Is UFC star Austen Lane a former NFL player?
Austen Lane maybe 35 but his UFC career is only getting started.
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UFC fighter Austen Lane is a former NFL defensive end (Image via MMA Junkie/Around the NFL)
UFC fighter Austen Lane is a man of many talents. The 35-year-old Iola native may be setting the ring on fire right now, but prior to walking on the path of martial arts, he played defensive end for the Jacksonville Jaguars in the NFL from 2010–2012. He also had stints with the Kansas City Chiefs, Detroit Lions, and Chicago Bears. However, Lane did not feature much during his stay in the NFL.
Lane recently made his UFC debut in Jacksonville, where he faced Justin Tafa. Before the game began, he spoke to the media, saying, “To fight in Jacksonville, where my book really started here playing football, now another sport, it’s awesome.”
When asked about whether some of his old Jaguars teammates might attend, he said, “There might be a couple coming. I’m still friends with some of the guys that are currently on the team, so maybe they’re going to pull up.”
Lane earned a UFC contract by knocking out Richard Jacobi in the Dana White‘s Contender Series last December. However, due to torn biceps, he did not have the green signal to compete until today. Maybe the universe wanted Lane’s first match to be in the same city where he began his NFL journey.
Why did Austen Lane leave football and become a UFC fighter?
The 6’6″ Austen Lane made a name for himself during his college years. He joined Murray State University as a scholarship student in 2008. Lane became a regular starter and played 43 games. He made it into the Murray record books with 55 tackles for loss and 29 sacks.
However, Lane’s biggest achievement came in 2010, when he was selected to play in the Senior Bowl for the North. He scored a touchdown in the second quarter, which helped his team win the game 31-13 over the South.
In the same year, Lane entered the NFL Draft, and the Jaguars made him their 153rd overall pick in the fifth round. They gave him a four-year contract worth $1.974 million and $184,190 as a signing bonus. He made 28 appearances in three sessions and was let go before his contract ended.
On June 14, 2013, Lane signed for the Kansas City Chiefs but failed to register any appearances and was subsequently traded to the Detroit Lions in November. His journeyman fortune continued as the Lions released Lane after fielding him in just two games. In 2015, the Chicago Bears snapped him up but terminated his contract in August, just before the NFL season began.
Then he broke the unfortunate news about his retirement from football on August 3, 2015.
However, the actual cause of his sudden decision is still unclear. A series of obscure tweets by Lane may have the answer.
What Lane was trying to imply is still a mystery, but it is possible that he lost the willingness to play ball. Meanwhile, he developed a keen interest in martial arts and started practicing while moonlighting as an Uber driver.
During his amateur years, he recorded 12 wins in 15 matches and also held a five-game winning streak. His match against Justin Tafa marked his debut in the UFC.
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