by David Chapman
Staff Writer
Drew Hampton considers Jaguars players like family.
If they were a family in the literal sense of the word, Hampton and his staff of four might be considered mothers. Not in the negative sense, though.
That’s because Hampton, as equipment manager of the team, has to look after and take care of many needs of the players, coaches and staff – providing them with clean jerseys, new shoes, helmets, towels, speciality snacks, and more – during football season.
With the start of training camp comes an end to spare time for Hampton, who noted that the next day he’ll have off is a few days at the conclusion of the Jaguars last game – sometime in February if all things go accordingly. His wife, Janine, and children, Paige, Peyton and Haley, are used to the routine by now, he said.
In around 6 a.m., out anywhere after 7 p.m., the job might seem like a grind but you won’t hear complaints. It’s a job he loves.
“They are like family and I’ve made many, many friends during my time here,” he said. “It’s a job I’ve always wanted and I am glad to have it.”
It runs in the family for Hampton.
A Long Island, N.Y. native, Hampton grew up in the business. His father, Bill, was the New York Jets equipment manager for 38 years and Hampton served as an assistant to him after graduating from St. Johns University.
He came to Jacksonville as an assistant to then-equipment manager Bobby Monica during the inaugural 1995 season and after Monica left following the 1997 season found himself wondering if he had made an impression on then-head coach Tom Coughlin.
“I went to his house like it was an interview, dressed in a suit,” he said, remembering the day he went to Coughlin’s house. “Tom opened the door in shorts and flip-flops and asked ‘What the hell are you dressed like that for? Take the tie off and help me move my daughter’s dresser downstairs.’ It wasn’t formal ... we met in his office later and he offered me the job.”
He’s held the position ever since, even after Jack Del Rio replaced Coughlin following the 2002 season.
Now in his 12th year, Hampton is still fond of Coughlin for the opportunity but greatly enjoys working with Del Rio and the atmosphere he and his staff bring to the players and locker room.
From loading up 10,000 pounds of the right equipment on road games and making sure each player has two pairs of shoes and gloves per week to keeping the locker room and common area bacteria free, Hampton’s day-to-day duties are important to making sure the team is as well prepared as possible for practice and game days.
“Luckily, I have never really made a goof,” he said.
For the 2008 season and beyond, Hampton said he hoped to keep that streak alive.
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