It turns out that YouTube can lead to gainful employment, after all.
Back in December, the New York Jets gave a tryout to one Havard Rugland. The Norwegian soccer player, by trade, had posted a YouTube video (hilariously titled “Kickalicious”) a couple months prior, showing him pulling off several trick-shot kicks with an American football, in addition to nailing 60-yard kicks through the goalposts. The video ended up with nearly 3 million views.
Apparently that tryout didn’t end with the Jets offering him a job. However, according to The Associated Press, the Detroit Lions came calling, signing Rugland to an undisclosed contract on Thursday. Kicker Jason Hanson retired after last season, and the team had signed former 49ers kicker David Akers, but have apparently brought on Rugland as depth at the position.
Despite not having much experience in football, the 6-foot-2 Rugland has been working out at former NFL placekicker Michael Husted‘s camp in Florida. Coincidentally, the only kicker in the NFL Hall of Fame, Jan Stenerud, is also Norwegian, and was idolized by Husted growing up.
“I grew up idolizing Jan Stenerud as a kid,” said Husted. “He’s excited to see another Norwegian have an opportunity to make it in the NFL.”
Take one more look at “Kickalicious” below.
