With two kids and a wife to support and an NFL career that he wasn’t ready to end, Joe Anderson had to do something.

So he picked up a piece of cardboard and wrote a message.

“Not homeless,” he wrote. “But starving for success.”

And then he put on his sneakers, drove over to the Houston Texans practice facility, stood outside and waited.

“Most people won’t do something like that because they don’t want to be talked about,” he told For The Win earlier this month. “What will people back home say? ‘Oh he was in the league, now he’s not.’ You shouldn’t be worried about what people think.”

Weeks later, he was still unsigned, but convinced that the move was worth it. He said Damarius Bilbo, a retired NFL player-turned-agent who had been advising him, had been in conversations with the New England Patriots (which apparently never came to fruition.) Other teams also took notice, though no one called to make him an offer for weeks.

But on Tuesday, Bilbo and Anderson confirmed reports that something incredible happened: The New York Jets called and signed Anderson to a spot on their practice squad.

“Glory to God!” wrote Anderson in a text message. “God is amazing.”

The measure may have been desperate, but in a league where careers last less than 3 years, it’s not the most insane thing he could have done. And he’s not the only one to use social media — or anything other than the traditional channels of agents, networks and phone calls that usually get players signed — to grab a spot back on an NFL squad.

Defensive back Shiloh Keo was unemployed for much of the season, but also couldn’t just sit idly by while at home. Instead, when the Denver Broncos picked up a player that wasn’t him, he sent a tweet to Wade Phillips. “Didn’t want to pick me up huh?” wrote the former Houston Texans player.

Phillips responded with an explanation why he looked elsewhere, but a week later, when there was an opening made the call to Keo who has since played in 2 games for the Broncos. In late July, LaVance Taylor was signed to the Chiefs after tweeting over a highlight reel — though he was cut a few days later.

“It’s a bit of (players) taking their careers in their own hands,” said Bilbo, who pointed to the workout posts that have hashtags on Instagram and Twitter that are meant to get the attention of teams. “… You can’t fault a guy for wanting a job.”

While the Texans never called Anderson, it did get the attention of not only the front office, but veteran players as well. Brandon Marshall, Anderson’s former teammate from the Bears who now plays for the Jets, posted <a href="

“Wow this is humility right here,” Marshall wrote. “My brother @_joeanderson is one of the hardest working guys I’ve had the pleasure of playing with. Everyday he stands outside of @houstontexans stadium praying someone gives him a shot. Some may call him #crazy. Hell I had to stop and really see his strength in this. I watched this guy grow so much. JOE you’re the kinda of guy I want to play with. You’re the guy I want in my FOXHOLE. I don’t care if it’s covering kicks. #mindovermatter”

Anderson said earlier this month that he thinks the non-traditional ways of getting teams’ attention show that he’s willing to go the extra mile. After all, if he’s willing to go to that length just to get a spot on the squad, what will he do once he’s actually there? But after his story went so viral, regardless of what it does for his job prospects, he hopes it inspires people outside of the league as well.

“Most people say ‘whatever it takes’ when they’re in position. Oh whatever it takes? I’ll do whatever it takes,” he said. “When you’re really at the bottom, you’ve always been doubted you’re whole life, are you really willing to do whatever it takes to let your dreams unfold completely?”