NFL Wembley exclusive: Jacksonville Jaguars kicker Josh Lambo talks about dream game at home of football
Jacksonville Jaguars kicker Josh Lambo will be more thrilled than most to be walking out at Wembley on Sunday after dreaming of playing on the hallowed turf while on trial with teams like Everton and Sheffield United as a goalkeeper.
Lambo insists football or ‘soccer’ as it’s called in the USA is still his first love, but is happy to be able to play at Wembley regardless of what sport it is in.
Playing for the USA at the Under-17 World Cup, Lambo kept a clean sheet against a Belgium team containing Eden Hazard and Christian Benteke, but when his dream of making it as a goalkeeper failed he switched to kicking goals instead of trying to save them.
Lambo came through college and, via a spell with the Chargers, landed with the Jaguars and will now make a special appearance at Wembley – taking on the Super Bowl champions Philadelphia Eagles no less in a huge encounter.
"It’s going to be so exciting for me personally, to be walking out at Wembley,” Lambo told Sporting Life.
Wembley dream from soccer background
“It’s always been a dream of mine to play at Wembley – albeit in a different sport but to be playing there in any sport will be an honour – it’s such a special place and of course it’s hallowed turf in terms of soccer, or football I should say!
“Being a goalkeeper was always my first choice but when it became clear that wasn’t going to happen I was more than happy to try and make it in the NFL – it’s a great job to have."
There are certain similarities, not only physically but mentally, between being a goalkeeper and a kicker in the NFL that made the transition easier than it may have been for other positions or sports.
“It was a quick transition,” he added. “The most difficult bit is moving towards a ball that’s not quite there yet and getting used to wearing the helmet and the pads but it was a pretty smooth transition overall.
“I suppose the main similarity is that if you’re getting noticed as a goalie or as a kicker then you’re doing something wrong.
“The biggest thing is that you only get one chance to do your job, you can’t ask the forward to go take his shot again so you can get another chance to save it if it’s in the back of the net. You can’t say to a referee can I take that kick again because I missed it.
“Quarterbacks get first, second, third down to make up for mistakes - forwards can have five shots on goal and if one of them goes in you’re still a hero – if I go one-for-five in a game I’m going to get cut."
Lambo on tough life for cut kickers
Getting cut is exactly what happened to Lambo as he left the Chargers and then spent time trying out for other teams before finally landing in Jacksonville.
As we've seen this season already, kicker is the most precarious position in the NFL and it’s a tough time trying to find a new team, given there’s only 32 spots up for grabs in the league, as Lambo knows well.
"It was ironic as I actually kicked the winner against the Chargers after they cut me - it wasn’t so much getting revenge as much as it was validation that I belong in the NFL. It may have been a miss-judgement from the Chargers but they were doing what they thought was best for their club so that’s fine – and it worked out pretty well for me.
"It’s super difficult not being on a team, you’re watching games on TV, you’re going week-to-week around the country to different teams doing trials and putting together really good workouts and not getting signed, so that was difficult and discouraging.
“Watching games on Sundays and watching guys that you kind of hope miss – it’s a terrible feeling, but the only way you can really get back in is if somebody gets injured or has too many mistakes – and you never wish that upon anyone.
"So I was just thankful that I got the opportunity that I did and extra thankful it was in Jacksonville."
Kickers are the heroes or villains of the NFL
So often, and especially this season, NFL games have come down to the final play and more often than not that is a kick at goal, when the kickers trot out from the sidelines to become either the hero or the villain.
It’s a strange situation that the often unheralded kicker has the team’s hopes and dreams on his shoulders in one of the most high-pressured situations in sport – and that’s where preparation really is key.
"Those game winning moments – you’re either the hero or villain – it can be tough,” Lambo added.
"It just comes down to what you allow your thought process to be like. If you let the moment and pressure get to you it makes it a lot more difficult for you to make that kick.
"For me, I go out there and just go through my process, the scoreboard or time on the clock doesn’t matter I just go out and do my job."