From Boise to football’s biggest stage

Kyle DeVan was playing for the Boise Burn in arenafootball2 when he was offered a tryout with the Colts, who battle the Saints in Super Bowl XLIV on Sunday in Miami. (Steve Conner photo)

Kyle DeVan’s improbable journey to Super Bowl XLIV began in Boise, Idaho of all places. With nowhere else to play, the 2003 Vacaville High School graduate tried arena football on for size. 

It suited him just fine, if for no other reason than he was actually playing. Ten weeks on the New York Jets’ practice squad allowed DeVan to gain NFL experience, but he was not competing. 

Kyle DeVan

“It’s tough when you go from playing every game in college (at Oregon State) to playing in the preseason and then not doing much on the practice squad,” said DeVan, who started 38 consecutive games at center for the Beavers. “It took a little bit of time for me to get used to that.”

The Jets released DeVan in December 2008, just as the Washington Redskins had done four months earlier. He joined the Boise Burn in arenafootball2 last March because he would actually be on the field in the heat of battle.

His time in Boise rekindled DeVan’s dream of playing professional football. It renewed his confidence that he could compete. Arena football is by no means the NFL, but he took it at face value.

“I’ve never been worried about the money and fame or anything else that comes along with it,” he said. “I was active. I was getting a chance. I was playing football. It was a great time.”

DeVan would have been content to remain in Boise, but the Indianapolis Colts called to offer him a tryout. Forget the old cliché about the third time being a charm. DeVan was not counting.

“I had nothing to lose. They could cut me and I would have just gone back to arena football,” he said. “I wasn’t scared of being cut. I wasn’t scared of being told I wasn’t good enough. That had already happened to me. I could be relentless. I could play how I know I can play football.”

After surviving the Colts’ final cuts in August, DeVan could have been content with having a job and earning an NFL salary. But as he often says, “If you’re not getting better, you’re getting worse.”

DeVan worked his way into rotating at right guard with Mike Pollack. Then he won the job outright and made his first NFL start Nov. 8 against the Houston Texans. He has started the past 11 games.

“When you’re an athlete, you never want to be second best. You can never be content,” he said. “I kept working. I wanted to compete. I was fighting my butt off to keep my spot or move up.”

After all  this, don’t think for a second that he is content with just reaching the Super Bowl.