Nick Boyle spent eight seasons with the Ravens at the tight end spot, becoming one of the league’s best blockers at that position. However, with his career now at a crossroads, he is attempting to make a name for himself at a different one. 
Boyle, 30, recently attended Maryland’s pro day as a long snapper, the position at which he is now trying to make an NFL return, per Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic (subscription required). Boyle played as a long snapper at the high school level, so it isn’t an entirely unfamiliar role, but his goal is still a noteworthy one.
Drafted in the fifth round in 2015, Boyle started 53 of 90 appearances in Baltimore. He never totaled more than 31 receptions, 321 yards or two touchdowns in a campaign, but was instrumental in the team’s run game as a strong blocking presence. His career took a turn for the worse in November 2020 when he suffered a massive knee injury from which he has not been able to effectively recover.
Boyle has made 17 appearances and just three starts over the past two seasons, and the Delaware product’s offensive role dropped considerably. That made it little surprise when the Ravens released him in January, a move which allowed him to pursue the opportunity to land a roster spot as a long snapper. Baltimore has had Nick Moore at the LS spot for the past two years, and he is under contract through 2024. Boyle will thus need to catch on with a new team if he is to extend his career.
The latter has more than $25.7MM in career earnings from his time with the Ravens, particularly due to a three-year, $18MM deal he signed in 2019. His financial prospects would look far worse at the long snapper spot, since the position has only one member currently averaging over $1.5MM per season. If Boyle can land a training camp spot to compete for the snapping role somewhere, though, he will give himself the opportunity to begin an interesting second chapter in his playing career.
As pointed out, he’s already made a good amount of money. So Boyle refreshing his LS skills and obviously taking a lot less money to do so (if he does make a team) shows that for him this is about love of the game, about love of competing at the highest level, and not about the money. Good for him!
He wouldn’t be the first tight end to serve as a long snapper, at least on an emergency basis. I believe a few years ago Eric Tomlinson came in as an emergency LS for the Jets. I’m not sure if the LS was Purdum or if it was already Hennessy by that time but he was injured during the game.
I think a player seeking a position change to extend his career would normally first look at being a kicker since there is always a demand because of high turnover rates. It worked for George Blanda. Of course the Ravens already have an elite kicker in Justin Tucker so that probably convinced Boyle to explore other possibilities.
Virtually impossible to train as a kicker after a massive knee injury
A massive knee injury would probably restrict someone from training for any position. Perhaps a coaching assistant job would be a better option to explore in that situation.
If he’s cleared to take the field, has the arm strength and accuracy for a long snap, and can block, that would be the best position. He doesn’t have to run routes and he has enough size to handle the center position on special teams.