Damon Sheehy-Guiseppi has one of the best come-up stories in the NFL right now. The 24-year-old Cleveland Browns wide receiver was sleeping outside of a gym just four months ago; he scored an 86-yard punt return touchdown during Thursday's preseason game. His teammates immediately mobbed him in a dogpile to celebrate the huge moment. He essentially finessed his way onto team in a way that's straight out of a movie.
The former Phoenix College player wasn't offered a scholarship after the 2016 season, as Cleveland.com reported earlier this year. He went searching for other football opportunities shortly after, maxing out a credit card as he traveled across the country showing College teams his demo reel.
His big break didn't come until this year when he discovered the address of where the Browns workout in Miami. With just $200 to his name, he spent the last of his money on training services. Due to his lack of funds, he slept outside the gym before workout sessions. "Only one school wanted to watch it," he told Cleveland Browns staff writer Nick Shook in April. "But I went to every big-time school in the SEC you could think of, Big 12, and then I came back and I didn't have any money to go back to school."
When he made his way to the Browns workout, he didn't have an invitation so he instead lied and said he personally knew Browns Vice President of Player Personal Alonzo Highsmith. At the workout, he ran a 4.38 40-yard dash, impressing Highsmith enough that he was invited to official tryouts in Ohio. Following his appearance at the tryout, he was offered a contract to play in the preseason.
As NFL Network reporter Mike Garafolo reported, Sheehy-Guiseppi even wore Odell Beckham Jr.'s cleats.
"Here, I broke these in for you," Beckham told him.
Whether he will actually play in this season remains to be seen, but his chances are looking good.
