Wikipedia - User contributions [en]

Doug Buffone

2024-05-10T03:06:21Z

Dslmsbs:

{{Short description|American football player (1944–2015)}}
{{more citations needed|date=April 2015}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
|name=Doug Buffone
|image=Doug Buffone front.jpg
|number=55
|position=[[Linebacker]]
|birth_date={{Birth date|1944|6|27|mf=y}}
|birth_place=[[Yatesboro, Pennsylvania]], U.S.
|death_place=[[Chicago, Illinois]], U.S.
|death_date={{Death date and age|2015|04|20|1944|6|27|mf=y}}
|height_ft=6
|height_in=3
|weight_lbs=230
|high_school=
|college=[[Louisville Cardinals football|Louisville]]
|draftyear=1966
|draftround=4
|draftpick=60
|afldraftyear=1966
|afldraftround=9
|afldraftpick=72
|pastteams=
* [[Chicago Bears]] ({{NFL Year|1966|1979}})
|highlights=
* [[Chicago Bears#Top 100 greatest Bears of all-time|100 greatest Bears of All-Time]]
* Second-team [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] ([[1965 College Football All-America Team|1965]])
* [[Louisville Cardinals football#Honored jerseys (Ring of Honor)|Louisville Cardinals Ring of Honor]]
* Inducted into KY Pro Football HOF (2015)
|nflnew=dougbuffone/2510615
|pfr=B/BuffDo20
}}
'''Douglas John Buffone''' (June 27, 1944 – April 20, 2015) was an American professional [[American football|football]] player who was a [[linebacker]] for the [[Chicago Bears]] in the [[National Football League]] (NFL). Buffone, the son of a coal miner (whose parents were Italian immigrants from the southern province of Cosenza, regione di Calabria), attended high school at Shannock Valley High School in [[Rural Valley, Pennsylvania]].

==College career==
Born in [[Yatesboro, Pennsylvania]], Buffone played [[linebacker]] and [[Center (American football)|center]] from 1962 to 1965 at the [[University of Louisville]]. Buffone is one of only four players to lead UofL in [[Tackle (football move)|tackles]] for three consecutive seasons. The others are [[Mark Sander]], [[Tom Jackson (American football, born 1951)|Tom Jackson]] (1970–72) and [[Tyrus McCloud]] (1994–96). He remains the Cardinals' No. 3 all-time tackler with 479, just nine stops behind the program's all-time leader Mark Sander (1987–90). Veteran [[head coach]] [[Frank Camp]], who tutored NFL greats like [[Johnny Unitas]], [[Lenny Lyles]], [[Ernie Green]] and [[Ken Kortas]], said Buffone was "the most complete ball player I've ever coached."

==NFL career==
Following his [[College football|collegiate career]], Buffone was selected by the [[Chicago Bears]] in the fourth round of the [[1966 NFL Draft]] and the eighth round of the [[American Football League Draft]] by the [[San Diego Chargers]]. Buffone went on to play 15 seasons at linebacker for the Bears, retiring in 1980 as the all-time leader in games played for the legendary organization.

In his professional career, Buffone gathered more than 1,200 tackles, going over the 100-tackle mark in seven seasons. He also had the honor of serving as defensive captain for eight seasons, beginning in 1972. Buffone retired with 24 career interceptions to lead all Bear linebackers. The first two pickoffs of his career came off future Hall of Famers [[Bart Starr]] and Johnny Unitas. His retirement from football also signaled the end of an era for the Bears as he was the last active Bear to have played for [[George Halas]].

==Post-football career==
Buffone and his family resided in [[Chicago]], and he was heavily involved in Chicago sports and [[broadcasting]]. Doug was one of the founders of the [[Arena Football League (1987–2008)|Arena Football League]], starting the [[Chicago Bruisers]] franchise, which played in [[ArenaBowl II]]. He appeared on some Bruisers radio and TV broadcasts with Les Grobstein, and was involved in the [[United States Football League]] with the [[Chicago Blitz]]. He provided broadcast [[color commentary]] for the first NFL game (featuring the Bears and the [[Dallas Cowboys]]) in [[Europe]].

Buffone co-hosted "Chicago NFL Live" on "The Score" [[WSCR]] 670 AM, and the Bears' postgame show with [[Ed O'Bradovich]], as well as 14 seasons of ''The Doug Buffone Show'' on [[Fox Sports Net]] Chicago. Buffone was the star of a popular segment of the Mully and Hanley show on WCSR on Fridays during the football season. He played the part of the humorous character "Big Doug", a bookie and collector. Other shows with which Buffone include ''The [[Neal Anderson]] Show'' for [[WBBM (AM)|WBBM-AM]], and ''The [[Mike Ditka]] Show'' for WSCR-AM. On "The Score", Buffone also co-hosted shows with [[Mike North]] (''The Wise Guys'') and [[Norm Van Lier]] (''The Bear and The Bull''), in addition to other hosts.

In May 2009, Buffone and his longtime Bears post-game partner [[Ed O'Bradovich]] left WSCR-AM and joined Chicago Sports Webio. However, in June 2009, the founder of Chicago Sports Webio was charged with operating a [[Ponzi scheme]], and the site was shut down.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/business/Tangled-Webio-mike-north-tom-shaer.html|title=Who's Who In Town Caught In Tangled Webio Deal|work=NBC Chicago|date=18 June 2009 |accessdate=20 April 2015}}</ref> Buffone and O'Bradovich re-signed with the Score in late August 2009.

Buffone was an entrepreneur, and part owner of several Chicago-area businesses, including "Gibson's Steak House", one of the most popular nightspots in Chicago's [[Rush Street (Chicago)|Rush Street]] area, and Digital One, a video production and streaming video company in the Chicago suburbs. Digital One is the creator of [[ClickStreamTV]], an online video platform product that was designed for small to medium-sized businesses.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.clickstreamtv.com|title=The New ClickStreamTV|work=clickstreamtv.com|accessdate=20 April 2015}}</ref> Also, Buffone had a blog on his website where he posted his opinions on sports.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.buffone.com/blog/?cat=1|title=The Official Blog of Doug Buffone|work=buffone.com|accessdate=20 April 2015|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303183453/http://www.buffone.com/blog/?cat=1|archivedate=3 March 2016}}</ref>

Buffone began broadcasting [[Chicago Rush]] [[Arena Football League]] games for Comcast SportsNet and WGN in 2010.

Buffone was inducted into the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015.

==Death==
Buffone died at his residence in Chicago, Illinois, on April 20, 2015, aged 70.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-former-bear-doug-buffone-found-dead-at-home-20150420-story.html|title=Former Bear Doug Buffone found dead at home|author=Chicago Tribune|date=20 April 2015|work=chicagotribune.com|accessdate=20 April 2015}}</ref>

==Records and accomplishments==
* Played 186 games as a Bear, the third most among Bears.
* Had a career-high 158 tackles in 1972
* Had 11 solo tackles vs. New Orleans (10/6/74)
* Holds the Bears record for most career interceptions at linebacker (24)
* Was voted into the Louisville Hall of Fame with Johnny Unitas in 1979
* National Italian American Sports hall of fame member since 1992

==Notes and references==
{{Reflist}}

{{San Diego Chargers 1966 draft navbox}}
{{Bears1966DraftPicks}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Buffone, Doug}}
[[Category:1944 births]]
[[Category:2015 deaths]]
[[Category:American people of Italian descent]]
[[Category:American football linebackers]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Louisville Cardinals football players]]
[[Category:Chicago Bears players]]
[[Category:Arena Football League executives]]
[[Category:United States Football League announcers]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Armstrong County, Pennsylvania]]

Gil Mains

2024-05-10T03:04:34Z

Dslmsbs:

{{Short description|American football player and wrestler (1929–2009)}}
{{Infobox CFL biography
|image =
||caption=
|birth_date={{Birth date|1929|12|17|mf=y}}
|birth_place= [[Mount Carmel, Illinois]], U.S.
|death_date={{death date and age|2009|1|10|1929|12|17|mf=y}}
|Position=[[Defensive tackle]]
|College=[[Murray State University|Murray State]]
|DraftedYear=1952
|DraftedRound=20
|DraftedPick=237
|PFR=
|DatabaseFootball=MAINSGIL01
|playing_years1=1953–1961
|playing_team1=[[Detroit Lions]]
|career_highlights =
* 2× [[List of NFL champions (1920–69)|NFL champion]] ([[1953 NFL Championship Game|1953]], [[1957 NFL Championship Game|1957]])
|ProBowls=
}}

'''Gilbert Lee Mains''' (December 17, 1929 – January 10, 2009) was an [[American football]] [[defensive tackle]] for the [[Detroit Lions]] (1953–1961). He attended [[Murray State University]]. Gil Mains performed as a pro wrestler during the off-season in the late 1950s and early 1960s, wrestling such stars as [[Lou Thesz]] and other Detroit area grapplers. Gil was involved in a variety of business ventures in the South Michigan, Northern Ohio areas since his retirement from the Lions, most notably RMF Global and Great Lakes Industrial. He was born in [[Mount Carmel, Illinois]]. Mains was inducted into the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015.

Mains died in January 2009.<ref>[http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009901100432 Former Lion Mains dies at 79]</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Biography}}
*{{Find a Grave|32887266}}

{{Lions1952DraftPicks}}
{{1953 Detroit Lions}}
{{1957 Detroit Lions}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mains, Gil}}
[[Category:1929 births]]
[[Category:2009 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Mount Carmel, Illinois]]
[[Category:American football defensive linemen]]
[[Category:Detroit Lions players]]
[[Category:Murray State Racers football players]]
[[Category:Professional wrestlers from Illinois]]

{{defensive-lineman-1920s-stub}}

Jacob Tamme

2024-05-10T01:23:58Z

Dslmsbs:

{{Short description|American football player (born 1985)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
|name=Jacob Tamme
|image=Jacob Tamme 2012.JPG
|caption =Tamme with the Broncos in 2014
|current_team=
|number=84, 83
|position=[[Tight end]]
||birth_date={{birth date and age|1985|3|15}}
|birth_place=[[Lexington, Kentucky]], U.S.
|height_ft=6
|height_in=3
|weight_lbs=230
|high_school=[[Boyle County High School|Boyle County]] {{nowrap|([[Danville, Kentucky]])}}
|college=[[Kentucky Wildcats football|Kentucky]]
|draftyear=2008
|draftround=4
|draftpick=127
|pastteams=
* [[Indianapolis Colts]] ({{NFL Year|2008}}–{{NFL Year|2011}})
* [[Denver Broncos]] ({{NFL Year|2012}}–{{NFL Year|2014}})
* [[Atlanta Falcons]] ({{NFL Year|2015}}–{{NFL Year|2016}})
* [[Los Angeles Kiss]] ({{AFL Year|2017}})
|highlights =
* 2× First-team [[List of All-SEC football teams|All-SEC]] ([[2006 All-SEC football team|2006]], [[2007 All-SEC football team|2007]])
|statlabel1=[[Reception (American football)|Receptions]]
|statvalue1=259
|statlabel2=[[Receiving yards]]
|statvalue2=2,570
|statlabel3=[[Average|Receiving average]]
|statvalue3=9.9
|statlabel4=[[Touchdown|Receiving touchdowns]]
|statvalue4=14
|nfl=TAM511848
|pfr=T/TammJa00
}}

'''Jacob Francis Tamme''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|t|æ|m|i}} {{respell|TAM|ee}}; born March 15, 1985) is a former [[American football]] [[tight end]]. He played [[college football]] at [[Kentucky Wildcats football|Kentucky]] and was selected by the [[Indianapolis Colts]] in the fourth round of the [[2008 NFL Draft]].

Tamme also played for the [[Denver Broncos]], [[Atlanta Falcons]], and [[Los Angeles Kiss]].

==Early years==
Tamme graduated from [[Boyle County High School]] in [[Danville, Kentucky]], where he was a multi-sport star in [[High school football|football]], [[baseball]], and [[basketball]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 11, 2017 |title=Tamme enjoying life in Boyle County |url=https://www.amnews.com/2017/10/10/tamme-enjoying-life-in-boyle-county/ |access-date=May 8, 2023 |website=The Advocate-Messenger |language=en}}</ref><ref name="bio">{{Cite web |title=Colts.com: Jacob Tamme – Tight End |url=http://www.colts.com/sub.cfm?page=bio&player_id=506 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090122011931/http://www.colts.com/sub.cfm?page=bio&player_id=506 |archive-date=January 22, 2009 |access-date=October 13, 2009 |website=Indianapolis Colts}}</ref>

He was a four-year [[Letterman (sports)|letterman]] and three-year [[Starting lineup|starter]] at [[wide receiver]] and [[cornerback]] for Boyle County, who won four consecutive state championships, two in Class AA and two in Class AAA, and had a 58–2 record over those seasons. He was a first-team all-state selection as a senior by the [[Associated Press]] and [[Louisville, Kentucky|Louisville's]] ''[[The Courier-Journal]]'' when he caught 46 passes for 797 yards, a 17.3-yard average, and 13 touchdowns. In addition, he was a finalist for the [[Kentucky "Mr. Football" Award]], given to the top performer in high school football.<ref name="bio" />

His career totals include 97 receptions for 1,866 yards, a 19.2-yard average, and 32 touchdowns. On [[Defense (sport)|defense]], he intercepted 23 passes, including two returns for touchdowns. As a [[kick returner]], he took 25 punts for 395 yards, a 15.8-yard average, and two touchdowns.<ref name="bio" />

==College career==
As a [[Redshirt (college sports)|redshirt freshman]], he played in all 11 games for the [[Kentucky Wildcats]]. He started three games at wide receiver before moving to his more natural position of tight end for the season-ending game at [[2004 Tennessee Volunteers football team|Tennessee]], where he had two touchdowns.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kentucky at Tennessee Box Score, November 27, 2004 |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/boxscores/2004-11-27-tennessee.html |access-date=May 8, 2023 |website=College Football at Sports-Reference.com |language=en |archive-date=September 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210917133354/https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/boxscores/2004-11-27-tennessee.html |url-status=live }}</ref> For the season, he had 16 catches for 161 yards.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jacob Tamme 2004 Game Log |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/jacob-tamme-1/gamelog/2004 |access-date=May 8, 2023 |website=College Football at Sports-Reference.com |language=en |archive-date=July 23, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170723005314/https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/jacob-tamme-1/gamelog/2004/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He was also named to the [[Southeastern Conference|SEC]] Academic Honor Roll for excellent work in the classroom.<ref name="Jacob Tamme (2007) - Hall of Fame">{{Cite web |title=Jacob Tamme (2007) - Hall of Fame |url=https://footballfoundation.org/hof_scholars.aspx?hof=77 |access-date=May 8, 2023 |website=National Football Foundation |language=en}}</ref>

As a redshirt sophomore, he played in all 11 games, starting 10. He was second on the team in pass receptions with 29 catches for 253 yards and one touchdown.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2005 Kentucky Wildcats Stats |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/kentucky/2005.html |access-date=May 8, 2023 |website=College Football at Sports-Reference.com |language=en |archive-date=February 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205010832/https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/kentucky/2005.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Jacob Tamme 2005 Game Log |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/jacob-tamme-1/gamelog/2005 |access-date=May 8, 2023 |website=College Football at Sports-Reference.com |language=en |archive-date=July 23, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170723005308/https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/jacob-tamme-1/gamelog/2005/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On [[special teams]], he blocked punts against [[2005 Louisville Cardinals football team|Louisville]] and [[2005 Florida Gators football team|Florida]]. He also earned a slot on the SEC Academic Honor Roll for the second straight year.<ref name="Jacob Tamme (2007) - Hall of Fame" />

