Ryan Coogler spent years dreaming of the NFL before winning his first Oscar, but a single matchup against Marshawn Lynch changed his career path

Acclaimed filmmaker Ryan Coogler just bagged his first Oscar, taking home an award at the Academy Awards in Los Angeles. Best Original Screenplay. The ceremony featured many winners and big moments, like Jimmy Kimmel’s sharp dig at Melania Trump. However, in the height of it, Coogler’s supernatural horror epic Sinners won the Oscar. This is a huge moment for Coogler, who, has been a mastermind behind some seriously big Hollywood blockbusters.

The director of films like Marvel’s Black Panther, which was the highest-grossing movie of 2018, once had his sights set on an NFL career. Coogler grew up in Oakland, California, and his gridiron journey started at St. Mary’s College of California on a football scholarship for his freshman year. Unfortunately, St. Mary’s decided to drop its football program in March 2004, which meant Coogler had to transfer. He ended up at Sacramento State, where he played as a wide receiver from 2004 to 2007.

According to Daily Mail, during his four years as a wideout for the Hornets, Coogler racked up some pretty impressive stats. He registered 112 receptions for 1,213 yards and six touchdowns. As a sophomore, he finished second on the team with 28 catches for 254 yards and two touchdowns. In his junior year, he stood out, leading the team with 45 catches for 441 yards. His biggest highlight that season came when he snagged a breakaway 60-yard touchdown pass.

From catching touchdowns to winning Oscars

Coogler also got to face off against some major talent, including NFL icon Marshawn Lynch, during his time in the Bay Area. He actually recalled the experience earlier this year on Good Hang With Amy Poehler, saying “I would meet players like Maurice Jones-Drew or Marshawn Lynch and be like, ‘Man they a lot better than me. You come across players and think, oh, that’s something different happening there.’ That was when I started realizing maybe football wasn’t going to be what I did forever.”

His football career also hit a couple of bumps along the way. Coogler reportedly missed the entire 2006 season due to a hand injury, which led to him getting a medical redshirt for a fifth year of eligibility. Just when he was ready to get back on the field in 2007, he suffered another injury, this time a broken cheekbone. These setbacks, combined with his encounters with top-tier players, likely solidified his decision to explore other passions.

It was actually at Sacramento State that Coogler started dipping his toes into film classes. This casual interest soon blossomed into a new path when he received a scholarship offer from USC to study at its prestigious School of Cinematic Arts. During his Oscars acceptance speech, Coogler politely asked the crowd to quiet down a bit because he was worried the music would cut him off before he could finish. He then delivered a really sweet message to his three children with his wife and producer, Zinzi Evans.

He said, “And to my babies at home watching, I apologize for all the time away. Dad loves you. I hope I’ve given up great memories and you are blessed to live a long life and I want you to remember this one thing, I love you more than anything. Thank you.”