During the 2025-2026 PSAL season, Brooklyn Tech Varsity Football receiver and captain Ezra Josse (Finance ‘26) scored seven touchdowns, 46 receptions and notched 710 yards, averaging 15.43 yards per reception. At the end of the season, Josse had 0 fumbles. Next year Josse will be attending the University of Chicago, a culmination of his dedication to both sports and school.

His family’s devotion to the Giants is what sparked his love for football and inspired to follow in his Uncle Michael’s footsteps, who played football his whole life up to the college level. Josse joined a recreational flag football team at the age of eight, setting him on his nearly ten year journey in football. 

During freshman orientation at Tech, Josse “met with the coach and some of the guys on the team [and realized quickly] that [they were his] people, and this is where [he wanted] to be.” He recalled how quickly they formed a “brotherhood” proving to Josse that “these were the guys [he] wanted to be around.”

Before arriving at Tech, tackle football was not an option due to his parents concerns surrounding safety. But thanks to the Tech coaches’ constant reassurance, emphasizing their priority of “personal health and safety,” Josse’s parents finally agreed to allow him to play freshman year. They now love watching Josse thrive on the field.

According to Tech’s Head Varsity Football Coach Brian Pugh, at Josse’s first practice “he made just an unbelievable catch.” While continuing to observe Josse, Pugh noticed his standout “speed and catching ability” along with “awareness and football IQ.” The coaches unanimously figured it would be beneficial “to get him some experience now” and brought him up to play with the varsity team as a freshman.

Immediately after joining the team, Josse stood out to not only the coaches but the players as well. Josse’s good friend and teammate Tristan Suarez immediately respected his leadership. He noted that “even as an underclassmen, he would tell people if they were doing the wrong thing.” 

Over the past four years, Coach Pugh has seen Josse’s athletic strengths grow exponentially. He has not only played hard during the season, but run track and lifted in the off-season, consistently putting in the “blood, sweat and tears” that it takes to succeed in the way that Josse most definitely had. 

Due to his hard work and honest leadership his coaches were easily persuaded to appoint him as captain. “There is not one Josse hater in the program,” said Pugh. “Everyone seems to get along really well with him.”

As Josse reflects on his football career, he emphasizes that because “the eyes are always on [him]” as a receiver, he gets the credit for a lot of the team’s success. According to him, a lot of people don’t see “the work the whole team puts in behind the scenes,” and just how valuable everyone on the team is.

Still, there’s no debate that Josse has helped guide the team to success. Despite fumbling the ball in his first game, Josse has built a reputation so fierce that, according to teammates, the only strategy to beat him is to “just pray”.

Next fall, Josse will head to The University of Chicago as a Business Economics major and football player. His future will undoubtedly be successful, both in his football and collegiate careers. As Coach Pugh puts it, “it always has, and always will be hard for [Josse] not to stand out.”