Posted
February 04, 2026
Last Semester, Montorie Foster Jr. ’20, now of the Seattle Seahawks, was at St. Edward, substitute teaching in the very classrooms where he once sat.
Early one morning, the school called again. Could he cover a few more classes?
“Well, I’m in Seattle,” he said, laughing. “I wanted to teach, but I had to tell them I was a little busy—the Seahawks had called, too! They told me that was a darn good reason,” he chuckles.
Now, Foster is headed to Super Bowl LX as a member of the Seahawks' practice squad. And while the timeline may feel sudden, his journey from St. Edward classrooms to the NFL has been years in the making, built on persistence, humility, and an unshakable work ethic.
Lifelong Connections
During his time as a student, Foster was known by his peers and teachers as optimistic and relentlessly driven. Actively engaged in the classroom and all aspects of school life, he was a well-known presence on campus. “I still have the same best friends I walked the halls with,” he says. “Even now, I can’t name a favorite teacher because they were all so good. It was a special time in my life.”
Growing up on Cleveland’s East Side, Foster attended St. Stanislaus School in Slavic Village. From the start, his parents supported his dream of becoming an Edsman, trusting the school to challenge him academically while shaping him into a young man of character.
Basketball Beginnings & Rediscovering Football
Some of his clearest memories from his time as an Eagle are sensory ones—the smell of the gym, the squeak of sneakers on the hardwood, the echo of basketballs during early-morning workouts. When it came to sports, basketball came first, and under Coach Flannery ’90, Foster thrived and became a star. “Coach Flan and Mrs. Flannery are still like family,” he says.
Until his senior year, football wasn’t on Foster’s radar, although he played as a kid. But one day, while tossing the ball around with friends, something clicked—his passion for the game was reignited.
“I realized I could play both sports—and play them well,” Foster explains. So, in his senior year, he joined the varsity football team for the first time. What followed was a whirlwind: after just one season, two Michigan State coaches were sitting in his family’s living room, meeting his parents and offering him a football scholarship.
“That sealed the deal,” he recalls. “My parents were on board with MSU. I come from a great family, and they’ve always pushed me to be my best—but education has always come first. I had proven at St. Ed’s that I could balance academics and athletics, so they knew I could earn a degree while playing football.”
Foster’s parents, who had supported his dream from day one, watched with pride as their son navigated that pivotal moment. “It felt like everything I had worked for was starting to line up,” he recalls.
College Challenges & Comeback
Foster got a taste of college football early, starting a few games as a freshman and making catches that impressed coaches and fans alike. But an injury and foot surgery sidelined him, forcing him to take time to recover.
“That’s when I really realized that dreams become reality if you stick with them through the tough times,” Foster says. “My don’t-give-up mentality had to go into overdrive. Nothing was being handed to me—quite the opposite, actually.”
He didn’t just come back—he thrived, leading MSU in receptions in 2023 and 2024 and tying for the team lead in touchdown catches. A five-year letterwinner and two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, Foster’s hard work soon caught the attention of the NFL.
National Football League
In 2025, the head coaches of four NFL teams called to invite him to their rookie minicamps. “At the Seahawks camp, there were about 50 guys, and only two of us made it,” he says. He signed with the team, marking the next chapter of his journey.
Then came a major setback. After an early-season hamstring injury, Foster was waived with an injury designation. For 18 weeks, he worked his way back—returning to Cleveland, training every day, sometimes in the St. Edward weight room, and refusing to let go of his NFL dream.
“I wasn’t losing sight of the goal,” he says. “It was tough, but I was doing everything I could to get back on the field.”
He spent plenty of Friday nights on the Eagle sidelines—cheering, mentoring, and quietly giving back. “It was surreal to be back there,” he says. “I’d watch the guys making catches and hitting the field hard, and I wanted them to know I had their backs.”
During those five months, he also earned his real estate license and returned to the classroom as a substitute teacher. “It felt nostalgic, but also normal,” he says. “I’d teach the lesson, then we’d just talk about life.”
One conversation stayed with him. When a student shared he’d been cut from the freshman basketball team, Foster kept it simple: “It’s not over. Make a plan. Stick to it. Practice every day.” It was the same mindset carrying Foster through his own climb.
On December 30, his dream came knocking again. Now, Foster is back with the Seahawks, signed to the practice squad, chasing his roster spot and soaking in one of the best weeks of his life.
“I’m just trying to take it all in—it’s incredible,” he says, eyes shining. “The best part is that my parents will be there with me. We get to experience this together. Family has always meant everything to me. I grew up watching the Super Bowl with them, and now we’re actually here.”
Foster may be coming home to Cleveland with bragging rights. “I can’t wait to walk back into St. Ed’s really soon—hopefully with a championship ring,” he says. Ring or no ring, the comeback has been greater than the setback for Foster.
Looking Ahead
Moving forward has always come naturally to Foster. He doesn’t dwell on limits, only on what’s next—and he has an eagle-eye view of his path.
“The NFL is my dream, and I plan to make that 53-man roster next year. I’m working hard and running reps against some of the absolute best in the league,” he says.
The ambitions don’t stop at football. Montorie Foster Jr. ’20 envisions an NFL career, real estate ventures, and—one day—a return to where it all began. “Man, eventually, I really want to coach at St. Edward High School,” he said. “That’s my home.”
