Jake Funk

Funk attended Damascus High School, where he was a heavily lauded football player. Funk was named the 2015 Maryland Gatorade Player of the Year as well as The Washington Post All-Metro Offensive Player of the Year for the same year, also earning two consensus all-state selections.{{Cite web|title=Jake Funk - Football|url=https://umterps.com/sports/football/roster/jake-funk/8614|access-date=March 2, 2021|website=University of Maryland Athletics|language=en}} {{free access}} In the state championship game his senior year, Funk scored a title-game record seven rushing touchdowns against Dundalk High School. Funk finished his senior season as the Maryland state record holder for touchdowns in a season with 57.{{cite web|last=Fitzgerald|first=Justin|title= Jake Funk had a record-setting high school career. What will he be for Maryland football?

|url=https://www.testudotimes.com/maryland-terps-football/2016/6/3/11846188/jake-funk-stats-bio|access-date=November 15, 2022|website=Testudo Times|date=June 3, 2016 |language=en-US}} {{free access|date=July 2023}}

Despite his success in high school, Funk was only a moderately-rated prospect, earning two-star ratings from ESPN and Rivals.com and three-star ratings from 247Sports.com and Scout.com.{{Cite web|last=Gallen|first=Daniel|title=Maryland National Signing Day 2016: Jake Funk|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/ph-cc-sp-terps-jake-funk-0203-story.html|access-date=March 2, 2021|website=Chicago Tribune|date=February 3, 2016 |language=en-US}} {{free access}} Despite this, he received scholarship offers from the three service academies (Army, Navy, and Air Force), Ivy League schools Harvard, Yale, and Penn, Group of Five schools Ohio, Old Dominion, and Charlotte, Football Championship Subdivision schools Towson and Bucknell, and Big Ten schools Wisconsin and his eventual destination Maryland.{{Cite news|last=Goldwein|first=Eric|title=Damascus senior RB Jake Funk weighing offers, waiting for more|language=en-US|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/recruiting-insider/wp/2015/09/22/damascus-senior-rb-jake-funk-weighing-offers-waiting-for-more/|access-date=March 2, 2021|issn=0190-8286|url-access=registration}} Though recruiters were concerned about Funk's speed, his strength and versatility on defense made him an intriguing option (Funk also played safety in high school), and he was recruited by at least one school as a linebacker. However, after receiving his offer from Maryland, Funk quickly committed to his hometown school, where he was the first commit for then-interim head coach Mike Locksley.{{Cite news|last=Mullan|first=Dillon|title=Damascus RB Jake Funk becomes Maryland's first recruit under Mike Locksley|language=en-US|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/recruiting-insider/wp/2015/10/16/damascus-rb-jake-funk-becomes-marylands-first-recruit-under-mike-locksley/|access-date=March 2, 2021|issn=0190-8286|url-access=registration}}

{{College athlete recruit start|40=yes|collapse=no|year=2016}}

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Funk did not redshirt, and debuted in a 2016 game against Howard University where he rushed for 59 yards and a touchdown. He caught his first career touchdown pass that year against Purdue. He ended the season with 29 carries for 136 yards and one touchdown (averaging 4.7 yards a carry), and seven receptions for 42 yards and one touchdown.{{Cite web|title=Jake Funk Stats, News, Bio|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/player/_/id/4036224/jake-funk|access-date=March 2, 2021|publisher=ESPN|language=en}}

Funk appeared in all 12 of Maryland's games during his sophomore season and ended the year with 27 carries for 145 yards (averaging 5.4 yards a carry) and four touchdowns, second-most on the team. He also caught one pass for four yards and a touchdown.

Funk had an injury-shortened junior season, playing through a wrist injury before tearing his ACL.{{Cite web|last=Lee|first=Edward|title=Older brother, own determination helped Maryland running back Jake Funk rebound from ACL tear|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/terps/bs-sp-terps-jake-funk-returns-from-acl-tears-20201023-xgqdwzkvr5efpbncy2jigjoyuu-story.html|access-date=March 2, 2021|website=The Baltimore Sun|date=October 23, 2020 }}

Due to his injury, Funk received an extra year of eligibility, and played in Maryland's first three games before tearing his ACL again in a game against Temple.{{Cite web|last=Markus|first=Don|title=Maryland's Jake Funk suffers season-ending torn ACL in the same knee for second straight year|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/college/football/bs-sp-maryland-football-jake-funk-acl-20190923-akwh3v6n2reipoxk36hkouu2pm-story.html|access-date=March 2, 2021|website=The Baltimore Sun|date=September 23, 2019 }} Through the three games, Funk carried seventeen times for 173 yards and two touchdowns, and also caught four passes for 16 yards.

