When I caught up with Washington defensive end Jason Hatcher for a Last Thing chat, he told me that his most recent reading material was Tony Dungy's book, Uncommon Manhood. It focuses on fatherhood, and Hatcher said that reading it had an impact on him and has changed the way he sees his role as a father.
Jason Hatcher on learning to be a good father
The Washington defensive end talks about fatherhood, date nights and why he Instagramed a pic of a cold tub.
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
“It was a great book about teaching you how to be a man on and off the field,” said Hatcher. “It kinda checked me on a lot of stuff I wasn’t doing, especially when it talked about coming home after work and being a father when you get done with a long day’s practice. How you gotta focus on being a father when you get home and spend that quality time instead of going and laying down.”
Hatcher is father to DiCarlos, 14; Tamia, 11; Jason Jr., 7; and Boston, 7 months. The defensive end admitted that he wasn’t always as present as he wanted to be and credits the book for opening his eyes to that.
“That kinda hit on me,” he said, of the book’s message. “So now I go home and focus on spending time with my kids, being a father. I didn’t lose a whole lot of time, but sometimes I’d be so exhausted from work that I’d lay down and wouldn’t spend that time they needed with my kids. I’ve been focusing on that now.”
Here are some more of Hatcher’s Last Things. If his story about the last time he cried is any indication, I’d say he’s got the fatherhood thing down.
Jason Hatcher, what was the last...
Movie you saw
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. My son wanted to watch it so I took him. I really enjoyed it more than he did. I knew a little bit more about [the history] so it really hit home with me because I watched it all the time when I was a kid. I think they did a good job. Michaelangelo was funny.
Thing you cooked
Gumbo. That’s my thing. It’s my favorite dish.
Song you downloaded
I really don’t download music. If I hear it on the radio and I like it, I’ll listen to it on YouTube. I like Sam Smith. He’s really good.
Vacation you went on
A family vacation to Orange Beach in Alabama.
Person you texted
My wife, just checkin’ in.
Thing you took a picture of
A cold tub. Had to put it on Instagram. The cold tub is brutal.
Time you cried
At my birthday with my kids. We had a great moment, my wife asked the kids to say something nice about me. I was bawling. They were talking about how great of a father I was, stuff like that.
Time you said “I love you”
This morning to my wife.
Date night
Last Friday, my wife and I went to Benihana.
Tattoo you got
On my left shoulder, some clouds and some doves. The doves is all of my kids on my shoulders. And I have an “8” with a crown on it because 8 was a big year for me, really solidified my family.
Website you visited
NikeElite.com
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