There are three phases in a football game: offense, defense, and special teams. All the stars play on offense or defense. Any big contract you see signed in the NFL belongs to a player on offense or defense—but what about special teams? Well, that’s the tricky part. Special teams is made up of players from both offense and defense, except for three positions: kicker, punter, and long snapper. And no, those aren’t random fish you can find in a local pond—these are real positions that have a significant impact on a football team. These three positions make up what some call the “Spec Ops” unit.
As a matter of fact, these positions play a major role on Eastern’s football team. For the Eagles, these spots are filled by kicker John Nolek, punter John Westfield and long snapper Sean McNamara. This tight-knit group has grown closer over years of playing together. They spend almost all of practice side by side and often spend time off the field together at sporting events and other activities. They also give each other confidence in big moments during games.
When Westfield was asked how he stays calm under pressure, he said, “Honestly, knowing Mac [Sean] is in front of me, giving me the ball, is a very calming thing because I know he’s going to put the ball where I can handle it, so in big moments it’s just like practice.” McNamara shared similar sentiments, stating, “Having John [Westfield] behind me is such a relief.”
For those unfamiliar with the roles, the long snapper snaps directly to the punter on punts. On kicks for extra points or field goals, however, the ball is snapped to a holder—usually the quarterback. For the Eastern Eagles, that role is filled by quarterback Brett Nabb, meaning kicker John Nolek does not have direct contact with either of his close teammates.
So how does Nolek handle the pressure of a big kick like the 45-yarder he made against Delaware Valley a few weeks ago to tie the game at halftime? “I go out there and don’t really think. The only thing I’m thinking about is my foot hitting the ball,” said Nolek. And he does that exceptionally well—going 2-for-2 on 40+ yard field goals and 23-for-24 on extra points. When his foot hits the ball, there’s a good chance it’s going right through the uprights.
Nolek played both football and soccer in high school but ultimately chose to pursue football. “I had offers for soccer, and I told [that] coach, ‘Hey, I’m a football player,’” Nolek said when asked if he knew what path he’d take after high school. McNamara’s story was slightly different. “I remember my last game at Great Valley—I never thought about playing football again. When I got to Eastern, I met John [Westfield], and they [the football team] gave me this opportunity. I knew I had to take it,” McNamara said.
McNamara is a dual-sport athlete who came to Eastern to play lacrosse before later joining football. Westfield is also a dual-sport athlete, competing in both football and baseball. He was the only one of the three to join Eastern football when the program was first established four years ago. The team didn’t play varsity games in its first year, but after three seasons of varsity competition the Eagles now hold a 6–1 season record. With the help of these three, hopes are high to finish the season strong.
Thanks to Nolek, McNamara and Westfield, Eastern’s special teams unit is in good hands and continues to make a powerful impact on the field.