As a redshirt junior, he was voted to the All-SEC first-team by the SEC coaches and the Associated Press.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 5, 2006 |title=2006 Associated Press All-SEC football team |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=ncf&id=2686391 |access-date=May 8, 2023 |website=ESPN.com |language=en |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> He led SEC tight ends in receptions with 32, netting 386 receiving yards and two touchdowns.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jacob Tamme 2006 Game Log |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/jacob-tamme-1/gamelog/2006 |access-date=May 8, 2023 |website=College Football at Sports-Reference.com |language=en |archive-date=July 23, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170723005312/https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/jacob-tamme-1/gamelog/2006/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He made the SEC Academic Honor Roll for the third year in a row.<ref name="Jacob Tamme (2007) - Hall of Fame" />

As a redshirt senior, he had 56 receptions for 619 yards and six touchdowns.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jacob Tamme 2007 Game Log |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/jacob-tamme-1/gamelog/2007 |access-date=May 8, 2023 |website=College Football at Sports-Reference.com |language=en |archive-date=July 23, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170723005311/https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/jacob-tamme-1/gamelog/2007/ |url-status=live }}</ref> For the second year in a row, he earned first-team All-SEC honors from both the Associated Press (unanimous decision) and coaches polls.<ref>{{Cite web |last=May |first=Matt |date=July 19, 2007 |title=Woodson, Tamme top Coaches All-SEC |url=https://kentucky.rivals.com/news/woodson-tamme-top-coaches-all-sec-1 |access-date=May 8, 2023 |website=CatsIllustrated}}</ref>

Tamme finished his career as Kentucky's all-time top pass-catching tight end and second in the history of all SEC tight ends with 133 catches for 1,417 yards.<ref name='bio'/>

===Accolades===

As one of the top scholar-athletes in the country, Tamme completed his degree in integrated strategic communications in only three years and earned his [[Master of Business Administration|MBA]] just before entering the NFL.{{cn|date=May 2023}}

Known for his contributions back to the community, in 2006, he was named to the National Good Works Team by the [[American Football Coaches Association]], the [[SEC community service team|SEC Community Service Team]] by the SEC Office, and to the Frank G. Ham Society of Character by UK Athletics.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Richardson |first=Ryan |date=August 4, 2021 |title=Former UK great, NFL tight end Tamme to speak at Steak & Burger Dinner |url=https://www.owensborotimes.com/features/non-profits/2021/08/former-uk-great-nfl-tight-end-tamme-to-speak-at-steak-burger-dinner/ |access-date=May 8, 2023 |website=The Owensboro Times |language=en-US |archive-date=August 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804193109/https://www.owensborotimes.com/features/non-profits/2021/08/former-uk-great-nfl-tight-end-tamme-to-speak-at-steak-burger-dinner/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=November 21, 2006 |title=Tamme Named to SEC Community Service Team |url=https://ukathletics.com/news/2006/11/21/55aeadd8e4b05936b8463bc9-131468075275331556/ |access-date=May 8, 2023 |website=UK Athletics |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=June 17, 2022 |title=Frank G. Ham Society of Character |url=https://ukathletics.com/academics/frank-g-ham-society-of-character/ |access-date=May 8, 2023 |website=UK Athletics |language=en-US |archive-date=November 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129154843/https://ukathletics.com/academics/frank-g-ham-society-of-character/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2007, he was one of 15 finalists for the prestigious [[Draddy Trophy]], which is presented to the top scholar athlete in the country.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Matt |date=December 3, 2007 |title=Jacob Tamme Finalist for National Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award |url=https://www.on3.com/teams/kentucky-wildcats/news/jacob-tamme-finalist-for-national-scholar-athlete-of-the-year-award/amp/ |access-date=May 8, 2023 |website=On3}}</ref> He gave the acceptance speech on behalf of the 15 finalists at the award ceremony in [[New York City]].

Also in 2007, he was named the SEC Scholar Athlete of the Year and elected to the first-team Academic [[All-America]] squad by the College Sports Information Directors of America.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 22, 2018 |title=Hall of Fame 2018 – Jacob Tamme |url=https://ukathletics.com/news/2018/09/22/hall-of-fame-2018-jacob-tamme/ |access-date=May 8, 2023 |website=UK Athletics |language=en-US}}</ref>

He was the 2007 recipient of the [[Bobby Bowden]] Award, a national honor presented by the [[Fellowship of Christian Athletes]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 4, 2008 |title=Tamme Wins Bobby Bowden Award |url=https://ukathletics.com/news/2008/01/04/55aeb170e4b05936b8464486-131468063595502903/ |access-date=May 8, 2023 |website=UK Athletics |language=en-US}}</ref>

Tamme was inducted into the KJentycky Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015.

Tamme was inducted in 2018 to the University of Kentucky Athletics Hall of Fame.<ref name="UKHOF">{{Cite web |last=Gershon |first=Aaron |date=September 21, 2018 |title=Jacob Tamme talks UK Hall Of Fame induction and 2018 Wildcats |url=https://www.aseaofblue.com/2018/9/21/17888924/jacob-tamme-uk-hall-fame-induction-2018-wildcats-falcons-colts-broncos |access-date=May 8, 2023 |website=A Sea Of Blue |language=en |archive-date=September 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180922121624/https://www.aseaofblue.com/2018/9/21/17888924/jacob-tamme-uk-hall-fame-induction-2018-wildcats-falcons-colts-broncos |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Professional career==
{{nfl predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 3
| weight = 236
| dash = 4.58
| ten split = 1.56
| twenty split = 2.62
| shuttle = 4.27
| cone drill = 6.99
| vertical = 30
| broad ft = 9
| broad in = 1
| bench = 18
| wonderlic =
| arm span = 33
| hand span = 9
| note = All values from [[NFL Combine]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Jacob Tamme, DS #10 TE, Kentucky |url=http://www.draftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=10789&draftyear=2008&genpos=te |access-date=December 1, 2018 |website=DraftScout.com |archive-date=December 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181201135250/http://www.draftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=10789&draftyear=2008&genpos=te |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Jacob Tamme NFL Combine Scores |url=http://nflcombineresults.com/playerpage.php?f=Jacob&l=Tamme&i=8090 |access-date=December 1, 2018 |website=nflcombineresults |archive-date=December 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181201180736/http://nflcombineresults.com/playerpage.php?f=Jacob&l=Tamme&i=8090 |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}

===Indianapolis Colts===
[[File:Jacob Tamme.JPG|thumb|175px|left|Tamme in the 2010 NFL season.]]
The [[Indianapolis Colts]] selected Tamme in the fourth round (127th overall) of the [[2008 NFL Draft]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=2008 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2008/draft.htm |access-date=May 8, 2023 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en |archive-date=November 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181103014038/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2008/draft.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Tamme was the ninth tight end drafted in 2008.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wells |first=Brad |date=April 27, 2008 |title=2008 NFL Draft: Colts select TE Jacob Tamme at pick #127 |url=https://www.stampedeblue.com/2008/4/27/461751/2008-nfl-draft-colts-selec |access-date=May 8, 2023 |website=Stampede Blue |language=en |archive-date=April 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404092338/https://www.stampedeblue.com/2008/4/27/461751/2008-nfl-draft-colts-selec |url-status=live }}</ref> He and the Colts agreed to a 4-year contract with undisclosed terms on July 23, 2008.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 23, 2008 |title=Colts scramble to sign draft picks before camp |url=http://www.espn.com/espn/wire/_/section/nfl/id/3502379 |access-date=May 8, 2023 |website=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press |archive-date=April 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404120241/http://www.espn.com/espn/wire/_/section/nfl/id/3502379 |url-status=live }}</ref>

====2008 season====
As a rookie in 2008, Tamme appeared in 12 games and had three receptions for 12 receiving yards.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jacob Tamme 2008 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TammJa00/gamelog/2008/ |access-date=May 8, 2023 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en |archive-date=July 15, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160715091625/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TammJa00/gamelog/2008/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

====2009 season====
In 2009, Tamme appeared in all 16 games and started one. He totaled three receptions for 35 receiving yards.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jacob Tamme 2009 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TammJa00/gamelog/2009/ |access-date=May 8, 2023 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en |archive-date=July 15, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160715090620/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TammJa00/gamelog/2009/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He played in [[Super Bowl XLIV]] but lost to the [[2009 New Orleans Saints season|New Orleans Saints]] 31–17.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 16, 2016 |title=Super Bowl XLIV: Saints slip past Colts 31–17 for 1st Super Bowl title |url=http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/patriots/2016/01/super_bowl_xliv_saints_slip_past_colts_31_17_for_1st_super_bowl_title |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160127013844/http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/patriots/2016/01/super_bowl_xliv_saints_slip_past_colts_31_17_for_1st_super_bowl_title |archive-date=January 27, 2016 |website=Boston Herald |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

====2010 season====
After Week 7 of the 2010 season, [[Dallas Clark]] was placed on [[Injured Reserve]] after an injury to the wrist and Tamme took over as the starting tight end.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 22, 2010 |title=NFL: Indianapolis Colts Pro Bowl tight end Dallas Clark placed on IR |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2010/10/22/nfl-indianapolis-colts-pro-bowl-tight-end-dallas-clark-placed-on-ir/ |access-date=May 8, 2023 |website=The Mercury News |language=en-US |agency=Associated Press |archive-date=May 3, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170503195427/http://www.mercurynews.com/2010/10/22/nfl-indianapolis-colts-pro-bowl-tight-end-dallas-clark-placed-on-ir/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In Week 9, against the [[2010 Philadelphia Eagles season|Philadelphia Eagles]], he had 11 receptions for 108 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown in the 26–24 loss.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Indianapolis Colts at Philadelphia Eagles - November 7th, 2010 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201011070phi.htm |access-date=May 8, 2023 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en |archive-date=December 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209185420/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201011070phi.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Tamme finished the season with a career-high 67 receptions for 631 yards and four touchdowns.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jacob Tamme 2010 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TammJa00/gamelog/2010/ |access-date=May 8, 2023 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en |archive-date=July 15, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160715085340/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TammJa00/gamelog/2010/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

====2011 season====
Tamme's numbers declined in 2011 with the absence of [[Peyton Manning]]. He finished the year with 19 receptions for 177 receiving yards and a touchdown.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jacob Tamme 2011 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TammJa00/gamelog/2011/ |access-date=May 8, 2023 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en |archive-date=July 15, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160715090625/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TammJa00/gamelog/2011/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Denver Broncos===
Tamme signed for three years and $9 million with the [[Denver Broncos]] on March 23, 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/03/23/broncos-sign-jacob-tamme/ |title=Broncos sign Jacob Tamme |access-date=March 23, 2012 |archive-date=March 25, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325070805/http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/03/23/broncos-sign-jacob-tamme/ |url-status=live }}</ref> His contract included $3.5 million in guaranteed money.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/4885/jacob-tamme|title=Jacob Tamme – Unsigned Free Agent – news and analysis, statistics, game logs, depth charts, contracts, injuries|access-date=December 5, 2013|archive-date=December 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203114935/http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/4885/jacob-tamme|url-status=live}}</ref>

====2012 season====
Tamme improved much in the 2012 year as [[Peyton Manning]] signed for the Broncos.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Florio |first=Mike |date=March 20, 2012 |title=Manning's deal is done: five years, $96 million |url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/03/20/mannings-deal-is-done-five-years-96-million/ |access-date=May 8, 2023 |website=ProFootballTalk |language=en-US |archive-date=December 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151228225211/http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/03/20/mannings-deal-is-done-five-years-96-million/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Tamme finished the 2012 year with 52 receptions for 555 receiving yards and two touchdowns.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jacob Tamme 2012 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TammJa00/gamelog/2012/ |access-date=May 8, 2023 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en |archive-date=July 15, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160715091212/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TammJa00/gamelog/2012/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

====2013 season====
Tamme was part of a Broncos offense that was franchise-setting, becoming the first time an NFL team scored over 600 points in 16 regular season games that year.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Legwold |first=Jeff |date=December 31, 2013 |title=Broncos Rewind: Offense |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/denver-broncos/post/_/id/3618/broncos-rewind-offense-14 |access-date=May 8, 2023 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=2013 Denver Broncos Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/den/2013.htm |access-date=May 8, 2023 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en |archive-date=January 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180118011102/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/den/2013.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> For the 2013 year, Tamme produced 184 receiving yards and two touchdowns.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jacob Tamme 2013 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TammJa00/gamelog/2013/ |access-date=May 8, 2023 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en |archive-date=July 15, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160715090058/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TammJa00/gamelog/2013/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Tamme scored a receiving touchdown in the [[2013–14_NFL_playoffs#AFC:_Denver_Broncos_26,_New_England_Patriots_16|AFC Championship]] victory over the [[2013 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=AFC Championship - New England Patriots at Denver Broncos - January 19th, 2014 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201401190den.htm |access-date=May 8, 2023 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en |archive-date=November 15, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115030647/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201401190den.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> In the Super Bowl, Tamme had two catches for nine yards, but lost 43–8 to the [[2013 Seattle Seahawks season|Seattle Seahawks]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201402020den.htm |title=Super Bowl XLVIII – Seattle Seahawks vs. Denver Broncos – February 2nd, 2014 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en |access-date=November 3, 2017 |archive-date=April 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401180105/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201402020den.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

====2014 season====
Tamme played in 15 games and had 14 receptions for 109 yards and two touchdowns.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jacob Tamme 2014 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TammJa00/gamelog/2014/ |access-date=May 8, 2023 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en |archive-date=July 15, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160715091632/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TammJa00/gamelog/2014/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Atlanta Falcons===

====2015 season====
Tamme signed with the [[Atlanta Falcons]] on March 19, 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Adams |first=Jay |date=March 19, 2015 |title=FALCONS ADD FORMER BRONCOS TE TO ROSTER |url=http://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/article-1/Falcons-Add-Former-Broncos-TE-to-Roster/3feef740-7ed7-4ffb-8dba-6b4144d77e4f |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402124101/http://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/article-1/Falcons-Add-Former-Broncos-TE-to-Roster/3feef740-7ed7-4ffb-8dba-6b4144d77e4f |archive-date=April 2, 2015 |access-date=March 20, 2015 |website=AtlantaFalcons.com}}</ref> In Week 8, against the [[2015 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season|Tampa Bay Buccaneers]], he had ten receptions for 103 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons – November 1st, 2015 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201511010atl.htm |access-date=May 8, 2023 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en |archive-date=August 14, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170814023321/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201511010atl.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> He finished the season with 59 catches for a career-high 657 yards and one touchdown.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jacob Tamme 2015 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TammJa00/gamelog/2015/ |access-date=May 8, 2023 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en |archive-date=July 15, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160715090103/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TammJa00/gamelog/2015/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

====2016 season====
Tamme was placed on [[Injured reserve list|injured reserve]] on November 21, 2016, after undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 21, 2016 |title=Falcons' Jacob Tamme: Heads to IR |url=http://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/falcons-jacob-tamme-heads-to-ir/ |access-date=May 8, 2023 |website=CBSSports.com |archive-date=April 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404094943/https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/falcons-jacob-tamme-heads-to-ir/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He finished the 2016 season with 22 receptions for 210 receiving yards and three touchdowns in eight games.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jacob Tamme 2016 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TammJa00/gamelog/2016/ |access-date=May 8, 2023 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

===Retirement===

On November 23, 2017, Tamme announced his retirement from the NFL.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bergman |first=Jeremy |date=November 23, 2017 |title=Jacob Tamme announces retirement after 9 seasons |url=http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000881845/article/jacob-tamme-announces-retirement-after-9-seasons |access-date=November 23, 2017 |website=NFL.com |archive-date=November 24, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171124022223/http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000881845/article/jacob-tamme-announces-retirement-after-9-seasons |url-status=live }}</ref>

