From Jets to Patriots: Rich Ohrnberger's Path to the NFL

New England is in town to take on the Jets this weekend, and for one Patriots player, the trip is a reminder of his nearby stomping grounds in East Meadow.

"It's always nice to go home," Rich Ohrnberger, 25, said. "East Meadow is where my experience in football began."

Ohrnberger's primary sport was lacrosse until eighth grade, so he did not root for either the Jets or the Giants. In fact, when he started watching football games, Ohrnberger followed New England closely because of their continued success.

"I focused on lacrosse until I started playing football," Ohrnberger said. "I watched a lot of the better teams on television, and the Patriots were one of my favorites."

Ohrnberger, a graduate of , never expected to be taken in the NFL Draft in 2009. When his phone rang during the fourth round, the New England Patriots proved Ohrnberger’s expectations wrong. Coach Bill Belichick welcomed Ohrnberger to the NFL, and his dreams of becoming a professional football player had come true.

“I was sitting in the living room with my family and some friends when the phone rang,” Ohrnberger said. “I can say, without doubt, that that was the happiest day of my life.” 

Just two years later, Ohrnberger will be on the sidelines when the Jets take on the rival Patriots Sunday night, although he will be inactive after suffering a concussion in the Patriots' final pre-season game.

"Just like every week, all we can be concerned with is our preparation," Ohrnberger said. "We are concentrating only on this game, and we're putting together the best game plan we can."

After playing one year for junior varsity in high school, Ohrnberger joined Vincent Mascia on varsity. He played both offensive and defensive line. During his time at EMHS, Ohrnberger won the Thorp and Martone awards, given to Nassau County’s most outstanding player and most outstanding lineman, respectively.

“It became a passion and something I knew I wanted to pursue,” Ohrnberger said. “That’s the main thing I got from high school. I fell in love with the sport.”

After Ohrnberger’s junior season, Mascia said it was about time that they put together a highlight tape to send to colleges.

"Anybody that's gotten to the level he's gotten to was extremely special as a football player," Mascia said. "But he was really special as a kid too."

Five months and 57 pounds later, Ohrnberger was ready to showcase himself to scouts and coaches. He had to make a tough choice, but he decided to head to Penn State and play for coach Joe Paterno.

“I was picking from some really great schools with really great football programs,” Ohrnberger said. “I wanted to go to a place that I knew I’d feel comfortable because it reminded me of my high school football program.”

Ohrnberger was then drafted by the Patriots, thus fulfilling his ultimate dream.

When asked about the recent Penn State football scandal surrounding Assistant Football Coach Jerry Sandusky being indicted on 40 counts of sex crimes and alleged involvement of Coach Joe Paterno and President Graham Spanier, Ohrnberger didn't have much to say.

"Being a few years departed from the football program and gathering my information from news articles and television reports like the rest of the country, I don't have any further insight into what's been reported," Ohrnberger said. "I can't really intelligently comment on the scandal or anything going on at Penn State College right now."