Funk had his best statistical season after returning from his consecutive ACL tears. Playing during for the COVID-19-shortened Big Ten Conference season, he was the team's primary option at running back after the departure of Javon Leake and Anthony McFarland Jr. to the NFL.{{Cite web|last=Levine|first=Matt|date=July 21, 2020|title=Jake Funk looks to return from injury as potential lead running back in 2020|url=https://www.testudotimes.com/maryland-terps-football/2020/7/21/21331159/jake-funk-maryland-football-2020-season-preview-player-profile-injury-comeback-running-back|access-date=March 2, 2021|website=Testudo Times|language=en}} Across Maryland's four games, Funk rushed 60 times for 519 yards, averaging 8.6 yards per carry, which ranked him first in the Big Ten and second among all Football Bowl Subdivision running backs in yards per carry. He averaged 129 rushing yards a game as well, ranking him second in the Big Ten and eighth among FBS backs. Funk scored three rushing touchdowns and one receiving touchdown, and was named third-team All-Big Ten.{{Cite web|last=Hartlove|first=Brendan|date=December 16, 2020|title='Small Town Boy' Funk Overcomes Injuries to Have Breakout Senior Year|url=https://www.mymcmedia.org/small-town-boy-funk-overcomes-injuries-to-have-breakout-senior-year/|access-date=March 2, 2021|website=Montgomery Community Media|language=en-US}} At the end of the season, Funk ranked third on Maryland's list of yards per carry across a single season.

{{NFL predraft

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| weight = 204

| dash = 4.49

| ten split = 1.50

| twenty split = 2.59

| shuttle = 4.12

| cone drill = 6.71

| vertical = 38.0

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| note = All values from Pro Day{{Cite web |title=2021 NFL Draft Scout Jake Funk College Football Profile |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1026260&DraftYear=2021 |access-date=July 30, 2023 |website=DraftScout.com}}

}}

Despite having two seasons of eligibility remaining due to injury and NCAA policy surrounding COVID-19 and a chance to return as a starting back for Maryland, Funk opted to enter the 2021 NFL draft.{{Cite web|last=Jackson|first=Luke|date=December 25, 2020|title=Jake Funk: Terps' Trajectory Made Entering 2021 NFL Draft Difficult Decision|url=https://pressboxonline.com/2020/12/25/jake-funk-terps-trajectory-made-entering-2020-nfl-draft-difficult-decision/|access-date=March 2, 2021|website=pressboxonline.com}} Due to his perception as a primarily straight-line runner who was not particularly elusive, Sports Illustrated speculated that he would go undrafted, but could potentially find a role as a special teams player.{{Cite web|title=Jake Funk - Running Back Maryland Terrapins 2021 NFL Draft Scouting Report|url=https://www.si.com/nfl/draft/scouting-reports/jakefunk|access-date=March 2, 2021|website=The NFL Draft Bible on Sports Illustrated: The Leading Authority on the NFL Draft|date=February 24, 2021 |language=en}}

After Funk's performance at Maryland's pro day, draft analyst Mel Kiper mused that Funk could potentially be a late-round draft pick or an undrafted free agent: "I think he's going to fight his way onto a roster. He’s a competitive runner. He's a battler. He just puts his nose in there and he just fights and he's quick to the hole. He's shown home run-hitting ability where he can outrace the cornerback, safeties to the end zone, to the pay dirt. He'll catch the ball, he'll block. He's just a guy that gives you everything he has."{{Cite web|last=Oyefusi|first=Daniel|title=Jake Funk defied the odds at Maryland. Now he's looking to be an NFL draft pick.|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/terps/bs-sp-jake-funk-maryland-nfl-draft-20210311-buxnwlc3mndilmb5bupnomfcpq-story.html|access-date=March 11, 2021|website=The Baltimore Sun|date=March 11, 2021 }}

Funk was drafted in the seventh round (233rd overall) by the Los Angeles Rams.{{cite web|title=Rams select RB Jake Funk with 233rd pick in 2021 NFL Draft|url=https://www.therams.com/news/rams-select-rb-jake-funk-with-233rd-pick|author=Jackson, Stu|website=TheRams.com|date=May 1, 2021}} In post-draft interviews, Funk indicated that he "never gave up faith," and that he was looking forward to his likely role as a special teams player.{{Cite web|title=Jake Funk's faith rewarded with phone call from Rams|url=https://www.therams.com/news/jake-funk-running-back-rams-faith-rewarded|access-date=May 3, 2021|website=therams.com|language=en-US}} On May 16, 2021, Funk signed his four-year rookie contract with the Rams.{{Cite web|title=NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/16/21|url=https://www.profootballrumors.com/2021/05/nfl-draft-pick-signings-51621|access-date=August 16, 2021|website=Pro Football Rumors|language=en-US}}