==NFL career statistics==
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! colspan="2"| Legend
|-
| '''Bold'''
| Career high
|}

=== Regular season ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!rowspan="2"| Year
!rowspan="2"| Team
!colspan="2"| Games
!colspan="6"| Receiving
|-
! GP !! GS !! Tgt!! Rec !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD
|-
! [[2008 NFL season|2008]] !! [[2008 Indianapolis Colts season|IND]]
| 12 || 0 || 5 || 3 || 12 || 4.0 || 6 || 0
|-
! [[2009 NFL season|2009]] !! [[2009 Indianapolis Colts season|IND]]
| '''16''' || 1 || 10 || 3 || 35 || '''11.7''' || 21 || 0
|-
! [[2010 NFL season|2010]] !! [[2010 Indianapolis Colts season|IND]]
| '''16''' || '''8''' || '''93''' || '''67''' || 631 || 9.4 || 30 || '''4'''
|-
! [[2011 NFL season|2011]] !! [[2011 Indianapolis Colts season|IND]]
| '''16''' || 5 || 31 || 19 || 177 || 9.3 || 29 || 1
|-
! [[2012 NFL season|2012]] !! [[2012 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| '''16''' || '''8''' || 85 || 52 || 555 || 10.7 || 36 || 2
|-
! [[2013 NFL season|2013]] !! [[2013 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| '''16''' || 1 || 25 || 20 || 184 || 9.2 || 15 || 1
|-
! [[2014 NFL season|2014]] !! [[2014 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| 15 || 0 || 28 || 14 || 109 || 7.8 || 26 || 2
|-
! [[2015 NFL season|2015]] !! [[2015 Atlanta Falcons season|ATL]]
| 15 || '''8''' || 81 || 59 || '''657''' || 11.1 || '''41''' || 1
|-
! [[2016 NFL season|2016]] !! [[2016 Atlanta Falcons season|ATL]]
| 8 || 5 || 31 || 22 || 210 || 9.5 || 19 || 3
|-
! colspan="2"| !! 130 !! 36 !! 389 !! 259 !! 2,570 !! 9.9 !! 41 !! 14
|}

=== Playoffs ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!rowspan="2"| Year
!rowspan="2"| Team
!colspan="2"| Games
!colspan="6"| Receiving
|-
! GP !! GS !! Tgt!! Rec !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD
|-
! [[2008 NFL season|2008]] !! [[2008 Indianapolis Colts season|IND]]
| 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2009 NFL season|2009]] !! [[2009 Indianapolis Colts season|IND]]
| '''3''' || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2010 NFL season|2010]] !! [[2010 Indianapolis Colts season|IND]]
| 1 || '''1''' || '''8''' || '''5''' || '''46''' || 9.2 || 15 || 0
|-
! [[2012 NFL season|2012]] !! [[2012 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| 1 || 0 || 3 || 3 || 44 || '''14.7''' || 21 || 0
|-
! [[2013 NFL season|2013]] !! [[2013 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| '''3''' || 0 || 4 || 4 || 33 || 8.3 || '''23''' || '''1'''
|-
! [[2014 NFL season|2014]] !! [[2014 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0
|-
! colspan="2"| !! 10 !! 1 !! 15 !! 12 !! 123 !! 10.3 !! 23 !! 1
|}

==Personal life==
Tamme is a [[Christianity|Christian]]. He has spoken about his faith saying, "My faith is important because it's the core of why I believe we exist as humans. Faith allows us to spend an eternity with God and it fuels my every day actions. I've seen how having faith in God can change lives and it certainly has changed mine."<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 28, 2012 |title=Faith, Family, & Football |url=https://www.nflplayerengagement.com/news-and-media/faith-family-football/articles/jacob-tamme/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203192200/https://www.nflplayerengagement.com/news-and-media/faith-family-football/articles/jacob-tamme/ |archive-date=February 3, 2015 |access-date=January 12, 2014 |website=NFL Player Engagement}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{footballstats|pfr=T/TammJa00}}
*[http://www.ukathletics.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/tamme_jacob00.html Kentucky Wildcats bio]

{{Indianapolis Colts 2008 draft navbox}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tamme, Jacob}}
[[Category:1985 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Danville, Kentucky]]
[[Category:Christians from Kentucky]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Lexington, Kentucky]]
[[Category:Boyle County High School alumni]]
[[Category:American football tight ends]]
[[Category:Kentucky Wildcats football players]]
[[Category:Indianapolis Colts players]]
[[Category:Denver Broncos players]]
[[Category:Atlanta Falcons players]]

Ray Buchanan

2024-05-10T01:22:30Z

Dslmsbs:

{{Short description|American football player (born 1971)}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
|image=
|caption=
|position=[[Cornerback]]
|number=34
|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1971|9|29}}
|birth_place=[[Chicago, Illinois]], U.S.
|height_ft=5
|height_in=9
|weight_lbs=185
|death_date=
|draftyear=1993
|draftround=3
|draftpick=65
|high_school=[[Proviso East High School|Proviso East]] {{nowrap|([[Maywood, Illinois]])}}
|college=[[Louisville Cardinals football|Louisville]]
|teams=
* [[Indianapolis Colts]] ([[1993 NFL season|1993]]–[[1996 NFL season|1996]])
* [[Atlanta Falcons]] ([[1997 NFL season|1997]]–[[2003 NFL season|2003]])
* [[Oakland Raiders]] ([[2004 NFL season|2004]])
|statlabel1=[[Tackle (football move)|Tackles]]
|statvalue1=819
|statlabel2=[[Interceptions]]
|statvalue2=47
|statlabel3=[[Touchdowns]]
|statvalue3=4
|highlights=
* 2× Second-team [[All-Pro]] ([[1994 All-Pro Team|1994]], [[1998 All-Pro Team|1998]])
* [[Pro Bowl]] ([[1999 Pro Bowl|1998]])
* [[Louisville Cardinals football#Honored jerseys (Ring of Honor)|Louisville Cardinals Ring of Honor]]
|nfl=ray-buchanan
|pfr=B/BuchRa00
|HOF=
|CollegeHOF=
}}

'''Raymond Louis Buchanan''' (born September 29, 1971) is an American former professional [[American football|football]] player who was a [[cornerback]] in the [[National Football League]] (NFL). He played [[college football]] for the [[Louisville Cardinals football|Louisville Cardinals]] and was selected in the third round of the [[1993 NFL draft]] by the [[Indianapolis Colts]] with the 65th overall pick. He also played for the [[Atlanta Falcons]] and the [[Oakland Raiders]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=1993 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1993/draft.htm |access-date=2023-03-31 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

==High school career==
At [[Proviso East High School]] in [[Maywood, Illinois]], Ray Buchanan was a four-year [[Letterman (sports)|letterman]] in football as a [[running back]] and [[Safety (American football position)|safety]]. Buchanan was a state champion in two [[track and field]] events, the [[long jump]] and the [[triple jump]].

==Post-NFL Career==

===Musical career===
Buchanan made a rap music album in 2002.{{Clarify|date=August 2014}}

===TV work===
He works for [[Fox Sports Radio]] on the weekend and co-hosts alongside [[Bruce Jacobs (radio host)|Bruce Jacobs]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/02/AR2007020201718.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812163818/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/02/AR2007020201718.html |archive-date=August 12, 2014 |title=Former Falcons CB Ray Buchanan Arrested - washingtonpost.com|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] }}</ref>

'''Awards'''

Buchanan was inducted into the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016.

==NFL career statistics==
===Regular season===
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team
! colspan="2"| Games
! colspan="4"| Tackles
! colspan="5"| Interceptions
! colspan="4"| Fumbles
|-
! GP !! GS !! Comb !! Solo !! Ast !! Sck !! Int !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD !! FF !! FR !! Yds !! TD
|-
! [[1993 NFL season|1993]] || [[1993 Indianapolis Colts season|IND]]
| '''16''' || 5 || 65 || — || — || 0.0 || 4 || 45 || 11.3 || 28 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[1994 NFL season|1994]] || [[1994 Indianapolis Colts season|IND]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || '''100''' || '''76''' || 24 || '''1.0''' || '''8''' || '''221''' || 27.6 || '''90''' || style="background:#cfecec;"|'''3''' || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[1995 NFL season|1995]] || [[1995 Indianapolis Colts season|IND]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 83 || 68 || 15 || '''1.0''' || 2 || 60 || '''30.0''' || 60 || 0 || 0 || '''2''' || 0 || 0
|-
! [[1996 NFL season|1996]] || [[1996 Indianapolis Colts season|IND]]
| 13 || 13 || 62 || 53 || 9 || 0.5 || 2 || 32 || 16.0 || 32 || 0 || '''1''' || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[1997 NFL season|1997]] || [[1997 Atlanta Falcons season|ATL]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 52 || 48 || 4 || 0.0 || 5 || 49 || 9.8 || 31 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[1998 NFL season|1998]] || [[1998 Atlanta Falcons season|ATL]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 61 || 54 || 7 || 0.0 || 7 || 102 || 14.6 || 34 || 0 || '''1''' || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[1999 NFL season|1999]] || [[1999 Atlanta Falcons season|ATL]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 63 || 57 || 6 || '''1.0''' || 4 || 81 || 20.3 || 52 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2000 NFL season|2000]] || [[2000 Atlanta Falcons season|ATL]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 80 || 69 || 11 || 0.0 || 6 || 114 || 19.0 || 60 || 0 || 0 || '''2''' || '''1''' || 0
|-
! [[2001 NFL season|2001]] || [[2001 Atlanta Falcons season|ATL]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 71 || 63 || 8 || 0.0 || 5 || 85 || 17.0 || 33 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2002 NFL season|2002]] || [[2002 Atlanta Falcons season|ATL]]
| 12 || 11 || 47 || 42 || 5 || 0.0 || 2 || 9 || 4.5 || 9 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2003 NFL season|2003]] || [[2003 Atlanta Falcons season|ATL]]
| 15 || 8 || 47 || 42 || 5 || 0.0 || 1 || 2 || 2.0 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2004 NFL season|2004]] || [[2004 Oakland Raiders season|OAK]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 92 || 66 || '''26''' || 0.0 || 1 || 27 || 27.0 || 27 || 0 || '''1''' || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! colspan="2"| Career !! 184 !! 165 !! 823 !! 638 !! 120 !! 3.5 !! 47 !! 827 !! 17.6 !! 90 !! 4 !! 4 !! 6 !! 1 !! 0
|}

{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 5
| height in = 9 1/4
| weight = 193
| dash = 4.50
| ten split = 1.59
| twenty split = 2.64
| shuttle = 4.00
| vertical = 36.0
| broad ft = 10
| broad in = 7
| bench = 10
| arm span = 32 7/8
| hand span = 8 5/8
}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Indianapolis Colts 1993 draft navbox}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Buchanan, Ray}}
[[Category:1971 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Chicago]]
[[Category:American football safeties]]
[[Category:American football cornerbacks]]
[[Category:Louisville Cardinals football players]]
[[Category:Indianapolis Colts players]]
[[Category:Atlanta Falcons players]]
[[Category:Oakland Raiders players]]
[[Category:National Conference Pro Bowl players]]

Myron Guyton

2024-05-10T01:19:59Z

Dslmsbs:

{{Short description|American football player (born 1967)}}
{{Use American English|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Myron Guyton
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| number = 29
| position = [[Safety (gridiron football position)|Safety]]
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1967|8|26}}
| birth_place = [[Metcalf, Georgia]], U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 1
| weight_lb = 205
| high_school = [[Thomas County Central High School|Thomas County Central]] ([[Thomasville, Georgia]])
| college = [[Eastern Kentucky Colonels football|Eastern Kentucky]]
| draftyear = 1989
| draftround = 8
| draftpick = 218
| pastteams =
* [[New York Giants]] ({{NFL Year|1989|1993}})
* [[New England Patriots]] ({{NFL Year|1994|1995}})
| highlights =
* [[Super Bowl champion]] ([[Super Bowl XXV|XXV]])
| statseason =
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Tackles
| statvalue1 = 499
| statlabel2 = Forced fumbles
| statvalue2 = 2
| statlabel3 = Interceptions
| statvalue3 = 10
| nfl = myron-guyton
| pfr = G/GuytMy20
}}

'''Myron Maynard Guyton''' (born August 26, 1967) is an American former professional [[American football|football]] player who was a [[defensive back]] in the [[National Football League]] (NFL) for the [[New York Giants]] (1989–1993) and the [[New England Patriots]] (1994–1995). He was a member of the Giants team that won [[Super Bowl XXV]]. Before his NFL career, he played [[college football]] for the [[Eastern Kentucky Colonels football|Eastern Kentucky Colonels]] and was selected by the Giants in the eighth round of the [[1989 NFL Draft]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=1989 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1989/draft.htm |access-date=2023-05-27 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> Guyton is a member of [[Phi Beta Sigma]] fraternity, Iota Delta chapter of Eastern Kentucky University.

On April 16, 2012, Guyton was among four former NFL players filing a lawsuit claiming the league did not properly protect players from concussions.{{Cn|date=October 2023}}

Guyton was inducted into the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Super Bowl XXV}}
{{Giants1989DraftPicks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Guyton, Myron}}
[[Category:1967 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American football safeties]]
[[Category:Eastern Kentucky Colonels football players]]
[[Category:New England Patriots players]]
[[Category:New York Giants players]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Thomas County, Georgia]]

{{defensiveback-1960s-stub}}

Warren Bryant (American football)

2024-05-10T01:18:45Z

Dslmsbs:

{{Short description|American football player (1955–2021)}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Warren Bryant
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| number = 66
| position = [[Tackle (gridiron football position)|Offensive tackle]]
| birth_date = {{birth date|1955|11|11}}
| birth_place = [[Miami|Miami, Florida]], U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2021|10|10|1955|11|11}}
| death_place = [[Smyrna, Georgia]], U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 6
| weight_lb = 273
| high_school = [[Miami Edison Senior High School|Miami Edison]] (Miami, FL)
| college = [[Kentucky Wildcats football|Kentucky]]
| draftyear = 1977
| draftround = 1
| draftpick = 6
| pastteams =
* [[Atlanta Falcons]] ({{NFL Year|1977|1984}})
* [[History of the Los Angeles Raiders|Los Angeles Raiders]] ({{NFL Year|1984}})
| highlights =
* [[Pro Football Writers of America NFL All-Rookie Team|PFWA All-Rookie Team]] ([[Pro Football Writers of America NFL All-Rookie Team#1977|1977]])
* First-team [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] ([[1976 College Football All-America Team|1976]])
* [[Jacobs Blocking Trophy]] (1976)
* 3× First-team [[List of All-SEC football teams|All-SEC]] ([[1974 All-SEC football team|1974]]–[[1976 All-SEC football team|1976]])
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 104
| statlabel2 = Games started
| statvalue2 = 94
| nfl = Warren-Bryant
| pfr = B/BryaWa21
}}

'''Warren Bryant''' (November 11, 1955 – October 10, 2021) was an American professional [[American football|football]] player who was an [[Tackle (gridiron football position)|offensive tackle]] from 1977 through 1984 in the [[National Football League]] (NFL). He played [[college football]] at the [[University of Kentucky]]. He was selected by the [[Atlanta Falcons]] in the first round of the [[1977 NFL draft]] with the sixth overall pick. He was a fan favorite, and he made many personal appearances in and around the Atlanta area.<ref name=uk_10122021>{{cite web |title=Warren Bryant, UK Football All-American, Has Died|date=October 12, 2021 |url=https://ukathletics.com/news/2021/10/12/warren-bryant-uk-football-all-american-has-died.aspx |publisher=University of Kentucky Athletics |access-date=October 13, 2021}}</ref> Bryant was inducted into the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016.

