University of Houston Athletics
Early Excited to Cheer on Son in Super Bowl LIV
2/2/2020 9:49:00 AM | Football
HOUSTON – Houston defensive line coach Brian Early prefers to be on the sidelines.
He loves being able to see his unit make plays, whether it is disrupting the passer or stopping the run - it is all a part of being close to the action.
But when he enters Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Sunday night for Super Bowl LIV to watch his adopted son Dre Greenlaw cap off his rookie season with the San Francisco 49ers, Early will be coaching every play from his seat. As a fan.
Both Early and Greenlaw have experienced plenty of new things over the past year. Early just completed his first season as an assistant with the Cougars, while Greenlaw has continued to exceed expectations as a rookie linebacker after being drafted in the fifth round last April by the 49ers.
Now their journeys together come full circle on the world's biggest stage.
"Dre has been so blessed to have been drafted by a great organization," Early said. "He's getting to play for the Super Bowl in his first NFL season and that's amazing, but he really walked into a great situation. He's an example of a guy being prepared and making the best of his opportunity."
Their relationship began when Greenlaw entered his freshman year at Fayetteville (Ark.) High School, where Early was defensive coordinator. Greenlaw, who had spent his entire life as a ward of the state, was in need of a new home after the boy's home he grew up in announced it was closing.
Two days before Christmas in 2012, he found his new home – with the Early family.
From there, Greenlaw excelled and gathered plenty of college offers. When Early moved to Jonesboro, Ark., to take a spot on the staff at Arkansas State, his first player to receive a scholarship offer for the Red Wolves was Greenlaw.
With plenty of offers on the table, Greenlaw ultimately chose Arkansas and became an All-SEC player for the Razorbacks. Heading into his senior season, he officially became a member of the Early family.
After being selected as a member of the San Francisco 49ers in 2019 NFL Draft, Greenlaw has taken advantage of every opportunity.
Many scouts expected him to be a backup and special teams contributor as a rookie, but he has found his way onto the field and made key plays during San Francisco's run to their first Super Bowl appearance in 25 years as a part of the league's top defense. He recently earned a spot on the NFL's All-Rookie Team.
"When he became a starter he didn't look back. Dre has played well enough even though a guy like Kwon Alexander came back from injury, they've continued to play Dre," Early stated. "That speaks volumes to me as a coach about what they think about him and his ability to make plays.
"Dre wanted to be relevant. He knew that special teams was going to be a way for him to make an impact, but he's busted his tail in all of their practices and taken advantage of every chance he has gotten so far. As his dad, that makes me extermely proud."
Greenlaw was inserted into the starting lineup early in the season and has not looked back. He grabbed his first interception of the season in Week 10 against the Seattle Seahawks and would solidify the 49ers' position as the No. 1 seed in the NFC with a game-saving tackle at the 1-yard line against Seattle in Week 17.
"When he made that play against the Seahawks to seal home-field advantage, it was him doing what he's done all his life," Early said. "Make plays when he's called upon. Dre had to work every day to get to where is. There's not many rookies that become every down players in their first season in the NFL and he's been able to do that."
Early doesn't always get to catch Greenlaw's games. As a college coach, Sunday is work day. Those mornings and afternoons are spent reviewing the film from the previous game, grading player's performances and prepping for a new week and new scheme.
"A lot of times this year, the 49ers were on around the office while our coaching staff would be watching film and I'd catch a play here and there," said Early. "During our season, I can't sit down and take in every snap he plays.
"The good thing is that we talk during the week and he walks me through certain situations, or we talk about a big stop he made. It has been fun to be able to listen to him and to see his development this season has been exciting for our whole family."
When Early, and his wife, Nanci, take their seats inside Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday they know the journey from Arkansas to Houston to Miami to see Dre play in the Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs will be surreal to say the least.
But it has all been worth it.
"It's going to be hard to sit in the stands. I'd love to be on the sidelines because I love the action, but I'm going to get excited when he makes plays and hopefully he gets to leave the stadium on Sunday as a Super Bowl champion."
