Army can wait: Neuqua Valley’s Rhattigan focused on making Bears roster
Naperville native Jon Rhattigan already knows some details of his life after football.
As a graduate of the United States Military Academy, he still has five years of active duty to complete. For now he's focused on showing the Bears he can be a valuable, versatile addition to the 2026 squad.
“I have plenty of things to look forward to in life, so that will be one of them,” he said. “Since I've graduated (from West Point) in 2021, I've been so focused on playing football. So I'm really not thinking too far ahead and am trying to stay where my feet are.”
Rhattigan's major in college was geospatial information science, which involves maps, satellite imagery and data collection. Maybe that's what awaits when he returns to military service.
This week, his feet have been on the practice fields at Halas Hall. He signed with the Bears in May and plans to be at training camp next month trying to earn a roster spot.
Some things are worth the wait. Rhattigan didn't become a starter at linebacker until his senior year at Army, then made the Seahawks roster as an undrafted free agent. He's managed to survive five years in the NFL — three in Seattle, one in Carolina, then he split last season between Pittsburgh and Las Vegas.
His ticket to the NFL wasn't special forces but special teams. He's logged more than 1,200 special teams snaps in the NFL, according to pro-football-reference.com.
“I have a lot of special teams tape,” he said. “Don't have as much linebacker tape. Personally, I'm just trying to prove I can play linebacker, I can start at linebacker. At the same time I'm a core special teams guy and I'm willing and able to do anything the team would ask of me.”
The Bears ran low on linebackers late last season due to multiple injuries. Making the 53-man roster at the start of the season will be a challenge, but there's always a chance Rhattigan could end up playing valuable snaps at linebacker before the season is over.
During minicamp this week, he's taken the field essentially as a third-string linebacker, behind a couple other suburban natives — T.J. Edwards (Lakes) and Jack Sanborn (Lake Zurich). Rhattigan followed in the footsteps of his two older brothers to play at Neuqua Valley.
One skill Rhattigan has used to stand out in an NFL training camp he learned in the classroom at Army.
“At West Point they talk about it being the premier leadership institution in our country,” he said. “Being a good teammate, being uplifting for the guys around you, and at the same time realizing, 'Hey, when you're not having your best day, the guy next to you is going to help you.' I think that's gone a long way.”
It makes sense. Linebackers are essentially captains of the defense, and someone has to lead the way on special teams.
“You don't get through that place (West Point) lightly, so you do really have to adapt your own authentic style of leadership,” Rhattigan said. “Not everybody is going to look the same, but you do have to develop a sense of identity in leadership in order to graduate from there.
“And I think that's a credit to West Point. I would say they teach us, give us examples, and then they also put you in these situations where you're required to figure that out on your own, too.”
Sort of like being a newcomer at minicamp. Rhattigan should be ready for whatever awaits in Lake Forest.