In commencement speech, Jordan Ta’amu tells of obstacles he overcame to get to Chiefs
Although quarterback Jordan Ta’amu joined the Chiefs in March, he’s still got a ways to go before appearing in an NFL game.
Ta’amu will battle Shea Patterson for the third-string job behind Chad Henne and Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes.
But obstacles aren’t a deterrent for Ta’amu, a point he made Saturday while delivering the commencement speech at the New Mexico Military Institute (NMMI) in Roswell.
Ta’amu played at Pearl City High School on the island of Oahu in Hawaii, but found offers lacking from Division I football programs. But NMMI, a junior college, offered him a full-ride scholarship.
“My first year (I) had shaved my head bald, squared my corners, did everything, wore uniforms every day and just like you guys, it was a tough time for me, but it was honestly the best time,” Ta’amu said in his speech, which was delivered via a video. “And I think you guys will learn that, too.”
Ta’amu didn’t start until his second season, but was third in the NJCAA in 2016 with 334.9 passing yards per game and second with 32 passing touchdowns.
“I knew I had a goal for myself. I wrote down goals on a sheet of paper, put them in my bedroom and every morning before formation I kind of looked at that and was like, ‘I want to get there someday,’ and then walk out and go to formations,” Ta’amu said. “I’m not gonna lie I did miss a couple of formations, just because I overslept. But you know, it all happens to us but I’ll tell you this, it never happened again because I learned from my mistakes, and that’s the thing we all got to learn from ... learn from your mistakes and never do it again.”
Ta’amu received a scholarship from Mississippi but again had to wait his turn. He took over as starter with five games left in the 2017 season. The following season, he led the SEC in passing yards per game and total offense.
“I was not named a starting quarterback right away, I had to earn that spot, and I had an opportunity. Once that opportunity came, boom, I took it, ran with it became the starting quarterback,” Ta’amu said in the speech.
“Then got invited to the (NFL) Combine and from there didn’t get drafted at all. That’s another obstacle I had to face, and then played with the XFL. It was going (well) until this whole COVID-19 thing happened and everything (was) canceled, so like just like your graduation it was canceled. It was just another obstacle right in the way.”
In five games with the XFL’s St. Louis BattleHawks, Ta’amu completed 72% of his passes and threw for 1,050 yards and five touchdowns in five games.
That caught the attention of the Chiefs, who signed him to a one-year deal as a free agent.
“Right now I’m with the Chiefs,” Ta’amu said. “Super blessed and an honor to be with the Chiefs and I wanted to come speak with you guys and I wanted to share some light and some encouragement that anyone can do it. You’re in junior college right now and you’re moving on. There’s going to be obstacles each and every day, but you just got to learn how to take it, fight it, learn from it and just keep going on and keep doing what you need to be doing.
“And one thing I just wanted to say is: take action. ... Every opportunity I had I took advantage of it. My life is not perfect, but I can control what I can control, and it starts with you, starts with commitment and it starts with your heart. Anything you put your mind to, go out there and do it 100%. Not 50%, but 100%, because if you do it 100%, no one can tell you that you did not put 100% effort into that. ... Don’t let anyone change your mind-set, go out there, give it your all and never give up.”
You can watch Ta’amu’s commencement speech here.
This story was originally published May 22, 2020 at 9:33 AM.
