Father of Packers Rookie Benny Sapp Filled With Pride

Benny Sapp III was promoted to the Packers’ 53-man roster on Saturday. The opponent on Sunday? His father’s former team.

GREEN BAY Wis. – Benny Sapp Jr. spent three seasons with the Minnesota Vikings. On Sunday evening, he’ll arrive at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis wearing the colors of the rival Green Bay Packers.

That’s because his son, Benny Sapp III, was promoted from the practice squad to the 53-man roster on Saturday.

“I love the Vikings,” he said on Saturday night. “If my son wasn’t playing, I would be going for the Vikings. That’s the honest-to-God truth. But I have to take myself away from the situation and think about the more important thing. The more important thing is my son is playing in the NFL for the Green Bay Packers tomorrow.”

Sapp Jr. played in 110 games over eight seasons for the Chiefs, Vikings and Dolphins. His son’s career, on the other hand, was almost over before it started because of a series of knee injuries in high school. In fact, he had more knee surgeries than games played in his high school career.

“It was the worst time of me and my family’s life,” Sapp Jr. said. “I went to school in Iowa, so I came across a lot of guys that were raised on the farm. And that’s what they do, you know what I’m saying? On the other side, we’re football players. And this is what we do. And to see your first horse at the stable go down several times in high school, it was a shock for me and my family.

Packers safety Benny Sapp III is surrounded by his parents, Benny and Erica / Photo courtesy Benny Sapp Jr

“And it’s not even about the NFL or college. We truly love football. Whether it was a professional sport, we would still play it. Whether it was a backyard thing, we would still play it. I still play football with my son. That’s how much we love it.”

After the second of his son’s injuries, the family moved from Florida to Minnesota for a fresh start.

“Just imagine a kid in high school coming home every day and he’s just down and the whole house was just down. Me and my wife had to figure out a different change, a different move. Something different had to happen to this family.

“It was a horrible time. I wouldn’t put anybody through anything that they love dearly and it gets taken away. And that’s the situation that he was in. The main thing that me and my wife had to tell him, if this is what you want to do, then everything’s going to be fine. You’ve just got to keep pushing. Sometimes cracks come in the journey. You’ve just got to keep going and keep going and keep going.”

Sapp III’s persistence was rewarded. He got a scholarship to play at Minnesota. From there, he transferred to Northern Iowa, where he earned FCS All-American honors in 2022 with four interceptions.

After going undrafted, he signed with the Packers. A strong training camp was capped by his game-saving interception in the final preseason game.

Sapp Jr. saw it coming, though he said he didn’t actually see the play.

Benny Sapp and his family at Northern Iowa / Photo courtesy Benny Sapp Jr

“When the quarterback threw the ball, I already that it was an interception. I ran out of the house before he caught the ball,” he said.

“I’ll toot my own horn a little bit. I knew what was going on out there and I knew everywhere my son was supposed to be. I know what his job is from his first movement. When he moved, OK, I know he got this. As soon as he cocked his arm back, I ran out the house.”

That big play wasn’t enough to give Sapp a spot on the 53-man roster. But it was enough to earn a place on the practice squad, where Sapp has honed his skill for the past four months. He has two tackles on special teams in three gameday elevations.

Now, with two games left in the regular-season schedule, Sapp is on Green Bay’s 53.

“It gave him time to learn,” Sapp Jr. said. “It gave him time to take care of his body. It gave him time mentally, spiritually. Everything happens for a reason. God ain’t going to give you nothing that you can’t handle. He’s going to give it to you right on time when you deserve it.”

In one of those you-can’t-make-this-stuff-up stories, Sapp’s NFL debut came against the Chargers; their roster includes Sapp Jr.’s nephew, cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. And now, his first game on the 53 will come against his dad’s former team.

“I’m just letting you know how God works, man,” Sapp Jr. said with obvious pride. “I’m just letting you know how he works, man.”

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