Israel Mukuamu will do “whatever it takes” to bring Cowboys fans a Super Bowl victory
WHATEVER IT TAKES
He had gone above and beyond what was expected of a sixth-round draft pick who had struggled to get playing time in the regular season.
Izzy downplayed the impressiveness of his abilities.
He told the guys at Pick 6, “at the end of the day, it’s just football.”
He went on to explain:
“If you understand the defense, then you can really play anywhere on the field. I feel like that’s where I can separate myself, because I have a high IQ in football. And I understand our defense now even better.”
Izzy’s high football IQ could be attributed to his competitive philosophy which also serves as the slogan for his Mukuamu brand, Whatever it takes.
“You just gotta do whatever it takes to get to your goals,” he said, “Whether that’s just staying up extra to study or extra workouts.”
COMPETITIVE NATURE
By applying his “whatever it takes” philosophy to his pro football career, Mukuamu has developed a relentless approach to improving his value as part of the Cowboys defense.
It’s not enough to make a roster or get playing time. Izzy wants to make plays.
This is why, even though he has the football IQ to be used in multiple ways, cornerback is his desired role.
Mukuamu explained to Pick 6 founder, BJ Nix:
“At safety, especially if you’re playing in the middle, the ball might come to the middle every once in a while. But at corner, you know the ball [is] gonna come outside. That’s where the money’s at.”
His smile reflected the excitement he experienced at the thought of covering the NFL’s best receivers, a feat he described as “guarding the world’s best athletes, backwards.”
Izzy’s competitive nature drives him to be the best version of himself, but when it comes to his teammates, collaboration and cooperation govern those relationships far more than competition.
This is especially true in the case of recent Cowboys acquisition, Stephon Gilmore.
Mukuamu says he’s been in touch with Gilmore since he was in college. He plans to soak up as much knowledge and wisdom as possible from his new teammate.
Izzy expects his own growth to be impacted “tremendously” by Gilmore’s presence on the team.
GOTTA KEEP THE MAIN GOAL THE MAIN GOAL
This interview began with a mention of the Mukuamu brand. However, it quickly shifted to a focus on the upcoming season and an expression of appreciation for Cowboys fans.
When asked if he had a specific goal in mind for how he can use his platform as an increasingly well-known member of America’s Team, he replied, “I just believe in going out there and making plays first before I venture off into other things off the field. You gotta keep the main goal the main goal, and everything else will take care of itself. I’m definitely gonna use my platform in different ways, but I’m just waiting until I make that impact as a Cowboy.”
Fans of Israel Mukuamu can’t wait to see what type of impact he will make in 2023.
This past season, Izzy was recognized by Mike McCarthy as one of the most improved players from 2021 to 2022. The fact that he’s watching more film and working with multiple coaches during the off-season on his speed and technique suggests that he’s hoping to make a similar jump in skill from year two to year three.
A lot is up in the air in terms of the Cowboys roster. We don’t know exactly what to expect from the team this season.
But regardless of his assignment, Israel Mukuamu will do whatever it takes to impact the game in the Cowboys’ favor.
