by Ben Gottschalk

Last Saturday, the Massachusetts Pirates took on the Sioux Falls Storm in the Fargo Gridiron Classic in Fargo, North Dakota, and came out on top, 43-38. But the Pirates were without their starting quarterback, Alejandro Bennifield, and their leading receiver, Isaac Zico. So, amidst the sea of cheering fans, one man stood ready to seize his moment: Connor Degenhardt.

Last week’s game marked a milestone for Degenhardt as he earned his first start in an IFL game. It was a moment charged with the weight of years of sacrifice, sweat, and unrelenting dedication. And as the final whistle pierced the air, signaling victory for the Pirates in enemy territory, it was a triumph that resonated far beyond the confines of the stadium.

Before tossing touchdown passes in the IFL, Degenhardt’s journey began as a young boy with aspirations of going pro. From the quaint town of Westford, Massachusetts, Degenhardt had embarked on a journey fueled by passion, grit, and an unyielding determination to follow in his father’s footsteps.

With his father, Chris, having been a quarterback who played Division One football for Holy Cross University, it was only natural for Chris to extend a guiding hand to Connor from an early age, nurturing his understanding of football.

“My dad really pushed me to be great and understand what it takes to succeed,” Degenhardt said. “I knew from a very young age that if you want to accomplish uncommon things, you can’t do what everyone else does; you have to be willing to do more.”

“I have countless memories from when I was young of it being the fourth of July or Memorial Day or spring break, and everyone else is going to the beach and hanging out, and instead we went to the field where my dad ran routes, and I’d throw him the football,” Degenhardt added. “He was a huge supporter of my dream, and I’m thankful that he gave me the guidance to be able to put in the work. He gave me all the tools I needed to succeed, and I definitely wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for all of his sacrifices.”

Connor’s first time playing organized football was in first grade at the age of six, playing Pop Warner football in Westford, but his love for football started long before that, and he’s got the VHS tapes to prove it.

“I started about as young as you can start,” Degenhardt said. “I’ve got VHS tapes of me unwrapping Nerf footballs and throwing them around the room at Christmastime. But I was a part of the first tiny mite team in Westford Pop Warner, so it was around first grade. But I feel like I’ve been playing literally my entire life, and I’ve played quarterback my entire life; that’s basically all I know.”

Connor really started making waves on the football field when he hit Westford Academy. As a freshman, he was already slinging passes as the starting quarterback for the JV squad. “I played one game on the freshman team, and then they moved me up to junior varsity, and I played JV the rest of my freshman year.”

By his sophomore year, Degenhardt had claimed the starting quarterback position on the varsity team, instantly boosting their performance and guiding them to a postseason appearance. “My sophomore year, I won the job as the varsity starter over the summer, so I started the whole season,” Degenhardt said. “And then it stayed that way for the rest of my time there; I started my sophomore, junior, and senior years, too.”

In his junior year, Degenhardt ascended to the role of team captain, propelling Westford Academy to unparalleled success. Under his leadership, the Grey Ghosts achieved an undefeated season, securing the 2015 Dual County League Championship for the first time in over ten years.

“The biggest reason we won in 2015 was the collection of guys we had; it was basically the same team I had when we were playing football in seventh grade,” Degenhardt said. “So, we had that group of kids in my grade, and then the kids one grade older than us, and we all played together on those Pop Warner teams. So, we had a long history together and great chemistry together. When we won the DCL, it just started a theme over the course of my career of pursuing championships, and that was the first time I was able to do that.”

In his senior year, Degenhardt solidified his status as a three-time Dual County League All-Star, showcasing his finest performance to date. He boasted impressive stats, throwing for 1,881 yards and 14 touchdowns while also rushing for 716 yards and nine scores.

By the end of his high school career, he had accumulated an impressive 5,516 passing yards and 44 touchdowns, along with 21 rushing touchdowns. His contributions were instrumental in Westford’s third consecutive playoff appearance.

When he made his college choice, Connor was determined not to follow in his father’s footsteps. He dismissed Holy Cross as an option entirely, only for fate to intervene, leading him to call Holy Cross home for the next four years.

