Mr. Irrelevant
It’s surprising [Tuggle’s] life hasn’t been a movie already…
It’s about time Hollywood is making a football movie about Mr. Irrelevant, the tongue-in-cheek label given to the last player selected in the NFL draft that has become a tradition since the 1970s. We haven’t had a good underdog NFL story on the big screen since Mark Wahlberg played Vince Papale in Invincible (2006).
But while I think Brock Purdy, who was drafted in 2022, is an underrated NFL quarterback, I’m not sure he warrants a biopic about his career this soon. Casting David Corenswet, DC’s new Superman actor, may also be a bit bold as they need someone who looks more like a 23-year-old version of John Harbaugh as Purdy does.
“People tell me we look alike.”
This moment between John Harbaugh and Brock Purdy after Ravens-49ers game 😂🤝
(via @mattblively) pic.twitter.com/qiXICxgdaK
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 26, 2023
What’s that? It appears I got confused about this entertainment news. While Purdy is already the most successful Mr. Irrelevant in NFL draft history, this movie is not actually about him according to NFL news.
The focus of this Mr. Irrelevant movie from Skydance Sports is instead going to be on John Tuggle. As an NFL historian, I must admit the name didn’t ring a bell. But when you read about his life, you can see the potential for a touching drama.
The Giants hold the final pick today, read the incredible story of John Tuggle – “The Irrelevant Giant” ⤵️
📺: 2020 #NFLDraft 12PM on NFLN/ESPN/ABC
— New York Giants (@Giants) April 25, 2020
Who Was John Tuggle?
Tuggle was a big running back who went to California before the New York Giants selected him with the 335th pick in the 12th round in the famed 1983 draft, making him that year’s Mr. Irrelevant.
Funny enough, that year’s No. 1 pick was quarterback John Elway, who played at Stanford. Tuggle had a huge game to lead his Cal team to an upset win over Elway in 1980, causing Stanford to miss a bowl game.
Tuggle made the Giants’ roster his rookie year by impressing people on special teams. In fact, he was named the Giants’ Special Teams Player of the Year for the 1983 season. He started five NFL games at fullback, had 99 yards on 20 touches, and scored a touchdown.
But things took a tragic turn in 1984 for Tuggle before his second NFL season. He got divorced, then he was in a car accident that led to unrelated shoulder pain. After getting examined by doctors, he was diagnosed with cancer.
Tuggle continued to work out under contract for the team even though he’d never play again. He died from cancer on August 30, 1986 at the age of 25. The Giants wore his number (38) on their helmets during their 1986 Super Bowl-winning season.
It’s surprising his life hasn’t been a movie already as his story is similar to that of Bears running back Brian Piccolo, who was played by the great James Caan in the 1971 TV movie Brian’s Song.
Who Is Making Mr. Irrelevant?
If you don’t know the name David Corenswet yet, you will when his new Superman movie Superman: Legacy comes out in 2025. Corenswet, 31, is the face of the new DCU, but you may already know him from films like Pearl, Twisters, or Ryan Murphy’s Hollywood series.
David Corenswet to star in ‘MR. IRRELEVANT.’
The movie centers on John Tuggle, who was given the title after being the last pick of the last round of the 1983 NFL draft.
(https://t.co/R7acRJdBv0) pic.twitter.com/g8lRWew7CV
— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) October 16, 2024
The Mr. Irrelevant movie will be directed by Jonathan Levine, who already dealt with the delicate cancer subject well in the 2011 film 50/50 with Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Now he has to do it justice for Tuggle, who was not irrelevant to his teammates and loved ones.
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