On October 18, 2021, coach Sean McVay announced a day after a Week 6 win over the New York Giants that Funk had suffered a hamstring injury and was placed on injured reserve on October 18.{{cite web|title=McVay: Johnny Mundt out for rest of season with torn ACL; Jake Funk out for rest of season with torn hamstring|url=https://www.therams.com/news/johnny-mundt-jake-funk-injury-update|author=Jackson, Stu|website=TheRams.com|date=October 18, 2021}} He was activated on December 21. Funk won Super Bowl LVI when the Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20.{{cite web|title= LA Rams defeat Cincinnati Bengals to win Super Bowl 2022|url=https://nypost.com/2022/02/13/la-rams-defeat-cincinnati-bengals-to-win-super-bowl-2022/|author=Schwartz, Paul|website=New York Post|date=February 13, 2021}}

On October 11, 2022, Funk was waived by the Los Angeles Rams.{{Cite tweet |user=RamsNFL |number=1579925944839479297 |title=LA Rams Transactions: • Signed to Active Roster C Matt Skura • Reserve/Injured G David Edwards • Waived, No Recall RB Jake Funk}}

On October 12, 2022, Funk was signed to the practice squad of the New Orleans Saints.{{Cite magazine |last=Rose |first=Bob |date=October 12, 2022 |title=Saints Bring Funk to New Orleans |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/saints/news/saints-sign-rb-jake-funk |access-date=October 13, 2022 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |language=en}} He was released on November 8.

On November 10, 2022, Funk was signed to the Indianapolis Colts practice squad.{{Cite magazine |last=Smith |first=Michael David |date=November 10, 2022 |title=Colts get Jake Funk, cut Phillip Lindsay |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/colts-jake-funk-cut-phillip-150747400.html |magazine=Sports Illustrated |language=en |access-date=November 10, 2022}} He was promoted to the active roster on January 3, 2023.{{Cite web |date=January 3, 2023 |title=Colts Sign RB Jake Funk To 53-Man Roster From Practice Squad, Waive RB Jordan Wilkins, Sign S Sheldrick Redwine To Practice Squad |url=https://www.colts.com/news/jake-funk-running-back-signed-roster-jordan-wilkins-waived-sheldrick-redwine |access-date=March 25, 2023 |website=Colts.com}}

On August 29, 2023, Funk was waived by the Colts and re-signed to the practice squad.{{cite web |author=Stankevitz, JJ |date=August 29, 2023 |title=Colts make roster moves to form initial 53-man roster |url=https://www.colts.com/news/jonathan-taylor-reserve-pup-list-roster-moves-transactions-53-man-roster |website=Colts.com}}{{cite web |date=August 30, 2023 |title=Colts sign 16 to practice squad |url=https://www.colts.com/news/practice-squad-mike-strachan-amari-rodgers-juwann-winfree-signed-wide-receiver |website=Colts.com}} He was promoted to the active roster on September 12.{{cite web |date=September 12, 2023 |title=Colts sign RB Jake Funk to the 53-man roster; sign G Ike Boettger to the practice squad; place RB Evan Hull on Injured Reserve list |url=https://www.colts.com/news/colts-sign-rb-jake-funk-to-the-53-man-roster-sign-g-ike-boettger-to-the-practice |website=Colts.com}} He was waived on October 7.{{Cite web |last=Stankevitz |first=JJ |date=October 7, 2023 |title=Colts activate RB Jonathan Taylor from Reserve/PUP list, waive RB Jake Funk |url=https://www.colts.com/news/jonathan-taylor-activated-pup-list-week-5-status-titans-running-back |access-date=2024-10-14 |website=Colts.com}}

On October 10, 2023, Funk was signed to the Miami Dolphins practice squad.{{cite web|title=Miami Dolphins Sign Funk to Practice Squad|url=https://www.miamidolphins.com/news/miami-dolphins-make-practice-squad-moves-10-10-23|website=MiamiDolphins.com|date=October 10, 2023}} He was released on November 18, 2023.{{cite web | last=Masala | first=Mike | title=Dolphins swap practice squad players, elevated two to the active roster | website=Dolphins Wire|publisher=USA Today | date=2023-11-18 | url=https://dolphinswire.usatoday.com/2023/11/18/dolphins-release-jake-funk-elevate-robbie-chosen-chasen-hines/ | access-date=2024-10-14}}

