LAS VEGAS – As a teenager, Jacob Webster used to get up early and ride to Titans games with his dad, hours before kickoff.
On the car ride, or at home, he'd pick his father's brain every chance he got. And when he wasn't asking questions, he was watching him.
Ruston Webster was General Manager of the Titans back then, and young Jacob was interested in finding out everything he could about football, and his dad's job.
Once at Nissan Stadium, Webster would shag balls in warm-ups, catching punts or kickoffs, doing pretty much anything he could to help out.
"It was an unbelievable experience," Webster said. "And I loved every minute of it."
Even then, Jacob Webster knew he wanted to follow in his father's footsteps.
Years later, he's on a pretty good path himself.
Webster, now 26, is here at Super Bowl LVIII as an assistant coach with the San Francisco 49ers. Webster is in his first season as the team's defensive quality control coach, after previously working as a graduate assistant at Wisconsin and Missouri.
After attending two Super Bowls while his father worked with the Buccaneers and Falcons, Jacob Webster said his father and the rest of the family plan to be at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday to support him, and saying that brought a smile to his face on Monday night.
"All of this has been everything I dreamed of, growing up watching my dad," Webster said at Super Bowl LVIII Opening Night. "Being able to have my dad and my family come to a Super Bowl (supporting) me is really cool.
"Really, it makes me happy to see how excited everyone is for me, and how supportive they are. I know how excited my dad is for me."
Ruston Webster worked for the Titans from 2010–2015, first as Vice President of Player Personnel (2010-2011), and then as General Manager (2012–2015). Webster previously worked as Vice President of Player Personnel with the Seattle Seahawks (2006–2009), and he worked in scouting for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1988-2005, ending up at Director of Player Personnel.
Webster is now with the Atlanta Falcons, where he's been since 2016. He's currently a senior personnel executive with the Falcons.
Jacob Webster, who played baseball and football at Christ Presbyterian Academy and played tight end at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (2016-19), got the job in San Francisco because he made a good impression on Steve Wilks while Wilks was defensive coordinator at Missouri, when Webster was a grad assistant at the school. When Wilks was hired as defensive coordinator of the 49ers, he called Webster.
As defensive quality control coach, Webster breaks down a lot of film to prepare the players, and other coaches. He runs the scout team practice of the opposing team's offense against the 49ers defense.
"It's a lot of fun, a lot of learning, and a lot of hard work," Webster said, "but I love it."
Jacob Webster said he's learned a lot about football, and life, from his dad.
"One of the main things about my dad is I just think he's always professional, and he treats everybody with respect no matter who it is," Jacob said. "I've always respected how he deals with people, good times and bad times. He's always stayed who he is."
So, what was his dad's best advice when he landed a job in the NFL himself?
"He just says: Enjoy every bit of it, it's the best job in the world," Jacob Webster said. "He says, don't get too high or too low, it's part of sports. And, just continue to treat people with respect."
