Rick Lovato

Rick Lovato's Biography

Born on September 9, 1992, to Rick and Maureen Lovato in Neptune Township, New Jersey, Richard Peter Lovato Jr. began his journey into the world of American football. From his humble beginnings at Middletown High School South in Middletown, New Jersey, Richard, or Rick as he prefers to be called, embarked on a path that would take him from snapping footballs in a small field in New Jersey to the grand, electrifying stadiums of the National Football League.

At Middletown High, Richard embraced the game of football. He initiated his career as a long snapper in his freshman year later branching out to positions at center and on the defensive line. His knack for the sport and his dedication to refinement caught the eyes of the staff at Old Dominion University. They offered him a position to continue his football journey with the Monarchs, an opportunity he gladly took up from 2011 to 2014. During this tenure, he played in all 50 matches as the Monarch’s long snapper.

Upon graduation, an opportunity knocked on his door. Though undrafted in the 2015 NFL draft, Richard signed on as a free agent with the Chicago Bears on May 3, 2015. His stint, however, ended abruptly when he was released from the team on August 30, 2015. Richard returned to his homeland in New Jersey, where he worked in a sandwich shop owned by his father and uncle.

However, destiny had other plans for him. On December 22, 2015, the Green Bay Packers signed Lovato to replace the injured Brett Goode. Lovato’s debut against the Arizona Cardinals made history as he became the first Old Dominion alumni to participate in a regular-season NFL game, handling snapping duties for every punt and field goal. His tenure with Packers was short-lived; he was released during the final team cuts on September 3, 2016.

After brief stints with the Washington Redskins in 2016 and further time in his family’s sandwich shop, Lovato found his big break. He signed with the Philadelphia Eagles on December 12, 2016, after the team’s starting long snapper, Jon Dorenbos, suffered a wrist injury. Richard became a staple for the Eagles, securing the long snapping position in 2017 following Dorenbos’ subsequent trade.

Lovato achieved an unprecedented career highlight in 2018 when he emerged victorious in Super Bowl LII with the Eagles. His performances and commitment to the team did not go unnoticed. In November of 2019, Lovato penned a four-year term extension with the Eagles and also earned himself a Pro Bowl selection in December of that year.

However, the journey to stardom was not always smooth. On October 25, 2021, Lovato was waived by the Eagles due to a waiver claim of Reid Sinnett. Never one to stay down for long, he was re-signed to the Eagles’ 53-man roster the following day, proving his resilience and tenacity. In the 2022 Super Bowl, Lovato reached his career’s second Super Bowl, where the Eagles were defeated 38-35 by the Kansas City Chiefs.

The following two years saw Lovato further establishing himself as an integral part of the Eagles. He signed a one-year contract extension with the team on March 12, 2024. Despite the highs and lows, Richard Peter Lovato Jr. continues to make his mark in the dynamic world of American football, standing strong amongst the stars of the NFL.