke to a three-year deal on the cheap — for less than $3 million total. Not like he's pushing Trevor Lawrence for playing time. Nevertheless, Rourke's athleticism has always popped. He's apparently polished himself a hell of a lot as a passer since lighting the MACtion weekday slate on fire.
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Fuck it, it's late, let's close with a personal anecdote about MACtion: I went to Miami (Ohio), the alleged archenemy of Ohio University. They cared way more about the rivalry than we did. We were too busy with hockey, because we actually could go toe-to-toe with Michigan, Ohio State and other big-time schools on the ice at the time. Anyway, those weekday football MACtion matchups, fun though they were, got me multiple parking tickets. We'd always host like a random Tuesday or Wednesday night game. It was never the same day. You had to be on top of that schedule. Students had to move their cars even if the parking lot was nowhere near full. Ticket otherwise. It was some bullshit. Hope they sorted that out in the years since.
Miami won the MAC in 2010, beating Northern Illinois in the Conference Championship Game. That was dope. GRAINY HIGHLIGHTS HERE:
I was on a singing winter tour with my brothers in song in the Men's Glee Club (cooler than it sounds) at a homestay while watching this title tilt unfold. Salute to my former suitemates/stud wideouts Armand Robinson and Chris Givens. They both came up huge in that game. Armand actually gave me my first feature story/player profile during his quick stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers straight out of Oxford [Ohio].
Alright fine I'll bring it back around to the actual story…and if you're about to comment, "YOU'RE INSUFFERABLE!" worry not, I already hear those words ringing in my head. I think it's kinda funny.
Most people could give a fuck less about the NFL preseason. Most of the time, I'd agree with most people at least to some degree. Every now and then, you get something like this with Nathan Rourke and what starts out as a, "Wait, who is this guy?" inquiry from one highlight-reel play takes you down a rabbit hole of human-interest, narrative nonfiction gloriousness.
I literally just watched the Johnny Manziel Netflix doc earlier today, and that incredible 22-yard strike Rourke threw to Jags receiver Qadree Ollison tonight definitely had shades of Johnny Football to it as well. Eh. Rourke would rather not hear that I'm sure. But hey, Johnny was in the CFL once upon a time, too.
NOW. Let's see if Rourke can beat out C.J. Beathard to be Lawrence's primary backup. Either way, I imagine Rourke can find a way to stick on the roster, especially with that new rule where teams can dress a third QB on game day and not have him count toward the active limit. Whatever the hell Rourke did tonight might've gone a long way in securing his spot at least on the practice squad, though he might not stay there long if a curious team comes by to poach him.
Twitter @MattFitz_gerald/TikTok