I’m 330lbs lineman drafted by Raiders who refused to play on Sundays and turned down $1.5m to become a bishop
Some things are bigger than sports. Just ask Eli Herring. Herring was a standout offensive lineman for the BYU Cougars in the 90sYouTube@grassroots4dan A man who was destined to make millions of dollars in the NFL, but shockingly chose a different career path and has been at peace with his decision for over three decades. For Herring, his religious beliefs and foundation was bigger than a life in the NFL. Herring was a dominant offensive lineman for the BYU Cougars in the early 1990s. Standing at a staggering 6-foot-8 and 330 pounds, Herring earned honorable mention All-WAC in 1993 and second team All-WAC honors in 1994. He was projected to go in the first three rounds of the 1995 NFL draft. However, leading up to the draft, Herring wrote letters to every NFL team informing them he had no intention of playing professional football, as he refused to work on Sabbath. Herring was, and still is, a devout member of the Mormon Church and LDS (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). Despite knowing this, numerous teams hinted to Herring that they would still draft him in the seventh round, assuming he would change his mind and be able to sign him on an extremely inexpensive deal. The Oakland Raiders ended up selecting Herring in the sixth round of the 1995 draft despite Herring being crystal clear he wasn’t going to play. Raiders senior assistant Bruce Allen even flew to Provo, Utah and offered Herring a three-year, $1.5 million contract to come play. The Raiders ended up selecting Herring in the sixth round of the 1995 drafYouTube@CBSSports He decided to forgo football as he didn’t want to play on the SabbathYouTube@CBSSports Bruce Allen tried his best to get Herring to sign with OaklandGetty Herring refused, just as he said he would do. He turned down the $1.5 million deal and instead has since became an LSD bishop and maths teacher. He said he would keep the Sabbath Day holy, and he has kept his promise to himself. He is married with seven children and works as a school teacher and assistant football coach at Mountain View High School in Orem, Utah. And he doesn’t regret a thing. “There was never a regret,” Herring told Desert News in 2015. “The main thing is that I know something now that I was acting on faith on 20 years ago. He turned down $1.5m from the Raiders and became a bishop insteadYouTube@CBSSports He works as a school teacher and assistant football coach at Mountain View High School in Orem, UtahYouTube@CBSSports “That is, I believed that the Lord would bless me and keep promises that I have learned about as I have studied the scriptures and listened to the prophets. Now I know that. “After 20 years, He’s kept his promises abundantly. I’m very grateful and I’m glad I made that decision.” Herring was asked if he ever thinks about how different his life would be if he had chosen to go to the NFL. “Oh yeah,” he answered. “I don’t have any idea other than it would have been more money, so I would have been in a bigger home with nicer cars somewhere else. “But I wouldn’t have been happier than I am now.” It all worked out for Herring, but it is still always fun to ask the question, “What if?” Stay up to date with the latest from across the NFL via our talkSPORT Facebook page, and subscribe to our Endzone YouTube channel for news, view and exclusive interviews as we build up to the NFL Draft in April
Some things are bigger than sports.
Just ask Eli Herring.
A man who was destined to make millions of dollars in the NFL, but shockingly chose a different career path and has been at peace with his decision for over three decades.
For Herring, his religious beliefs and foundation was bigger than a life in the NFL.
Herring was a dominant offensive lineman for the BYU Cougars in the early 1990s.
Standing at a staggering 6-foot-8 and 330 pounds, Herring earned honorable mention All-WAC in 1993 and second team All-WAC honors in 1994.
He was projected to go in the first three rounds of the 1995 NFL draft.
However, leading up to the draft, Herring wrote letters to every NFL team informing them he had no intention of playing professional football, as he refused to work on Sabbath.
Herring was, and still is, a devout member of the Mormon Church and LDS (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints).
Despite knowing this, numerous teams hinted to Herring that they would still draft him in the seventh round, assuming he would change his mind and be able to sign him on an extremely inexpensive deal.
The Oakland Raiders ended up selecting Herring in the sixth round of the 1995 draft despite Herring being crystal clear he wasn’t going to play.
Raiders senior assistant Bruce Allen even flew to Provo, Utah and offered Herring a three-year, $1.5 million contract to come play.
Herring refused, just as he said he would do.
He turned down the $1.5 million deal and instead has since became an LSD bishop and maths teacher.
He said he would keep the Sabbath Day holy, and he has kept his promise to himself.
He is married with seven children and works as a school teacher and assistant football coach at Mountain View High School in Orem, Utah.
And he doesn’t regret a thing.
“There was never a regret,” Herring told Desert News in 2015.
“The main thing is that I know something now that I was acting on faith on 20 years ago.
“That is, I believed that the Lord would bless me and keep promises that I have learned about as I have studied the scriptures and listened to the prophets. Now I know that.
“After 20 years, He’s kept his promises abundantly. I’m very grateful and I’m glad I made that decision.”
Herring was asked if he ever thinks about how different his life would be if he had chosen to go to the NFL.
“Oh yeah,” he answered.
“I don’t have any idea other than it would have been more money, so I would have been in a bigger home with nicer cars somewhere else.
“But I wouldn’t have been happier than I am now.”
It all worked out for Herring, but it is still always fun to ask the question, “What if?”
Stay up to date with the latest from across the NFL via our talkSPORT Facebook page, and subscribe to our Endzone YouTube channel for news, view and exclusive interviews as we build up to the NFL Draft in April