Bryant died on October 10, 2021,<ref>{{cite web|title=Bryant, Warren|date=October 13, 2021|newspaper=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|url=https://www.ajc.com/news/obituaries/bryant-warren/MPYQ2MNISFHP3M6Y2PZUUCLLFM/|access-date=October 14, 2021}}</ref> in [[Smyrna, Georgia]]. He was 65.<ref name=uk_10122021/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.nfl.com/players/warrenbryant/profile?id=BRY679554 NFL.com player page]

{{1977 NFL Draft}}
{{FalconsFirstPick}}
{{Atlanta Falcons 1977 draft navbox}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bryant, Warren}}
[[Category:1955 births]]
[[Category:2021 deaths]]
[[Category:American football offensive tackles]]
[[Category:Kentucky Wildcats football players]]
[[Category:Atlanta Falcons players]]
[[Category:Los Angeles Raiders players]]
[[Category:All-American college football players]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Miami]]

{{offensive-lineman-1950s-stub}}

Council Rudolph

2024-05-10T01:17:40Z

Dslmsbs:

{{Short description|American football player (born 1950)}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
|image=
|caption=
|position=[[Defensive end]]
|number=77, 74, 78
|birth_date={{birth date and age|1950|1|18}}
|birth_place=[[Anniston, Alabama]], U.S.
|death_date=
|height_ft=6
|height_in=4
|weight_lbs=255
|high_school=[[Anniston City Schools|Anniston (AL) Cobb]]
|college=[[Kentucky State Thorobreds football|Kentucky State]]
|draftyear=1972
|draftround=7
|draftpick=160
|pastteams=
* [[Houston Oilers]] ({{NFL Year|1972}})
* [[St. Louis Cardinals (NFL)|St. Louis Cardinals]] ({{NFL Year|1973|1975}})
* [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]] ({{NFL Year|1976|1977}})
|statlabel1=Games played – [[Starting lineup|started]]
|statvalue1= 72 – 41
|statlabel2= [[Interception]]s
|statvalue2=1
|statlabel3=[[Fumble]] recoveries
|statvalue3=3
|nfl=RUD415288
|pfr=
|cfl=
|afl=
|HOF=
|CollegeHOF=
}}
'''Council Rudolph, Jr.''' (born January 18, 1950) is a former professional [[American football]] player.

==Career==
Rudolph played [[defensive end]] for six seasons for the [[Houston Oilers]], the [[St. Louis Cardinals (NFL)|St. Louis Cardinals]], and the [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]]. Council attended Kentucky State University, where he is in the Hall of Fame. Council was also inducted into the Calhoun County Sports Hall of Fame in 2009.

==After football==
In 1982, Rudolph opened The Check Casher, the first check cashing business in [[Tampa, Florida]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Kaufman|first=Ira|title=EX-PLAYERS, NFLPA UNION BATTLING OVER PENSIONS|url=http://blackathlete.net/artman2/publish/Football_7/Ex-Players_Union_Battling_Over_Pensions.shtml|work=online article|publisher=Blackathlete.net|accessdate=November 6, 2011|archive-date=April 4, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120404142005/http://blackathlete.net/artman2/publish/Football_7/Ex-Players_Union_Battling_Over_Pensions.shtml|url-status=dead}}</ref> Rudolph was inducted into the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{St. Louis Cardinals 1972 draft navbox}}
{{1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rudolph, Council}}
[[Category:1950 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American football defensive ends]]
[[Category:Kentucky State Thorobreds football players]]
[[Category:Houston Oilers players]]
[[Category:St. Louis Cardinals (football) players]]
[[Category:Tampa Bay Buccaneers players]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Anniston, Alabama]]

{{defensive-lineman-1950s-stub}}

Blanton Collier

2024-05-10T01:16:31Z

Dslmsbs:

{{Short description|American football coach (1906–1983)}}
{{Good article}}
{{Infobox Canadian Football League biography
| name = Blanton Collier
| image = Blanton Collier, American football coach, in 1963.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Collier on the sideline in September 29, [[1963 Cleveland Browns season|1963]].
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1906|7|2}}
| birth_place = [[Millersburg, Kentucky]], U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1983|3|22|1906|7|2}}
| death_place = [[Houston|Houston, Texas]], U.S.
| team =
| number =
| status =
| position1 = Head coach
| height_ft =
| height_in =
| weight_lb =
| college = [[Georgetown Tigers football|Georgetown (KY)]]
| high_school = [[Paris High School (Paris, Kentucky)|Paris (KY)]]
| coaching_years1 = 1928–1943
| coaching_team1 = [[Paris High School (Paris, Kentucky)|Paris HS (KY)]]
| coaching_years2 = 1944–1945
| coaching_team2 = {{nowrap|[[Great Lakes Navy Bluejackets football|Great Lakes Navy]] (asst.)}}
| coaching_years3 = 1946–1953
| coaching_team3 = [[Cleveland Browns]] (asst.)
| coaching_years4 = 1954–1961
| coaching_team4 = [[Kentucky Wildcats football|Kentucky]]
| coaching_years5 = 1962
| coaching_team5 = Cleveland Browns (asst.)
| coaching_years6 = 1963–1970
| coaching_team6 = Cleveland Browns
| career_highlights =
| awards = NFL champion ([[1964 Cleveland Browns season|1964]]) [[Southeastern Conference|SEC]] Coach of the Year ([[1954 Kentucky Wildcats football team|1954]])
| records = '''Professional''': {{Winning percentage|76|34|2|record=y}} '''College''': {{Winning percentage|41|36|3|record=y}} {{nowrap|'''High school''': {{Winning percentage|73|50|10|record=y}}}}
| module = {{Infobox military person
| embed = yes
| allegiance = {{flagicon|United States}} [[United States of America|United States]]
| branch = [[File:United States Department of the Navy Seal.svg|20px|United States Navy seal]] [[United States Army|U.S. Navy]]
| serviceyears = 1943–1945
| rank =
| unit =[[Naval Station Great Lakes|Great Lakes Training Station]]
| battles = [[World War II]]
| awards =
}}
}}
'''Blanton Long Collier''' (July 2, 1906 – March 22, 1983) was an [[American football]] head coach who coached at the [[University of Kentucky]] between 1954 and 1961 and for the [[Cleveland Browns]] in the [[National Football League]] (NFL) between 1963 and 1970. His [[1964 Cleveland Browns season|1964 Browns team]] won the [[1964 NFL Championship Game|NFL championship]] and remains the second-most recent [[Cleveland]] professional sports team to win a title.<ref name=yvincdfc>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fiJAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=elgMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1696%2C3336209 |work=Youngstown Vindicator |location=(Ohio) |agency=Associated Press |title=Collier dies, fine coach |date=March 24, 1983 |page=30 }}</ref>

Collier grew up in [[Paris, Kentucky]], and attended [[Paris High School (Paris, Kentucky)|Paris High School]]. After graduating from [[Georgetown College (Kentucky)|Georgetown College]], he returned to his old high school to teach and coach sports for 16 years. Collier left the position to join the [[United States Navy|U.S. Navy]] in 1943 during [[World War II]]. At a naval base outside of [[Chicago]], he met [[Paul Brown]], who was coaching a service football team there. After the war, Brown hired Collier as an assistant coach for the Browns, a team under formation in the [[All-America Football Conference]]. After seven years as Brown's top aide, a span over which the Cleveland team won five league championships, Collier took a job as head football coach at Kentucky in 1954. His Kentucky Wildcats teams amassed a 41–36–3 [[winning percentage|win-loss-tie]] record over eight seasons.

Collier was fired after the 1961 season and Brown rehired him as an assistant. [[Art Modell]], the owner of the Browns, then fired Brown in [[1963 Cleveland Browns season|1963]] and promoted Collier to head coach. Under Collier, the Browns reached the NFL championship game four times and won once, in [[1964 NFL Championship Game|1964]]. In eight seasons as a professional football coach with the Browns, they never had a losing season under Collier, who won 69% of his games, one of the [[List of National Football League head coach wins leaders|highest winning percentages]] in NFL history for coaches with at least 100 games coached, which ranks among the top ten ahead of numerous head coaches.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/nfl/talkoffame/state-your-case/state-your-case-blanton-collier-won-enough-games-to-coach-his-way-into-canton|title=State Your Case: Blanton Collier won enough games to coach his way into Canton|access-date=17 April 2023|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=March 16, 2020|author=Ron Borges}}</ref> Struggling with hearing loss, Collier retired after the [[1970 Cleveland Browns season|1970]] season, although he remained a scout and quarterbacks coach for several more years. He was diagnosed with [[prostate cancer]] in 1976, and retired to [[Texas]], where he died in 1983.<ref name="srcoldi"/>

Collier was well-liked by players and renowned as a good sportsman and student of the game. The Kentucky chapter of the [[National Football League Players Association|NFL Players Association]] in 2007 established the Blanton Collier Award in his honor. The Paris High School football field is named after him.

==Early life and college career==
Born in [[Millersburg, Kentucky]], to O.H. and Eva (née Long) Collier;{{sfn|Kelber|1992|p=214}} the family moved to nearby [[Paris, Kentucky|Paris]] when Collier was age six.<ref name=yvincdfc/> He attended from [[Paris High School (Paris, Kentucky)|Paris High School]], where he played [[High school football|football]] and [[High school basketball|basketball]],{{sfn|Kelber|1992|p=214}} and worked as a tobacco-picker in the summers during high school.{{sfn|Pluto|1997|p=67}} After graduating, he enrolled at Kentucky's [[Georgetown College (Kentucky)|Georgetown College]], playing on the football team and earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1927.{{sfn|Kelber|1992|p=214}}{{sfn|Piascik|2007|p=17}}

==High school and assistant coaching career==

Collier went to work at Paris High School in 1928 as a mathematics teacher, and coached several of the school's sports teams.{{sfn|Kelber|1992|p=214}} He got the nickname "George" when he was a teacher because he affectionately called most of his male students "George" and most of his female students "Martha".{{sfn|Pluto|1997|p=67}} He married Mary Varder from Paris in 1930, and spent 16 years at the high school before enlisting in the U.S. Navy in 1943 during World War II.{{sfn|Kelber|1992|p=214}} Collier's Paris football team had an overall record of 73–50–10.<ref name="Collier HS records" /> Collier was 37 years old when he joined the military; although he likely could have avoided enlisting because he was a teacher and had a family, he felt serving in the war was his duty.{{sfn|Pluto|1997|p=68}}

Collier was assigned to the [[Naval Station Great Lakes|Great Lakes Naval Training Station]] north of Chicago, where he was a survival swimming instructor.{{sfn|Pluto|1997|p=68}} In the Navy, Collier first had trouble with his hearing, a problem that bothered him later in life. He was once called to report to his ship over a loudspeaker, but did not hear it.{{sfn|Pluto|1997|p=68}} Doctors thought his hearing may have been damaged by teaching swimming in a tidal pool or from practicing on the shooting range.{{sfn|Pluto|1997|p=68}} "It never became an issue until the Navy, when they figured he had less than 40% of a normal person's hearing," his daughter Kay Collier-Slone said in 1997.{{sfn|Pluto|1997|p=68}} To compensate for his hearing loss, Collier became an expert lip reader.{{sfn|Pluto|1997|p=68}}

At Great Lakes, Collier went regularly to observe the practices of the station's service football team, the [[Great Lakes Navy Bluejackets football|Great Lakes Bluejackets]].{{sfn|Keim|1999|p=140}} There, he met Paul Brown, who had left a head-coaching job at [[Ohio State University]] to serve in the Navy and lead the Bluejackets team.{{sfn|Piascik|2007|p=17}}{{sfn|Keim|1999|p=140}} Collier took notes and hoped to pick up some football knowledge he could use when he returned to Paris.{{sfn|Pluto|1997|p=53}} Brown, however, noticed Collier's dedication, and brought him onto his staff as a volunteer assistant.{{sfn|Keim|1999|p=140}}

In 1945, Brown was hired by [[Arthur B. McBride]] as the first coach of the Cleveland Browns, a team under formation in the new All-America Football Conference (AAFC).{{sfn|Piascik|2007|pp=11–12}} Brown hired Collier as a backfield coach for the team, which was set to begin play in 1946.{{sfn|Piascik|2007|p=17}} Initially, his specialty was pass defense, but Brown soon rewarded Collier's extensive football knowledge with a broader assistant coaching assignment.{{sfn|Piascik|2007|p=17}}

Collier served under Brown from 1946 to 1953, a period in which the team won all four titles in the AAFC before moving to the [[National Football League]] (NFL) in 1950.{{sfn|Piascik|2007|pp=64, 81, 121, 145}} That season, the Browns captured the NFL title and then reached but lost the following three championship games.{{sfn|Piascik|2007|pp=181, 233, 253, 281}} Collier's coaching style was the opposite of Brown's; Brown was a disciplinarian whose stern nature and aloofness often brought him into conflict with players, while Collier was a friendly, warm man whose patience and studiousness endeared him to players.{{sfn|Piascik|2007|p=17}} "Everything had to be perfect; he was a stickler on perfection – but at the same time, he had great patience," Browns [[quarterback]] [[Otto Graham]] said.{{sfn|Piascik|2007|p=17}} After the 1946 season, Brown asked Collier to analyze every play run by the offense, and Collier came up with a detailed breakdown of why each play succeeded or failed. This was the genesis of an annual grading system Collier developed to evaluate players' performances. The Browns used it for many years.{{sfn|Keim|1999|pp=140–141}}

==University of Kentucky==

When [[Kentucky Wildcats football|University of Kentucky]] head football coach [[Bear Bryant]] left for [[Texas A&M Aggies football|Texas A&M University]] after the 1953 season, Collier accepted an offer to succeed him.{{sfn|Keim|1999|p=141}} He stayed at Kentucky for eight years, a span during which the Wildcats football team had a 41–36–3 record, including a 5–2–1 record against arch rival [[Tennessee Volunteers football|Tennessee]].{{sfn|Kelber|1992|p=214}}<ref name="UK football history page">{{cite web|title=History and Tradition |url=http://www.ukathletics.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/kty-m-footbl-archive.html |publisher=University of Kentucky |access-date=September 1, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150627065443/http://www.ukathletics.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/kty-m-footbl-archive.html |archive-date=June 27, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Notable wins included a 1954 victory at [[Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football|Georgia Tech]], then ranked 15th in the [[AP Poll]], and defeats of eighth-ranked [[Ole Miss Rebels football|Ole Miss]] in 1955 and 12th-ranked Tennessee in 1957.<ref name="UK beats Georgia Tech">{{cite news|title=Mills Sparks Kentucky Past Georgia Tech|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3QAqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=hMwEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4896,2512257&dq=kentucky+wildcats+georgia+tech&hl=en|access-date=September 1, 2012|newspaper=Daytona Beach Morning Journal|date=October 24, 1954|agency=Associated Press|location=Atlanta|page=14}}</ref><ref name="Kentucky beats Mississippi">{{cite news|title=Kentucky Gains 21–14 Win Over Mississippi|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FYoeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=fcsEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2136,3167127&dq=kentucky&hl=en|access-date=September 1, 2012|newspaper=Daytona Beach Morning Journal|date=September 25, 1955|agency=Associated Press|location=Lexington, Ky.|page=9}}</ref><ref name="UK beats Tennessee, 1957">{{cite news|last=Hudson|first=Bill|title=Michaels Sparks Kentucky To 20–6 Victory Over Vols|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=H2tJAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5QoNAAAAIBAJ&pg=2830,3879467&dq=kentucky&hl=en|access-date=September 1, 2012|newspaper=The News and Courier|date=November 24, 1957|agency=Associated Press|location=Lexington, Ky.|page=3D}}</ref> In 1954, Collier was named the coach of the year in the [[Southeastern Conference]].{{sfn|Kelber|1992|p=214}}

