The NFL dream remains alive for Anchorage's Jeff Overbaugh.
With 10 days to go before the NFL's opening kickoff, Overbaugh — a Service High grad — signed a contract with the Chicago Bears on Monday.
Bears' long snapper Patrick Scales suffered a torn ACL in Sunday's preseason game against the Titans, opening door for Overbaugh to try out for the team on Monday.
He signed a contract the same day and is the only long snapper on Chicago's 90-man roster.
Overbaugh was picked over former Lions snapper long snapper Jimmy Landes, who also performed a workout Monday.
Scales was the Bears' snapper for all 16 games in the 2016-17 season and five games in 2015.
"It's always a good day when you're able to play football," Overbaugh said by cellphone Tuesday. "I definitely did not anticipate anybody getting injured. It takes a while to get into the league at the long snapper position."
[A master of hiking the football, Anchorage's Overbaugh has NFL aspirations]
Overbaugh will see his first game action Thursday against the Cleveland Browns in Chicago's fourth and final preseason game.
He said his family and one of his old math teachers from Service, Kelly Corrigan, are expected to make the trip to Chicago for the game.
"Hopefully she'll be able to make it," Overbaugh said. "A lot of my family will be able to be there. It's gonna be great to play football and spend time with family and friends after the game."
A 2016 San Diego State grad, Overbaugh spent time with the Los Angeles Rams and Denver Broncos over the past two offseasons, but is yet to make a final 56-man roster.
The 6-foot-2, 236-pound Overbaugh was cut by the Broncos in May.
He also performed workouts for the New Orleans Saints and Jacksonville Jaguars over the summer.
Overbaugh said he's had to remain patient because there's little turnover with long snappers in the NFL.
"Not everyone graduates and gets a job 'cause there are only 32 positions," Overbaugh said. "With the exception of punters and kickers and possibly quarterbacks, (long snappers) have the longest shelf life of any position."
In his four years with the Aztecs, Overbaugh was a perfect 510-for-510 snapping on punts, field goals and PATs. He was 156-for-156 during his senior season and earned a spot in the 2016 Senior Bowl.