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XFL Vegas Vipers

Know My Name: Sean Price

March 16, 2023 - XFL (XFL)
Vegas Vipers News Release


Sean Price was crafting a woodworking project in his garage on the night of Nov. 14, 2022, when his phone started ringing. But Price couldn't hear the phone over his work so the call went unanswered. As did the flood of text messages that would arrive over the coming minutes.

When he finally settled down from working and checked his phone, Price was confused. His phone was inundated with messages of congratulations. He saw he had a voicemail from an unknown number and clicked on it to listen.

It was Vegas Vipers head coach Rod Woodson.

"I was thinking I wasn't gonna get drafted," Price said. "I did the Combine and did my best. But when that call came through, I was ecstatic."

Price had been a tight end for the Dallas Renegades during the 2020 XFL season. But when the pandemic canceled the season, Price started moving on with his life. He became a police officer in Ocala, Fla., and started a woodworking business on the side.

But even as his life moved in these new directions, playing football never left his mind. Price knew the XFL, someday soon, would kick off again - and he wanted to be a part of it.

That dream has been fulfilled. Granted a special leave by the chief of the Ocala Police Department, Price is spending his days on the football field as a member of the Vipers.

"Knowing that the XFL was coming back around, I always had that thought in the back of my mind that if the opportunity came, I was gonna put myself in the best situation possible to get here," Price said. "There was a point in my police career when I was (thinking) I'm probably not going to play anymore, but I'll stay in shape just in case. When it came back, I was like, here it is. Let's do it."

Price attended the University of South Florida, where he was three-year starter at tight end and a team captain as a senior. He left the program as its all-time leader in catches and receiving yards for a tight end.

He tried to make the XFL but his attempts to stick with a team didn't work. After the XFL season ended, some friends suggested he look into joining law enforcement.

One of those friends was A.J. Legree, a former teammate at USF and someone Price calls a "brother from another mother." Legree had become a police officer and thought Price had the characteristics to make him a good one as well: a great leader, smart decision maker, calm demeanor and someone who can build connections quickly.

"Sometimes your goal is in front of you and there's no straight path to that goal," Legree said. "You might have to go right a little bit. Me and him have often thought about it like detours and different roads to get to your destination. Sean's as a direct living example of that. I'm just excited that he's gotten this opportunity because I know he'll be a great example to others and people to come."

The job has helped Price gain a lot of perspective. He says that as a police officer, you tend to interact with people on the worst day or one of the worst days of their lives and that it is usually up to him to try and make that day a little better or help them grow from the situation.

Those experiences make Price appreciate the opportunities he has been presented and helps keep him grounded in the moment.

It all makes his second XFL experience more rewarding.

"Officers from across the world are hitting me up showing me support," Price said. "I would be doing myself and them a disservice if I didn't fully take on everything that I have going on for me right now."

Woodworking was another aspect of his life that came about during the pandemic. Price was buying a house in 2020 and found an interest in remodeling houses and that took him down the woodworking route.

Price has the personality of someone who, when he has a passion for something, is going to invest time and energy to make himself the best he can at it. It's the same with football and being a police officer.

The fact Price could pick up a difficult hobby like woodworking so quickly doesn't shock Legree, who joked Price should go to the casino because he often seems to find a way to make the most of situations.

"He's one of those guys where he gonna put it all on black and it typically will hit for him," Legree said.

It hasn't been hitting on the field for Price or the Vipers so far this season. Vegas started the season 0-4, although two of those losses were by four points or less and could have been victories if a few different things went their way.

While the Vipers haven't won a game yet, Woodson described Price as the type of player you want in the locker room to build a positive environment.

"He's a man of really good conviction," Woodson said. "He's a pro's pro. He's gonna be where his feet at, at all times. He's gonna challenge each player to do his part. He's just always been positive, always been uplifting to all the players. That's what you're trying to find to build a culture of winning."

The results aren't the moments that are sticking with Price on his journey.

It will be running out on the field on gamedays to thousands of cheering fans. It will be people relating to his story and applying it to their own lives.

It's getting to play in front of his 5-year-old son on opening day, knowing he will understand and remember the day for the rest of his life.

"I feel like I'm living in a dream," Price said. "I want to feel like my life's a dream for the rest of my life."

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