BRAUNSCHWEIG, Germany - Former Mount Union All-American wide receiver Luc Meacham '15 is still making his presence felt on the gridiron. A member of the 2012 National Championship Mount Union football team, Meacham thought his playing days were over after participating in an NFL Pro Day, CFL tryouts and a stint with the U.S. Men's National Football Team. Then in 2016, the Toledo, OH native joined the Navy training to become a SEAL, until he heard from a former teammate about an opportunity to continue to play the game he loves.
 
"When I joined the Navy, I really thought my playing days were over," said Meacham. "I was working on getting through training and becoming a SEAL. I had no intention on getting back on the field as a player. It was in 2019 when I was on deployment that I knew I wanted to play football again, I just wasn't sure where."
 
Enter the New Yorker Lions out of the German Football League – seven-time German Bowl champions.
 
"I heard about the New Yorker Lions through an old teammate of mine, the Raider legend Kevin Burke '15," Meacham said. "He was playing over in Europe and he knew of Coach (Troy) Tomlin and the program here in Braunschweig." Burke was an All-American quarterback who won the Gagliardi Trophy an unprecedented two times at Mount Union.
 
So what's it like to be paid to play football and travel the world?
 
"The experience has been incredible, said Meacham. "Just being able to play football again is a blessing. And being able to play at arguably the most historic franchise in Europe is another blessing. My day-to-day schedule is pretty structured. I usually hit the gym in the mornings, followed by some treatment and film. We practice a few days a week so on days off I'm usually exploring the city or playing cards with teammates. It's been great to spend time with guys from Germany and other parts of the world. I haven't taken the time to get outside of Germany yet, but it's in the plans!"
 
How has being a team captain, an All-American, and a First Team All-OAC during his playing days at Mount Union prepared him for this moment?
 
"My time at Mount Union has played a huge role in preparing me for my professional football career," said Meacham. "The valuable life lessons I learned as a Raider still hold true in my daily life. Showing up, working hard, and grinding out good days. It's my job to lead and set a championship level example. That's the standard here in Braunschweig, just like Mount Union."
 
Did Meacham always know he wanted to serve as a United States Navy SEAL postgraduation and how did playing football at Mount Union prepare him for the SEALs?
 
"I can't say that I knew I always wanted to be a SEAL," said Meacham. "My first head football coach in high school was a prior SEAL (Rob Garber at Bowsher High School). I really connected with him and the way he taught the game. Demanding discipline and attention to detail. I always marveled at the idea of the military while I was in high school. It wasn't until after my football career at Mount Union when I played for the U.S. Men's National Football Team in 2015 that I was filled with a sense of pride and patriotism I never felt before. I knew then that I was going to look into joining the military.
 
If I joined the military there was only one option for myself - that was the special forces. With my prior head coach being a former SEAL, I knew that's what I wanted to do too. I learned a lot of valuable lessons at Mount Union that translated into my military career. I was going to have to work harder than I ever had, but it was something I was used to in college. Dealing with adversity, staying calm in the moment, and executing my job were all things that I had to do on a daily basis in training. Those were things I learned at Mount Union."
 
What is the most rewarding part playing with the New Yorker Lions?
 
"I think the most rewarding part playing here in Braunschweig is knowing I represent something much bigger than myself," Meacham said. "This team has built a great tradition over the last few decades. To be a part of it, and to be a leader on this team, is an honor in itself. I will never take it for granted. The team goals are simple: win the German Bowl. It's the same expectation we have at Mount Union. The standard is excellence."
 
Meacham is currently in his second year as a starting wide receiver on the New Yorker Lions. The Lions will next play Berlin Adler on Saturday, August 17. Follow Meacham's professional journey on the GFL website and the New York Lions website.

Updated on August 14