By Antonio R. Harvey | OBSERVER Staff Writer
Sacramento native and San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Arik Armstead is one game from returning to the Super Bowl.
The former standout from the University of Oregon and Elk Grove’s Pleasant Grove High School recorded two sacks against Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers in the divisional round to help the 49ers to a 13-10 upset victory at the snowy Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
“Instant classic #StayHungry,” Armstead posted on his Twitter account on Jan.22, the day after the game.
“It was an amazing experience,” Armstead said. “Any time you can get a sack on (Rodgers) in a game like that, in a big moment, it’s definitely a great feeling. Just to make my family proud. A lot of people are cheering for me to prove them right. To make my parents proud is a great feeling.”
Armstead, 28, has recorded a total of nine tackles and three sacks during the postseason for the 49ers. He had four tackles and one sack in the 23-17 win against the Dallas Cowboys on Jan. 16.
Over the 49ers last four games, he has notched six sacks, 17 pressures, 24 tackles and nine quarterback hits en route to two playoff wins and a trip to the NFC title game.
The 49ers will play quarterback Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams in the National Football Conference championship game on Jan. 30. The winner gets a trip to the Super Bowl, which will be played at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. The Niners were last in the Super Bowl in 2019.
Armstead has had a great impact off the field as well. Last month, the 49ers nominated him for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award presented by Nationwide insurance company. It’s his second-consecutive nomination for one of the NFL’s most prestigious awards.
The founder of the Armstead Academic Project (AAP), last September he launched the Armstead Academy in Sacramento’s Land Park Woods (LPW) community.
Armstead gave a $250,000 donation to Mercy Housing California (MHC), the academy will provide top-notch academic coaching and after-school programming for K-12 students who live in the Upper Land Park area of Sacramento.
LPW is one of MHC’s 152 low-income housing communities. The academy will support youth living in Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency’s Marina Vista and Alder Grove public housing communities.