Dahl signs with Falcons
Being signed by the Dallas Cowboys two years ago was a once in a lifetime opportunity for former Nevada lineman Harvey Dahl to play in the NFL.After spending two seasons on the San Francisco 49ers practice squad, Dahl encountered another opportunity last week when he was signed by the Atlanta Falcons.
“There’s a lot of new stuff to learn on offense,” said Dahl, who played four seasons for the Wolf Pack. “It’s gone all right. It’s been pretty good so far.”
Dahl watched from the sidelines for the first time wearing a Falcons uniform when they hosted the New York Giants on Monday.
“It’s uncommon for someone to go in that quick,” Dahl said about his chances of playing Monday.
Dahl was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Cowboys in 2005 but was waived two months later and picked up by the 49ers. He signed on the practice squad on Sept. 5, 2005, and was activated to the 53-man roster in December.
Dahl, who graduated from Churchill County High School in Fallon, Nev., in 1999, said he was excited to play for Atlanta, even though his family would have a tougher time watching him in person.
“I’m anxious to go where the job is,” Dahl said.
Dahl learned about the opportunity on Tuesday when he received a call from his agent.
“They just called my agent and wanted to sign me,” Dahl said. “After my agent called me an hour later, I did some paperwork and then flew out to the Falcons.”
After spending two seasons on the 49ers practice squad, Dahl said he was ready for change and the Falcons were willing to take the former Nevada star.
“Everyone watching film from the preseason was able to see my games and wanted to sign me,” Dahl said. “The opportunity to play and get on an active roster is also a good opportunity to learn the system.”
Dahl will get to see his former teammates one more time before the end of the season. Atlanta hosts San Francisco next month.
“It will be good to see those guys again,” Dahl said. “If I end up playing in that game, it will be fun to go against those guys again. It will be good.”
After the 2005 season, Dahl played for the NFL Europe Rhein Fire under the direction of 49ers defensive line coach Jim Tomsula.
But his big break didn’t come until last season when the 49ers played the Rams.
Dahl played in his first professional game on Sept. 17, 2006, seeing action in the goal line offense in the second quarter. He also saw action on special teams and on offense against Oakland and San Diego in October.
“I learned the system pretty well,” Dahl said of the 49ers. “There was a lot of technique and I learned more about the game.”
For the Wolf Pack, Dahl was named to the Outland Trophy watch list in July 2004 as one of the top 57 linemen in the country. He also was named to the Lombardi watch list prior to the 2004 season when he picked up first-team All-WAC honors for the second consecutive season.
“The more experience you can get from college to the NFL, the better you will be,” Dahl said. “I’ve tried to improve every year.”
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