Despite a winning record, Collier was fired in January 1962, when he was making [[United States dollar|$]]17,500 per year (about ${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|17500|1962|r=-3}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars).<ref name="Collier fired from UK" /> He was replaced a week later by [[Charlie Bradshaw (football coach)|Charlie Bradshaw]], an assistant to Bear Bryant at [[Alabama Crimson Tide football|Alabama]].<ref name="Bradshaw hired at UK">{{cite news|title=Kentucky Hires Bryant Aide Bradshaw|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=C6VCAAAAIBAJ&sjid=SqsMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6999,444124&dq=blanton+collier&hl=en|access-date=September 1, 2012|newspaper=Middlesboro Daily News|date=January 12, 1962|agency=Associated Press|location=Lexington, Ky.|page=12}}</ref> Bryant had led the Wildcats to appearances in three major bowl games, but Collier never led the Wildcats to a bowl during his tenure. His best record was in his first year, when the team finished 7–2.<ref name="Collier fired from UK">{{cite news|title=Kentucky Gives Collier Gate|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5VRVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1z4NAAAAIBAJ&pg=4390,735195&dq=blanton+collier&hl=en|access-date=August 31, 2012|newspaper=The Miami News|date=January 3, 1962|agency=Associated Press|location=Lexington, Ky.|page=2C}}</ref>

Kentucky's football program was overshadowed by its successful [[Kentucky Wildcats basketball|basketball program]] during Collier's tenure. Collier was also criticized for his poor recruiting skills, a crucial factor for college coaches.{{sfn|Pluto|1997|p=66}} Many fans wrote the university to complain about him and his staff.<ref name="Collier in SI" /> Still, several future star coaches served as assistants under Collier at Kentucky, including [[Don Shula]], [[Chuck Knox]], [[Howard Schnellenberger]], and [[Bill Arnsparger]].<ref name="Collier in SI">{{cite magazine|title=People|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=February 4, 1974|volume=40|issue=5|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1135637/index.htm|access-date=November 24, 2012}}</ref><ref name="Collier coaching tree">{{cite web|last=Oremland|first=Brad|title=The NFL Coaching Tree 2008|url=http://www.sports-central.org/sports/2008/02/29/the_nfl_coaching_tree_2008_pt_2.php|publisher=Sports Central|access-date=September 1, 2012|date=February 29, 2008}}</ref> Standout players under Collier included [[All-American]]s [[Lou Michaels]] and Schnellenberger.<ref name="UK football history page" />

==Cleveland Browns==
After losing his job at Kentucky, Collier said he was unsure what he would do next.<ref name="Collier fired from UK" /> "Right now I feel I would like to remain in football if the opportunity presents itself," he said.<ref name="Collier fired from UK" /> Two weeks later, Brown brought him back onto the Cleveland Browns staff as an offensive assistant.<ref name="Collier hired by Brown again">{{cite news|title=Collier And Brown Equally Delighted|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=37BOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JgEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1788,4686540&dq=blanton+collier&hl=en|access-date=September 1, 2012|newspaper=Toledo Blade|date=January 16, 1962|agency=Associated Press|location=Cleveland|page=17}}</ref> Collier and Brown had remained close friends during his time at Kentucky. Collier attended the Browns' training camps in Ohio during the summers, and Brown's family visited Collier on occasion in [[Lexington, Kentucky|Lexington]].{{sfn|Pluto|1997|p=53}} Collier said he was happy to be back with the Browns, saying it was "like returning home".{{sfn|Pluto|1997|p=54}} Brown praised Collier's teaching and called him a "scientific football man" and "one of my closest friends".{{sfn|Pluto|1997|p=54}}

By the time Collier rejoined the Browns, the team was in the throes of a transition. Art Modell had bought the club in 1961, and was locked in a bitter power struggle with Brown.{{sfn|Pluto|1997|pp=47–49}} The two men came into conflict over Brown's autocratic coaching style and his failure to notify Modell about personnel decisions. Brown had held almost complete control over football matters for almost two decades, but Modell was not willing to give Brown the free hand that previous owners had given him. Without informing Modell, Brown in 1962 traded away star [[halfback (American football)|halfback]] [[Bobby Mitchell]] for the right to draft [[Ernie Davis]], a back who won the [[Heisman Trophy]] and surpassed [[Jim Brown]]'s rushing records at [[Syracuse University]].{{sfn|Pluto|1997|pp=50–51}} Davis died of [[leukemia]] before he played a down for the Browns.{{sfn|Pluto|1997|p=52}} Another source of tension between Paul Brown and Modell was Brown's relationship with Jim Brown, the team's star [[fullback (American football)|fullback]]. Jim Brown grew increasingly independent as he rose to fame. He started a weekly radio show, which grated against Paul Brown's emphasis on discipline and teamwork over individualism. Other players, including quarterback [[Milt Plum]], openly questioned Paul Brown's coaching and his control over the team's play-calling.{{sfn|Pluto|1997|p=48}}

Brown made some changes as a result of the pressure from his players and Modell, and allowed Collier to put into place a "check-off system" that allowed the quarterback to run several approved alternative plays to the ones Brown called.{{sfn|Pluto|1997|p=54}} When Collier was praised in the ''Cleveland Press'' for instituting the system successfully, however, Brown put an end to it.{{sfn|Pluto|1997|p=54}} "The players believed that Paul was upset when Blanton received some good press," former Browns quarterback [[Jim Ninowski]] said in 1997. "Paul just junked Blanton's system, as if to say, 'Hey, I'm running the show now'."{{sfn|Pluto|1997|pp=54–55}} As Collier grew apart from Brown, he became closer to Modell, who enjoyed discussing football minutiae with him.{{sfn|Pluto|1997|p=55}}

After a 7–6–1 season in 1962, Modell fired Brown and offered the head-coaching job to Collier.{{sfn|Pluto|1997|pp=59, 64}} Collier told Modell he first needed the blessing of his wife and of Brown, to whom he still felt a sense of loyalty. He called Brown, who told him he had to take the job because he had a family to support.{{sfn|Pluto|1997|p=65}} Collier accepted a three-year contract that would pay him $35,000 a year (about ${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|35000|1963|r=-3}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars).{{sfn|Pluto|1997|p=65}} In contrast with Brown, Collier was almost universally liked by players and other coaches.{{sfn|Pluto|1997|pp=66–67}} He was soft-spoken, which was unusual for a head coach, but he earned the respect of the team with his extensive knowledge and his willingness to give players more freedom than Brown ever did. One significant difference was his approach to play-calling. Like Brown, Collier served as his own play-caller. However, he let [[Frank Ryan (American football)|Frank Ryan]], who replaced Plum as the team's starting quarterback in 1963, change plays at the line of scrimmage, and allowed more flexibility in pass routes and blocking schemes.{{sfn|Pluto|1997|pp=73–75}}

The changes paid off. In 1963, the team finished 10–4, and Jim Brown broke the NFL's single-season rushing record with 1,863 yards.{{sfn|Pluto|1997|pp=73, 77}} Brown was also voted the league's [[Most Valuable Player]].{{sfn|Pluto|1997|p=78}} Cleveland, however, finished a game behind the [[New York Giants]], and did not reach the [[1963 NFL Championship Game|championship game]]. The Browns had started out 6–0, but faltered after racial divisions cropped up within the team. Some black players believed white teammates were getting to play ahead of them because of their race.{{sfn|Pluto|1997|p=78}} Toward the end of the season, Collier met with the team's leaders and told them the racism had to stop. After the season, he traded away players he thought were sowing discord and opened up a dialogue with those who remained to stamp out the tension.{{sfn|Pluto|1997|p=79}}

===1964 championship===
Cleveland climbed back to the top of the Eastern Conference in 1964 with a 10–3–1 record behind Jim Brown's league-leading 1,446 yards of rushing and reached the [[1964 NFL Championship Game|championship game]] against the [[History of the Baltimore Colts|Baltimore Colts]].<ref name="1964 statistics">{{cite web|title=1964 Cleveland Browns Statistics & Players |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/cle/1964.htm |publisher=Pro-Football-Reference.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120412133451/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/cle/1964.htm |archive-date=April 12, 2012 |access-date=June 15, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Most sportswriters predicted an easy win for the Colts, who led the league in scoring behind quarterback [[Johnny Unitas]] and halfback [[Lenny Moore]]. The Browns' defense, moreover, was suspect. The team gave up 20 more first downs than any other in the league.{{sfn|Pluto|1997|pp=122–124}} The teams, however, had not faced each other for three years. Before the game, Collier and Colts coach Don Shula agreed to give each other full access to video of regular-season games. Ever the student, Collier took full advantage of the opportunity. The Browns had run what was dubbed a "rubber band" pass defense, allowing short throws while trying to prevent big plays. The Colts' top receivers, however, [[Raymond Berry]] and [[Jimmy Orr]], were not fast. They tended to pick apart defenses with short, tactical completions, which led Collier to institute a man-to-man pass defense for the game. This, he figured, would buy more time for the defensive line and force Unitas to scramble — not his forte.{{sfn|Pluto|1997|pp=131–132}}

The strategy worked, and in Cleveland Municipal Stadium two days after [[Christmas]], the Browns beat the Colts 27–0.{{sfn|Pluto|1997|p=148}} The Browns scored 10 points in the third quarter and a further 17 in the fourth, clinching the team's first title since Otto Graham's departure after the 1955 season.{{sfn|Pluto|1997|pp=150–151}}

===Later Seasons===
The Browns ended with an 11–3 record the following year, and comfortably won the East for the second year in a row.<ref name="1965 statistics">{{cite web|title=1965 Cleveland Browns Statistics & Players |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/cle/1965.htm |publisher=Pro-Football-Reference.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120611034018/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/cle/1965.htm |archive-date=June 11, 2012 |access-date=June 15, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> That set up a second straight appearance in the [[1965 NFL Championship Game|NFL Championship game]], this time in Green Bay against the Packers. The teams battled it out on a slippery, mucky [[Lambeau Field]] on January 2, 1966. While score was close early on, [[Vince Lombardi]]'s team held the Browns scoreless in the second half, winning 23–12 in an upset on a [[Paul Hornung]] touchdown.{{sfn|Page|2010|pp=206–209}} Despite Jim Brown's retirement after the 1965 season, the Browns had another four consecutive winning seasons and advanced to the NFL championship game in 1968 and 1969 under Collier, but lost both times.<ref name="Browns lose NFL championship, 1968">{{cite news|title=Collier Laments Mistakes, Praises Victors|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lSchAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BWYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3206,8490215&dq=blanton+collier&hl=en|access-date=September 1, 2012|newspaper=Sarasota Herald-Tribune|date=December 30, 1968|agency=Associated Press|location=Cleveland|page=18}}</ref><ref name="Browns lose 1969 championship">{{cite news|title=Collier Knew Vikes Had It|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iJtRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2mwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4836,876960&dq=blanton+collier&hl=en|access-date=September 1, 2012|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date=January 5, 1970|agency=Associated Press|location=St. Paul-Minneapolis|page=24}}</ref>

Plagued by hearing problems, the 64-year-old coach announced his retirement before the end of the 1970 season, which the Browns finished with a 7–7 record.<ref name="Collier retires" /> Collier told Modell that he could no longer hear his players, and it was difficult to read their lips through new face masks that obscured their mouths.{{sfn|Pluto|1997|p=297}} Modell tried to help by getting Collier to try new hearing aids, and even sent him for [[acupuncture]] treatment, but none of it worked.{{sfn|Pluto|1997|pp=69–70}} Collier struggled during press conferences because he often could not hear what reporters were asking and answered the wrong questions.{{sfn|Pluto|1997|p=70}} In eight years as coach, Collier led Cleveland to a championship and a 76–34–2 record.<ref name="Collier retires">{{cite news|title=Browns' Blanton Says He's Retiring This Year|newspaper=Rochester Sentinel|date=December 2, 1970}}</ref> [[Nick Skorich]], who came to the Browns as offensive coordinator in 1964, was named as his successor on January 7, 1971.<ref name="Skorich named Browns coach">{{cite news|title=Name Nick Skorich New Browns' Coach|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kA40AAAAIBAJ&sjid=veAIAAAAIBAJ&pg=2732,1969226&dq=blanton+collier&hl=en|access-date=September 1, 2012|newspaper=Bangor Daily News|date=January 8, 1971|agency=Associated Press|location=Cleveland|page=7}}</ref>

==Later life and death==

Collier continued to work with the Browns after he stepped down, serving as a scout and quarterbacks coach until leaving the game for good in 1976.{{sfn|Keim|1999|p=144}} He was the coach of the college team in the 1971 [[College All-Star Game]], a now-defunct matchup between the NFL champion and a selection of the best college players from around the country, replacing former Browns quarterback Otto Graham.<ref name="Collier named all-star coach">{{cite news|title=Collier named all-star coach|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FStkAAAAIBAJ&sjid=sQkEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1295,3408518&dq=blanton+collier&hl=en|access-date=September 1, 2012|newspaper=Star-News|date=February 20, 1971|agency=United Press International|location=Chicago|page=1C}}</ref> Georgetown College in 1970 awarded him an honorary doctorate of laws degree.{{sfn|Kelber|1992|p=214}}

Collier was diagnosed with [[prostate cancer]] in 1976, and retired to a house on a lake in Texas, where he played golf and visited with friends and family.{{sfn|Pluto|1997|p=297}} He died of the disease in 1983.<ref name=srcoldi>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uu0vAAAAIBAJ&sjid=nu4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=7065%2C6933226 |work=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington) |agency=Associated Press |title=Blanton Collier dead of cancer |date=March 29, 1983 |page=18}}</ref> His wife died in 1996 and was buried next to him in Paris, Kentucky.{{sfn|Pluto|1997|p=297}} Collier and his wife had three daughters, Carolyn, Jane, and Kay.<ref name="Collier HS records">{{cite web|title=Paris To Honor Blanton Collier And Delza Maggard At Big Orange Preview |url=http://www.paris.k12.ky.us/Portals/140/District%20Documents/Paris%20to%20honor.pdf |publisher=Paris High School |access-date=September 1, 2012 |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6BEnqNUF7?url=http://www.paris.k12.ky.us/Portals/140/District |archive-date=October 7, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Legacy==

Collier was recognized after his death for his sportsmanship, intelligence, and mild manner. He was inducted into the [[University of Kentucky College of Education]] Hall of Fame in 2001.<ref name="Collier UK HOF">{{cite web|title=Blanton Long Collier (1906–1983) |url=http://www.uky.edu/Education/hofamers/Collier.html |publisher=University of Kentucky |access-date=September 1, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303185745/http://www.uky.edu/Education/hofamers/Collier.html |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2007, the Kentucky chapter of the [[National Football League Players Association|NFL Players Association]] established a Blanton Collier Award given annually to a football player or players who excel both on and off the field.<ref name="Collier award">{{cite web|title=The 2012 NFLPA, Kentucky Chapter Blanton Collier Award |url=http://www.coachcolliergroup.org/KY-Chapter-NFLPA-blanton-collier-award.php |publisher=Blanton Collier Sportsmanship Group |access-date=September 1, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005165434/http://www.coachcolliergroup.org/KY-Chapter-NFLPA-blanton-collier-award.php |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 5, 2011 }}</ref> Past winners include [[Tony Dungy]], Jim Brown, [[Gale Sayers]], and the [[Manning family]]: [[Archie Manning|Archie]], Olivia, Cooper, [[Peyton Manning|Peyton]], and [[Eli Manning|Eli]].<ref name="Collier award" /> A group of former Kentucky players in 2008 started the Blanton Collier Sportsmanship Group, which promotes ethics, education, and integrity in sports.<ref name="Collier group">{{cite web|title=About Us-Blanton Collier Sportsmanship Group, Inc.|url=http://www.coachcolliergroup.org/about-us.php|publisher=Blanton Collier Sportsmanship Group|access-date=September 1, 2012}}</ref> The nonprofit organization now oversees the Blanton Collier Award.<ref name="Collier award" />

The [[Professional Football Researchers Association]] named Collier to the PRFA Hall of Very Good Class of 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.profootballresearchers.com/hall-of-very-good-2009.htm |title=Hall of Very Good Class of 2009 |access-date=November 23, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190312102048/http://www.profootballresearchers.com/hall-of-very-good-2009.htm |archive-date=March 12, 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Collier was inducted into the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016.

