By Bobby Narang
Luke Juriga is not afraid of long odds.
He was a two-star prospect coming out of Marmion Academy in Aurora, despite a solid build and National Football League (NFL) lineage. Juriga was named the 2014 Chicago Catholic League co-Offensive Player of the Year, then made redshirt his first year for then-Western Michigan University and Kaneland High School graduate P.J. Fleck, the Broncos’ head coach.
Western Michigan University photo
The Marmion Academy graduate carved out a successful career at Western Michigan. He started all 52 games in four years on the offensive line, earned Mid-American all-Conference honors three times, and capped his career with an honorable mention all-America selection by Phil Steele in 2019.
The 6-4 and 298-pound center from Aurora recently added another achievement to his football resume: NFL player.
Juriga was an undrafted free agent signee with the Philadelphia Eagles in late April. Juriga’s durability, production, and leadership caught the eye of several NFL teams. He played in the East-West Shrine Bowl in January, and will try to become the fourth Western Michigan offensive lineman on an NFL roster.
Juriga’s signing adds another member from the Aurora community to join the NFL ranks. Juriga, a 2015 Marmion graduate, is following in the footsteps of his former teammate, Jordan Glasgow, and Glasgow’s two older brothers.
Juriga gave credit his father, Jim Juriga, a former NFL offensive lineman who started in the 1990 Super Bowl for the Denver Broncos, for coaching and tutoring him throughout his career. Jim Juriga was an essential component as a lineman for successful teams at Geneva High School and on the University of Illinois 1983 Big Ten Conference championship team.
“My dad really helped me develop at a young age,” Juriga said. “It’s really cool to be an NFL player. I have to work hard. When I was little, I always wanted to grow up and be like my dad and play in the NFL. I have a serious opportunity and it’s really exciting.”
Juriga signed a three-year deal for $2,301,000, which included a $16,000 bonus with $116,000 guaranteed.