A.J. Hawk
A.J. Hawk
Aaron James "A. J." Hawkis an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers fifth overall in the 2006 NFL Draft and he would later win Super Bowl XLV with the team over the Pittsburgh Steelers. He played college football at Ohio State, where he earned All-American honors twice and won the Lombardi Award as a senior. A.J. also runs his own podcast called The HawkCast...
behind coaches country hit knew physical playing tackle
I told all of the coaches here that we had two of the most physical safeties in the country playing behind me. I knew if I didn't make the tackle they were probably going to hit me on their way to make the tackle. So I had to get there first before them.
certain change guys head percent whoever
There are certain guys you want to hit, and some you don't. I try to take everyone's head off, to tell the truth. I'm not going to play differently regardless. I'm out there to play 100 percent every play, whoever it is. If it was my own brother, I wouldn't change my play.
air atmosphere coming early electricity game giving hurt knew match ready
We knew they'd come out with the atmosphere of the game and electricity in the air they'd come out ready to play. And we knew we had to match that. I think coming out and giving up that early touchdown hurt us a little bit.
ball bit face facing next offense pound spread team trying week
I think the linebacker position, with all the defenses they're playing, and with all the offenses you have to face - one week you're facing a spread offense and the next week a team is trying to pound the ball on you - you have to be able to do a little bit of everything.
laid respect
Yeah, but I don't think they would respect me if I just laid down and not play hard.
moving want gone
Its all gone pretty fast. I dont want to move on, but I know I have to.
team mean responsibility
You want to come in and prove yourself early. Obviously, it is a responsibility being drafted that high to come in and play well and to make an impact. If not, youre going to get cut. So you have to come in, make the team, have an impact and do something special. And I feel that, obviously, internally. I feel an obligation to myself to do that but obviously the organization, the fans, this community. I mean, they dont want to see a first-round draft pick be a bust, so I feel I have to come in and hopefully make an impact early.
football important right-now
Football is more important to me than money right now.
trying telling-the-truth
I try to take everyone's head off, to tell the truth.
brother my-sister laura
Laura's [my sister] rooting for her brother. She'd better. She's known him a lot longer than me.
brother humble two
I kind of grew up my whole life as an underdog. I had two older brothers who would beat on me and then let me know I wasn't much compared to them. And it's still like that. Guys like that keep you humble, being around them every day and realizing I'm still the little brother to them.
guy special lucky
I never felt like I was anything special. I just feel like a very lucky guy.
coaches extra needed pressure relax taught
There was a lot of pressure on everybody, but really no extra pressure. We just needed to relax and do what our coaches have taught us.
affect defense people physical
That's what we do every game: affect the quarterback and just be a physical defense - a defense that people like to watch.