We speak with Habakkuk Baldonado about his extraordinary journey from soccer-loving Italian teenager to NFL player, exploring how finding American football videos on YouTube changed the trajectory of his life.
• Growing up in Italy where soccer dominates, Baldonado realized he needed to find a different sport since professional soccer players are identified by age 12
• Watched "Here Comes the Boom" football highlights on YouTube which sparked his interest in the seemingly "insane" sport of football
• Made the decision to leave Italy at 17 to play high school football in Florida with what was initially planned as a six-month stay
• Received recruitment offers ranging from D3 to eventually top D1 programs
• Chose University of Pittsburgh partly because a coach challenged his toughness when he almost canceled a visit due to illness
• After an outstanding junior season with double-digit sacks and an ACC championship, made the difficult decision to return for his senior year
• Experienced challenges in his senior season including injuries, team performance issues, and fewer pass-rushing opportunities
• Went undrafted despite previous projections as a top-three round pick
• Currently playing in the CFL while maintaining his NFL aspirations
• Emphasizes the importance of understanding professional football as a business rather than just a sport
