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Jacksonville Jaguars' Evan Engram on 'relentless' quest to become one of NFL's best TEs
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- Jacksonville Jaguars' Evan Engram on 'relentless' quest to become one of NFL's best TEs
Hard work is foundational, but relentless dedication can catapult success to extraordinary heights.
Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Evan Engram embodies that methodology.
Even during the preseason, when he might not be seeing much game action, he's preparing as if he's going to play every snap.
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He doesn't just do it when the cameras are turned on, he's working hard even when nobody is looking. Relentless dedication for Engram isn't a phase, it's a way of being.
"He's just kind of the ideal professional," Jaguars offensive coordinator Press Taylor said. "The time he puts into his craft from his physical maintenance to just getting his body ready to go for practice. I don't even know if you guys see it, he's the last one off the field as well most times."
NEW HEIGHTS: Jaguars TE Evan Engram sees verticality as the next step in his evolution
Here's a glimpse of what Engram does at practice. There's seldom a time when he's just standing around:
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12:55: Warm up catching passes from Jaguars football operations intern Kevin Perez (videoed above).
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1:02: Break for stretching.
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1:08: Warm-up sprints.
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1:14: Warm-ups, stop-and-go.
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1:20: Tight ends get together, warm-ups and individual drills.
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1:30: Engram goes to work with/catch passes from Jaguars quarterbacks.
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1:42: Ball-protection drill.
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1:45: Engram participates in blocking drill.
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1:53: Engram participates in install work with offense.
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2:03: Team drills.
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2:24: Redzone 7 on 7 (Engram sits out some).
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2:30: Special teams drills (Engram to side).
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2:40: Team drills.
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Note: Practice notes were recorded during a Monday, Aug. 19 practice, which had a start time of 12:50 p.m., beginning with stretching. Practice officially started at 1:20. Engram was already on the field well before practice opened to the media at 12:50. Few players were on the field inside at the Miller Electric Center aside from Engram.
Perez has thrown Engram the ball before games and practices for some time. In 2022, teams were allowed to have practice squad QBs throw before games. Recently signed QB E.J. Perry operated that role, for example. However, the NFL nixed that, forcing Engram to turn to Perez, who throws during drills at practice.
"He's a lefty, which at first I was like, 'Nah, I can't catch a lefty, man, and go right to Trev[or] [Lawrence], he's a righty. But, I was like, you know what? Let me just commit and see how it works. I showed him the routine and he's been on top of it. He's the MVP in this building, for sure in my book," Engram told the Times-Union Wednesday of the little-known intern.
"Every day he's out there on time. Right when I'm walking out there, he's out there ready to go. Kevin's been a blessing just because he commits, he helps me commit to my process. He commits to the process just as much as I do, which is really cool."
Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Evan Engram (17) sprints during the first day of an NFL football training camp practice Wednesday, July 24, 2024 at EverBank Stadium’s Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla.
Part of Engram's process includes catching tennis balls before games. While it seems innocuous, the training has a purpose.
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After being drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft by the New York Giants, Engram experienced ups and downs regarding catching the football. His annual drop percentage was around 9.34%, on average, from 2017-2020, his five seasons with the Giants.
Over the last two seasons with the Jaguars, Engram's drop % has been cut by more than 50% to 4.45%.
"That was one of my weaknesses, a wide-hand track to the football. A lot of my drops came from a wide hand," Engram explained shortly after the team's final preseason practice of the year. "So, the tennis balls force me to shoot my hands together, catch with both hands."
Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Evan Engram (17) runs through warmups during the fourth day of the NFL football training camp practice session Saturday, July 27, 2024 at EverBank Stadium's Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla. [Bob Self/Florida Times-Union]
All of Engram's routine has a purpose.
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"The weighted football helps me stop the football, be strong at the catch. A lot of the movement stuff I do is just kind of priming my body to move and release and move at the top of the route, getting in and out of my breaks," Engram continued. "I have a whole system of things that just [I] just need to get primed before games, primed before practice."
In the past, Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson has said that players typically play how they practice, and Engram embodies that principle. He treats practices like games, he said, and sticks to the same routine to push himself. On the back end, he has a committed recovery process to have the peace of mind to push his body.
The big why? Evan Engram driven by relentless ambition to be great
Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Evan Engram (17) wipes sweat during a combined NFL football training camp session between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jacksonville Jaguars Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024 at EverBank Stadium’s Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
Engram's work ethic wasn't always great. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't at the level he's at today.
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Over the past two years and beginning in the immediate aftermath of his stint with the Giants, Engram didn't know what to expect. He could have gone back to the Giants or signed with other teams, but he felt Jacksonville was the right fit. That was confirmed during Organized Team Activities in 2022.
"This is an offense that I can really flourish in, I can really flourish in this role. It was just kind of a flip of a switch, like, alright, [the] things I want to do, the results I want to produce, it's going to take things I've never done before," Engram said.
The results quickly followed. Engram set career highs in both catches (73) and yards (766), and he dropped a career-low three passes on 97 targets in 2022.
