Everyone loves a good comeback story, but it’s rare to hear the story of a player who didn’t come back but got a one-in-a-billion chance and made it.
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Let’s introduce you to Tyler Lauenstein:
The current Beef Quarterback has one of the most unlikely journeys to arena football. Plenty of guys spend time in places like the AAL2 only hoping for a call-up to one of the three major indoor leagues. Tyler Lauenstein spent a single day practicing with a semi-pro team, the Omaha Chaos before getting a call!
If you really want to understand how unlikely his rise to arena ball was, you should go back to his school days. In high school, you would think he was all-state, maybe at least a starter on JV?
Not a chance! A slight fib on his ability to hold for field goals got the (at the time) 5’8” 140-pound third stinger his only time on the field, but only for a couple plays on the freshman team. Following the short stint, he would pursue baseball full-time.
From Football to Serving the Country
We were fascinated to find that when in high school he would join the National Guard, graduate high school and then hit basic, infantry school, and airborne school all before starting college. Tyler says graduating Airborne School was his greatest accomplishment. (It’s mind blowing to pull all that off as an 18/19 year old)
Once in college, he would balance class (sometimes), baseball, and military obligations full-time though time would wear on. We eventually see him give up baseball and hop into the real world, leading to the reason we are all reading.
Return to the Football Field
His return to the gridiron started without Tyler even thinking he would play. Tyler Lauenstein bought a helmet and told his then wife that he would sell it a couple of weeks later if things didn’t work out…well he didn’t sell it after all, after attending the aforementioned practice, he would get a call from Marvin Jones, who would ultimately sign him to a practice waiver and give Mr. One In a Million a chance. The 2022 season wouldn’t see him take the field for the Beef but it would give him a year to figure out if this was for him and a bit of development.
Turns out it was! He would start to figure out the game, and fell in love with the indoor war. Following the season he would attend a free agent showcase in Houston and an Arena FA showcase in KC where he would meet Marlin Lobban. That intern would lead to a call, and a spot on the Roster in Sioux City, Omaha’s Biggest Rival.
His time with the Bandits is truly where things took off. In Iowa, he would start two games and ultimately score his first pro touchdown against the Rapid City Marshalls.
Football for Tyler has Been a Rollercoaster Ride
What’s even more wild is that this story has a comeback twist. In 2024 he would have to leave halfway through the season to try to fix his marriage and life outside of football, though the relationship wouldn’t exactly make a comeback The year and a half to work on himself would do wonders
In his own words, the time gave him a real chance to work on himself, fix things he felt weren’t right with him, and grow his relationship with God. It would go from a massive setback, to a turning point in his life.
Despite all the adversity experienced, No.13 would take the field in 2025 running it back with the Bandits. This time around showing off the tuned-up throwing arm and coming on strong as the “Come back Specialist”. He accepted his spot as QB2 and grew as more of a team guy than acting as an individual.
Back in Black
Tyler Lauenstein started game one and went on to play in four total games in ‘25. In those four games, he threw seven touchdowns, even putting one in on the ground. So what’s next? He didn’t tell us, but he will be back in Black and Orange in 2026.
In the interview we were blessed to have with Tyler Lauenstein, we really got to know the 6’2”, 190lb. QB from Omaha, NE. He expressed that he has two of the greatest jobs a man can have; a father and a Pro Quarterback. He has made several sacrifices when it comes to making sure he is the dad he wants to be (even when it limits when and where he can sign), and we at Shady Sports have nothing but respect for it.
Tyler Lauenstein embodies everything the arena game is about, in the present form it’s the game of opportunity, and as you can tell he hasn’t wasted it. Even if his career were to end tomorrow, he has accomplished a hundred percent more than he ever thought he would when he bought that helmet
When you tune into a Beef game this spring and see No.13 get in, know you’re rooting for a great football player and an even better man. He is also a guy who is just beginning to scratch the surface of what he can be as a football player.
If your a stats guy this is what his 2025 stats looked like
Tyler Lauenstein 2025 Stats:
Week 2 ( Full Game)
8/13 116 Yards 2 Pass TD 1 INT 10 Yds Rushing
Week 9 (First Half)
4/ 5 83 Yards 2 TDs (158.0 QBR)
Week 10 ( First Half)
11/20 122 Pass Yards 3 TDs 2 INT
8 Att. For 32 Rush Yrd
Week 11 (Final 3 Qtrs)
7/16 53 Pass Yards 1 TD
Week 12 ( First Half Injury)
1 Pass TD
And his YouTube, for highlights
https://youtube.com/@tyloqb1?si=61OLXnS4TAz9cTIB
- All American Rundown Final Edition of 2026
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- Shady Sports Alternative Football Betting Guide
- All American Run Down Part 5
- National Arena League: Week 2 Review
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