When I get out on the field, it's all about football. I love football.
— Austin Seferian-Jenkins
I want to be great at everything. I want to be the best at everything.
I've split out, played receiver, I've been a fullback, I've been in-line.
I don't really care where I go because wherever I go, they're going to get a very talented, driven guy that's going to get every inch of his potential out, max everything I have in my body out.
I don't want to try to sell myself or portray something that I'm not.
I want to be a dominant pass rusher. I think I can do that with my body type and my work ethic.
People in Seattle and Tacoma know who I am as a person, and I don't think I am a character risk or have a character issue at all.
I need to take care of my mom and making sure she's financially OK. She's done so much for me, it's the least thing I can do.
I'm Austin Seferian-Jenkins. He's Tony Gonzalez. He's the best tight end to ever play the game. So that's a real strong comparison. I'm just going to do my job and leave the comparisons up to the coaches and the media.
I'm a villain. But hey, villains have fans, too. They might have more fans than the heroes, and I'm OK with that.
I hold myself to a very high standard. But you're going to make mistakes. You've got to erase it and move forward.
I think that people that don't really understand the game of football and are just fans that think people just show up on Saturday and go, I don't think they understand the work that we put in here and what our schemes are and what we're trying to do.
Playing on Saturdays, seeing 75,000 people yell your name, 88, ASJ, and all of that stuff is great.
I just want to support my mom. I have everything I need. I don't need to buy anything.
I think people make a really big deal that I'm this big character-issue guy, and I've got red flags. I'm not.
Every single day since Day 1, to Day 2, to Day 3, to Day 4, to Day 5, to Day 6, to Day 7 to Day 8, whatever day it is now, I've gotten better.
Granted, everybody is different, but I think it's real important to know all the people that you are around, and how they operate their history, and things like that. You know where they are coming from a little bit, and you don't insult them, or take something for granted.
Preparation starts after the game before.
Texas is a great program. The respect they gave me was amazing.
When you lose things like football, which is the game I love - and this is the most important thing in my life - it really puts everything in perspective.
Quite frankly, I just want to be playing at the highest level of football. That's the most important thing to me.
I'm going to take full advantage of my opportunities.
I want to play defense. I want to get sacks.
Last time I checked, no one is perfect.
The idea that I can provide for my mother and play at the highest level in the world for football and compete against the best guys in the world - it's a very exciting idea.
Someone has to be the villain. I'm the most villainized player right now. People don't like me.
I fail every once in a while, but failing is your first attempt at learning. I'm not worried about it.
You've got to invest your own time, invest your own resources into creating a better world, not only for yourself but for the people you surround yourself with.
I really don't care about my numbers.
I don't pay attention to stats or anything like that. I just pay attention to how I play and the intensity that I play with.
I love donating my time and serving other people. Just seeing the faces of people in need light up when they see you... There is no way I can put it into words. You feel like you did something right.
I played basketball my whole life. It definitely helps. It translates to going up for rebounds and going up for balls in the end zone. Quick feet. It helps with getting in and out of your cuts. It definitely all translates to football.
I don't care what the depth chart is. I don't care what I'm on. I'm going to enjoy it, and I'm going to seize every opportunity that I get, because that's the most important thing.
There's a lot of people in this world, and it's important to learn about them.
My dad showed me a football and would throw it up and have my dog - a German Shepherd - chase me around when I went after the ball. I caught it because I was scared of that dog. The next year, my dad talked to the commissioner of a local league and convinced him to let me play as a first grader with third graders.
Ever since I was growing up, I knew I was going to play in the NFL. I never thought anything else.
I have to hold up my end of the bargain and do what's expected of me.
I'm me: I'm a fun, easy-going guy that likes to work hard, who's very driven and determined.
I think I just need more time to refine my skills, and I can be a dominant pass rusher.
I won the John Mackey Award, so I did something right.
I've done everything I can at the University of Washington... I know I'm ready for the NFL.
I just want to be the best version of me.
If someone has to be the villain, I'll be the villain. I have no problem with it. The movies still say, 'Starring... the villain.'
If you don't do it the way coaches ask you to do something, and someone else does it the way it's supposed to be done, that's just natural life.
It's not about me. I think people are too caught up with what I'm doing. It's just numbers. I'm trying to win.
I had to go to jail, which was probably the most humbling thing I've ever had to deal with in my life.
I'm who I am. I'm confident. I think it's weird if you're not confident.
You have setbacks in your life, and adversity. You can be discouraged about it or have courage to get through it and be better.
I love Coach Koetter.
I'm a player, the coaches coach.
