Nights in cars, days at small schools: NC native Jaleel McLaughlin never wavered on his way to NFL

CHARLOTTE, N.C.

Jaleel McLaughlin stared down at the field within Bank of America Stadium in uptown Charlotte and told himself that he would be playing in an NFL stadium like it in the near future.

Sure, he had just finished his freshman year at Division II Notre Dame College, a far cry from the pomp and circumstance that comes with playing the SEC or ACC down the road.

And yeah, he was parked in a nosebleed seat during a Carolina Panthers Fan Fest practice that was probably as forgettable as his clippings during his high school recruiting days at Forest Hills High School in Marshville, roughly 30 miles outside Charlotte.

But McLaughlin, a 5-foot-7, 187-pound running back, had vision and it wasnt just between the tackles on the football field.

McLaughlin had belief, he had a plan, and he didnt want his family to take a step back to the poverty and homelessness that he knew nearly a decade earlier.

On Sunday in Denver, at Empower Field at Mile High, McLaughlin in his second season with the Broncos will be able to look at the Panthers sideline, and know that he did right by himself and his family.

He also kept his whispered promise.

I said one day Im going to be out there in the NFL, and Im going to be playing on that field right there, McLaughlin said.

Its definitely great that were going against Carolina this week like I basically spoke that into existence.

But the path to the NFL wasnt always paved with promise.

McLaughlin, a three-sport athlete in high school, wasnt the typical pro athlete prospect.

In fact, he wasnt much of a college draw either, in any of his three sports.

The adversity against McLaughlin was a mile high, but following a journey that began with him sleeping in a car for roughly 18 months as a youngster, the 24-year-old running back is starting to see the fruits of his fortitude.

Keeping the focus McLaughlins mother, Tonya, lost her job when McLaughlin was in middle school.

With two children, including McLaughlins younger brother, Tonya was forced to move around looking for a place to stay.

For a time, that place was her Ford Focus.

I was around the sixth or seventh grade, somewhere around there, McLaughlin said.

I cant remember the exact (age) but yeah, we stayed in there for about a year and a half and stuff like that and then my mom moved away to Arkansas.

We stayed in there, and then we parked the Ford Focus at McDonalds or sometimes at my grandmas house, where the water and lights were sometimes off at her house.

When his mom moved to Arkansas, McLaughlin stayed in Marshville with his father.

And during all of those rough moments, McLaughlin leaned on sports, where he excelled as a star player in basketball, track and field, and football.

Sports offered an escape, not only for him, but for his mother as well.

I think adversity can make or break you, and I think that made me who I am, honestly, McLaughlin said.

With me and my family, us going through that in North Carolina, it just struck a nerve in me to want to work and not have to go through that (again).

So I just put my head down and work as hard as I can.

Like me playing basketball, football and track, no matter what we were going through at home, it made my mom smile.

So just being able to make my mom smile and put a smile on her face of course Im going to work as hard as I can to make her forget about the problems that were going through at home for the two hours that Im out on the field or on the basketball court or even running track and doing my best to try to win.

Despite his multi-sport resume, McLaughlin wasnt highly sought after as a recruit for colleges.

He eventually gave up track and basketball to pursue college football, landing at Notre Dame College in South Euclid, Ohio, in 2018.

McLaughlin was an immediate standout at the small school, surpassing 2,400 rushing yards and breaking a host of D-II records in each of his two seasons with the program.

He then transferred to Division I Youngstown State, where he starred in the backfield for three seasons.

He posted 3,424 rushing yards and 30 touchdowns during that three-year run, including 1,588 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns as a senior in 2022.

He also had 44 career catches for 500 yards receiving and two touchdowns during that tenure.

McLaughlin, despite those impressive college numbers, still wasnt on the radar of some NFL scouts.

He went undrafted last year before signing with the Broncos in May 2023.

He was going to have to earn a roster spot the hard way, but he never blinked at the opportunity to prove his worth.

Its been a common challenge throughout his life and athletic career.

