Getty Catching the eye of coach Tommie Robinson, he was given a scholarship to play for the University of Miami. And part of convincing people that he could be a starter would be rooted in making the most of every chance he had to be on the field. He began to excel on the field and on the basketball court -- his first love -- but at home his mother was struggling to pay the bills. Taking to his social media account via Twitter, Feliciano sent a goodbye message out: It's been great Buff Jonathan Feliciano (@MongoFeliciano) March 9, 2022 Moments later, a report from the Buffalo News stated that the Bills released the 30-year-old.. The coaches took one look at Jon and told him, "You're going to play football.". 4. Throughout these formative years, Feliciano dealt with periods of homelessness and hunger. Football players on television, whether professionally or in college, projected a strength, a toughness -- a charisma. "I did a good job of staying away from the bad stuff in my life, realizing that it wasn't the norm. "He was a smart guy," said Jackson. I look around, like, 'Wow, I'm about to play on this field. "He has great work ethic not only on the field, but in the classroom as well. That's because of his mind and never being in a bad position and being able to read defenses the way he does, I tried to pick his brain and learn like that.". Technically, he had a home, but it was condemned. Q: Do you have any kind of relationship with (Guard) Mark (Glowinski)? A gangly Feliciano, who had yet to fully grow into the 6-foot-4, 325-pound player he is today, moved to Davie, Florida, when he was 10, not long after his parents divorced. The plan was to redshirt, so he played on the scout team every day, facing stronger guys like Sean Spence, Colin McCarthy and Marcus Forston -- all in the NFL now. Hes the son of parents Alica and Rafael Sr., who divorced when Feliciano was 10 years old, per The Buffalo News. And the fact that he was so patient. Feliciano and his mother, in town from New York at the time, went down to Coral Gables. Do you know how good a player you're going to be?" Young Feliciano wanted to be stronger, so he wouldn't feel helpless. He told me that his 1-year-old nephew drowned yesterday. Buffalo Bills offensive guard Jon Feliciano (76) plays against the New England Patriots in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane), Buffalo Bills offensive guard Jon Feliciano (76) lines up against the Tennessee Titans in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski), Buffalo Bills guard Jon Feliciano (76) prepares for the snap during an NFL game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Cleveland. Jon Feliciano is another play who joined that list, although his familiarity is with general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll. Pride kept him from giving West or his basketball coach, Steve Todd, any indication that something was wrong at home. "Jon, we want to offer you a scholarship to the University of Miami," he said. Just the responsibility that is on your hands to come in every week and everything is basically on you. According to the Bills' media guide, Feliciano endured a long journey to the NFL, starting from growing up in a condemned mobile home that at times had no heat, running water, or electricity. ", How Bills HC Sean McDermott shifted leadership opportunities to his players after he set the culture at One Bills Drive, The Bills are 20-5 in their last 25 regular season games in Buffalo and 3-0 in home playoff games during that stretch. "Gabe has one hell of a punch and his footwork and the way his body position is when he throws his punch. The position breakdown of those 43 starts is 30 at right guard, 11 at left guard and two at center. When Bills offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey addressed the media on Monday, September 12, he was not at all surprised that Daboll shined in his head coaching debut, or that he went viral for his postgame locker room dance moves. The Browns defeated the Bills 19-16. I believe he's going to be a really good quarterback, especially if he has some time. All rights reserved. Watching his daughter grow is motivating for Feliciano. In 2020, James became the first NFL player with at least three receptions of 40+ yards in a game since Kansas City's Tyreek Hill in 2017 and the first member of the 49ers to do so since Jerry Rice in 1995. He closed the season earning All-ACC honorable mention from the ACSMA. Giants center Jon Feliciano was playing with a heavy heart today. See Full Boxscore. "He doesn't even remember being in braces, but I always said to him, 'You're going to do it, Jon!' His other brother is Rafael Feliciano, and his younger brother is Chris Feliciano. 5. All rights reserved. [3] Despite having received offers from the University of Akron, Florida International University and San Diego State University, to name a few, Felicianos heart was set on being a Hurricane. The borough is the state's eighth-smallest municipality. Rick Osentoski/Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. ", "Since he was 6 years old, all he ever said was, 'I want to go to that team, Mom!'" No heat, no running water, no electricity. I honestly think it's my best position, and I'm just really excited to finally get to show what I've got. Jon Feliciano. According to Jon, Feliciano's mother, Alicia, took his brother out to celebrate with friends. Feliciano's nickname is "Mongo," which was given to him by his late friend Sean Cole. He got the heartbreaking news when the team flight landed in Tennessee yesterday. Feliciano tested positive fro COVID-19 last week and was briefly hospitalized, but he'll now be able to return. On Sunday afternoon, the New York Giants battled back from a 13-point halftime deficit to defeat the Tennessee Titans 21-20 in Week 1. I wish I could express it better than that.. I got to know him there. "His play says it fine by itself. They rode their bikes over to the field. Feliciano has started 38 games since then while facing even more difficulty at home. Doug Murray/Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. Feliciano