“Throughout the recruiting process, I said that I didn’t want to go to Holy Cross because my dad had gone there,” Degenhardt said. “I wanted to go somewhere I could write my own chapter and figure out my life on my own. But the recruiting process is hard. You think many things will work out, and then you don’t get the offers you think you’ll get. You think you will like certain schools, and then you end up hating them. Holy Cross was the school where I ended up liking the coaching staff the best. It made the most sense: great academics, football, and coaches. So, I changed my mind and did what was best for me.”

Upon his arrival at Holy Cross, Degenhardt found himself redshirted and positioned on the sidelines, where he observed and absorbed the game under the guidance of their fifth-year senior starting quarterback, Peter Pujals. Despite not being in the spotlight initially, this period of observation and learning would prove invaluable as Degenhardt prepared to make his mark on the field.

“My first year was a huge learning experience because going from Massachusetts public high school football to Division One college football was a huge jump,” Degenhardt said.  “So, I realized very quickly that I wasn’t ready for the speed of the game just yet. But Holy Cross had brought back a fifth-year senior, Peter Pujals, who ended up being close with me, and I learned a lot from him. I couldn’t have had a better quarterback to learn from.”

During his sophomore year, Degenhardt encountered an unexpected turn of events. The coaching staff that had recruited and extended an offer to him was replaced, ushering in an entirely new coaching regime at Holy Cross. Adding to the challenge, Connor saw limited playing time, appearing in just two games.

“We got an entirely new coaching staff, so that was a big transition because it was a completely new staff that didn’t recruit you. You have to get used to a new playbook and a new staff, make good impressions, and that took pretty much my entire sophomore year to get used to,” Degenhardt said.

When his opportunity finally arrived, Degenhardt made his presence known, shining brightly as he threw for 2,372 yards and 14 touchdowns. His outstanding performance solidified his position on the field and earned him a spot on the second-team All-Patriot League.

“What led to that immediate success in the starting role was the amount of adversity that I had been through up until that point,” Degenhardt said. “So, over that sophomore year, I had to reevaluate my work ethic because it didn’t look like there was a place for me on the team. I wanted to embrace the challenge, become the best version of myself, and just be undeniable so that they couldn’t keep me off the field. That transition period for me in my sophomore year really jumpstarted the rest of a very successful career for me.”

Set for another remarkable season and recently named as the team captain, Degenhardt encountered yet another hurdle when the season was abruptly cut short due to COVID. Instead of showcasing his skill set for a full season, he only appeared in four games before the season came to an end. However, this abbreviated season turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Degenhardt, as it granted him an extra year of eligibility and paved the way for his pursuit of graduate school.

“I had always wanted to do graduate school because I always thought about using football as a vehicle to better my life. Knowing that eventually football ends, if I could use football to help pay for degrees to set me up for life after football, then I wanted to continue to do that,” Degenhardt said.

“I was poised for a very successful senior season at Holy Cross, but it didn’t work out in my favor for that season to get shortened,” Degenhardt added. “However, I ended up getting two years of eligibility, one from COVID and one from my redshirt freshman year. I thought it would be a negative, but it ended up being the best experience of my life.

During his first year at New Haven in 2021, Degenhardt showcased his prowess by throwing for 1,656 yards and 14 touchdowns while also adding 13 rushing touchdowns to his impressive stats. His contributions were instrumental in leading the Chargers to a flawless 8-0 record in league play and securing their first Northeast-10 Conference championship since 2012. For Connor, this season proved to be the pinnacle of his football journey, as it reignited his passion for the game—a love that had initially drawn him to football.

“Going into New Haven, having a great season statistically, winning a championship, and all around loving it and still having another season to go, I rediscovered my love for the game,” Degenhardt said. “After that, I started thinking it was a real possibility once NFL scouts started coming in to watch games. It had obviously always been my dream growing up to play professional football. I feel like I lost sense of that a little bit when I was at Holy Cross, but it became a very real thing once I got to New Haven.”

In 2022, Degenhardt showed significant improvement, amassing 2,251 passing yards and 29 touchdowns while also adding six rushing scores to his repertoire. Eager to highlight his passing prowess, he did so effectively, although Degenhardt maintains that his ability to rush remains a formidable threat on the field.