I trust in God, and Gods timing is the best timing, McLaughlin said.

And he put me in places for reasons.

...

I wanted to play at the highest level possible.

I dont know how Id be happy with myself and happy in life without it, so thats what I went after and I knew it would happen.

Clocking in early McLaughlin has always prided himself on being the first guy in the building.

That tradition started in high school and continued through his college tenures and now in the NFL.

Even Broncos head coach Sean Payton has noticed McLaughlin has only been beaten by the teams security when it comes to clocking in.

Hes still the first one on campus, Payton said.

He and then the 24-hour security guard who was here since midnight.

So hes first and then Jaleel is second.

The early check-ins are a reflection of McLaughlins work ethic, but also his desire to push back at what he experienced in his youth.

Its kind of a bundle of everything, McLaughlin said.

Me going through that homelessness, me not having a place to stay, knowing what it looks like at the bottom and not wanting to go back there.

Also, I want to be the best to ever do it in this sport, and theres still a lot that Im working toward, and I want to help this team get wins.

McLaughlin has impressed Payton a Super Bowl-winning head coach with his hustle and his talent.

He has good contact balance for his size, Payton said earlier this month.

There was a time when we talked about a change-of-pace-type back.

...

I think that he has good vision.

Some backs are just harder to lay your pads on than others.

McLaughlin made the Broncos 53-man roster out of training camp last year.

He played in all 17 games as a rookie and was even able to start three of those matchups, finishing with 410 rushing yards, 160 receiving yards and three total touchdowns.

Now in his second season, McLaughlin has become an even bigger fixture of the backfield rotation, led by former North Carolina Tar Heels playmaker Javonte Williams.

Through seven games, McLaughlin has played 30% of the offensive snaps.

Hes picked up 151 rushing yards, 28 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

Within the first 24 games of his career, McLaughlin ranks fifth in rushing yards among undrafted running backs in their first two seasons with the Broncos organization.

Hes on pace to finish within the top four, behind Phillip Lindsay, Selvin Young and C.J.

Anderson, if he continues to share the load with Williams.

I think his patience has gotten way better, Williams said in August.

Last year he was doing well, and I feel like he was just running, running and running.

Now it seems like he really understands the play, he knows where to get to and does his job.

Making the family proud Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero will prepare to slow McLaughlin down this weekend in Denver, as the play caller experiences his own Mile High reunion.

Everos defense has struggled against the run all year, and McLaughlin offers a speedy threat out of the backfield.

Hes a really good back, Evero said Thursday.

Hes very fast they like him on the perimeter.

He gets up into holes really quickly, and hes a good, good football player.

McLaughlin is known for his speed and quickness, but Year 2 has featured the broadening of his game from a mental standpoint.

Hes studying more, asking questions and taking the time to see the finer details of the game.

Its just another aspect of his routine that he continues to polish as a professional.

I would say Im getting way smarter with the game, McLaughlin said.

In the NFL, youve gotta be real smart.

And there are a lot of guys that play a lot of years just because of how smart they are.

McLaughlin said adding to his football IQ will only prolong his outlook in the NFL.

Hes still running away from the adversity of his past, and pushing toward the goals that he established when he spent countless nights in that Ford Focus.

He wants more, and he can handle the burden because of how he was tested during his formative years.

I think (the adversity) made me a better person, and it kept me humble, because Ive had a little success, Im in the NFL, and now the money is around, and all this other stuff, McLaughlin said.

But none of that stuff matters pretty much to me.

Ive just got to keep working hard and the success is going to continue to come.

And I just want to make my mom and my family proud and thats what Im working to do.

As McLaughlin enters the final 10 games of his sophomore campaign in the NFL, hes hoping to make his mark on the Broncos road back to the playoffs.

Hes been an integral piece of the 4-3 squad so far, and a strong outing against the Panthers could help him further establish himself, not only in Denver and the NFL, but in the minds of those living in his home state as well.

And, of course, itll make his mom smile.

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