National Football League

Rams LB Hager ready for first gig in city where father's NFL career ended

Published May. 18, 2015 11:39 a.m. ET

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ST. LOUIS -- When the Rams selected linebacker Bryce Hager in the seventh round of the NFL Draft, they knew they were getting a family dynasty.

Rams coach Jeff Fisher had helped scout and coach Hager's dad, Britt, during Fisher's time as a defensive coordinator with the Philadelphia Eagles. Fisher called the elder Hager an "outstanding" player, and confirmed he saw much of the father in the son.

In fact, it's easy to make comparisons between the two, though the elder Hager's last NFL season came in 1997. They're both linebackers with special teams experience, and they play sideline to sideline -- though, according to Bryce, he's "absolutely" the faster one. But the son has tried to strike a balance between following in his father's footsteps and being his own man.

"I take pride in that he was a very successful football player, and I try to model my game as much after him as I can," Hager says. "But I'm also trying to make my own name for myself."

That independence was one reason Hager decided to attend Baylor for college, rather than Texas, where his father played. At the time, it was something of a gamble, since Hager says Baylor wasn't really on the NFL's radar. But when quarterback Robert Griffin III won the Heisman in 2011 and the Bearcats compiled a couple seasons with 10 or more wins, things began to change.

"Eventually, we got more and more scouts at our Pro Day every year," Hager says.

Still, nothing was guaranteed. But Hager received an invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine and turned in a "stellar" performance, according to the Dallas Morning News.

"It's no secret that Hager is one of the faster linebackers coming out of the Big 12 this season, but he ranked near the top of athletic and strength measurements as well during his Combine experience," the article read. "He is still considered to be undersized for a linebacker, but his athletic measurements and 234-pound physique should push him up draft boards. "

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The performance, however, failed to generate enough interest for Hager to receive an invite for a pre-draft visit to an NFL team. But the young linebacker chose a positive approach to the situation.

"The way I took it is I think I did really well at the Combine. I did as well as I could," Hager explains. "So, I think my game tape kind of speaks for itself. Going off that, my Combine was good enough and my film was good enough."

His NFLdraft.com profile, meanwhile, had him projected as a sixth- or seventh-round pick. And as the seventh round of the draft rolled around, Hager was scanning NFL teams' depth charts to see which place might be a good fit, should he end up having to enter free agency. He noticed St. Louis -- where, ironically, the elder Hager had finished his career.

"I was talking with my agent and I was like, 'Hey, this place could be a good fit for me. I think it would be cool playing for the Rams with my dad's story,'" Hager recalls. "That was one of the teams me and my agent were looking at, seeing if I would fit in the scheme and all that stuff. It's crazy how it worked out."

It turns out the Rams were thinking along similar lines. They selected Hager with the first of their two seventh-round picks, 224th overall. The call sent Hager's dad tearing around the house, trying to find a TV to watch.

"He was fired up. I really didn't understand anything he was saying," Hager admits.

Hager played middle linebacker in college, and while St. Louis didn't necessarily have a need at the position entering the draft, the landing spot means he now has a chance to learn behind one of the game's best in James Laurinaitis. Fisher, meanwhile, believes Hager will have an impact from a special teams standpoint.

"Beyond that, we'll see how it goes," the coach says.

Hager, too, anticipates he might have a special teams role this season.

"Coming in with the Rams, they have a great defense, so I'm just hoping for the opportunity to be a special teams guy, fit in at linebacker wherever they need me," he says. "Whatever the team needs, I'm there for it."

You can follow Elisabeth Meinecke on Twitter at @lismeinecke or email her at ecmeinecke@gmail.com

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