A 47-year-old California pastor has returned to college football nearly three decades after an injury ended his playing career, after his son showed him a video of a 60-year-old man playing the sport. After working through practices and conditioning with players far younger than him, he earned a place on the roster and is now preparing for the 2026 season. Justin Buzzard, a pastor, husband and father of three, has made the San José City College Jaguars roster as a defensive end after spending years away from competitive football. Buzzard played football in high school and continued into college before injuries forced him to stop in the 1990s. Decades later, a video showing an older man playing football prompted his son to ask whether his father could make a similar comeback. Buzzard took the challenge seriously, began training again and eventually contacted San José City College.
The decision represented a return to a sport he had left behind almost 30 years earlier after injuries ended his original playing career. 48, a reference to the age he will turn in September. The San José City College Jaguars are preparing for the 2026 season, giving Buzzard the opportunity to turn an unusual comeback story into an actual competitive season.
Because of his age, buzzard has also made clear that he does not want younger players to go easy on him. Because of the potential for injury, buzzard told Fox News that she was happy for him to make the team but did not initially want him to take part in games. Because he is returning to a contact sport after a prolonged absence, his comeback therefore involves a genuine physical risk, particularly. Because of his age, his preparation has involved training alongside much younger athletes, and he has said that he does not expect special treatment. Because the comeback was not the result of a professional opportunity or a carefully planned athletic campaign, buzzard’s story stands out. Because of his age, his previous injuries or the decades that had passed since he last played, buzzard could have dismissed the idea.
His son showed him a social-media video featuring a man in his 60s playing football and questioned why his father could not get back on the field, according to Buzzard’s account to NBC Bay Area. Reports say some of his teammates are around the age of his oldest son, yet Buzzard has said the players have welcomed him rather than treating him as an outsider. His teammates have reportedly given him the nickname “OG”, reflecting his status as the oldest player in the group. San José City College coach Jim Winkler told ChurchLeaders that Buzzard was expected to follow the same standards and rules as everyone else on the team.
Buzzard’s return began with a challenge from his son rather than a long-planned attempt to revive his football career. Buzzard initially thought the suggestion was unrealistic, but the idea stayed with him. He eventually contacted San José City College and asked about the possibility of joining the football programme. That conversation led to an opportunity to train with the team, where Buzzard had to demonstrate that he could handle the physical demands of college football. He began conditioning and participating in practices during the summer, working towards the same goal as much younger players. Buzzard’s teammates are predominantly traditional college-age athletes, creating an enormous age gap between him and many of the people sharing the field. His goal is to compete on the field rather than simply serve as an inspirational presence on the sidelines. The fact that he earned a roster place after going through the team’s preparation process makes the comeback more significant than simply showing up for a practice. Buzzard’s decision to return to contact football also required support from his family. He has been married for more than two decades and has three sons, and his wife initially had reservations about him actually playing in games. Her position later softened, and reports say she now has his games on her calendar and plans to support him. Buzzard has also emphasised the importance of staying healthy as he prepares for the season. The concern is understandable given that injuries were what ended his original football career. Nevertheless, Buzzard has continued with the programme and has made clear that he wants to see how far he can take the opportunity. Making the roster was only the first milestone in Buzzard’s comeback. He wants to remain healthy, participate in the season and have an opportunity to contribute on the field. He wears No. How much playing time he receives remains to be seen, and simply making the roster does not guarantee that he will appear regularly in games. For now, however, he has achieved the part that once seemed almost impossible. A career that ended with injury in the 1990s has been revived nearly three decades later, after a conversation with his son gave him the push to try again. It began with his son showing him a video of an older football player and asking a simple question. Instead, he decided to find out whether a return was possible. He trained, approached a college programme and eventually earned his place alongside players decades younger than him. Whether he becomes a regular contributor during the season remains uncertain, but the achievement has already given him the chance to finish a chapter that was abruptly ended by injury. For Buzzard, the return to football is also an opportunity to demonstrate the message he has encouraged others to follow: an old setback does not necessarily have to determine what comes next.
