Arik Armstead, the standout defensive tackle for the Jacksonville Jaguars, is experiencing one of the best seasons of his 11-year career. On the field, Armstead dazzles with dominant displays of pass-rushing prowess. Away from football, his tireless work on behalf of civic engagement and volunteerism has rightfully earned him the coveted 2024 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.
So far this season, Armstead has proven he can do this, playing 69.4% of the defensive snaps. In 17 games, he has compiled two sacks, seven QB hits and 29 tackles. This season, he’s made just one start, the lowest number of his career since his 2015 rookie year. Nevertheless, Nick is still on pace to hit his second double-digit sack total of his career. His previous career-high in sacks was 10 from the 2019 season.
Armstead’s performance would make him one of the best defensive linemen in the game. He currently ranks tied for third in sacks among all interior defensive linemen, sharing this honor with Jeffery Simmons and Calais Campbell. The 6-foot-7, 290-pound athlete has been his most productive rushing from the interior. He assumed this position for the rest of his career after first playing a mix inside and outside his first nine years of his career with the San Francisco 49ers.
In a recent game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Armstead made some significant plays that exemplified his impact on the field. Jaguars’ defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile praised Armstead’s contributions, stating, “He’s doing a good job for us.”
Liam Coen, another member of the Jaguars’ coaching staff, emphasized Armstead’s diligence to practice and getting ready himself. He said, “To see him disrupting as much as he has, it is translating to practice. That’s what he’s doing under the radar every single day. He’s not a 13-year veteran player sitting on the side during practice. That doesn’t mean that he phones it in, that he doesn’t come with it in practice and in games. He’s been so consistent.”
Off the field, Armstead’s commitment is equally inspiring. Along with his wife, Dr. Mindy Armstead, he and his wife have made lasting impacts on their community through meaningful philanthropic efforts. In 2019, they started the Armstead Academic Project (AAP). Their aim is to provide new career exploration and exposure experiences for young people in municipalities such as Jacksonville, FL, New York, NY, San Francisco, CA and Sacramento, CA.
Armstead is deeply committed to these summer career camps and believes strongly that they are life-changing experiences for young people. He stated, “That’s what the career camps are all about: Meeting those youth where they’re at a time where they’re trying to figure out life and create exposure for them.”
He recognized that this age is important for adolescents, as they start to think about their future. Crack that open and unlock these kids’ pathways in the brain to start dreaming about what’s possible in their life. And it’s an ideal segue for these bigger children,” Armstead said. They’re already at this age, sort of in that mental, almost cognitive mental thought process of, ‘I’m kind of becoming an adult. I got to figure out college and getting a job.’”
Mindy Armstead joined her husband in expressing the camps’ importance. She expressed a desire to expand their reach, stating, “We’re trying to take the career camps on a national level.” She further emphasized the potential impact of these initiatives by noting, “Think about all the kids that we could impact that could be having this career exploration really open their eyes to different possibilities.”
As Armstead continues to excel on the field with his impressive statistics and contributions to team success, he remains equally committed to making a difference in the lives of young people in Jacksonville and beyond. His work as an athlete is a testament that communicates the pursuit of greatness in sport. Yet, as a civic leader, he shows a deep commitment to public service.
Leave a Reply