B.J. Finney coudln't hide his joy.
Shortly after realizing his lifelong dream, an emotional Finney told his friends and family that he was officially a member of his favorite pro football team, the Pittsburgh Steelers. Finney signed a free agent contract with the team shortly after the conclusion of the 2015 NFL Draft.
"I stand in front of you today as proof that dreams do come true. I am under contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers," Finney proclaimed to the roaring delight of his closest supporters in a moment that was captured by The Wichita Eagle.
Finney's journey to the Steelers began as a walk-on upon arriving at Kansas State five years ago. Finney not only made the team, but he started 52 consecutive games at center for the Wildcats after redshirting his freshman season. The 6'4'', 318-pound Finney stonewalled opponents throughout his time at Kansas State, allowing just 2.5 sacks in his career. Finney was also the school's first offensive linemen to be named a three-year captain. Billed as having an "NFL-ready build" per NFL.com, Finney was a successful wrestler in high school and helped lead his high school football team to a state championship in 2007.
A native of Andale, Kansas, Finney's love for the Steelers started after spending countless Sundays watching the team with his dad.
"Growing up, watching football with my dad, it was always the Steelers on Sundays, Black and Gold, no other option," Finney said in an interview with Steelers.com. "We don’t have a tie to Pennsylvania. He just watched the 1970s dynasty and fell in love with them and that’s the way I grew up. I fell in love watching this franchise.
"My dad passed away 10 years ago, and that weekend (the weekend Finney was signed by the Steelers), I got to meet the little girl who was the last life he saved; he was a paramedic. So it was a highly-charged, emotional weekend. And just the opportunity to play for the franchise that I love and grew up dreaming about playing for meant the world for me and my family."
After his first week with the Steelers, Finney admitted that playing for his favorite team is still surreal. Specially, he mentioned Jerome Bettis, James Farrior, Troy Polamalu, current outside linebackers coach Joey Porter, Casey Hampton, Alan Faneca, Hines Ward and teammate James Harrison among his favorite Steelers players growing up. Each of those players Finney mentioned helped the Steelers win Super Bowls, something that Finney wants to emulate during his time as a Pittsburgh Steeler.
"I want to be successful on the NFL level by commitment, hard work and dedication to the game and by wanting to succeed at the highest level of the game. And, hopefully, win another Super Bowl."
Regardless of what he achieves in the NFL, Finney is appreciating what he has in front of him now, a chance to live out a lifelong dream.
"We were going through individual (drills) and I was thinking about what coach was saying and I was looking over his shoulder and I saw the emblem on one of my teammates’ helmets and I was like, ‘I’m playing for Pittsburgh, I’m living my dream."