I recently acquired this game-used jersey of former NFL player Margus Hunt.

Hunt had a ridiculous path to the NFL. He was born in Soviet-era Estonia and was a standout track and field athlete. He enrolled at SMU to further that career but by the time he arrived on campus, SMU shut down their track program. So what’s an athletic giant to do? Play football, of course.

Hunt began playing football for SMU and earned the nickname “The Eastern Block” due to his talent for blocking kicks. His size and ability was put on display at the NFL Combine, where he ran a 4.60 40-yard dash and bench pressed 38 reps at 225 lbs. Worth mentioning that he did all this at 6’8” and 277 lbs. The Bengals nabbed him in the 2nd round of the 2013 draft.

This jersey is from Hunt’s best season, which was 2018 with the Colts. He started 15 games and the jersey has battle scars from four of them. In this jersey he sacked Andy Dalton twice and Deshaun Watson once, also stuffing Joe Mixon and Leonard Fournette. Very happy to have the Eastern Block in my collection.

9/9/18 vs Cincinnati Bengals

2 sacks, 3 tackles

Photomatch: Getty Image 1030867028

9/30/18 vs Houston Texans

1 sack, 3 tackles

Photomatch: Getty Image 1043889922

10/21/18 vs Buffalo Bills

1 tackle

Photomatch: Getty Image 1052751794

11/11/18 vs Jacksonville Jaguars

2 tackles

Photomatch: Getty Image 1060924750

I recently acquired this 2013 Atlanta Falcons game-used jersey of offensive lineman Ryan Schraeder.

I normally don’t collect gamers of offensive linemen, primarily because their on-field experiences aren’t as eye catching as a running back or wide receiver, but this one tells a fun story. Schraeder started his first NFL game in this jersey, which was played in Toronto against the Bills. During that game, Schraeder blew open a huge hole that enabled Steven Jackson to score completely untouched from 27 yards out. The Falcons went on to win in overtime and Schraeder built an impressive career in the years to come.

Ryan’s career trajectory also makes this one noteworthy. He played 0 high school football games, which means my year of freshman football gives me more high school experience than a multi-year NFL player (and for the record, I started all 7 games and logged 1 reception). Ryan was busy playing baseball and basketball through high school, plus he wasn’t that big. Luckily for him, he grew a foot after high school and got into football while at Butler Community College. He bulked up to bring his weight in line with his height, and his Wikipedia page states that he once “put a Valdosta IHOP on a temporary hiatus because of how many pancakes he was able to consume on ‘National Free Pancake Day’ in 2013.”

Lord, please don’t let that be lowbrow Wiki vandalism.

This jersey represents an unconventional rise to the pros and several years of hard work (and pancake consumption). Glad to have it in my collection.

Photomatch

Getty Image # 453940217

Great deals on Fanatics for team jerseys and apparel. Up to 70% off, but I found a better deal with the Sean Taylor jersey for $50 original retail price $335. Check out the link below and see if you find some great steals.

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Last year I posted about a St. Louis Rams Super Bowl 36 jersey I purchased with the hope that it was used in the game by defensive lineman Brian Young. I normally only purchase jerseys that I can prove were game-used, but I gambled on this one because if it was indeed game-used, then it would’ve been the jersey that registered the first-ever tackle of Tom Brady in a Super Bowl.

@MattOneDay happened to be a Rams equipment staffer that season, and he saw my post and sent me a message to discuss. Upon closer examination, he concluded it was only an issued jersey, not game-used, but probably worn during team photos in the lead-up to the big game. I suspected the same but appreciate the confirmation. This is one of the reasons I love Mantel!

The biggest loss suffered here is not by me, but rather by Matt, who was forced to endure a litany of questions from me about how NFL teams prepare and maintain their jerseys. Thanks again - and don’t be surprised if you hear from me in the future!

The newest addition to my game-used jersey collection is this 2021 Cleveland Browns jersey worn by defensive back Troy Hill.

This jersey is a rarity. Hill suffered a neck sprain while making a hit on a Patriots receiver in the fourth quarter of their showdown on 11/14/21. Out of an abundance of caution, he was placed onto the spineboard and the team followed neck injury protocol, which includes making a T-cut through the jersey so it can be removed from the player during testing without disturbing their head. Fortunately for Hill, it was a scare rather than a devastating injury, and he was back on the field a couple weeks later.

Before Fanatics sold this jersey through their site, either someone from Fanatics or the Browns sewed the jersey back together. I spent two hours meticulously removing that stitching because the story of that game—and the toughness of Troy Hill—can only be told through the jersey’s final form.

Hill had a productive 10-year career across several teams, consistently serving as an effective run stopper from the corner position. He now serves as the head football coach of his former high school in southern California.