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He loves being able to see his unit make plays, whether it is disrupting the passer or stopping the run - it is all a part of being close to the action.
But when he enters Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Sunday night for Super Bowl LIV to watch his adopted son Dre Greenlaw cap off his rookie season with the San Francisco 49ers, Early will be coaching every play from his seat. As a fan.
Both Early and Greenlaw have experienced plenty of new things over the past year. Early just completed his first season as an assistant with the Cougars, while Greenlaw has continued to exceed expectations as a rookie linebacker after being drafted in the fifth round last April by the 49ers.
Now their journeys together come full circle on the world's biggest stage.
"Dre has been so blessed to have been drafted by a great organization," Early said. "He's getting to play for the Super Bowl in his first NFL season and that's amazing, but he really walked into a great situation. He's an example of a guy being prepared and making the best of his opportunity."
Their relationship began when Greenlaw entered his freshman year at Fayetteville (Ark.) High School, where Early was defensive coordinator. Greenlaw, who had spent his entire life as a ward of the state, was in need of a new home after the boy's home he grew up in announced it was closing.
Two days before Christmas in 2012, he found his new home – with the Early family.
From there, Greenlaw excelled and gathered plenty of college offers. When Early moved to Jonesboro, Ark., to take a spot on the staff at Arkansas State, his first player to receive a scholarship offer for the Red Wolves was Greenlaw.
With plenty of offers on the table, Greenlaw ultimately chose Arkansas and became an All-SEC player for the Razorbacks. Heading into his senior season, he officially became a member of the Early family.
After being selected as a member of the San Francisco 49ers in 2019 NFL Draft, Greenlaw has taken advantage of every opportunity.
Many scouts expected him to be a backup and special teams contributor as a rookie, but he has found his way onto the field and made key plays during San Francisco's run to their first Super Bowl appearance in 25 years as a part of the league's top defense. He recently earned a spot on the NFL's All-Rookie Team.
"When he became a starter he didn't look back. Dre has played well enough even though a guy like Kwon Alexander came back from injury, they've continued to play Dre," Early stated. "That speaks volumes to me as a coach about what they think about him and his ability to make plays.
"Dre wanted to be relevant. He knew that special teams was going to be a way for him to make an impact, but he's busted his tail in all of their practices and taken advantage of every chance he has gotten so far. As his dad, that makes me extermely proud."
Greenlaw was inserted into the starting lineup early in the season and has not looked back. He grabbed his first interception of the season in Week 10 against the Seattle Seahawks and would solidify the 49ers' position as the No. 1 seed in the NFC with a game-saving tackle at the 1-yard line against Seattle in Week 17.
"When he made that play against the Seahawks to seal home-field advantage, it was him doing what he's done all his life," Early said. "Make plays when he's called upon. Dre had to work every day to get to where is. There's not many rookies that become every down players in their first season in the NFL and he's been able to do that."
That's my boy!!!!! @DreGreenlaw pic.twitter.com/82OrD4LC0i
— Brian Early (@coachbrianearly) December 30, 2019
Early doesn't always get to catch Greenlaw's games. As a college coach, Sunday is work day. Those mornings and afternoons are spent reviewing the film from the previous game, grading player's performances and prepping for a new week and new scheme.
"A lot of times this year, the 49ers were on around the office while our coaching staff would be watching film and I'd catch a play here and there," said Early. "During our season, I can't sit down and take in every snap he plays.
"The good thing is that we talk during the week and he walks me through certain situations, or we talk about a big stop he made. It has been fun to be able to listen to him and to see his development this season has been exciting for our whole family."
When Early, and his wife, Nanci, take their seats inside Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday they know the journey from Arkansas to Houston to Miami to see Dre play in the Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs will be surreal to say the least.
But it has all been worth it.
"It's going to be hard to sit in the stands. I'd love to be on the sidelines because I love the action, but I'm going to get excited when he makes plays and hopefully he gets to leave the stadium on Sunday as a Super Bowl champion."
STAY CONNECTED
Follow Houston Football on Twitter and Instagram at @UHCougarFB, and "Like" Houston Cougar Football on Facebook.
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