The football stadium at Paris High School is named after Collier.<ref name="Collier stadium">{{cite web|title=Blanton Collier Stadium gets makeover |url=http://www.wkyt.com/sports/headlines/Blanton-Colliers-daughters--166072656.html |publisher=WKYT |access-date=September 1, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311071436/http://www.wkyt.com/sports/headlines/Blanton-Colliers-daughters--166072656.html |archive-date=March 11, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Head-coaching record==
===College===
{{CFB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | team = | conf = | bowl = | poll = no }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = [[Kentucky Wildcats football|Kentucky Wildcats]]
| conf = [[Southeastern Conference]]
| startyear = 1954
| endyear = 1961
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[1954 college football season|1954]]
| name = [[1954 Kentucky Wildcats football team|Kentucky]]
| overall = 7–3
| conference = 5–2
| confstanding = T–3rd
| bowlgame =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[1955 college football season|1955]]
| name = [[1955 Kentucky Wildcats football team|Kentucky]]
| overall = 6–3–1
| conference = 3–3–1
| confstanding = T–7th
| bowlgame =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[1956 NCAA University Division football season|1956]]
| name = [[1956 Kentucky Wildcats football team|Kentucky]]
| overall = 6–4
| conference = 4–4
| confstanding = 6th
| bowlgame =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[1957 NCAA University Division football season|1957]]
| name = [[1957 Kentucky Wildcats football team|Kentucky]]
| overall = 3–7
| conference = 1–7
| confstanding = 12th
| bowlgame =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[1958 NCAA University Division football season|1958]]
| name = [[1958 Kentucky Wildcats football team|Kentucky]]
| overall = 5–4–1
| conference = 3–4–1
| confstanding = T–6th
| bowlgame =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[1959 NCAA University Division football season|1959]]
| name = [[1959 Kentucky Wildcats football team|Kentucky]]
| overall = 4–6
| conference = 1–6
| confstanding = 10th
| bowlgame =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[1960 NCAA University Division football season|1960]]
| name = [[1960 Kentucky Wildcats football team|Kentucky]]
| overall = 5–4–1
| conference = 2–4–1
| confstanding = 9th
| bowlgame =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[1961 NCAA University Division football season|1961]]
| name = [[1961 Kentucky Wildcats football team|Kentucky]]
| overall = 5–5
| conference = 2–4
| confstanding = 8th
| bowlgame =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Kentucky
| overall = 41–36–3
| confrecord = 21–34–3
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record End
| overall = 41–36–3
| bowls = no
| poll = no
| legend = no
}}

===NFL===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"|Team !! rowspan="2"|Year !! colspan="5"|Regular Season !! colspan="4"|Post Season
|-
!Won!!Lost!!Ties!!Win %!!Finish!! Won !! Lost !! Win % !! Result
|-
![[1963 Cleveland Browns season|CLE]]||[[1963 NFL season|1963]]
||10||4||0||71.4||2nd in Eastern Conference|| – || – || – || –
|-! style="background:#FDE910;"
![[1964 Cleveland Browns season|CLE]]||[[1964 NFL season|1964]]
||10||3||1||76.9||'''1st in Eastern Conference'''|| 1 || 0 || 100.0 || '''Beat [[1964 Baltimore Colts season|Baltimore Colts]] in [[1964 NFL Championship Game|NFL Championship game]]'''
|- style="background:#fdd;"
![[1965 Cleveland Browns season|CLE]]||[[1965 NFL season|1965]]
||11||3||0||78.6||'''1st in Eastern Conference'''|| 0 || 1 || 0.0 || '''Lost to [[1965 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]] in [[1965 NFL Championship Game|NFL Championship game]]'''
|-
![[1966 Cleveland Browns season|CLE]]||[[1966 NFL season|1966]]
||9||5||0||64.3||2nd in Eastern Conference|| – || – || – ||
|- style="background:#fdd;"
![[1967 Cleveland Browns season|CLE]]||[[1967 NFL season|1967]]
||9||5||0||64.3||'''1st in Century Division'''|| 0 || 1 || 0.0 || '''Lost to [[1967 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]] in Eastern conference championship game'''
|- style="background:#fdd;"
![[1968 Cleveland Browns season|CLE]]||[[1968 NFL season|1968]]
||10||4||0||71.4||'''1st in Century Division'''|| 1 || 1 || 50.0 || '''Beat [[Dallas Cowboys]] in Eastern Conference championship game. Lost to [[1968 Baltimore Colts season|Baltimore Colts]] in [[1968 NFL Championship Game|NFL Championship game]]'''
|- style="background:#fdd;"
![[1969 Cleveland Browns season|CLE]]||[[1969 NFL season|1969]]
||10||3||1||76.9||'''1st in Century Division'''|| 1 || 1 || 50.0 || '''Beat [[Dallas Cowboys]] in Eastern Conference championship game. Lost to [[1969 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota Vikings]] in [[1969 NFL Championship Game|NFL Championship game]]'''
|-
![[1970 Cleveland Browns season|CLE]]||[[1970 NFL season|1970]]
||7||7||0||50.0||2nd in AFC Central|| – || – || – ||
|-
! colspan="2"|CLE Total|| 76 || 34 || 2 || 69.1 |||| 3 || 4 || 42.9 ||
|-
! colspan="11"|Source: [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/CollBl0.htm Pro-Football-Reference]
|-
|}

==See also==
{{Portal|Biography}}
* {{portal-inline|Kentucky}}

==References==

{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

===Bibliography===

{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite book|last=Cantor|first=George|year=2008|title=Paul Brown: The Man Who Invented Modern Football|publisher=Triumph Books|location=Chicago|isbn=978-1-57243-725-8}}
* {{cite book|last=Keim|first=John|year=1999|title=Legends by the Lake: The Cleveland Browns at Municipal Stadium|publisher=University of Akron Press|location=Akron, OH|isbn=978-1-884836-47-3}}
* {{cite book|last=Kelber|first=John E.|year= 1992|title=The Kentucky Encyclopedia|publisher=The University Press of Kentucky|location=Lexington, KY|isbn=978-0-813-11772-0}}
* {{cite book|last=Page|first=Joseph S.|year=2010|title=Pro Football Championships Before the Super Bowl: A Year-by-Year History, 1926–1965 |publisher=McFarland|location=Jefferson, NC|isbn=978-0-7864-4809-8}}
* {{cite book|last=Piascik|first=Andy|year=2007|title=The Best Show in Football: The 1946–1955 Cleveland Browns|publisher=Taylor Trade Publishing|location=Lanham, MD|isbn=978-1-58979-571-6}}
* {{cite book|last=Pluto|first=Terry|author-link=Terry Pluto|year=1997|title=Browns Town 1964: Cleveland Browns and the 1964 Championship|publisher=Gray & Company|location=Cleveland|isbn=978-1-886228-72-6}}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
* {{Find a Grave|66206065}}

{{Kentucky Wildcats football coach navbox}}
{{Cleveland Browns coach navbox}}

{{1946 Cleveland Browns}}
{{1947 Cleveland Browns}}
{{1948 Cleveland Browns}}
{{1949 Cleveland Browns}}
{{1950 Cleveland Browns}}
{{1964 Cleveland Browns}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Collier, Blanton}}
[[Category:1906 births]]
[[Category:1983 deaths]]
[[Category:United States Navy personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:Cleveland Browns head coaches]]
[[Category:Cleveland Browns scouts]]
[[Category:Georgetown Tigers football players]]
[[Category:Great Lakes Navy Bluejackets football coaches]]
[[Category:Kentucky Wildcats football coaches]]
[[Category:High school football coaches in Kentucky]]
[[Category:People from Paris, Kentucky]]
[[Category:People from Millersburg, Kentucky]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Kentucky]]
[[Category:Deaths from prostate cancer]]
[[Category:Deaths from cancer in Texas]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Kentucky]]

Bruce Kozerski

2024-05-10T01:14:35Z

Dslmsbs:

{{Short description|American football player (born 1962)}}

{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Bruce Kozerski
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| number = 64
| position = [[Center (American football)|Center]]
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1962|4|2}}
| birth_place = [[Plains, Pennsylvania]], U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 4
| weight_lbs = 287
| high_school =
| college = [[Holy Cross Crusaders football|Holy Cross]]
| draftyear = 1984
| draftround = 9
| draftpick = 231
| pastteams =
* [[Cincinnati Bengals]] ({{NFL Year|1984|1995}})
|highlights=
|statlabel1=Games played
|statvalue1=172
|statlabel2=Games started
|statvalue2=138
|statlabel3=
|statvalue3=
| nflnew =
}}
'''Bruce Kozerski''' (born April 2, 1962) is a former [[American football]] center who played twelve seasons with the [[Cincinnati Bengals]] in the [[National Football League]] (NFL). He graduated from [[James M. Coughlin High School]] in [[Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wnep.com/2012/03/22/former-nfl-lineman-bruce-kozerski-visits-misericordia-university-5/|title=Former NFL Lineman Bruce Kozerski Visits Misericordia University|date=22 March 2012 |publisher=WNEP News}}</ref> He graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA with a major in Physics and later acquired a Master's in teaching from Xavier University. He was an alternate in the 1988, 1989, and 1990 Pro Bowls. "Mr. Versatile", as he was called, retired after the 1995 season. He is a teacher at [[Holy Cross High School (Covington, Kentucky)|Holy Cross High School]] in [[Covington, Kentucky]] where he teaches physics, pre-calculus, and calculus. He is also the head football coach at Holy Cross as well. He lives in [[Edgewood, Kentucky]].

On November 25, 2011, Kozerski, in his eighth year as head coach, led Holy Cross High School's Covington football team to the Kentucky High School Athletic Association Division 2A, state football championship. It was the Indians' first appearance in the state championship game. Holy Cross defeated Glasgow High School 33-14 in the championship game.

Kozerski was inducted into the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017.

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Bengals1984DraftPicks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kozerski, Bruce}}
[[Category:1962 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American football offensive linemen]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Cincinnati Bengals players]]
[[Category:Holy Cross Crusaders football players]]
[[Category:College of the Holy Cross alumni]]

{{offensive-lineman-1960s-stub}}

Ernie Green

2024-05-10T01:12:05Z

Dslmsbs:

{{Short description|American football player (born 1938)}}
{{similar names|Ernest Green (disambiguation){{!}}Earnest Green}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Ernie Green
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| number = 48
| position = [[Running back|Halfback]], [[Fullback (gridiron football)|Fullback]]
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1938|10|15}}
| birth_place = [[Columbus, Georgia]], U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 2
| weight_lbs = 205
| high_school =
| college = [[Louisville Cardinals football|Louisville]]
| draftyear = 1962
| draftround = 14
| draftpick = 196
| pastteams =
* [[Green Bay Packers]] ({{NFL Year|1962}})*
* [[Cleveland Browns]] ({{NFL Year|1962|1968}})
| highlights =
* [[History of the National Football League championship|NFL champion]] ({{NFL Year|1964}})
* 2x [[Pro Bowl]] ([[1967 Pro Bowl|1966]], [[1968 Pro Bowl|1967]])
* [[Cleveland Browns#Cleveland Browns legends|Cleveland Browns legends]] (2012)
* [[Louisville Cardinals football#Honored jerseys (Ring of Honor)|Louisville Cardinals Ring of Honor]]
| statlabel1 = [[Rushing yards]]
| statvalue1 = 3,204
| statlabel2 = [[Average|Rushing average]]
| statvalue2 = 4.8
| statlabel3 = [[Touchdown|Rushing touchdowns]]
| statvalue3 = 15
| statlabel4 = [[Reception (American football)|Receptions]]
| statvalue4 = 195
| statlabel5 = [[Receiving yards]]
| statvalue5 = 2,036
| statlabel6 = Receiving touchdowns
| statvalue6 = 20
| nfl = Ernie-Green
| pfr = G/GreeEr01
}}

'''Ernest Green''' (born October 15, 1938) is an American former professional [[American football|football]] player who was a [[Running back|halfback]] and [[Fullback (gridiron football)|fullback]] for the [[Cleveland Browns]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL). He played [[college football]] for the [[Louisville Cardinals football|Louisville Cardinals]].

==Early years==
Born and raised in [[Columbus, Georgia]], Green is a 1958 graduate of [[Spencer High School (Georgia)|Spencer High School]]. He was a star running back on the school's football team, [[Senior (education)|senior]] class president and a member of the [[National Honor Society]]. He was honored as the first Greenwave football player to have his jersey number retired on January 20, 2018.<ref>[https://www.ledger-enquirer.com/sports/high-school/article195647379.html Hill, Jordan D. "Former NFL player Ernie Green to speak, have number retired at Spencer football banquet," ''Ledger-Enquirer'' (Columbus, GA), Friday, January 19, 2018.] Retrieved December 21, 2018</ref>

==College==
Green attended the [[University of Louisville]] from 1958 to 1961, rushing for more than 1,500 yards in his [[college football]] career with the Cardinals and twice leading the team in that department, Earning him all American honors. He also excelled in baseball, spurning contract offers in order to remain on the [[gridiron football|gridiron]].<ref name=autogenerated1>{{Cite web |url=http://uoflsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/green_ernie00.html |title=Player Bio: Ernie Green |access-date=2006-10-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030512053740/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/GreeEr01.htm |archive-date=2003-05-12 }}</ref>

==Green Bay Packers==
In 1962 the reigning world champion [[Green Bay Packers]] drafted Green in the 14th round of the [[1962 NFL Draft]], but during training camp they traded him to the [[Cleveland Browns]] where he would make a name for himself as one of the league's top running backs.<ref name=autogenerated1 />

==Cleveland Browns==
After seeing only limited action as a [[rookie]] in 1962, Green was installed in the Cleveland backfield the following year alongside legendary [[Pro Football Hall of Fame|Hall of Famer]] [[Jim Brown]]. He finished his first full season of action with 526 rushing yards, and also caught 28 passes out of the backfield. Even more importantly, he also helped open holes for Brown to gain a then-NFL record 1,863 yards. In 1964, the two helped the Browns capture their fourth NFL championship, capping the year with a stunning 27–0 shutout of the [[Indianapolis Colts#The NFL Baltimore Colts|Baltimore Colts]] at the [[NFL Championship Game, 1964|1964 NFL Championship Game]].

Following Brown's retirement in July 1966, Green was switched from halfback to fullback and teamed with another future Hall of Famer, [[Leroy Kelly]], to continue to give Cleveland one of the most dangerous backfield combinations in the NFL. He was selected to the [[Pro Bowl]] in each of the next two seasons,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20030512053740/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/GreeEr01.htm Ernie Green Statistics]</ref> and was twice named an NFL [[All-Pro]].

