Where Are They Now: Mac Stephens

Mac Stephens wasn’t with the Jets as long as he would have hoped, but what he experienced during that time has more than benefited his post-playing careers. – That’s careers with an s. – And the thing is, he’s experiencing them all at the same time.

Undrafted out of the University of Minnesota in 1990, the linebacker signed as a free agent with the New England Patriots. But despite turning heads during training camp, the numbers didn’t add up and he was released.

“They brought some veterans off the I.R. and had to make room, so I was the sacrificial lamb,” Stephens laughed. “We played Cincinnati (in the final preseason game) and they released me the next day. Three or four days later, I heard from the Jets organization and that’s kind of where it started.”

After making the just shy of four-hour drive from Boston to New York, Stephens made a fresh start by quickly impressing his new position coach Monte Kiffin and defensive coordinator Pete Carroll. As well as fifth-year veteran and first-year Jet Joe Kelly.

“Joe was instrumental in kind of helping me make that adjustment. Especially being a fellow linebacker,” Stephens said.

Stephens was initially placed on the practice squad, and activated for New York’s Week 13 game in San Diego.

“A lot of young guys want to grow up and play in the NFL. I worked really hard to get to that level,” Stephens said. “And at that point, one of the things I thought about is even though I wasn’t a starter and was just trying to stay on the team week to week, I was one percent of one percent. So it was a major accomplishment. And I was on cloud nine, to be quite honest.”

Stephens’ NFL debut, a 38-17 loss to the Chargers was memorable not only because it was the first time he stepped foot on the field, but also because of what he had to overcome to do so.

“When I was 11 years old, I had gotten hit by a car walking to a youth football practice. And at the time, they talked about possibly amputating my foot,” Stephens said. “So for me to be…