Rick Lovato

Richard Peter Lovato Jr. (born September 9, 1992) is an American professional football long snapper for the Los Angeles Chargers in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Old Dominion Monarchs. Lovato was signed by the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2015. Lovato was the long snapper for the Philadelphia Eagles from 2017-2024 and won Super Bowl LII and Super Bowl LIX with them. He has also played for the Green Bay Packers and Washington Redskins.

Lovato was born in Neptune Township, New Jersey, the son of Rick and Maureen Lovato. He attended Middletown High School South in Middletown, New Jersey, where he started long snapping as a freshman. He also saw time at center and on the defensive line.

Lovato played college football for the Old Dominion Monarchs football team from 2011 to 2014. He appeared in all 50 games as the Monarchs’ long snapper.

Lovato was the first player from Old Dominion to play in the National Football League.

After going undrafted in the 2015 NFL draft, Lovato signed with the Chicago Bears on May 3, 2015. On August 30, 2015, he was released by the Bears.

On December 22, 2015, Lovato was signed by the Green Bay Packers after starting long snapper Brett Goode suffered a season-ending knee injury. Prior to being signed, he was working at a sandwich shop in Lincroft, New Jersey owned by his father and uncle. Lovato became the first Old Dominion alumnus to play in a regular-season NFL game after handling snapping duties for every punt and field goal against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 16. On September 3, 2016, he was released by the Packers during final team cuts.

On November 19, 2016, Lovato was signed by the Washington Redskins to fill in for the injured Nick Sundberg. He was released on November 29, 2016.

On December 12, 2016, Lovato was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles after starting long snapper Jon Dorenbos suffered a broken wrist.