One Washington Commanders‘ rookie is thankful for his family.
Rookie seventh-round draft choice, quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis, was asked about a support system as he tries to make the Commanders roster. Kaliakmanis went back to his real support in this life: his parents. “My parents gave up on their dreams to have me and my older brother. They put everything they had into us,” he recently revealed on “Next Man Up.”
“I don’t know if my dad would like me saying this or not, but he was traveling a lot when I was younger. So I didn’t really see him a lot because he was working. He was working in California and Iowa, and I was growing up in Antioch, Illinois. I remember being at home young, wondering, ‘Where is he?’ He was working, and that always stuck with me. They put everything they could into my brother and me.” Kaliakmanis’ brother, Dino (6-1, 200), was a receiver for Rutgers, his senior year being 2025. He was also an All-Academic Big Ten performer.
Athan also pointed to the support he received from so many in his hometown of Antioch, Illinois. “The people there have been with me every step of the way. They have helped me get here. My coaches, you know, everyone that has been a part of my life helped me get to where I am. They had an important part of my journey. I’m just so thankful for the people that have been part of my life. Everyone has helped me and had an impact on my life.”
Not wanting to forget his younger two siblings, Athan added, “My younger brother and younger sister have been nothing but supportive of me and I am so thankful.”
There’s an old saying, “No man is an island.” Yes, we must work hard, but we mustn’t fool ourselves either. There were, and are, people around us who have an impact on our lives. Sounds like Kaliakmanis understands this.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Athan Kaliakmanis thankful for support system
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