Young DT Reveals Mike Vrabel's Impact on Patriots' Defense

He won't be playing in Super Bowl LX, but New England Patriots defensive tackle Jeremiah Pharms Jr. has been through some ups and downs to get to this point.

Originally signed by the Patriots ahead of the 2022 season, Pharms has been a mainstay in the organization -- either on the active roster or the practice squad. This year, he played in three games before being released and re-signed to the practice squad. He's played for three different head coaches in New England, and is just soaking up the entire experience.

"It’s a surreal feeling," Pharms told The Stockton Record. "As I sit here in my hotel room and look at the stadium, the crazy part is it still hasn’t fully hit that I’ll be a part of this game. I feel like once I get in the stadium, my feet touch the grass and the national anthem plays, everything will kick off and it’ll fully hit. With all the gear I’ve gotten, the photos we’ve taken and the practices we’ve had, it still feels like another preparation week — just on another level. I see the logos everywhere, but it still hasn’t fully hit me."

As a practice squad player, Pharms isn't left out of any of the festivities. Just like the Patriots on the active roster, he practices and goes through the media circus that is the Super Bowl. During the downtime, he's also been able to enjoy all the events that come with the big stage.

"Spending time with my family," Pharms said about what he's enjoyed the most so far. "We’ve been doing all the Super Bowl events — wife, kids, moms, brothers and sister. Just enjoying this time."