Former Raiders punter Leo Araguz defied all odds to play in the NFL

Leo Araguz was teaching math at Coakley Middle School on a Monday morning in Harlingen, Texas, when he received the call that changed his life.

"You're coming back to Oakland," Raiders special teams coordinator Rusty Tillman told him. "Another tryout?" Araguz asked.

"No, you're punting."

Despite having multiple opportunities to quit on his dream of playing in the NFL, his destiny wouldn't be denied.

Araguz is the son of Mexican immigrants who made sacrifices to give their family the best life possible. Born in Pharr, Texas, Araguz and his family moved across the border to Reynosa, Mexico. Like most Latino kids, Araguz loved soccer, playing the sport until he was convinced in eighth grade to check out American football. It turned out he had a knack for punting.

After his collegiate career at Stephen F. Austin State University, Araguz got a tryout with the Dallas Cowboys, but he was told he was "too small" and that he would never make it in the NFL. That put a chip on his shoulder to prove them wrong.

Araguz ended up signing with the Miami Dolphins in 1994 and the San Diego Chargers in 1995, being released by both before the regular season kicked off. In 1996, he traveled overseas to play with the Germany-based Rhein Fire of the World League of American Football (NFL Europe). Each stint in professional football was followed up by a return to substitute teaching in Texas while still trying to find his next punting opportunity.

His hopes of playing in the NFL were brought back to life when he tried out for the Oakland Raiders following a season-ending injury to punter Jeff Gossett in Week 13 of the 1996 season. Leo was one of four punters to try out but ended up losing that competition to Rich Camarillo.

"Al Davis told me I was one of the best punters he had seen in a long time, yet he was going to sign Camarillo," Araguz said. "It was very disappointing, and it was a wake-up call for me to make the decision of going into teaching and coaching full-time."

His professional dreams may have started fading, but as fate would have it, Camarillo pulled a groin muscle during pregame warmups of what was going to be his first game in the Silver and Black. Just like that, Araguz was back in the mix.

Araguz made his NFL debut on December 9, 1996, in a primetime home win against Kansas City, his first of 51 games with the Raiders.

"I was numb, knowing I had been chasing this dream for so long," he said, reflecting on his first game. "I would work out during rainy, windy, and cold days, but it didn't matter because I knew that someday if I ever made it, I'd be punting in that situation. Then my first game with the Raiders was on a Monday night that was rainy, windy and cold. Being on that stage was an honor and a blessing. It was meant to be."

Araguz finished his time in the Silver and Black ranked fifth all-time in franchise history with an average of 42.9 yards per punt. His name is also in the NFL record books for his performance on October 11, 1998, against the Chargers in the Oakland Coliseum, where he had a total of 16 punts, most ever in a game in regulation.

The Raiders trailed 6-0 when he booted his final punt of the game. His team got the ball back after the two-minute warning in the fourth quarter and tied the score with a 68-yard touchdown catch from James Jett. The job wasn't done for Araguz though.

"That was one of the most nerve-wracking plays that I've ever been a part of," Araguz said, recalling the extra-point attempt following the lone touchdown of the Raiders' 7-6 victory. "Going out there to make sure I got that hold down, knowing that they were coming after it. Being able to put that ball down and getting the extra point for the win, it was definitely a great feeling."

Araguz is now the proud father of college students Alek and Noelle, and middle school student Nia, who is a seven-sport athlete at the same school where Leo was both a student and teacher. One of those sports Nia plays is football, where she is the kicker for Coakley Middle School. She wears the number 22 in honor of her father, who wore number 2 with the Raiders.

"Out of nowhere, she came home with a helmet and told me she wanted to play," Leo said. "I didn't force her to play football, she picked it. That's the school I played for, that's where I started my career. It's a good feeling seeing my little girl out there kicking field goals and kicking off. She's the only girl on the team and she loves it."

From soccer player to football player. From substitute teacher to NFL punter.

Latinos in the NFL are few and far between, but Leo defied the odds and is proud to have done it for his raza on the biggest stage.

"It was definitely an honor being able to represent a community of people that look like me," Araguz said. "Knowing that you're out there doing things that people always doubted you'd be able to do. If you chase a dream hard enough, everything is possible."