“I’ve always been labeled as a pocket passer by scouts and media members, but scrambling has always been a big part of my game,” Degenhardt said. “I’ve never gotten the credit for being a very dynamic athlete, but I’ve always taken pride in the fact that when plays break down, I can help my team in any way I can to get a first down or create plays with my legs.”

After leaving the University of New Haven, Degenhardt dedicated himself to training for the NFL combine and later participated in a pro day at Harvard University, where he showcased skills. Despite his efforts, he went undrafted following the 2023 NFL draft. However, shortly after the draft concluded, Degenhardt received a call from the Kansas City Chiefs, inviting him to their rookie mini camp. Subsequently, he was also invited to participate in a rookie mini camp with the Seattle Seahawks.

“After the draft, I got invited to rookie minicamps with the Kansas City Chiefs and the Seattle Seahawks, and they were awesome experiences,” Degenhardt said. “I didn’t end up getting signed by either team, which was a difficult pill to swallow because I thought going into the draft that I would get signed and at least be somewhere for an offseason, but it just didn’t work out that way.”

In June 2023, Degenhardt’s skills caught the attention of the XFL, leading to his selection in the draft by the Arlington Renegades. Excitedly, he inked a deal with the team. However, his opportunity to showcase his talents was abruptly halted due to the league’s merger with the USFL, resulting in Degenhardt’s release in the dispersal draft.

“At that point, I thought I was done with football after all of that,” Degenhardt added. “So, I started looking for work, but then Jawad called my agent, and we got a deal done. I never thought that it’d even be a possibility; just the fact that they moved the team to Lowell is super cool. It is amazing to be this close; my entire family can come to every single home game. Being around and seeing the local community at your games is cool. I feel like I look around the stadium, and I see fans that I know, or they know me somehow, and it’s really awesome to feel that sense of local pride that you wouldn’t get when you’re in college or on other professional teams.”

While Degenhardt had previously played two weeks ago in a game against the Iowa Barnstormers, where he threw for 21 yards and a touchdown, this matchup against the Sioux Falls Storm held a unique significance. Throughout the week leading up to the game, he was aware that he could potentially be starting, setting this game apart from the rest.

“Throughout the week of practice, Alejandro was rehabbing, so I got a majority of the reps, which was a good experience; it actually helped me out a lot that we were on the road all week; there were no distractions of being at home and having other stuff to do,” Degenhardt said. “The only thing I could do all week was sit in a La Quinta hotel and think about football. So, all week, it was just practice, working out on my own, and watching film. I had a ton of time to prepare, and once they told me that I’d be getting the start, I was super excited. I think it worked out pretty well, and I’m happy to get out of there with a win.”

Both Alejandro Bennifield and offensive coordinator Bones Bagaunte played crucial roles in guiding Degenhardt’s understanding of the indoor game, and their influence was evident in his remarkable performance of 163 passing yards and four touchdowns against the Storm.

“The two of them have been fantastic for my development,” Degenhardt said. “The indoor game is so much different than what I’m used to playing outdoor football. I wasn’t even here during training camp; I got here three days before we played Green Bay in Week One, so it’s been a big learning curve.”

Emphasizing the invaluable support he received from Bennifield and Bagaunte, Degenhardt added, “They have both been super hands-on in trying to teach me as much as they can. Alejandro was great throughout the week of practice, trying to help me out and give me some tips. Having him on the headset talking to me between drives was huge during the game. Coach Bones sets the offense up for success so well; he schemes teams up really well, so it’s not like I had to go in there and be Superman; I just had to run the offense and make good decisions.”

Degenhardt seized his chance and demonstrated unwavering confidence in his abilities. His performance underscored his reliability, showcasing that the Pirates can trust him to deliver when called upon.

“I was super happy after the game because I really didn’t want to come out of that road trip with two losses,” Degenhardt said/. “And I was also very happy that after a month of being here with the team, I felt like I was able to show the guys on the team and the coaches what I’m able to do. I feel like this was my chance to show everyone what type of football player I am and what I can do.”