Rookie Justin Britt pulls double duty as starter on the field, father at home
Sep 3, 2014, 6:22 AM | Updated: 7:29 am
Seattle Seahawks rookie tackle Justin Britt, left, squares off against rookie defensive end Cody Bauer, right, during practice drills, Friday, May 16, 2014, at an NFL football rookie mini camp in Renton, Wash. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
(AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
The Seahawks’ Justin Britt has a lot going on for a 22-year-old rookie. Not only is he transitioning into the NFL, he’s learning how to be a good father.
Most rookies simply have to worry about the playbook and fighting for limited playing time. But the Hawks second 2nd-Round draft pick out of Missouri, Justin Britt, has a little more on his plate.
Britt’s daughter Navy is about turn 2 years old. He has a new playbook and diapers to deal with.
“She’s the reason I’m doing stuff now,” Britt said. “I want her to have a good life and not have to struggle or anything. I just want to play this game as long as God will let me and be able to provide for her.”
As a young husband and father, Britt realizes that he’s able to live his NFL dream because of a great supporting cast.
“My wife is very understanding,” he said. “She understands my job and my career. Her job is to take care of my daughter during the day, and I’ll come home at night and she’ll get some free time while I hang out with my daughter. I’ll go watch film after that, and she’ll put her to bed. We have a routine, and we have an understanding of what needs to happen so I can keep doing this.”
Britt has a bright future ahead of him. He’s played well enough in camp and in the preseason to be named the starting right tackle for Thursday’s season opener.
“It’s humbling and very motivating to be around these guys, see how hard they work and see how bad they want it – not how bad they want a Super Bowl – but how bad they want to be great overall,” Britt said.
Britt admits he had some rough days early in training camp.
“I’ve had some days where I was really frustrated and was getting angry at myself, but I’ve had days where I go out there and don’t mess up,” he said. “It’s all a learning tool. I’m just out here trying to get better.”
At the end of practice, he said he knows he has a loving wife and young daughter at home to make any negativity go away. That’s where you can find him when he’s not at practice. “I pretty much stick with my family. I see a lot of these guys a lot. I like my family time.”
You can catch Britt with his second family tomorrow night at CenturyLink Field, sandwiched between J.R. Sweezy and Zach Miller.
