At the crack of dawn, Tanner Engstrand and Sammy Lawanson would pile into their car and set off for a day of work, their early morning journey almost a ritual. However, come evening, that car felt noticeably emptier.
Lawanson, having just clocked in a grueling 15-hour workday, would head back to their small, two-bedroom basement AirBnB. It was their temporary home while they served as assistant coaches for the XFL’s DC Defenders in 2020. The space was cozy and a bit cramped but adequate for their brief stint.
Engstrand, who was at the wheel, often opted to linger at the facility until the wee hours. He’d collaborate with head coach Pep Hamilton, tweaking and refining that week’s offensive game plan. This dedication required Lawanson to find his own ride for the journey back.
“Don’t worry, I’ll just grab an Uber,” Lawanson would reassure. “And please, let me sleep through it when you finally get in.”