described. A young man who would later play on an NFL offensive line would often feel helpless around his brother, Rafael, older than Jon by three years. Underwater for more than 15 minutes, Cole never regained consciousness. Feliciano, to this day, considers the what-ifs, in terms of growing up living free from the fear of such volatile outbursts. Shortly after, Alicia moved back to Florida with her parents, who bought a house for them to live in. "All of them. His other brother is Rafael Feliciano, and his younger brother is Chris Feliciano. The Bills defeated the Seahawks 44-34. The Bills defeated the Chiefs 38-20. "What I deserve is for you to stay in school.". A: Yeah, so it started when I was a rotational guy and Bobby did the goal-line plays, so every week he would draw up the goal line plays and he started looking out for me and putting me in as a fullback, or tight end, basically just looking out for me and putting me in anywhere he could. So he and his high school football coach, Rashad West, arrived at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for the 2008 Miami spring game with a plan. Thankfully, Bobby and Daboll agreed and we got it to work out. "I was between [them], trying to break it up. (AP Photo/D. "You could see early on that he was a very humble kid from a humble background, lunch-pail ethic, and [he was] grateful for the opportunity to be here.". Born in East Meadow, New York, Jon, his mother and younger brother moved to South Florida in the mid-90s. After the first spring, he went in for his exit interview with Golden. Hard work paid off when Feliciano accepted a full scholarship to the University of Miami, finally ensuring he'd the security of a place to stay. Now that you're gone I will keep your legacy alive I love you buddy #bornsinner pic.twitter.com/DA5mYsOUX1, - Jonathan Feliciano (@MongoFeliciano) April 11, 2017. In a normal year, bringing Jon Feliciano back into the fold with the Bills offensive line would seem like an easy decision. Shannon readily agreed to the tribute. He spent his first four seasons with the Oakland Raiders. Feliciano named his daughter Shawn Cole in his memory. I think when my new teammates saw that for the first time they didn't understand what was going on.". So he took things on his own and added them to his game. When she worked nights, Jon would take care of his little brother, cooking him dinner or helping with homework. It literally paid off for him. He worked his aoff. The Bills won, 17-3. "I was too happy," said Jackson. "The one thing I don't worry about is having to tell anybody st about Jon Feliciano," Smith said sternly. Feliciano worked harder than he ever had that summer and used Christopher as inspiration. Parents: Not Available: Wife: Not Available: Sibling: Not Available: Children: Not Available : Jon Feliciano Net Worth. (G. Newman Lowrance via AP), Buffalo Bills guard jon Feliciano (76) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Orchard park, N.Y., Sunday Sept. 12, 2021. "He's a junkyard dog," said Lee Smith, who has been Feliciano's teammate since his rookie year in 2015, first in Oakland and now in Buffalo. (Margaret Bowles via AP), Buffalo Bills guard Jon Feliciano (76) takes a break in an NFL game against the Tennessee Titans, Monday, Oct.18, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. [3], In 2012, he started all 12 games at left guard. "No matter what you're going through, you'll get through it if you keep a positive attitude and work hard. "I was like, 'Thanks, Mom. He had no reason to be down, not when he was playing the game his brother never could. "He'll miss a game or a rep and what do you do with those opportunities? Powered by. (Ric Tapia via AP), Buffalo Bills guard Jon Feliciano (76) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Orchard park, N.Y., Sunday Sept. 12, 2021. Kevin Sabitus/Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. A year later, Jon arrived at Miami, but he started doubting whether he belonged. He made his first career start at left guard, as a redshirt freshman, against Ohio State in 2011. (AP/ Photo Jeffrey T. Barnes), Buffalo Bills guard Jon Feliciano looks over the defense as he gets set for a play against the Kansas City Chiefs during the NFL AFC Championship football game, Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021 in Kansas City, Mo. He was violent.". 2022 New York Giants. Nick Wojton. Would love your thoughts, please comment. "I've never been vocal about [it]," he said, explaining that, given his culture and upbringing, he felt an obligation to keep silent. Jon Feliciano apparently still holds some ill will about the way things ended for him with the Bills which is especially interesting since two of his main coaches from Buffalo are now his . All those nights he had nothing, Jon Feliciano thought about football. Contract base value is $14.4 million with $4.4 million guaranteed at signing. He is proud of his uncle!, while another person wrote, That is awful. In April 2008, prosecutors declined to pursue the case. Feliciano also hopes his story, in its entirety, may help a child in a situation like the one he once found himself. Former Buffalo Bills offensive lineman Jon Feliciano did not make any type of comment saying he was happy the team lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in dramatic fashion during the postseason. On December 11, he was put into action. "I said, 'Absolutely, of course.'". I opened the door [to let her in] and I blocked the door.". "I'm committing to Miami. That's the other reason I liked him so much. All rights reserved. Jon Feliciano: My parents both have a lot of tattoos. "Without those guys, I wouldn't have made it," Feliciano said, referring to Cole and Palmer's positive influences in difficult surroundings. Sign up for the Giants Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. Matt Durisko/Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. She kept her diagnosis a secret because she did not want her sons to worry. Charles Krupa/Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. 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