SACRAMENTO, Calif. — San Francisco 49ers defensive end Arik Armstead is going to the Super Bowl for the second time with his team—his first appearance being during Super Bowl LIV in 2020.
The Sacramento native made his mark as a Pleasant Grove High School football player in Elk Grove where he earned the attention of prestigious sports schools like University of Southern California and University of Oregon.
But there's more to Armstead than meets the eye. Here are a few facts about the star football player:
He was a No. 17 NFL draft pick in 2015
Armstead was a defensive lineman at University of Oregon when the San Francisco 49ers selected him as the number 17 pick in the NFL draft for 2015.
"I kind of figured if I worked hard and I did what I needed to do I would be here eventually," Armstead told ABC10 at the time.
He was a ABC10 guest reporter for 2 Super Bowls
The then-freshly new 49ers player held the ABC10 microphone as he reported on Super Bowl 50 inside the SAP Center in San Jose.
His high-spirited personality was on full display as he walked around the stadium interviewing fans, coaches and fellow players—a few of whom he playfully teased when they laughed off his interview requests.
"It's an exciting time working with the media. I don't think their job is that hard, so I'm going to see how I can do," Armstead said at the time.
For more 49ers Super Bowl coverage, stream ABC10+ on your TV for free:
► Roku - click here
► Amazon Fire - click here
► Apple TV - click here
He is an active fundraiser in his community
Throughout his time in the NFL Armstead has participated in donation drives, community engagement events and even paying out donations of his own to local causes, which include:
- The Armstead Academic Project was founded by Armstead and his wife Melinda in 2019 to support students in Sacramento and the Bay Area.
- Delivering presents to UC Davis Children's Hospital and hosting several events for the kids throughout summer 2018
- Hosting creative workshops with local youth and reading books to them at the library
- He donated $50,000 to Sacramento's Mercy Housing in 2020 to provide students with 350 Chromebook laptops as well as pre-paid internet for families with multiple students.
He played basketball and football at the same time
If Armstead wasn't in the NFL, he'd likely be playing basketball since he was a three-year starter in basketball when he went to Pleasant Grove High School.
He played both basketball and football while he was at University of Oregon as well for two years before settling on solely football in 2014.
“A big part of the recruiting pitch from Oregon was they were going to let me play two sports. We only lost 5 games during my time there. I wanted to go somewhere with the chance to win and be a part of something special,” Armstead told the NFL.
WATCH MORE: THROWBACK THURSDAY | San Francisco 49ers rookie Arik Armstead at Super Bowl 50 Opening Night
