SE: XFL Files — Ryan Mueller Making Most of XFL Opportunity
Feb 04, 2020 | Football, Sports Extra
By Corbin McGuire
Ryan Mueller certainly thought about it, the increasing reality that his football career was done. Considering his journey, who wouldn't?
The former Wildcat defensive end (2010-14) participated in three pro days at K-State. He was cut by multiple teams in two professional leagues. He suffered a significant shoulder injury. His Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year junior season as a Wildcat was only getting further away.
Mueller had every reason to move on from the game he willed himself to be successful in.
"I think when you're at my point in your career, that definitely crosses your mind," the former K-State walk-on said. "What am I going to do next?"
For Mueller, that answer was simple: Keep trying.
His persistence paid off, as Mueller was drafted by the New York Guardians of the reborn XFL — an eight-team professional league with a few intriguing rule differences from the NFL. He will play his first game in two-plus years on Sunday at 1 p.m. (CT), on FOX, against the Tampa Bay Vipers.
"Very exciting," Mueller said of the first of 10 regular season games, which will determine a four-team playoff in April. "Certainly, a long road, but I feel just as good now as I did when I was 21, 22 years old. I'm excited and feel like I'm in good shape and ready to prove myself."
It's also a chance for him to finish football on his own terms.
After a K-State career that included All-America honors, First Team All-Big 12 recognition and a school-record tying 11.5 sacks as a junior, Mueller struggled to find on-field success as a professional.
He signed as an undrafted free agent in 2015 with the then-San Diego Chargers. He spent some time on their practice squad before being released that November. In April 2016, he signed as a fullback with the Philadelphia Eagles, a position he had not played since high school. He was cut that May. Mueller landed in the Canadian Football League next, with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2017. He played in four games before an injury derailed his season.
His football prospects became minimal.
Still, he held out hope and stayed ready. It helped, he said, that his main source of income is a landscape company he owns in the Kansas City area.
"My landscape business pretty much keeps me in good enough shape, year-round, just because it's physical and I'm not just sitting behind a desk, pounding a keyboard, but it always kind of keeps me in shape," Mueller, who has also trained professionally at multiple gyms, said. "I'm a super active, busybody person, so I enjoy working out and staying in shape. I've done three different pro days at K-State and a few pro player combines. I certainly didn't want to give up on football. I wanted to explore all potential opportunities."
The XFL, his latest opportunity, came to his mind early in 2019. At the time, Mueller was working as a territory sales rep for Milwaukee Tools while also running his business. He asked his agent what his chances were with the XFL and his agent got him into a player showcase in Houston.
Mueller impressed enough eyeballs there to earn a spot in the XFL's draft pool of players. In October, the New York Guardians drafted him. At first, New York's coaching staff wanted to try him at both outside linebacker and fullback, which admittedly made Mueller nervous.
"I didn't know where they really saw me fitting in," Mueller, who ultimately was rostered as a defensive end/linebacker, said. "But I think, in the end, it ended up helping me showcase my athletic ability and what I can and can't do. I think it helped me earn a roster spot, for sure."
Matthew McCrane, who played with Mueller at K-State (2013-17) and was drafted by the Guardians in the XFL's supplemental draft in November, agreed. But from McCrane's perspective, Mueller's work ethic outweighed any sort of versatility factor.
"I will say one thing that hasn't changed with Ryan that I have noticed from college to the CFL and the XFL — and I know this is probably cliché — but Ryan Mueller is the first player on the field every practice," the former standout K-State kicker said. "I usually follow up and I'm the second guy on the field because I have to go out and kick early, but Ryan does it to get work and repetitions in. During training camp, they had Ryan working both sides of the ball. One day he would wear a grey jersey. The other day he'd wear a black jersey. He would work at fullback one day. The next day he would work at linebacker and defensive end. That's a credit to Ryan and his work ethic.
"He definitely has the K-State work ethic. Watching him do that is impressive. There was no comparison in work ethic to anybody on that team. Ryan Mueller deserves it, absolutely."
Mueller also connected this opportunity to his time at K-State. It's why he never stopped trying to get back on a football team and a field, in front of fans of any kind.
"I think I just wanted to finish my football journey," he said. "That's kind of what was instilled in me at K-State, finish what you start. So many coaches have had an impact on me, and I just wanted to give them everything I had."
