When the Saints select players in the NFL Draft, it’s customary for the team’s media relations department to arrange an interview with reporters shortly after the transaction.
That was the case again Friday night, when the Saints took Notre Dame defensive end Isaiah Foskey in the second round with the 40th overall selection.
Shortly after the pick was announced, a Saints staffer notified local reporters that the interview would be delayed indefinitely because Foskey needed to “fulfill a family/personal commitment as quickly as possible.” No further explanation was provided. In the interim, the Saints media relations staff arranged interviews with two of Foskey’s coaches at Notre Dame: head coach Marcus Freeman and defensive line coach Al Washington.
Foskey eventually met with reporters about 90 minutes after he was drafted.
Saturday morning, we learned the reason for the delay, thanks to a social media post by Foskey’s friend and former De La Salle (Calif.) High School teammate, Gunnar Rask.
“My grandfather was placed on life support this morning,” said Rask, who plays nose tackle at the University of California. “I let my lifelong brother @IFoskey know I wasn’t going to make it to his #NFLDraft party. Not even 30 minutes after he was drafted 40th by the @Saints, Isaiah Let me know he was on his way over. Love you & Congrats! @Saints”
My grandfather was placed on life support this morning. I let my life long brother @IFoskey know I wasn’t going to make it to his #NFLDraft party. Not even 30 minutes after he was drafted 40th by the @Saints Isaiah let me know he was on his way over. Love you & Congrats! #Saints pic.twitter.com/GqhReTFKIX
— Gunnar Rask (@g_rask) April 29, 2023
Foskey, who is a native of Antioch, Calif., about an hour east of San Francisco, responded with his own tweet an hour later: “Love you Brotha. You know I have your back all the time.”
Love you Brotha you know I have your back all the time🙏🏾🙏🏾 https://t.co/9IR9L7pxE6
— Isaiah Fos🔑 (@IFoskey) April 29, 2023
Foskey told reporters he was at his family home in Antioch during the interview on Friday night, but did mention his hospital visit with Rask.
Foskey’s leadership skills were cited among one the reasons the Saints selected him. His Notre Dame teammates voted him a team captain and his father, who served in the Navy and worked for the Santa Clara (Calif.) Sherriff's Department, reportedly instilled a strong commitment to discipline into his daily work habits.
Washington and Freeman praised Foskey's intangible traits as much as his pass-rush ability during their interviews Friday night.
“Character is important, in terms of the type of people that we’re bringing into the building here,” Saints head coach Dennis Allen said Friday night when asked about Foskey. “We feel like the guys that we brought in today are our type of guys.”