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New Green Bay Packers kicker Lucas Havrisik has revealed he was set to become a school teacher again before being offered a shock NFL lifeline this month.
Havrisik was on hand with a crucial kick in the Packers' victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, nailing a 39-yard field goal to put them up by nine with less than two minutes remaining.
It capped a whirlwind couple of days for the 26-year-old, who was only brought in as an emergency signing by Green Bay on Saturday after regular kicker Brandon McManus injured his right quad in practice earlier in the week.
The former Arizona Wildcat has played for the Indianapolis Colts, Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Rams and Buffalo Bills since going as an undrafted free agent in 2022, with his only regular-season kicks coming in LA in 2023.
And after working out with the New York Giants and Colts in recent weeks, a golden opportunity arose in Green Bay following the injury to McManus.
It came at the perfect time, too, with Havrisik - who is a former substitute teacher - planning to work at a school again before Packers GM Brian Gutekunst came calling.
Lucas Havrisik was set to become a substitute teacher again before signing with the Packers
Lucas Havrisik has been trying to get a real-life job, likely as a substitute teacher in Cleveland, but the Packers needed him to kick today. Made a 43-yarder and 39-yarder, the latter to put the Packers up nine with 1:52 left.
“I try to do my best to adapt to the situation.” pic.twitter.com/VUVgAD2NCx
The 26-year-old only signed with Green Bay last week following an injury to Brandon McManus
'I was probably gonna do substitute teaching again, try and get my credentials in Cleveland if they needed any,' he told reporters on Sunday.
'It's of course strange, but I try to do my best to adapt to the situation.'
Havrisik added: 'I don't know, I'm a little fried mentally I guess. But I just treat it as this is just your job and be as prepared as best as possible, and just be ready for a sudden change I guess.'
During his only active NFL season with the Rams, the former teacher made 15 of 20 field goals and 19 of 22 extra points. He most recently kicked for the United Football League's Dallas Renegades while keeping himself busy after being released by the Bills.
If McManus is fit in time for next Sunday's game in Arizona, Havrisik's only contribution for the Packers may well be his pivotal kick against the Bengals. It could even prove his last ever contribution in the NFL.
'Just very thankful for the opportunity man,' he told his teammates in the locker room after being awarded the game ball by head coach Matt LaFleur. 'Thanks for embracing me. God's really good. So I'm just really grateful, I love you guys.'
