BOZEMAN, Mont. — Brock Coyle joined eight Montana football standouts inducted into the Montana Pro Football Hall of Fame on June 27, a moment he said brought his entire football journey into focus.

“When I got the call, it just it makes you reflect on your whole football life. Everything you put into it, we worked so hard to get into the pros and to get this far. So to get the call and to be inducted, it meant everything. It really did,” Coyle said.

Coyle reached the NFL after building his path in Bozeman and later playing for the University of Montana. He said the honor was about more than his years as a pro.

“I mean, you always have a dream, right, to go to the NFL. But the journey I had is something so special. I’m truly so thankful for it,” said Coyle. “Great organizations in Seattle and San Francisco. But just the journey along the way. Bozeman High School, the Griz, all my teammates, coaches, it’s made me who I am today. So just very fortunate and blessed for it,” Coyle added.

Before playing in CenturyLink Stadium and Levi’s Stadium, Coyle made tackles at Van Winkle Stadium in Bozeman, and he hopes to serve as an inspiration for the next generation.

“We all come from some somewhere. And for all those kids growing up in Bozeman, you can do it. You know, you can go to the pros. You have those dreams. You work hard enough every single day. Dream big, believe in yourself and you can do it. And I just want to be an example for the next generation. If you guys want to do it, you can do it. Believe in yourself, work hard and you can get there,” Coyle said.

Coyle went undrafted in 2014, then signed with the Seattle Seahawks. He built a role on special teams before an injury to Bobby Wagner moved him into Seattle’s Legion of Boom defense at starting linebacker.

After three years in Seattle, he was traded to San Francisco. He proved to be an every-down linebacker for the 49ers before an injury ended his career at just 28 years old.

His retirement pushed him into a different chapter focused on tackling family matters opposed to tackling running backs.

“I’m busy changing diapers. I got two little girls. I got a 6-year-old boy. Love being a dad. I’m a husband. I’m an entrepreneur. But really, man, football’s been able to give me a life now possible that I’m able to do what I want to do. And that’s a huge blessing because, again, we put so much into this game. And so to be able to enjoy the fruits of your labor from it is something really special,” Coyle said.