By Rich Winter

605 Sports

After signing with the New York Jets as an undrafted free-agent offensive lineman in the summer of 2021, Teton Saltes NFL fortunes took a terrible turn. 

On the last play of summer camp, and just before the start of the 2021 NFL preseason, a teammate fell on Saltes’ knee, tearing his ACL.

“I was killing it in camp,” Saltes said. “I felt like I was going to make the team and the defensive ends were talking to me and I was talking to them and then I tore my ACL.”

The unkind aspect of the NFL business reared its ugly head the next day as Saltes was cut. He was promptly picked back up by the Jets and re-signed to the injury practice squad, but because of what he said were “weird contractual issues” he was unable to sign with the practice squad.

No other squad picked up Saltes and two years later, after a series of injuries and setbacks, Saltes is still trying to get back to the NFL. 

That Saltes is even on the cusp of making it to the highest level of professional football is a remarkable accomplishment. The son of Eric Saltes and Doni DeCory, Saltes first love was basketball and he didn’t take up organized football until his junior year of high school. Saltes grew up in Pine Ridge but graduated from Valley high school in New Mexico. 

He played collegiately at New Mexico and as a redshirt junior was named to the All-Mountain West third-team by Pro Football Focus. In his senior season, Saltes was recognized for his community service work, being named the recipient of the Wuerffel Trophy, as well as the team captain of the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. 

In his senior season, Saltes was recognized for his community service work, being named the recipient of the Wuerffel Trophy, as well as the team captain of the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team - Courtesy Photo

 Even before his brief stint with the Jets, Saltes’ felt the pangs of the business aspect of the NFL. 

 “Before I signed with the Jets things weren’t going so well,” he said. “I felt like I was a good player but my phone wasn’t ringing for interviews, I had no senior all-star invites and I didn’t get invited to the NFL combine.” 

 After finishing up at New Mexico, Saltes hired an agent and began preparation for the NFL Combine. 

 “Things didn’t go well there,” he said. “I got kicked out of the gym. I didn’t fit their mold.” 

Three weeks before his pro day at New Mexico, with the phone still silent, no agent Saltes almost quit. 

“I thought maybe this is a sign that this isn’t my path,” he said. “I almost gave up my cleats.”

After sitting in his apartment for a few days Saltes picked himself up, dusted himself off and decided he’d come too far to give up. 

“Yeah I didn’t get drafted but let’s finish this and see what I can do,” he said. 

Saltes called another agent who had previously courted him and signed. He went to Denver and trained for his pro day. By his own account, Saltes said he “killed it” at his pro day benching 225  pounds 22 times. He broad-jumped 9-feet and ran the 40 in 4.94. 

After being cut by the Jets, Saltes moved to Dallas where he began rehabbing and trying to stay in shape. He did get a call from the Green Bay Packers where he had a good workout, albeit not good enough to sign. He kept working, finally got in top shape, and received a call from the Los Angeles Rams who flew him out for a workout. 

“I put on the practice uniform and saw Aaron Donald and Andrew Whitworth and was feeling good,” he said. 

Before he could even take a practice rep Saltes said he was called up to the general manager’s office. 

“I was smiling and happy the GM was all stern and serious,” he said. 

The GM told Saltes they had talked to the doctors and they informed the Rams that Saltes’ left shoulder was about to blow up. I had never had a shoulder injury but they said we can’t sign you and they wished me the best of luck.

Another setback had Saltes questioning his dream of making it to the NFL. 

“I asked myself what’s going on with this football stuff,” he said. “Why can’t I get in there after fighting through the adversity and challenges. I had always been one of those guys that said if I don’t make it in the NFL I would stop playing so do I keep playing or give it up.” 

Saltes' mom Doni played basketball and did track at both Brigham Young University and Utah State University. His grandmother Tiny DeCory is well known for her toughness and her work with mental health and championing the youth in Pine Ridge. 

“Quit is not something that is part of my family,” Saltes said. “If it ain’t happening then you make it happen.” 

In 2022, Saltes played in the USFL in Birmingham, Alabama. In the fall 2022, Saltes was the XFL’s Arlington Renegades first pick of the supplemental draft. With high hopes of playing well and getting more film for the NFL to peruse, Saltes dealt with more setbacks. 

“On the first day of camp I stepped backwards to plant and I tore a calf muscle,” he said. “After rehabbing for three weeks Saltes was ready to step back into the role of starter when he tore a muscle in the other calf.” 

Despite having calf problems and a herniated disk in his back Saltes was able to work his way back. He played in the Renegades playoff game and in the championship game where his Renegades defeated the DC Defenders 35-26. 

During the early part of August Saltes could be found on Pine Ridge Reservation where he says he spends about half the year. Young people often come up to the 6-foot-5, 300-pound lineman and ask for pictures or autographs. 

Teton Saltes spends about six months of the year living in Pine Ridge where kids often ask for handshakes, pictures and even autographs - Courtesy Photo

Saltes patiently gives every young person a minute of his time while thinking about the bigger purpose of his station as a role model for Native American youth in South Dakota. 

“I don’t play because of the love of the game,” he said. “It’s about showing people what is possible if you believe in yourself. I want to show the youth that if I can do it, they can do it.”

After his injury plagued 2023 campaign in the XFL there were no invites to NFL training camps. 

“I am proof of resilience and who we are as a people and who we can become if you push through it,” he said. “I’m an XFL champion and I’m going to do it again next year and hopefully get me back to the NFL.”