On December 19, 2023, Funk was signed to the Baltimore Ravens practice squad.{{cite web |last1=Brown |first1=Clifton |title=Melvin Gordon III Signed to 53-Man Roster; Jake Funk to Practice Squad |url=https://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/melvin-gordon-signed-53-man-roster-week-16-ravens-keaton-mitchell-jake-funk |website=baltimoreravens.com |access-date=20 December 2023}} He was released on January 10, 2024.{{cite web | title=Jake Funk: Gets let go | website=CBSSports.com | date=2024-01-10 | url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/jake-funk-gets-let-go/ | access-date=2024-10-14}}

On January 23, 2024, Funk signed with the practice squad of the Detroit Lions.{{Cite web |last=Risdon |first=Jeff |date=2024-01-23 |title=Lions shake up the practice squad ahead of the NFC Championship |url=https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2024/01/23/detroit-lions-practice-squad-roster-moves-farniok-jermar/ |access-date=2024-07-21 |website=Lions Wire|publisher=USA Today |language=en-US}} He signed a reserve/future contract on January 30, 2024.{{Cite web |last=Schlitt |first=Erik |date=2024-01-30 |title=Update: Detroit Lions sign 12 players to futures contracts |url=https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2024/1/30/24056125/detroit-lions-sign-11-players-futures-contracts-2024-offseason |access-date=2024-07-21 |website=Pride Of Detroit |publisher=SB Nation |language=en}} He was waived on August 27, 2024.{{cite web|title=Lions announce roster moves|url=https://www.detroitlions.com/news/detroit-lions-announce-roster-moves-nfl-53-man|website=DetroitLions.com|date=August 27, 2024}}

On October 1, 2024, Funk signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars practice squad.{{Cite web |date=1 October 2024 |title=Roster Moves: Jaguars Sign Tyler Hall and Jake Funk to Practice Squad |url=https://www.jaguars.com/news/k000030-roster-moves-jaguars-sign-tyler-hall-and-jake-funk-to-practice-squad |access-date=2 October 2024 |website=Jaguars.com}} He was released on November 5.{{cite web | title=Jake Funk: Cut by Jacksonville again | website=CBSSports.com | date=2024-11-05 | url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/jake-funk-cut-by-jacksonville-again/ | access-date=2025-03-23}}

Funk hails from a family of athletes. His father, Jim, was a football player for Penn State and his mother, A’Lisa, was a national title-winning swimmer at Clarion University of Pennsylvania. Two of Funk's grandparents were also athletes at Penn State, and his grandmother Jean was one of Penn State's first female athletes, competing for the men's rifle team. Funk has a brother, Jordan, who played one year of football for Army before transferring to James Madison.{{Cite web |last=Interdonato |first=Sal |title=Jordan Funk transferring |date=January 13, 2021 |url=http://www.blackknightnation.com/football/jordan-funk-transferring/ |access-date=March 2, 2021 |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Jordan Funk - Football |url=https://jmusports.com/sports/football/roster/jordan-funk/17277 |access-date=September 20, 2021 |website=James Madison University Athletics |language=en}} He also has a half-brother, who played lacrosse at Ohio State University and professionally for the Minnesota Swarm. His half-brother went on to earn a doctorate from the University of Maryland, Baltimore, he owns several physical therapy clinics in Montgomery County and assisted Funk in his ACL rehab.

Funk began dating former The Bachelor winner Hannah Ann Sluss in November 2021.{{cite web|date=August 26, 2022|title=Hannah Ann Sluss Reveals She Met Her Boyfriend Over Tea-Filled TikTok|url=https://bachelornation.com/2022/08/26/hannah-ann-sluss-reveals-she-met-her-boyfriend-over-tea-filled-tiktok/|accessdate=January 27, 2023|website=Bachelor Nation}} They announced their engagement on January 25, 2023. They married on June 26, 2024.{{cite web|date=January 26, 2023|title='Bachelor' alum Hannah Ann Sluss engaged to Colts running back Jake Funk|url=https://nypost.com/2023/01/26/hannah-ann-sluss-engaged-to-colts-running-back-jake-funk/|accessdate=January 27, 2023|last=Lemoncelli|first=Jenna|website=New York Post}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://umterps.com/sports/football/roster/jake-funk/8614 Maryland Terrapins bio]

{{Los Angeles Rams 2021 draft navbox}}

{{Super Bowl LVI}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Funk, Jake}}

Category:1998 births

Category:Living people

Category:Players of American football from Gaithersburg, Maryland

Category:American football running backs

Category:Maryland Terrapins football players

Category:Los Angeles Rams players

Category:New Orleans Saints players

Category:Indianapolis Colts players

Category:Miami Dolphins players

Category:Baltimore Ravens players

Category:Detroit Lions players

Category:Jacksonville Jaguars players