Ryan Mueller certainly thought about it, the increasing reality that his football career was done. Considering his journey, who wouldn't?
The former Wildcat defensive end (2010-14) participated in three pro days at K-State. He was cut by multiple teams in two professional leagues. He suffered a significant shoulder injury. His Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year junior season as a Wildcat was only getting further away.
Mueller had every reason to move on from the game he willed himself to be successful in.
"I think when you're at my point in your career, that definitely crosses your mind," the former K-State walk-on said. "What am I going to do next?"
For Mueller, that answer was simple: Keep trying.
His persistence paid off, as Mueller was drafted by the New York Guardians of the reborn XFL — an eight-team professional league with a few intriguing rule differences from the NFL. He will play his first game in two-plus years on Sunday at 1 p.m. (CT), on FOX, against the Tampa Bay Vipers.
"Very exciting," Mueller said of the first of 10 regular season games, which will determine a four-team playoff in April. "Certainly, a long road, but I feel just as good now as I did when I was 21, 22 years old. I'm excited and feel like I'm in good shape and ready to prove myself."
It's also a chance for him to finish football on his own terms.
After a K-State career that included All-America honors, First Team All-Big 12 recognition and a school-record tying 11.5 sacks as a junior, Mueller struggled to find on-field success as a professional.
He signed as an undrafted free agent in 2015 with the then-San Diego Chargers. He spent some time on their practice squad before being released that November. In April 2016, he signed as a fullback with the Philadelphia Eagles, a position he had not played since high school. He was cut that May. Mueller landed in the Canadian Football League next, with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2017. He played in four games before an injury derailed his season.
His football prospects became minimal.
Still, he held out hope and stayed ready. It helped, he said, that his main source of income is a landscape company he owns in the Kansas City area.
"My landscape business pretty much keeps me in good enough shape, year-round, just because it's physical and I'm not just sitting behind a desk, pounding a keyboard, but it always kind of keeps me in shape," Mueller, who has also trained professionally at multiple gyms, said. "I'm a super active, busybody person, so I enjoy working out and staying in shape. I've done three different pro days at K-State and a few pro player combines. I certainly didn't want to give up on football. I wanted to explore all potential opportunities."
The XFL, his latest opportunity, came to his mind early in 2019. At the time, Mueller was working as a territory sales rep for Milwaukee Tools while also running his business. He asked his agent what his chances were with the XFL and his agent got him into a player showcase in Houston.
Mueller impressed enough eyeballs there to earn a spot in the XFL's draft pool of players. In October, the New York Guardians drafted him. At first, New York's coaching staff wanted to try him at both outside linebacker and fullback, which admittedly made Mueller nervous.
"I didn't know where they really saw me fitting in," Mueller, who ultimately was rostered as a defensive end/linebacker, said. "But I think, in the end, it ended up helping me showcase my athletic ability and what I can and can't do. I think it helped me earn a roster spot, for sure."
Matthew McCrane, who played with Mueller at K-State (2013-17) and was drafted by the Guardians in the XFL's supplemental draft in November, agreed. But from McCrane's perspective, Mueller's work ethic outweighed any sort of versatility factor.
"I will say one thing that hasn't changed with Ryan that I have noticed from college to the CFL and the XFL — and I know this is probably cliché — but Ryan Mueller is the first player on the field every practice," the former standout K-State kicker said. "I usually follow up and I'm the second guy on the field because I have to go out and kick early, but Ryan does it to get work and repetitions in. During training camp, they had Ryan working both sides of the ball. One day he would wear a grey jersey. The other day he'd wear a black jersey. He would work at fullback one day. The next day he would work at linebacker and defensive end. That's a credit to Ryan and his work ethic.
"He definitely has the K-State work ethic. Watching him do that is impressive. There was no comparison in work ethic to anybody on that team. Ryan Mueller deserves it, absolutely."
Mueller also connected this opportunity to his time at K-State. It's why he never stopped trying to get back on a football team and a field, in front of fans of any kind.
"I think I just wanted to finish my football journey," he said. "That's kind of what was instilled in me at K-State, finish what you start. So many coaches have had an impact on me, and I just wanted to give them everything I had."
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