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Austin Seferian-Jenkins’s reflections on a life-changing year

By John B
NFL: New York Jets at Tampa Bay Buccaneers Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Jets tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins left an Instagram post I wanted to share. He reflects on the changes he started to make in his life one year ago today.

Reflect. A word I became so familiar with 365 days ago. I had to reflect and evaluate where I was in my life. Reflect on where I wanted to be: as a brother, a son, an athlete, but most importantly a person in this world. 365 days ago I had to come to the realization that what I was doing was never going to reflect who I knew I was meant to be if I didn’t change. Seeing the reflection of myself in the mirror and asking myself, are you ready for this change? I wrote the numbers 1 through 365 down on a piece of paper as a countdown. Giving myself the reminder that I needed to take one day at a time. That it was a journey not just a chapter in a story. I reflected on all those that I had hurt and the person who I had been hurting the most through it all, myself. Each day I would put an X through the day of sobriety I was on. Today, number 365. I can’t help to reflect on all the days that brought me to this moment. To few people who have been by my side through it all. My Mom for her endless amounts of prayers and encouragement when I needed it most. My family for their support through the most pressing times. My @nyjets Coaches and Teammates I could never repay them for their belief in me, not as an athlete but as a human. My friends who knew when to keep me in line and would keep me constant. The fans from all over the world who although I may not have responded, their stories of being sober inspire me more than words can describe. And as I put the final X through number 365 I did the same thing when I started this journey; reflect. Reflect on all the blessings that I have. Reflect on the fact that I’m not the only one out there battling this and I’m not alone. Reflect that I have a platform that has allowed me to inspire and be an example. Reflect on the next 365 days of continuing to be sober! . . : @sam.maller . #365 #Complete #Sobriety #MyThoughts #MyWords #Growth #Blessed #Thankful #LaserFocus

A post shared by Austin Seferian-Jenkins (@i.am.asj) on

These are some really nice words. The Jets claimed him off waivers early in the 2016 season. Tampa Bay let the tight end go after a DUI arrest. Seferian-Jenkins has been open about the changes he made since then, and it looks like he will be able to build an NFL career as a result.

ASJ’s return to the Jets status is up in the air. We learned not too long ago the Jets made him an offer worth $4 million per year that he rejected. Like any player, the Jets need to figure out whether the price Seferian-Jenkins commands in free agency is worth paying.

Going away from the business of the league, this seems like a nice story and a reminder it is never too late to change your life for the better.

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