47-Year-Old Father of 3 Makes His College Football Debut

September 19, 2026

Sometimes, all it takes is a little encouragement to revisit a dream you thought was long behind you. For 47-year-old pastor Justin Buzzard, a suggestion from his son led to an unexpected college football comeback.

Justin Buzzard (left) and his family / Facebook

Buzzard, a defensive lineman for San Jose City College in California, had dreamed of playing college football when he enrolled at Whitworth College in Washington. But injuries kept him from ever seeing the field, and he eventually walked away from the sport.

For the next 30 years, football was something he enjoyed from the sidelines, cheering on his three sons and helping them with their own athletic pursuits.

Then, one day, his eldest son, Cru, suggested something unexpected.

“Maybe you should play college football,” Cru told him.

Buzzard initially thought the idea was ridiculous.

“I just thought that immediately sounded crazy,” he told The Mercury News. “That idea had never occurred to me at all.”

But the idea stuck with him. “I thought, ‘Maybe I should give this a shot.’”

A Second Chance at 47

Buzzard began considering what it would take to return to the game. He made a list of the pros and cons.

“The pro list was super long,” he told ABC News. “The con list was, ‘What if I got hurt?’”

Eventually, he decided to go for it.

San Jose City College gave him an opportunity to compete, and Buzzard committed to the same training and expectations as the rest of the team. He even gained 10 pounds of muscle while preparing for the season.

According to head coach Jim Winkler, Buzzard earned his place just like every other player.

“He has the same requirements that every other player has, whether they’re half his age or not,” Winkler said. “And so far, he’s met all those requirements.”

Beyond his physical preparation, Buzzard quickly became a valued member of the team. He led prayers, encouraged his younger teammates, and brought a level of dedication that impressed the players around him.

“He definitely doesn’t take anything off,” teammate Preston Conrad said. “He definitely earned it.”

Two Plays That Meant Everything

On August 29, with just over five minutes remaining in San Jose City College’s game against College of the Redwoods, Buzzard finally heard his name called.

He jogged onto the field at right defensive end, ready to take his first college football snap.

On his opening play, Buzzard won his matchup against the opposing left tackle and hurried the quarterback, helping create an opening for linebacker Kyler Headley to make a third-down sack.

Buzzard played just two snaps that afternoon.

San Jose City College lost the game 41–21, but the final score meant little to Buzzard. After waiting 30 years, he had finally played college football.

His teammates celebrated him on the sideline, while players from the opposing team greeted him in the handshake line and called him “the man of the hour.”

“It felt great,” Buzzard told the Bay Area News Group. “You prepare a lot in football to just play a little. So it was great to actually get a rep. It felt good. I’m hungry for more.”

Credit: Justin Buzzard / @grifflix_

The Dream Isn't Over Yet

Buzzard celebrated his 48th birthday on September 14, matching the number on his jersey.

He continues to train alongside his sons, Hudson and Gus, who both play high school football. His family has supported him throughout the journey, even as his wife, Taylor, hopes he stays healthy enough to chase after future grandchildren.

“I love my husband and I’m excited for the future,” she said. “He is always thinking outside the box and blazing his own trail.”

As for Buzzard, he has no plans to treat his college football debut as the end of the story.

“So far, so good,” he said. “But we’re early innings here.”

And after waiting 30 years for his first opportunity, he may have plenty more football ahead of him.