In August 1968, Green injured his knee during a preseason contest in Los Angeles and missed the next two months. On his return, he saw only limited action due to lingering problems with the knee. Just after the end of the season, he underwent surgery to repair torn cartilage in the troublesome knee but was then advised to retire. He followed that advice and accepted the Browns' offer to coach their running backs.

In his seven-year NFL career, he gained 3,204 yards and caught 179 passes out of the backfield.<ref name=autogenerated1 />

==Retirement and business interests==
Green was Assistant Vice-President for Student Affairs at [[Case Western Reserve University]] from 1970 to 1974. He was Executive Director and Vice-President of [[IMG (company)|IMG]]'s Team Sports Division from 1974 to 1981. He left IMG to establish EG Industries (EGI) which originally manufactured components for the [[automotive industry]] in suburban [[Dayton, Ohio]].<ref name="eatoncorp">[https://www.eaton.com/Eaton/OurCompany/NewsEvents/NewsReleases/98066174 Press release issued by Eaton Corporation announcing Green's election to its Board of Directors.] Retrieved December 21, 2018</ref> Currently based in [[Columbus, Ohio]], EGI branched out into parts for medical, consumer, energy and industrial devices.<ref>[https://www.egindustries.com/about-eg-industries/ About EGI – EG Industries.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190405170034/https://www.egindustries.com/about-eg-industries/ |date=April 5, 2019 }} Retrieved December 21, 2018</ref> He has served on the board of directors of various enterprises including [[Eaton Corporation]], [[DPL Inc.|Dayton Power & Light]] and the [[Duriron Company]].<ref name="eatoncorp"/>

Green was inducted into the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017.

==Breast cancer==
Green was diagnosed with [[male breast cancer|breast cancer]] in July 2005 after a small malignant lump was found in his chest. After obtaining a second opinion, he was treated with [[mastectomy]] in September 2005 by Dr. Robert Schenk, breast surgeon at [[University Hospitals of Cleveland]]'s [[Case Medical Center]]. This was followed by eight [[chemotherapy]] sessions ending in March 2006.
<ref>[http://www.aftercancernowwhat.com/2009/02/ernie-green.html Cancer battle] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224202132/http://www.aftercancernowwhat.com/2009/02/ernie-green.html |date=2012-02-24 }}</ref>
He then became a breast cancer activist, educating other men about the disease and how it can affect not only women but men as well. His two older sisters were diagnosed with breast cancer, and one of them succumbed to the disease.<ref>[http://www.aftercancernowwhat.com/2009/02/ernie-green.html Battle with breast cancer] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224202132/http://www.aftercancernowwhat.com/2009/02/ernie-green.html |date=2012-02-24 }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.nfl.com/player/erniegreen/2515265/profile NFL.com profile]
* {{Footballstats |pfr=G/GreeEr01}}

{{Packers1962DraftPicks}}
{{1964 Cleveland Browns}}
{{Cleveland Browns Legends}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Green, Ernie}}
[[Category:1938 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Columbus, Georgia]]
[[Category:American football fullbacks]]
[[Category:Louisville Cardinals football players]]
[[Category:Cleveland Browns players]]
[[Category:Eastern Conference Pro Bowl players]]

Todd Perry (American football)

2024-05-10T01:09:45Z

Dslmsbs:

{{Short description|American football player (born 1970)}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
|name=Todd Perry
|position=[[offensive guard|Guard]]
|number=75
|birth_date={{birth date and age|1970|11|28}}
|birth_place=[[Elizabethtown, Kentucky]], U.S.
|height_ft=6
|height_in=5
|weight_lbs=310
|draftyear=1993
|draftround=4
|draftpick=97
|high_school=[[North Hardin High School|Radcliff (KY) North Hardin]]
|college=[[Kentucky Wildcats football|Kentucky]]
|teams=
* [[Chicago Bears]] ({{NFL Year|1993}}–{{NFL Year|2000}})
* [[Miami Dolphins]] ({{NFL Year|2001}}–{{NFL Year|2003}})
|highlights =
* Second-team [[List of All-SEC football teams|All-SEC]] ([[1992 All-SEC football team|1992]])
|statlabel1=Games played
|statvalue1=165
|statlabel2=Games started
|statvalue2=144
|statlabel3=[[Fumble]] recoveries
|statvalue3=2
|nfl=todd-perry
|pfr=PerrTo20
}}
'''Todd Perry''' (born November 28, 1970) is a former [[American football]] [[offensive guard|guard]] in the [[National Football League]] (NFL). He was drafted by the [[Chicago Bears]] in the fourth round of the [[1993 NFL Draft]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=1993 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1993/draft.htm |access-date=2023-03-31 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> He played [[college football]] at [[Kentucky Wildcats football|Kentucky]] (1989–92). He played high school football at [[North Hardin High School]] and was Inducted into the North Hardin Trojan Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007.<ref>http://www.hardin.kyschools.us/nhhs/athletics/halloffame/ {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}</ref>

Perry played eight seasons with the Bears and three with the [[Miami Dolphins]].<ref>[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/P/PerrTo20.htm Todd Perry] at pro-football-reference.com</ref>

Perry was inducted into the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017.

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Bears1993DraftPicks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Perry, Todd}}
[[Category:1970 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American football offensive guards]]
[[Category:Kentucky Wildcats football players]]
[[Category:Chicago Bears players]]
[[Category:Miami Dolphins players]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Kentucky]]
[[Category:Brian Piccolo Award winners]]

William Gay (cornerback)

2024-05-10T01:08:40Z

Dslmsbs:

{{Short description|American football player and coach (born 1985)}}
{{Other people||William Gay (disambiguation){{!}}William Gay}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
|name=William Gay
|image=William Gay Steelers.jpg
|caption=Gay with the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] in 2007
|current_team=Washington Commanders
|number=
|position=Assistant defensive backs coach
|birth_date={{birth date and age|1985|1|1}}
|birth_place=[[Tallahassee, Florida]], U.S.
|death_date=
|death_place=
|height_ft = 5
|height_in = 10
|weight_lbs = 192
|high_school = [[James S. Rickards High School|James S. Rickards]] (Tallahassee)
|college=[[Louisville Cardinals football|Louisville]] (2003–2006)
|draftyear=2007
|draftround=5
|draftpick=170
|pastteams=
* [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] ({{NFL Year|2007|2011}})
* [[Arizona Cardinals]] ({{NFL Year|2012}})
* Pittsburgh Steelers ({{NFL Year|2013|2017}})
* [[New York Giants]] ({{NFL Year|2018}})*
|pastcoaching=
* [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] ({{NFL Year|2019}}) Coaching intern
* [[Missouri State Bears football|Missouri State]] (2020) Defensive backs coach
* [[Washington Commanders]] ({{NFL Year|2024}}–present) Assistant defensive backs coach
|highlights=
* [[Super Bowl]] champion ([[Super Bowl XLIII|XLIII]])
|statlabel1=[[Tackle (football move)|Tackle]]s
|statvalue1=577
|statlabel2=[[Quarterback sacks|Sacks]]
|statvalue2=7
|statlabel3=[[Fumble|Forced fumbles]]
|statvalue3=10
|statlabel4=[[Pass deflections]]
|statvalue4=87
|statlabel5=[[Interceptions]]
|statvalue5=13
|statlabel6=[[Touchdown]]s
|statvalue6=5
|nfl=GAY400290
|pfr=GayxWi99
}}
'''William Gay''' (born January 1, 1985<ref>[http://uoflsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/gay_william00.html William Gay at Louisville team site]</ref>) is an [[American football]] coach and former [[cornerback]] who is the assistant defensive backs coach for the [[Washington Commanders]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL). He played [[college football]] at [[Louisville Cardinals football|Louisville]] before being drafted by the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] in the fifth round of the [[2007 NFL Draft]]. Gay would win [[Super Bowl XLIII]] with the team the following season and also played for the [[Arizona Cardinals]] and [[New York Giants]] before entering coaching in 2019.

==Early years==
Gay attended [[James S. Rickards High School]] in [[Tallahassee, Florida]], where he played quarterback, wide receiver and safety for the Raiders. He racked up over 1,200 all-purpose yards and 12 touchdowns as a junior. He notched 1,035 yards and seven scores passing, 1,237 yards and 11 scores receiving and 82 tackles, 14 pass breakups and nine interceptions at defensive back as a senior when he was named team co-MVP and earned first team All-Big Bend Area honors.

Gay was also a standout in [[track & field]]. In 2002, he placed 8th in the [[200-meter dash]] with a time of 22.61 seconds at the Capital City Classic.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://archive.dyestat.com/state/fl/2out/apr6-capitalcity.htm|title = DyeStat Florida High School Track and Field}}</ref> At the FHSAA Region 3A he took 3rd in the [[long jump]] (7.07m or 23 feet, 2 inches) and 14th in the [[400-meter dash]] (51.0 seconds).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://fl.milesplit.com/meets/1889/results/3646 |title=FHSAA 3A Region 1 - Boys Results (Raw) |access-date=May 22, 2015 |archive-date=July 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727063247/https://fl.milesplit.com/meets/1889-fhsaa-3a-region-1/results/3646/raw |url-status=dead }}</ref> He was also clocked at 4.4 in the [[40-yard dash]].

Gay was rated as a three-star prospect by ''TheInsiders.com'' and was the nation's 67th-ranked cornerback. He was rated as a three-star prospect and was the nation's 46th-ranked [[cornerback]] by [[Rivals.com]].

==College career==
Gay played [[college football]] at the [[University of Louisville]] where he played in 46 games recording 134 tackles. Gay is also somewhat notable for being offside as a defender on a field goal kick attempt in the final minute of Louisville's game against [[Rutgers Scarlet Knights football|Rutgers]] in 2006. Although the kick was unsuccessful, a penalty was called against Louisville that provided the kicker with a second attempt. This one was successful. As a result, Louisville experienced their only loss of the season, effectively ending their bid for a National Championship game berth.<ref>{{cite news|last=Jenkins|first=Lee|title=A Coming Out Party for Rutgers|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/09/sports/ncaafootball/10rutgerscnd.html?_r=0|access-date=October 11, 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|date=November 9, 2006}}</ref>

==Professional career==
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 5
| height in = 10 1/8
| weight = 187
| dash = 4.48
| ten split = 1.51
| twenty split = 2.55
| shuttle = 4.15
| cone drill = 6.89
| vertical = 38.5
| broad ft = 9
| broad in = 10
| bench = 16
| wonderlic =
| arm span =
| hand span =
| note = All values from [[Pro Day]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=13115&DraftYear=2007 |title=2007 Draft Scout William Gay, Louisville NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile |website=draftscout.com |access-date=May 7, 2022}}</ref>
}}

===Pittsburgh Steelers===

====2007====
Gay was selected by the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] in the fifth round (170th overall) in the [[2007 NFL Draft]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=2007 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2007/draft.htm |access-date=2023-05-11 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> On July 22, 2007, the Steelers signed Gay to a three-year, $1.221 million contract. In his first preseason game he intercepted a [[Tyler Palko]] pass and tackled [[New Orleans Saints|Saints]] first round draft pick [[Robert Meachem]].

He began his rookie season as the fifth cornerback behind [[Ike Taylor]], Deshea Townsend, Bryant McFadden, and [[Ricardo Colclough]].<ref name="ourlads">{{cite web|url=http://www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/archive/18/PIT| title=Ourlads.com: Pittsburgh Steelers depth chart| access-date=December 4, 2016| website=ourlads.com}}</ref> Gay played his first regular season game in the season opener at Cleveland. In a 34–7 win over the [[Cleveland Browns]], he made his first career tackle and pass deflection. During a Week 7 matchup with the [[Denver Broncos]], he made a season-high 4 tackles. In his rookie year he played in 16 games recording 19 tackles and 2 pass deflections.<ref name="nflstats"/>

====2008====
In Gay's second year, he saw more significant playing time after injuries to cornerbacks [[Bryant McFadden]] and [[Deshea Townsend]]. Gay contributed to the Steelers' stingy defense, which was the first in the league in pass defense and best total defense. Gay also contributed on special teams. On November 16, 2008, he received his first career start and made 3 tackles in a game against the [[San Diego Chargers]]. On December 14, 2008, Gay made his first career interception and returned it for 12-yards against the [[Baltimore Ravens]].

The Steelers ended Gay's second season 12-4 and finished first amongst the [[AFC North]]. On January 18, 2009, Gay played in his first AFC Championship and recorded one tackle, as the Steelers beat the Ravens 23–14. On February 1, 2009, Gay played in his first Super Bowl and racked up 2 tackles. The Steelers went on to beat the [[Arizona Cardinals]] 27–23 to win [[Super Bowl XLIII]].

He finished his second season with 41 tackles, 33 solo tackles, 7 pass deflections, and an interception in 4 starts. Gay also played in every game for the Steelers in 2008.<ref name="nflstats"/>

====2009====
After Bryant McFadden left via free agency for the Arizona Cardinals during the 2009 off-season, Gay assumed the starting duties at cornerback for the season opposite Ike Taylor.<ref name="ourlads"/> Gay started his first season opener and recorded 4 tackles in the Steelers' 13–10 victory over the [[Tennessee Titans]]. He went on to start the next 14 regular season games, as he finished the season with a career-high 78 tackles, 70 solo tackles, a sack, and 10 pass deflections.<ref name="nflstats"/>

====2010====
On April 16, 2010, he was signed to a one-year, $1.101 million contract by the Steelers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/pittsburgh-steelers/william-gay/cash-earnings/|title=Sportac.com: Pittsburgh Steelers-William Gay Contract|access-date=December 17, 2015|author=sportrac.com}}</ref> Gay did not start at cornerback until Week 11 against the [[Oakland Raiders]], as Bryant McFadden had re-signed with the Steelers prior to the start of the season. After recording three solo tackles, Gay returned to start the next three games. On January 23, 2011, he started his first career playoff game and recorded two tackles and a 19-yard fumble return for a touchdown in a 24-19 AFC Championship win over the [[New York Jets]]. On February 6, 2011, Gay started in his first career Super Bowl. The Steelers went on to lose [[Super Bowl XLV]] to the [[Green Bay Packers]] with Gay finishing the game with two tackles and a pass deflection.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201102060pit.htm |title=Super Bowl XLV - Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Green Bay Packers - February 6th, 2011 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en |access-date=December 15, 2017}}</ref>

He finished 2010 with 48 tackles, 40 solo tackles, a career-high 2 sacks, and 11 pass deflections in 16 games and 4 starts.

====2011====
On August 1, 2011, Gay signed a one-year, $735,000 contract with the Steelers. In his fourth year, Gay started a career-high 15 games. While playing a Week 11 contest at Cincinnati, he recorded 3 tackles and returned an interception for 12-yards in a 24–17 win over the Bengals. On December 5, 2011, he went on to have one of his best games for the Steelers, as he made a season-high seven tackles, five solo tackles, three pass deflections, and an interception in a 14–3 victory over the [[Cleveland Browns]]. He finished 2011 with 61 tackles, 49 solo tackles, a career-high 13 pass deflections, and two interceptions.

===Arizona Cardinals===
On March 24, 2012, Gay signed a two-year, $3.2 million contract with the [[Arizona Cardinals]]. The move reunited him with former Steelers teammate and new Cardinals defensive backs coach Deshea Townsend.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cardinals sign cornerback William Gay to two-year deal|url=http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/blog/eye-on-football/18050317/cardinals-sign-cornerback-william-gay-to-twoyear-deal|access-date=April 3, 2012}}</ref>
On September 9, 2012, Gay made his regular season debut for the Cardinals and accumulated 7 tackles, a pass deflection, and a forced fumble in a win over the [[Seattle Seahawks]]. He played his last game for the Cardinals on December 30, 2012, and finished the game with 4 tackles. In his only year in Arizona, he had 57 tackles, 45 solo tackles, a sack, 6 pass deflections, and 2 interceptions. Gay was released on March 1, 2013.

