Leaving daughter for training camp was the ‘hardest day’ of Quandre Diggs’ life

Reporting for training camp is hard for many players. The month between Organized Team Activities and training camp is one of the few times of years players can be with family or go on a vacation or just relax at home.

This year, Quandre Diggs had it the worst.

Just six days before he was to report to Detroit Lions minicamp, Ariya Marie Diggs was born. Diggs became a father.

And just as he was getting to know his daughter, he had to travel hundreds of miles away to Detroit, leaving his daughter behind with her mother.

“Hardest day of my life, leaving,” Diggs said. “Fatherhood gives you a whole different perspective on life, and I wouldn’t change it for the world.”

As Diggs was peppered with questions about his new teammates in the secondary and what it’s like being a new leader of the defensive backs with Glover Quin gone, he gave dispassionate answers. But when the topic of his daughter came up, he sprung to life.

“She’s awesome, blessing. That’s what I want to talk about, I don’t want to talk about football, I want to talk about my daughter,” Diggs said.

And while Diggs will have to spend the next few weeks away from his family, he’s found a nice way to keep in touch with the family.

“I facetime her like seven times a day.”

And it won’t be too long until Diggs reunites with his week-old child. Unfortunately, the family can’t travel to see him for another eight weeks, but in just under three weeks, the Lions will travel to Houston for a set of joint practices and a preseason game with the Texans.

“Three weeks, then I get to see her.”

Until then, it’s all about the grind.

“I wish I could spend more time with her, but, at the end of the day, somebody’s got to pay for their clothes and the diapers and the food.”