R.J. Archer still had dreams of playing in the NFL again, but the 27-year-old was perfectly content with his life ā which consisted of living in Florida with his wife, Kim, and playing quarterback for the Arena Football Leagueās Jacksonville Sharks.
The former Albemarle High School standout balanced playing the indoor game with having a full-time position in advertising sales. Then things took a sudden turn earlier this year. Archer was brought in for a workout by the Seattle Seahawks after the arena season ended.
He wasnāt too optimistic about getting signed, given the Seahawksā current state at the quarterback position. However, just a few days after Seattleās loss to the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl, Archer received a call informing him that the Seahawks were going to fly him in for a physical. Seattle then signed him, announcing the deal on Feb. 9.
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āI was pretty content with my life in Jacksonville,ā Archer said. āI hadnāt had much contact with NFL teams and it was nice to be able to have a year-round job and still be able to live at home. I still had hopes of getting another shot in the NFL but wasnāt really sure it was going to happen.ā
Archer is no stranger to the National Football League or Seattle offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell. After graduating from William & Mary in 2010, Archer was picked up by the Minnesota Vikings, where he got his first taste of the NFL under Bevell, who was the Vikings offensive coordinator at the time. Although Archerās tenure in Minnesota was short, getting his feet wet was key to where he is now.
āThe past five years since graduating from William & Mary have been a little crazy,ā Archer said. āI was signed by the Vikings and I was on and off with them throughout the regular season but then I just started playing arena football to keep in shape.ā
The life of an undrafted quarterback continued for Archer, who had another stint in the NFL with the Detroit Lions in 2012 before playing in the Canadian Football League and with two other AFL teams before settling in Jacksonville, where he spent the past two seasons. Archer racked up huge numbers for the Sharks, tallying 4,661 yards and 92 touchdowns last season.
The gaudy statistics prompted the Seahawks to take a shot on the 6-foot-2, 220-pounder. Archer is one of three quarterbacks currently listed on Seattleās roster, which includes starter Russell Wilson and Tavaris Jackson, who recently re-signed with the team. Archer is expected to compete with Jackson for Seattle's backup quarterback job.
"[Jackson has] got to compete now," Seahawks coach Pete Carroll told reporters when discussing Seattle's backup QB situation in June. "Heās battling. R.J. has had a really good offseason with us, which is great, how we like it. But itās great to have T-Jack back.ā
Archer said his grasp of the Seahawks' offense continues to improve.
āThings have been going well here and Iām catching on to the offense,ā Archer said. āI spend a lot of my time out here studying plays, protections and defenses. Ā
āIām just trying to compete for a spot on the roster.ā
While trying to land a spot on the Seahawks roster, Archer has occupied himself with another love of his ā golf. Last month, the USGA brought the U.S. Open to the Pacific Northwest for the first time, and Archer was able to tangle with the infamous Chambers Bay Golf Course with a few of his teammates.
āI have had the opportunity to do some sightseeing and play golf, of course,ā Archer said. āI was lucky enough to play Chambers Bay and it was amazing. It was a lot of fun to get out there with a few of my teammates.ā
Archer also has had regular contact with his younger brother D.G., who just finished his senior year at Albemarle High School.Ā
āI talk to my younger brother regularly about sports and everything else,ā Archer said. āIt was definitely cool seeing him play QB at Albemarle, and have a really good career. Heās a really smart guy and it was fun for both of us to connect and talk about something that we enjoy doing.ā
Archer hopes to continue doing what he enjoys with the Seahawks, who open preseason play against the Denver Broncos on Aug. 14.
āMy plans for the near future are to play as long as I can,ā Archer said. āAfter football, I would like to still be involved in the game somehow. Iām not sure if that is in coaching, scouting or some other way, but I love the game, so Iād like to be involved somehow.ā