Path From Undrafted to Unforgettable
Jersey Kid to Wisconsin
Overlooked to Champion
Back Again for the Win
New York, Full Power Mode
From Linebacker to Leader
SūmerSports
Measure up 001
Jonathan Casillas
Path from undrafted to unforgettable
“The game is mental before it's physical. If you don't adjust, you're done.”
When Jonathan Casillas talks about football, his eyes light up with the same intensity that once made him one of the NFL's most relentless linebackers. But what sets him apart isn't just his physicality, it's his emotional intelligence, his adaptability, and his relentless drive to get better.
"Football is a game full of emotions," he says. "But you can't let emotions control you. You have anger? Okay, use it. You don't let it use you."
That mindset didn't come from easy wins. It was forged on a painful day early on in his career: draft day. The celebration was planned, family gathered, phones charged and ready... but the calls never came.
"You know how terrible that was?" Casillas says, the sting still raw years later. What happened next would define everything. He gave himself 2 to 3 minutes to process the pain, then made a declaration that would set his trajectory:
"I'm taking somebody's effing job."
Casillas’ Career in Numbers
2
Super Bowl Championships
9
Years in NFL
102
Games
3761
Snaps
2629
D. Snaps
1132
ST. Snaps
6.5
Sacks
263
Solo Tackles
21
Tackles for Loss
19
QB Hits
3
Forced Fumbles
College
NFL Teams
It wasn't just talk. It was survival. In the NFL, especially as an undrafted free agent, every day is a fight. Every day, someone's coming for your spot and you have to take someone else's.
With that fire, Casillas grinded and kept grinding. From an overlooked rookie to a Super Bowl champion with the Saints. In his second year, he dominated joint practices against the Patriots. When veteran Kevin Faulk challenged him to an extra rep, Casillas shut him down so completely that, in his words, “he didn’t even get off the line.” He carried that momentum into a preseason game, racking up 11 tackles in just three quarters.
He was ready. Then came the setback. In the final preseason game, a routine third-down tackle changed everything. His foot “exploded” inside his shoe, a devastating Lisfranc injury that could have ended it all.
The Intelligence of Adaptation
Casillas had two choices: let the injury define him or evolve. He chose the latter.
"I couldn't run like I used to," he admits. "But the game is mental before it's physical. If you don't adjust, you're done."
He became obsessed with efficiency. Film study wasn't just about opponents anymore; it was about himself.
"I know what I look like," he says. "Am I getting to my spots? Am I meeting blocks with the same intensity? Am I diagnosing plays faster to make up for a lost step?"
For years, this kind of self-awareness was the only way players could measure themselves. Casillas had no data to confirm what his instincts told him. He had to rely on feel.
But what if he'd had more?
Measuring Up in the Modern Era
Today's players don't have to rely on gut feel alone. They have data, film breakdowns and real-time performance insights. Casillas sees it as a game-changer (and a missed opportunity).
"If I had known what I know now, I would've invested way more into my body. Staying ahead of injuries, not just fixing them after they happen."
The modern NFL isn't just a test of strength and speed. It's a test of knowledge. Players who know how to measure themselves before stepping on the field are the ones who will stay.
The Next Generation of Excellence
Casillas's journey isn't just about football. It's about resilience, adaptation, and the ability to evolve. He proved success isn't just about talent; it's also about mindset.
It's about measuring yourself, and making changes before the game forces your hand.
And now, the next generation has tools Casillas never did. Access to data, to training resources, to insights that sharpen the edge even before the first snap.
The question is, will they use it?
Because as Casillas puts it: "Nobody gets to the NFL by mistake. Not one person."
But the ones who stay? The ones who thrive? They're the ones who know how to measure up.
Life After the Game
Today, Casillas channels that same intensity into community service and mentorship. As an ambassador for the New York Giants and founder of the Forward Progress Football Camp he's known for going above and beyond. Like when he quietly purchased four televisions for a Newark family in need, only telling the team after the fact.
His story is a blueprint for the complete athlete. Excellence isn't just about what you do on the field, it's also about what you do off of it.
"Everything that I learned in football," Casillas says, "literally everything in life, can be tracked back to what I learned from the game."
For the next wave of athletes chasing greatness, Casillas's story is a reminder: talent gets you noticed, but grit and growth keep you standing. And knowing how to measure up, that's what makes you unforgettable.
Forward Progress Camp
Information regarding registration, volunteering, sponsorships and/or partnerships, transportation, insurance, and curriculum please visit forwardprogresscamp.com