Once the NFL draft ended, it was a long waiting period for former Catholic High of New Iberia and UL wide receiver Peter LeBlanc.
He felt like he’d get an opportunity to sign as an undrafted free agent, but the phone was not ringing.
“It was honestly kind of a long day just sitting around the phone all day,” LeBlanc said.
He finally got a call from his agent, but it wasn’t the one he wanted.
“He said it wasn’t really panning out how we liked, and we’d have to get in a rookie minicamp,” LeBlanc said.
Then everything changed.
“Not even 30 minutes later, he called me back and said the Bears were interested," LeBlanc said.
Before he knew it, LeBlanc was signed as an undrafted free agent with the Chicago Bears.
“It was a special day,” LeBlanc said. “It was a very cool moment for me and definitely for my family. I got a lot of texts, a lot of support.”
Not only did LeBlanc get a call but it was also by one of the league’s trendy teams in the Bears, who just drafted the No. 1 overall pick in USC quarterback Caleb Williams after an offseason of activity that included trading for veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen.
“It’s definitely cool to be around people who are obviously very good at football, getting drafted No. 1 overall and (Washington’s Rome) Odunze No. 9 overall,” LeBlanc said. “Then they have another veteran on their team like Keenan Allen. I’m going to be watching everything he does and copy-cat everything he does.”
It’ll be the second straight season there’s a former Ragin’ Cajuns player in Bears' camp after safety Bralen Trahan did so last year. Trahan sent LeBlanc a congratulatory text once the news broke, and LeBlanc plans on picking Trahan’s brain before Chicago’s rookie minicamp next weekend.
The 6-foot-2, 190-pounder brings a load of college experience to Chicago, starting nearly every Cajuns game for the past five seasons. He finished his career with 140 receptions for 1,737 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Getting the chance is a huge relief, but LeBlanc also knows the hard part is just beginning.
“I think it’s a little bit of both,” LeBlanc said. “It’s definitely a little bit of a relief just to know that a team is interested in me and they’re taking a chance on me. But I definitely still have to prove a lot. I’m not guaranteed anything, so I definitely still have to go out and prove myself and ball out and do my part.”
He’s focused on putting his best foot forward.
“I think I need to show them that I’m a quick learner — that I’m not a liability — and that I’ll do my part,” LeBlanc said. “And honestly, I want to show them that I love to compete. A feel like the reason a lot of NFL guys stay around so long is because they love to compete. Every single rep is a competition.
“Every single one, it doesn’t matter if it’s practice or a game — just loving to play football and compete every day.”
LeBlanc joins running back Jacob Kibodi going to the Saints and tight end Neal Johnson to the Rams as ex-Cajuns to sign free agent deals, while offensive tackle Nathan Thomas was drafted in the seventh round by the Cowboys.
“I’m so happy for those guys, too,” LeBlanc said. “Hopefully, we can all make some noise and stay in the league for a little while.”