NFL: 'Do I have a job?' - Hayne hears the good news

Jarryd Hayne's NFL dream has become reality with the San Francisco 49ers. Photo / Twitter, San Francisco 49ers

Jarryd Hayne tried to remain cool, but as he stood on the edge of San Francisco Bay, with the Golden Gate Bridge in the distance and a cup of coffee in his hand, he decided enough was enough.

His career was on the line and he had to halt the sightseeing. Hayne wanted to know if he was a San Francisco 49er or not, so at 1:15pm local time Saturday, 15 minutes after the deadline for the 49ers to announce their 53-man roster, he called his US agent Jack Bechta.

"Do I have a job?" Hayne asked.

The answer was sweet. Yes, Hayne would be a 49er so the former star of the NRL's Parramatta Eels hugged his mother Jodie and sisters Jessi-Lee and Taygan, who had flown from Sydney to visit.

There were tears, but there were no champagne corks or lavish lunches. The Haynes continued the sightseeing and visited a museum.

It's an understated way to celebrate what could become one of the great Australian sports stories, but this Jarryd Hayne, the religious, matter-of-fact athlete raised in government housing in Sydney's south-west and blessed with a powerful, 188cm tall body and speed, took it in his stride.

He said the biggest question on his mind after the news was working out what the family would have for dinner.

"This whole journey was never about making a roster," Hayne, 27, told reporters on a conference call. "It was about giving myself an opportunity. I wanted to take a risk."

He did have doubts, particularly in his first weeks at the 49ers' facility in Santa Clara, south of San Francisco, when he found himself walking into the team's classrooms and being unable to decipher the terminology other running backs and special teams coaches were saying.

He tucked sheets of paper into his shorts on the practice field because that's how he could remember plays.

Hayne said they were "dark days", but he has emerged as a shining light in Australia and the US.

Welcome aboard mate!#HaynePlane #49ers pic.twitter.com/seyJ89ocnO

— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) September 5, 2015

"We're fired up and it should be a celebration in Australia," 49ers head coach Jim Tomsula, who sat down with Hayne last December to discuss his NFL plans, said. "I do understand it's huge in its magnitude."

But, Hayne's journey is still an arduous one, with Tomsula giving no guarantees Hayne would start as a punt returner, or even play, in their first game against the Minnesota Vikings on September 14.

To view the cut-throat nature of the NFL Hayne just had to look at the Aussie and Kiwi carnage left at other clubs after Saturday's roster cuts. David Yankey, the 198cm, 145kg offensive tackle, was cut by the Vikings and the Arizona Cardinals released New Zealand running back Paul Lasike.

Another inspiring story, the 191cm tall, 148kg Brisbane defensive tackle Jesse Williams, who had a cancerous kidney removed just three months ago, remains at the Seattle Seahawks, but sits on the non-football illness list.

IT ALWAYS WORKS OUT! I thank GOD for WHAT HE has done and going to do on this incredible journey!! I'm on the 53 MAN ROSTER FOR THE #49ers.

— jarryd hayne (@JarrydHayne) September 5, 2015

Hayne still could earn more money home at Parramatta in the NRL, or taking a mega deal from the rival Sydney Roosters, but it's not about the cash for Hayne.

The 49ers signed Hayne to a three-year $US1.538 million ($A2.19 million) deal, with a base salary of $US435,000 ($A620,674), earlier this year. He'll earn bonuses now he's in the 53-man squad.

But, he's on a bargain basement contract by NFL standards and the 49ers could cut him tomorrow without paying out every cent of his contract.

Where Hayne will make his money is endorsements, which should be flowing in not only from Australia, but in the US where he is also one of the most significant NFL stories.

Congrats @JarrydHayne_1! #HaynePlaneHereToStay pic.twitter.com/HKMP8Ac6Mj

— NFL (@NFL) September 5, 2015

In San Francisco, despite players the calibre of lineman Nick Moody being cut, Hayne was the number one talking point. Running backs and punt returners have notoriously short careers, with the pounding and injuries taking their toll. Hayne seeks the challenge.

"Faith without action is dead," Hayne said, quoting the Bible.

Tomsula glowed about Hayne's talent and work ethic, but also repeatedly warned making the 53-man squad was not the major milestone and the biggest challenges remained.

When Hayne and his family emerged from the museum he looked down on his phone and saw a text message from Tomsula.

"Welcome to the starting line," Tomsula wrote. "It's a long race."

-AAP