St. Viator Grad Goes From NFL Practice Squads to NFC Playoffs With Dallas Cowboys

After the first game of the 2016-17 NFL season, odds seemed slim that Emmet Cleary and the rest of the Dallas Cowboys would be suiting up for a January playoff game. Cowboys starting quarterback, Tony Romo, was injured in the season-opening loss, and Cleary — an offensive tackle who was born in Tokyo but raised in Arlington Heights, graduating from St. Viator High School — had been waived by the New York Giants had yet to sign with Dallas.

By the end of September, however, fortunes began to change for Cleary and the Cowboys. Dallas won its next two games under rookie QB Dak Prescott, and the team is the arguable favorite to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. Cleary, 26, became a Cowboy, backing up injury-plagued Tyron Smith and playing in every game since Week 4.

Although Smith is expected to start in Sunday's NFC Divisional Playoff game against the Green Bay Packers, Cleary has been practicing with the Dallas' first-team offensive line and is ready to step up so that opponents — as well as fans and NFL observers — won't see a difference in play between him and one of the best offensive tackles in the league.

Emmett Cleary Bio

Current NFL Team: Dallas Cowboys (signed Sept. 28, 2016)

Postion: Offensive tackle | Team No.: 63

Height: 6-foot-7 | Weight: 324 pounds

High School: St. Viator High School, Arlington Heights

College: Boston College (2008-13)

Past NFL Teams

• Indianapolis Colts: 2013 (practice squad)
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 2013−14 (practice squad)
• Oakland Raiders: 2014 (practice squad)
• Cincinnati Bengals: 2014 (practice squad)
• New York Giants: 2015–16

"My goal is to be as seamless as possible," the Boston College grad told the Daily Herald in a recent interview. "I try to use the same techniques, the same calls and work within the system so the other linemen don't even notice the difference."

Talking with Herald correspondent Eileen O. Daday, Cleary discusses his development as an undrafted player, spending time on various NFL practice squads since 2013. He also talks about the Cowboys' chances of going all the way this year.

Read the full story about Emmett Cleary at the Daily Herald's website.

Dallas Cowboys vs. Green Bay Packers

• Where: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
• When: 3:40 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 15
• TV: Fox 32 Chicago
• Radio: The Score (WSCR-AM, 670)

Offensive tackle Emmett Cleary (photo via the Dallas Cowboys | NFL)

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