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Walk-on to Super Bowl: A look at Goedert’s journey to the big game

todayFebruary 5, 2025 2

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BROOKINGS, S.D. (KELO) — Dallas Goedert is a Britton, South Dakota native who has made quite the name for himself in the NFL. Goedert began his career at SDSU and now he’s in pursuit of winning his first Super Bowl.

Dan Jackson was named the new SDSU football coach in late December. Jackson spent time with SDSU from 2012-2018. In that time he had the chance to recruit in South Dakota and more specifically in Britton for Goedert.

“I’m from Omaha and I’ve recruited some bigger areas, but I thought I was lost. There were kindergartners walking past in the hall way and I remember asking a teacher where the high school was at,” Jackson said. “They were like ‘Dallas is here, you’re in the high school’.”

Britton backing Goedert on Sunday

Goedert redshirted his first season at SDSU, but made a name for himself on the scout team.

“Every day, Dallas would catch touchdowns on our defense, every day,” Jackson said. “It was hard for us to even get mad at our guys anymore, because we knew how talented he was.”

After an impressive first season, Jackson and some of the other defensive coaches, tried to poach Goedert from the offense.

“If this guys not going to get on the field at tight end right away, then we want him on defense,” Jackson said. “I remember having a pretty thorough discussion about moving Dallas to defense, because the defensive coaches just believed in him as an athlete. We were fighting for him and I don’t know if Dallas truly knows this. Thankfully coach Eidsness put a stop to it in the staff meeting.”

Goedert would go on to catch 198 passes for nearly 3,000 yards and 21 touchdowns. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

“Certain guys are complete tight ends. That means they block and they catch. They do all the things they need to do,” former SDSU head coach John Stiegelmeier said.

Goedert and the Eagles played for a Super Bowl crown in the 2022 season, but lost to the Chiefs. Now, they’ll get another shot to bring a title to Philadelphia.

“It really shows the type of guy that we recruit here and the evaluators that have been here as coaches to find talent and also develop it,” Jackson said.

“Dallas is a picture of pursue your dream. It’s common knowledge that he came here as a walk-on, proved us wrong really quickly and had a phenomenal career here,” Steigelmeier said. “He is one of the best tight ends in the NFL.”

Dan Jackson visits Dallas Goedert at Eagles game in PhiladelphiaDan Jackson visits Dallas Goedert at Eagles game in PhiladelphiaDan Jackson visits Dallas Goedert at Eagles game in Philadelphia

Coach Jackson has actually made a couple trips to Philadelphia to watch Dallas play for the Eagles. The Super Bowl airs on Sunday at 5:30 p.m.

Written by: The Dam Rock Station

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