For the proud parents of Seattle Seahawks rookie Grey Zabel, his remarkable journey to the NFL’s biggest stage is still setting in.
SAN FRANCISCO — Just months after the Seahawks drafted Grey Zabel in the first round of the NFL draft, the rookie offensive lineman is about to start at left guard in the Super Bowl.
The rare accomplishment is barely sinking in with Zabel’s family, who lives in Pierre, South Dakota.
“I had a friend ask the other day, ‘Can you believe your son is playing in the Super Bowl?’ I’m still trying to wrap my head around the fact he’s playing in the NFL, period. Let alone the Super Bowl. It’s been crazy,” said Tanna Zabel, Grey’s mom.
She and her husband Mark arrived in San Jose on Wednesday.
By Thursday afternoon, they were in San Francisco for a private event.
“We’re very thankful the Seahawks drafted him. It was a perfect fit for Grey. The coaching staff and players have taken him under their wing. He landed in the right spot,” said Mark Zabel.
Zabel, who played at North Dakota State University, has started every game at left guard this season.
“Grey always talked very highly about the locker room and his coaches. Everybody is clicking and there are no egos,” said Tanna.
Mark recalled a conversation from early in the season that, in hindsight, may have foreshadowed the team’s defensive strength.
“We would check in with him and he’d say, ‘Dad, these guys are very good… I’ve got my hands full trying to block these guys.’ We found out during the season how good the Seahawks defense is,” said Mark.
The two attended every home game this season and a couple away games.
“Lumen Field has been so much fun this season but the last two playoff games, it was unbelievable. I just stood there and took it all in, because it was crazy. I imagine Sunday will be the same,” said Tanna.
In a data-driven sport like football, where statistics are meticulously kept, it would have been virtually impossible to predict a kid from South Dakota, who played his college ball in North Dakota, would blossom into a budding star and make a Super Bowl start in his rookie season.
“Most importantly, Grey is still Grey. The Grey we knew. Good person, caring person, humble, that’s probably more important to me as a parent that he’s a good person than it is he’s a good football player,” Mark concluded.