When it comes to representing your country in athletics, there’s no bigger stage than the Olympics. And while Texas A&M has produced countless Olympians in track & field, a former Aggie wide receiver is set to make his mark somewhere far less expected—the ice.
Back in 2014, one of the most memorable stories of the season came from sophomore walk‑on Boone Niederhofer. After grinding his way into a contributing role, he finished the year with 29 receptions for 293 yards and a touchdown. It was a breakout moment for a player who had earned everything the hard way. But as it turned out, that season would stand as the peak of his football career; he recorded just six more catches over his remaining time in Aggieland.
For most athletes, that’s where the story ends. They hang up the cleats, enter the workforce, and move on with life. Boone did exactly that. Armed with a petroleum engineering degree, he took a job in Houston and was on track for a stable career in the industry. But fate had other plans. When the company he joined was bought out, he suddenly found himself laid off and searching for a new path.
That’s when a former teammate reached out with an unexpected suggestion: try bobsledding.
Niederhofer gave it a shot and never looked back. What started as a curiosity quickly became a calling. He developed into a three‑time World Cup team member, earning multiple medals across various events and carving out a second athletic career that no one could have predicted.
Now, for the first time, Boone Niederhofer will represent the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
From walk‑on wide receiver to world‑class bobsledder, his journey is one of resilience, reinvention, and refusing to let a closed door define the rest of his story. And in February, an Aggie will be flying down the ice wearing red, white, and blue.
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Former Aggie WR Boone Niederhofer headed to 2026 Olympics
