Ty Okada, captain and quarterback, during his time at East Ridge High School. Photos: Mike Tuckner
Ty Okada credits family and a strong work ethic for leading the way to the NFL.
Almost everyone is asked during some point in their childhood what they’d like to be when they grow up. Ty Okada recalls his experience vividly. He says he was in kindergarten when he answered the popular question without hesitation: He wanted to be a professional football player.
While his response likely mirrored many big dreams of his peers, his was different because it actually came true. Last spring, the Woodbury native completed his first season as a safety for the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks.
“It’s such a blessing to look back at those times and see that my dream came to fruition through hard work and dedication,” Okada says. “I know a lot of kids say that, but I truly felt that was my future.”
Noticeably humble, Okada discussed his journey to the NFL, crediting faith, family and hard work for helping him reach his goal. And while he’s grateful for every opportunity he’s been given, he admits accomplishing one dream only sets the stage for the next one.
Early Years
Growing up in Woodbury, Okada attended East Ridge High School as a three-sport athlete. A self-proclaimed late bloomer growth-wise, Okada laughed that wrestling or baseball seemed more of a fit for him. But it was football that he had always had his sights set on. Still, Okada’s high school career came with many awards and accolades across the board. He was a two-time All-Section Selection and 2017 All-Star Selection in baseball, and a two-time State Qualifier for wrestling, earning all-state honors his sophomore year. Okada also served as captain of the football team his senior year in 2017 and earned the All-District Offensive Player of the Year honors as a quarterback.
His resume was impressive and showcased his steadfast work ethic. “I always wanted to be the best version of myself,” Okada says.
That mindset was instilled in him early on. Okada says his family, friends and coaches always supported him both on and off the field. His dad, Chris, often coached his teams when Okada was a young boy, and his mom, Michelle, was always in the stands supporting her son. Okada’s older brother, Michael (MJ), was a constant support, too, both as a teammate and a fan. The family holds their values closely and appreciates the importance of hard work.
“I was taught from an early age that if I do the best with what I have and the opportunities I was given, good things will happen from that,” he says. “I made the most of things that happened for me, not to me, and in the long run, I hoped it would pay off.”
Collegiate Career
While Okada prides himself on his strong work ethic, he says getting accepted to a Division I football team didn’t come easy. He had a few offers from Division II schools, but Okada continued to pursue that higher level.
“I had a mindset that wherever I went, a team was going to get a guy who was going to do whatever it takes to improve himself to ultimately help the team achieve their goals,” he says.
But he originally came up short. “I wasn’t hearing back from coaches. I wasn’t getting those offers,” Okada says. “I was thinking about what I did wrong to not get those offers. It felt like a huge roadblock.”
Eventually, Woodbury High School’s head football coach Andy Hill reached out to a contact at Montana State University for Okada and explained what he’d bring to their team.
“He sent an email on my behalf … which I’m sure caught the Montana State coach off guard that it came from a player that wasn’t one of his players,” Okada says with a laugh. “In fact, Woodbury was East Ridge’s rival.”
Rival or not, the email worked—and the next year, Okada joined the Montana State Bobcats as a walk-on, aka a student who was recruited but without an athletic scholarship. In Okada’s eyes, it meant he had to work even harder to prove himself as an athlete, teammate and student.
Ty Okada during his time with the Montana State Bobcats. Photo: Michelle Okada
“Looking back on my journey, it’s exactly what God had in place for me to get where I am now,” Okada says of the challenges of getting to Montana State University. “Coming in as a walk-on helped me tremendously. I didn’t get as much leeway as a guy they recruited. I knew I had to do whatever it took to be successful,” he says.
Okada redshirted, or sat out, his freshman season, but he still won the Young Gun Award for the hardest-working player in 2017. That award set the tone for Okada’s entire collegiate career where continued hard work earned him the Montana State Coaches’ Award for Special Teams Player of the Year in 2018. He was also named second-team All-Big Sky Conference in 2021. The stage was set for the big leagues.
Ty Okada post-graduation in 2022 from Montana State University, where he went on to pursue a masters degree in family financial planning. Photo: MSU Athletics
The Big Field
As Okada approached achieving his lifelong goal of playing in the NFL, he said the Seattle Seahawks caught his eye for their culture and reputation in the league.
“I felt strongly that they’d value a guy like me who was ready to work hard,” he says. “I put together a preseason that presented me with an opportunity to be on their practice squad and from there, I stayed diligent with my work ethic and consistent schedule.”
Ty Okada during a Seattle Seahawks 2023 preseason game vs. the Green Bay Packers. Photo: Michelle Okada
In December 2023, Okada signed to the active roster. “Making it to the NFL has been an extreme blessing,” he says. “I try to make the most of every opportunity I was given.”
A Word of Advice
Okada understands his success is a result of the effort he put forth and credits a saying he has continuously lived his life by.
“I was told to live your life how you see yourself and not how others see you,” Okada says. “That was always really powerful for me. I knew that if I put in the time and effort, I’d have some sort of success.”
And he admits while he always kept his lifelong goal in mind, he knew that if he didn’t achieve that, he’d find success somewhere else.
“It’s different than … success vs. failure,” Okada says. “I think you need to look at it as am I growing as a person? Am I getting better? Am I doing something that will teach me a lesson in life? I think that’s the most important mindset to have.”
He also offers advice to others with big dreams to apply themselves in all aspects of their lives. A big piece of work ethic is how someone does anything is how they should do everything, he says.
“It’s more than being a good football player. It’s being a good teammate. It’s being good in the classroom,” Okada says. “It’ll be hard to find success if you’re lazy in one area and really committed in another area. How you do anything is how you should do everything. Live by that, and you’ll be just fine.”
Ty Okada with friends and family at Lumen Field for the Seattle Seahawks 2023 preseason game vs. the Dallas Cowboys. Photo: Michelle Okada
