From Circus Tricks to NFL: Dallas Goedert’s Unicycling Past Made Him the Eagles’ Ultimate Balance Master

Before he was dodging defenders and diving for touchdowns, Dallas Goedert was mastering a very different kind of balancing act—on one wheel. Growing up in Britton, South Dakota, Goedert didn’t just play football. He performed in parades, rode a unicycle, and learned how to juggle—all thanks to his family’s quirky and entertaining tradition of amateur circus acts.

Goedert’s family had a unique flair for performance, and one of their favorite pastimes was riding unicycles in local parades. For young Dallas, it wasn’t easy. Learning to balance on a single wheel took months of frustrating falls, bruised shins, and scraped palms. But he didn’t give up. Encouraged by his grandfather, who had been the original performer in the family, Goedert practiced daily in driveways and gymnasiums, eventually becoming a natural. He later added juggling to his skillset and even performed in community events.

That seemingly lighthearted part of his childhood would later become a key to his athletic success. As one of the NFL’s most reliable tight ends, Goedert is known for his incredible body control and balance—traits that allow him to make difficult catches in traffic and absorb contact without going down easily. It’s no coincidence that the Eagles coaching staff has praised his ability to stay upright and centered even when swarmed by defenders.

“His balance is unreal,” one Eagles coach reportedly said. “You see it when he catches a pass and somehow stays on his feet when most guys would hit the ground.”

Goedert himself has acknowledged the role his childhood circus training played in shaping those physical abilities. “Riding a unicycle and juggling might seem silly, but it actually taught me a lot about body control and focus,” he once said with a grin. “It’s funny how that stuff ends up helping you in football.”

In a sport where balance can be the difference between a first down and a fumble, Dallas Goedert’s past has become his secret weapon. The NFL may know him as a dependable tight end, but those who knew him as a kid remember the boy who never gave up on the unicycle.