{"id":434072,"date":"2026-08-15T21:50:09","date_gmt":"2026-08-15T21:50:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/434072\/"},"modified":"2026-08-15T21:50:09","modified_gmt":"2026-08-15T21:50:09","slug":"47-year-old-san-jose-dad-joins-college-football-team","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/434072\/","title":{"rendered":"47-year-old San Jose dad joins college football team"},"content":{"rendered":"

A college football athlete<\/a> whose injuries derailed his playing career during his freshman year has decided to come back onto the field and compete \u2014 at the age of 47.<\/p>\n

Justin Buzzard, a South Bay pastor<\/a> at Garden City Church, tried out for and made the football team this year for the San Jose City College Jaguars.<\/p>\n

Forty-eight-year-old San Jose City College defensive end Justin Buzzard. GetSportsFocus<\/p>\n

Buzzard told NBC Bay Area<\/a> that he got the idea after his son flagged for him a social media reel where a man in his sixties was playing football<\/a> on the East Coast. Buzzard said he played football all throughout high school and the first year of college.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt stirred up in me this thought of, maybe I should give it a shot,\u201d he said on reviving his football dreams.<\/p>\n

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A 47-year-old man joins the San Jose City College football team. NBC<\/p>\n

He reached out to a coach at the college, who to his surprise, agreed to talk with him. He now is lining up again as a defensive end, the position he played during his college experience, with his own locker and equipment.<\/p>\n

\u201cHere\u2019s the standard, here\u2019s the rules that we go by, as long as you can maintain those, I\u2019ll give you an opportunity,\u201d recounted Jim Winkler, head coach for the Jaguars, on what he first said to Buzzard.<\/p>\n

Winkler said having Buzzard on board is actually a benefit.<\/p>\n

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San Jose City College Head Football Coach Jim Winkler. NBC<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s been on the other side now. What I talk to these young guys about all the time, about not having regrets and leaving things undone, now he\u2019s coming back<\/a>,\u201d the coach said.<\/p>\n

There could be complications for his new football career, given he is older and now more susceptible to physical injuries. Buzzard told NBC that his body is bruised and aches here and there.<\/p>\n

Justin Buzzard in his football locker. Instagram\/justinbuzzardlife<\/p>\n

\u201cMy body\u2019s holding up a lot better than I thought,\u201d he said. \u201cFootball, that\u2019s the risk, is you get bruised, you get hurt, but I\u2019m doing pretty well.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ultimately, Buzzard said he\u2019s grateful for the opportunity and really enjoys his team.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a great brotherhood and family culture going on,\u201d said Buzzard, who acknowledges that his new teammates, whose fathers are likely his age, have nicknamed him \u201cOG.\u201d<\/p>\n

His first game will be Aug. 29 at San Jose City College, he said.<\/p>\n

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