Damon Sheehy-Guiseppi. A name that was almost never shouted over a loudspeaker. A name that was almost never cried out on national television and radio.
He set the NFL abuzz with a dazzling punt return for a touchdown in the Cleveland Browns’ preseason opener.
Afterwards, Damon Sheehy-Guiseppi was back where he is most nights. At the Browns’ training facility. Working out alone. Until 6am.
On a Cleveland squad loaded with stars like Baker Mayfield and Odell Beckham Jr., Sheehy-Guiseppi — who didn’t even play high school football, talked his way into a tryout he wasn’t invited to.
When he landed the tryout: he was sleeping outside, because he couldn’t afford a room.
Guiseppi has emerged as one of the NFL’s best stories this season.
Since signing with the Browns earlier this year, 24-year-old Sheehy-Guiseppi has captivated teammates and coaches with his extraordinary backstory. He is described as having an unsurpassed work ethic and resilient mentality.
He’s now pushing for a spot on Cleveland’s 53-man roster as a return specialist, which general manager John Dorsey affirmed during an interview on 850 AM WKNR. Dorsey called Sheehy-Guiseppi’s development in such a short time with the Browns “marvelous.”
Sheehy-Guiseppi’s path to this point is like a bad movie script straight out of Hollywood. The kind a director would take a big red ‘x’ to as they nodded their head.
He initially had dreams of playing college basketball with his brother, Devin. When he failed to make the team at Mesa (Arizona) Community College, he started running track.
Without invitation or notice, Sheehy-Guiseppi started showing up to the summer football workouts at Phoenix College, forcing the coaches to allow him to join the team. There, he became an NJCAA All-American in 2016, leading the nation in kick return yards and touchdowns.
Almost three years later, through a friend, Sheehy-Guiseppi said he learned of an NFL scouting workout in Miami. Browns vice president of player personnel Alonzo Highsmith would be there. Sheehy-Guiseppi wasn’t invited this time, either.
That didn’t stop him.
He looked up Highsmith to find out what he looked like and flew from Arizona to Miami. Once there, he sweet-talked his way into the workout by acting like he knew Highsmith.
Sheehy-Guiseppi impressed Highsmith with a blazing 40 time of 4.38 seconds, earning an official tryout with the Browns in Berea.
The workout wasn’t for another week. And Sheehy-Guiseppi, out of cash, didn’t want to ask his family for money.
So he signed up for guest passes to get into a 24-hour fitness center during the day, sleeping on grass outside a sports performance facility, where he trained, at night, all while preparing for his chance with the Browns.
Sheehy-Guiseppi has made the most of it with the Browns and has carried over his eccentric work habits through training camp.
Coach Freddie Kitchens admitted on multiple occasions he’s caught Sheehy-Guiseppi working out at the Browns’ facility in the morning hours and has had to “send his ass home to get some rest.”
Sheehy-Guiseppi nearly didn’t burst onto the national stage.
Squaring off with the Redskins, he got his chance.
In April, Damon Sheehy-Guiseppi was sleeping outside- he had to talk his way into a workout with the #Browns
Last night, he scored a TD in his first #NFLPreseason game pic.twitter.com/P2jtKsj47R
— Gabriel Schray (@schrayguy) August 9, 2019
Before he could really celebrate the touchdown, teammate Ish Hyman clotheslined him to the ground. D.J. Montgomery then jumped on top of him. Virtually the rest of the Browns’ sideline followed suit.
He was back in the facility that night until the morning. The following afternoon, he was still wearing a weighted vest with his helmet on a full hour after practiced had ended.
The next day, he was the last to leave the practice field again, catching passes from a jug machine.
“If I can inspire somebody to do great things, then I hope they get inspired.”
This article is comprised of information and media from the The Score, Sporting Report, espn.com and thespun.com. For more pro, college and high school sports stories, like our page on Facebook.
