Joe Alt was the first offensive lineman selected in the 2024 NFL Draft. The former Notre Dame standout decided to watch the draft from home, instead of traveling to Detroit.
The Los Angeles Chargers held this year’s fifth overall draft pick, where they selected Alt. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced the Chargers selection. Cameras then quickly shifted to Alt, who was surrounded by family and friends. But videos showing Alt’s girlfriend’s reaction to the life-changing moment began circulating across social media.
Emilie Meyer, who attended the same private Minnesota high school as Alt, appeared to have a serious look on her face at the moment cameras panned to the area she was sitting in during the draft party.
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Joe Alt, #OL02 of the Notre Dame, speaks to the media during the 2024 NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center on March 2, 2024, in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
The broadcasts are typically on a short delay, so Meyer might not have been aware of which NFL team Alt would be playing for at the moment when she was shown on camera.
Nevertheless, the clip of Meyers’ reaction sparked reacation across social media. “Blink twice if you need rescue,” one observer wrote on X, the company formerly known as Twitter.
Joe Alt, #OL02 of Notre Dame, stands on the sideline during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 3, 2024, in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Kara Durrette/Getty Images)
Another person joked: “That’s the face of someone who realized that his game checks will be taxed at 65% because he’ll be in Cali,” along with a pair of laughing face emojis.
While Alt’s paycheck from the Chargers will be subject to California state taxes, he will also have to pay taxes when the team travels for road games.
Professional athletes are often subject to what is colloquially known as the “jock tax.” It is a type of income tax that is usually enforced on professional athletes and entertainers. It essentially taxes the money nonresidents earn when they visit a state, according to tax preparation company H&R Block.
Joe Alt, #76 of the Notre Dame, Fighting Irish looks on in the second half during a game against the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium on November 25, 2023, in Stanford, California. (Brandon Sloter/Image Of Sport/Getty Images)
Meyer was eventually seen celebrating with Alt and others at the draft party. She is also an athlete and competes on the Drake University track and field team.
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The Chargers received some criticism for their decision to draft an offensive lineman in the top-5, but first-year coach Jim Harbaugh defended the pick.
“Offensive linemen we look at as weapons,” Harbaugh said. “That group when we talk about attacking, when we talk about attacking on offense, offensive line is the tip of the spear.” Harbaugh developed a physical brand of football during his lengthy tenure at Michigan, and it appears Alt will be one of the building blocks for the Chargers new offensive identify.
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