"So, just, this has been a journey trying to find that and commit to that every single day," said Engram.
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Engram's commitment isn't born out of thin air. He's committed to producing great results, not average ones.
"I've been in this position in my career where I've had the talent and I've had great work, I've had good work ethic, but maybe [it] wasn't great. It maybe wasn't as relentless as it could have been, and the results were just kind of average," said Engram.
Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Evan Engram (17) takes to the field before an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 34-3. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
"So just [these] past couple of years, I really [have] just been committing to the sacrifices and the relentless work to get the results I want. It's been working. I want to find ways to continue to push it so the results can get even better."
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There isn't a specific person or persons that told Engram to do this. He's seen what great players do to achieve that status.
"You look at Michael Jordan, you look at Kobe Bryant, you look at Lebron [James], look at Tom [Brady]. The common denominator is huge sacrifices," Engram said. "Sacrifices of time, sacrifices of rest, and pushing their bodies past the limit, passion, pushing their bodies past comfort, and it put them in position to be the best, look at as one of the best [who] ever lived."
Engram doesn't see why he can't be at that level of greatness. He has been blessed with generational talent, he said. And the only thing missing was a relentless work ethic.
"I've always been a hard worker. I've always been one of the first guys outside even in New York. But, it just wasn't as detailed. That's just kind of how it is for me, just relentlessly pursuing greatness," he said.
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Of course, Engram's family, including his wife Emily, his trainers and his coaches help him reach the bottom of the barrel every day he wakes up, the standard remains the same:
"The best to ever do it. You look at Michael and Kobe, those guys are probably the hardest workers to ever touch this planet, and that's where the blueprint came from," Engram explained.
Evan Engram committed to continuing process, setting up future for success
Entering Year 8, Engram is coming off of one of the best season's a tight end has had in NFL history. He caught 114 passes , the second most in a single season by a tight end in NFL history. Only former Eagles TE Zach Ertz (116) has had more. He set a new career high in 2023 with 963 receiving yards.
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He's a two-time Pro Bowler and is cemented as, arguably, the best tight end in Jaguars history. His skillset translates perfectly to modern-day NFL standards and though he's not a blocking tight end first, his relentlessness makes up for it plenty. He's talked about being used as a vertical threat more entering his third year with the Jags.
The on-field numbers, records and accolades will come, but his influence, because of his dedication, has been inspiring and it sets up the current and future Jaguars for success.
It rubs off on his teammates, Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence said Wednesday.
"He's doing all of the extra things and I think that's just a good example for the younger guys and also just for our team. Talking about being a leader on the team, a guy that comes to work every day with that mindset," Lawrence said of Engram.
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. #11 watches as quarterback Trevor Lawrence #16 and tight end Evan Engram #17 celebrate their touchdown throw and run respectively during the second quarter of a preseason NFL game Friday, Aug. 12, 2022 at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville. The Cleveland Browns defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 24-13. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
"He doesn't change, either. It's not like, 'I don't feel like doing it today, so I'm not going to — I've done it every other day but today I'm just going to just not go out there.' He's very consistent, does the same thing every day and it shows in the way he plays, too."
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Lawrence and Engram have had a close connection since the tight end joined the team. He quickly became one of Lawrence's go-to targets for first downs, totaling 47 last year, second to Calvin Ridley (49) in 2023. It wasn't by accident, either, Lawrence explained. Engram routinely sits in on the quarterbacks' meetings after practice when they watch tape during the season.
"And we're in there late on Wednesdays and Thursdays. There's some weeks where we'll throw a couple things back and forth and talk about some stuff, and there's some weeks where he just watches it with us and sits there and then he rolls at the end. But either way, it's that constant communication," Lawrence said.
Even when nobody is watching, Engram goes above and beyond the standard to reach his and his team's goals.
Engram's work ethic rubs off on others. Second-year TE Brenton Strange, for example, worked extra after practice Wednesday.
"Just being able to take the lessons I've learned, the wisdom I've gathered over the years, and still be able to apply it to, not only myself, but Brent [tight end Brenton Strange] and [tight end] Luke [Farrell] and the young guys around... it's cool being the vet, and it definitely doesn't feel it, it definitely doesn't look cool being old and being the vet," Engram said with a laugh.
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"But, it's a really cool feeling of just having guys willing to learn and will look up to me and embrace the knowledge that I have and things that I can offer them."
Personally, Engram's drive will continue to move in an upward trajectory. Historically, tight ends have some of the best longevity in the league (just look at former Jags tight end Marcedes Lewis, who's heading into his 19th season), and Engram feels he has the opportunity to be one of those players.
"I feel like I have the physical ability to continue to be a threat on the field at my position, and now the mental aspect, the wisdom and awareness. The game is just so slowed down for me," Engram said.
"Now, just being able to try slowing it down even more and continuing to be a great asset for my team, all the cool accolades, and records, all of that stuff. I just keep working hard and committed to my routine every single day."
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Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @Demetrius82 .
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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville Jaguars TE Evan Engram's 'relentless' drive for success