===Pittsburgh Steelers (second stint)===

====2013====
On March 4, 2013, Gay signed a three-year, $4.5 million contract, with the Pittsburgh Steelers. It also included a $500,000 signing bonus and $500,000 guaranteed.<ref>[http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000146731/article/william-gay-signs-threeyear-deal-with-pittsburgh-steelers William Gay signs three-year deal with Pittsburgh Steelers]</ref> During a Week 10 game against the [[Buffalo Bills]], Gay had a career-high 11 tackles, a career-high nine solo tackles, and a pass deflection. In a week 12 game against the [[Cleveland Browns]] Gay scored his first touchdown on an interception of Brandon Weeden.<ref name="nflstats">{{cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/player/williamgay/2507220/profile|title=NFL Player Profile:William Gay|website=[[NFL.com]]|access-date=December 17, 2015}}</ref>

====2014====
Gay began the 2014 season as the third cornerback behind Ike Taylor and [[Cortez Allen]]. On September 28, 2014, he received his first start of the season against the [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]] after Taylor broke his forearm the previous game. He finished the loss with four solo tackles and two pass deflections and remained the starter for the rest of the season. On October 26, 2014, Gay made a season-high eight tackles, six solo tackles, and had his second career touchdown when he returned an interception for 33-yards in a 51–34 victory over the [[Indianapolis Colts]]. He also gained some spotlight for his unique celebration dance.<ref name="nflstats"/>

While playing at Atlanta on December 14, 2014, Gay had a season-high 8 solo tackles and returned his third interception of the season for a career-high 52-yard touchdown against the Falcons. This gave him the most interceptions returned for touchdowns in the 2014 NFL season and the most in a single season in Steelers history.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/12/16/william-gay-is-one-away-from-pick-6-record|title = William Gay is one away from pick-6 record|date = December 16, 2014}}</ref>

He finished the season with 59 combined tackles, 12 pass deflections, three interceptions, and three touchdowns in 16 games and 13 starts.<ref name="nflstats"/>

====2015====
Following the retirement of longtime teammate [[Ike Taylor]], Gay became the Steelers' number one cornerback for the 2015 season. On December 13, 2015, Gay intercepted Bengals quarterback [[A. J. McCarron]] in the third quarter and returned it for a touchdown. This tied him with [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]]r [[Rod Woodson]] for most career interceptions returned for touchdowns for the Pittsburgh Steelers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000601370/article/william-gays-picksix-celebration-will-never-end|title=William Gay's pick six celebration will never end|access-date=December 14, 2015|author=Dan Hanzus|website=[[NFL.com]]}}</ref>

In his first season as the Steelers' starting corner, he finished with a total of 58 combined tackles, one sack, seven pass deflections, two interceptions, and one touchdown while starting all 16 regular season games.<ref name="nflstats"/>

====2016====
Gay began the season as the Steelers starting cornerback. On November 6, 2016, Gay was supplanted as the starter and delegated to the nickel corner with the emergence of [[Ross Cockrell]] and rookie [[Artie Burns]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.steelersdepot.com/2016/11/darrius-heyward-bey-justin-gilbert-hes-getting-better/|title=Darrius Heyward-Bey on Justin Gilbert: He's getting better|access-date=November 16, 2016|website=steelersdepot.com|author=Dave Bryan|date=November 14, 2016}}</ref>

Gay finished the 2016 season playing in all 16 games, starting nine, and making 42 tackles, one sack, seven passes defended, and an interception. [[Pro Football Focus]] gave Gay an overall grade of 83.7, which ranked 15th among all qualifying cornerbacks in 2016. This marked his highest overall grade from PFF during his career.<ref>{{cite web |title=William Gay working as PIT starting slot CB in OTAs |url=https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/pro-william-gay-working-as-pit-starting-slot-cb-in-otas |access-date=June 6, 2018 |website=profootballfocus.com |author=Chichester, Mark |date=March 29, 2017}}</ref>

====2017====
Gay entered training camp competing with Cockrell, [[Mike Hilton]], and [[Cameron Sutton]] for a backup cornerback position. He began the regular season as the fourth cornerback on the depth chart, behind [[Joe Haden]], Burns, and nickel corner Hilton, and was used in primarily [[Dime defense|dime packages]] throughout the first five games. In Week 2, against the [[2017 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota Vikings]], Gay forced a fumble by wide receiver [[Adam Thielen]] which was recovered by the Steelers in the fourth quarter of their 26–9 victory.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201709170pit.htm|title=Minnesota Vikings at Pittsburgh Steelers - September 17th, 2017|work=[[Pro-Football-Reference.com]]|access-date=October 28, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/archive/198/PIT| title=Ourlads.com: Pittsburgh Steeler's depth chart: 08/01/2017| access-date=October 14, 2017| website=ourlads.com}}</ref>

On March 14, 2018, Gay was released by the Steelers.<ref>{{cite web|title=Steelers release three veterans|url=http://www.steelers.com/news/transactions/article-4/Steelers-release-three-veterans/4cf51e65-3146-423d-a4dd-45bc2f10f90e|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180430024558/http://www.steelers.com/news/transactions/article-4/Steelers-release-three-veterans/4cf51e65-3146-423d-a4dd-45bc2f10f90e|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 30, 2018|author=Varley, Teresa|website=Steelers.com|date=March 14, 2018}}</ref>

===New York Giants===
On April 5, 2018, Gay was signed by the [[New York Giants]].<ref>{{cite web|title=New York Giants sign veteran CB William Gay|url=http://www.giants.com/news-and-blogs/article-1/New-York-Giants-sign-veteran-CB-William-Gay/a0be4373-7717-4351-ab02-e34b408cc152|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180408063053/http://www.giants.com/news-and-blogs/article-1/New-York-Giants-sign-veteran-CB-William-Gay/a0be4373-7717-4351-ab02-e34b408cc152|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 8, 2018|author=Eisen, Michael|website=Giants.com|date=April 5, 2018}}</ref> On September 2, 2018, he was released by the Giants.<ref>{{cite web|title=Giants waive QB Davis Webb, announce practice squad among roster moves|url=https://www.giants.com/news/giants-waive-qb-davis-webb-announce-practice-squad-among-roster-moves|author=Eisen, Michael|website=Giants.com|date=September 2, 2018}}</ref>

==NFL career statistics==
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! colspan="2"| Legend
|-
| style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"|
| Led the league
|-
| '''Bold'''
| Career high
|}

===Regular season===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!rowspan="2"| Year
!rowspan="2"| Team
!colspan="2"| Games
!colspan="5"| Tackles
!colspan="5"| Interceptions
!colspan="4"| Fumbles
|-
! GP !! GS !! Cmb !! Solo !! Ast !! Sck !! TFL !! Int !! Yds !! TD !! Lng !! PD !! FF !! FR !! Yds !! TD
|-
! [[2007 NFL season|2007]] !! [[2007 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]
| '''16''' || 0 || 25 || 19 || 6 || 0.0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 2 || 0 || '''1''' || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2008 NFL season|2008]] !! [[2008 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]
| '''16''' || 4 || 41 || 33 || 8 || 0.0 || 2 || 1 || 12 || 0 || 12 || 7 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2009 NFL season|2009]] !! [[2009 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]
| '''16''' || 14 || '''78''' || '''70''' || 8 || 1.0 || 4 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 10 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2010 NFL season|2010]] !! [[2010 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]
| '''16''' || 4 || 48 || 40 || 8 || '''2.0''' || 4 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 11 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2011 NFL season|2011]] !! [[2011 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]
| '''16''' || 15 || 61 || 49 || 12 || 0.0 || 4 || 2 || 12 || 0 || 12 || '''13''' || 0 || '''1''' || '''2''' || 0
|-
! [[2012 NFL season|2012]] !! [[2012 Arizona Cardinals season|ARI]]
| '''16''' || 15 || 57 || 45 || 12 || 1.0 || 4 || 2 || 7 || 0 || 6 || 6 || '''3''' || '''1''' || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2013 NFL season|2013]] !! [[2013 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]
| '''16''' || 11 || 63 || 55 || 8 || 1.0 || 4 || 1 || 21 || 1 || 21 || 9 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2014 NFL season|2014]] !! [[2014 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]
| '''16''' || 13 || 69 || 58 || 11 || 0.0 || 1 || '''3''' || '''113''' || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| '''3''' || '''52''' || 12 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2015 NFL season|2015]] !! [[2015 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 58 || 46 || 12 || 1.0 || '''7''' || 2 || 30 || 1 || 23 || 7 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2016 NFL season|2016]] !! [[2016 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]
| '''16''' || 9 || 58 || 42 || '''16''' || 1.0 || 3 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 7 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2017 NFL season|2017]] !! [[2017 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]
| '''16''' || 0 || 19 || 16 || 3 || 0.0 || 0 || 1 || -1 || 0 || -1 || 3 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! colspan="2"| !! 176 !! 101 !! 577 !! 473 !! 104 !! 7.0 !! 34 !! 13 !! 194 !! 5 !! 52 !! 87 !! 10 !! 3 !! 2 !! 0
|}

===Playoffs===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!rowspan="2"| Year
!rowspan="2"| Team
!colspan="2"| Games
!colspan="5"| Tackles
!colspan="5"| Interceptions
!colspan="4"| Fumbles
|-
! GP !! GS !! Cmb !! Solo !! Ast !! Sck !! TFL !! Int !! Yds !! TD !! Lng !! PD !! FF !! FR !! Yds !! TD
|-
! [[2007 NFL season|2007]] !! [[2007 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]
| 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2008 NFL season|2008]] !! [[2008 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]
| '''3''' || 0 || 3 || 3 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || '''1''' || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2010 NFL season|2010]] !! [[2010 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]
| '''3''' || '''2''' || 6 || 5 || 1 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || '''2''' || 0 || '''1''' || '''19''' || '''1'''
|-
! [[2011 NFL season|2011]] !! [[2011 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]
| 1 || 1 || 4 || 4 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2014 NFL season|2014]] !! [[2014 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]
| 1 || 1 || 2 || 2 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2015 NFL season|2015]] !! [[2015 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]
| 2 || '''2''' || '''13''' || '''11''' || '''2''' || 0.0 || '''1''' || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2016 NFL season|2016]] !! [[2016 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]
| '''3''' || 1 || 7 || 5 || '''2''' || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2017 NFL season|2017]] !! [[2017 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]
| 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! colspan="2"| !! 15 !! 7 !! 35 !! 30 !! 5 !! 0.0 !! 1 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 6 !! 0 !! 2 !! 19 !! 1
|}

==Coaching career==
In May 2023, Gay was selected as a participant in NFL's Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship that allowed him to participate with [[Dallas Cowboys]] during the 2023 offseason.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/nfl/cowboys/news/dallas-cowboys-hire-pittsburgh-steelers-william-gay-trevon-diggs-stephon-gilmore-coach|work=SI.com|title=Cowboys Hire Steelers Ex: Help for CBs Trevon Diggs & Stephon Gilmore - Report|first=Mike|last=Fisher|date=May 5, 2023|accessdate=February 15, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://steelersnow.com/ex-steelers-cb-william-gay-lands-coaching-fellowship-with-cowboys/|work=SteelersNow.com|title=Ex-Steelers CB William Gay Lands Coaching Fellowship with Cowboys|first=Alan|last=Saunders|date=May 1, 2023|accessdate=February 15, 2024}}</ref> In February 2024, he was hired by the [[Washington Commanders]] as an assistant defensive backs coach.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.commanders.com/news/washington-commanders-announce-coaching-staff-2024|title=Washington Commanders announce coaching staff|work=Commanders.com|author=Washington Commanders Public Relations|date=February 15, 2024|accessdate=February 15, 2024}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Gay's mother was murdered in a domestic violence incident when he was eight years old. Apparently, Gay and his siblings knew nothing about the domestic violence occurring in his home, but at the urging of other family members, and out of fear for her children, she left her boyfriend—the father of Gay's brother. While she was at a friend's house shortly after leaving, her boyfriend arrived at the friend's house and shot her three times. The boyfriend then went back to his car and killed himself. In an effort to keep them together his grandmother took the brothers in and raised them. He shared his story in a video for the Women's Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh in an attempt to spread the word on domestic violence.<ref>{{cite web|title=Will's Story|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InVz1nB-zfk |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/InVz1nB-zfk |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|website=[[YouTube]]|publisher=[[Women's Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh]]|access-date=October 28, 2015|date=February 3, 2011}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFBQ4I3NhH4 ESPN's feature on William Gay's childhood]</ref>{{As of|2015|August}}.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Bellino|first1=Damian|title=Have You Peeped Erica Dixon's New Famous Boo?|url=https://www.vh1.com/news/s116e2/erica-dixons-william-gay-new-couple-nfl|publisher=[[VH1]]|access-date=October 28, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151009122847/http://www.vh1.com/news/47873/erica-dixons-william-gay-new-couple-nfl/|archive-date=October 9, 2015|date=August 10, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> Gay was inducted into the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017. In 2018, Gay became engaged to Olympic gold medalist sprinter [[Natasha Hastings]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/04/01/sprinter-single-mom-natasha-hastings-an-olympic-delay-is-more-than-wait/ |newspaper=[[Washington Post]] |url-access=subscription |title=For sprinter and single mom Natasha Hastings, an Olympic delay is more than a wait |first1=Adam |last1=Kilgore|access-date=2020-11-24 |date=2020-04-10}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.commanders.com/team/coaches-roster/william-gay/ Washington Commanders bio]
* [https://missouristatebears.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/william-gay/723 Missouri State Bears bio]

{{Super Bowl XLIII}}
{{Steelers2007DraftPicks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gay, William}}
[[Category:1985 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American football cornerbacks]]
[[Category:Arizona Cardinals players]]
[[Category:Louisville Cardinals football players]]
[[Category:New York Giants players]]
[[Category:Pittsburgh Steelers players]]
[[Category:Washington Commanders players]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Tallahassee, Florida]]
[[Category:Missouri State Bears football coaches]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American sportspeople]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American sportspeople]]
[[Category:Coaches of American football from Florida]]

Tommy Bell (American football official)

2024-05-10T01:06:33Z

Dslmsbs:

{{short description|American football official (1922–1986)}}
{{for|the 20th-century American boxer|Tommy Bell (boxer)}}
'''Tommy Bell''' (July 2, 1922 – February 20, 1986) was an [[American football]] [[official (American football)|official]] in the [[National Football League]] (NFL) and was regarded as "one of the NFL's most respected referees".<ref>{{Cite web |last=William |first=Reed |date=August 10, 1970 |title=He Whistles While He Works |url=https://www.si.com/vault/1970/08/10/610910/he-whistles-while-he-works |access-date=3 January 2015 |website=Sports Illustrated |publisher=Sports Illustrated}}</ref> When he joined the NFL as an official in 1962 from the [[Southeastern Conference]], he was given the referee position, and stayed at that spot until his retirement in 1976. He officiated [[Super Bowl III]] in 1969 and [[Super Bowl VII]] in 1973.<ref name=KYHOF>{{cite web |title=Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame |url=http://www.kyathletichalloffame.org/Inductees.htm |publisher=Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame |accessdate=2007-10-07 |archive-date=2017-07-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170724094819/http://www.kyathletichalloffame.org/Inductees.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> He is also the only official in history to referee in both a Super Bowl and [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]] [[NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship|Final Four]] (1959).<ref name=KYHOF /> He retired from the NFL following the 1976 [[AFC Championship Game]] between the [[Oakland Raiders]] and [[Pittsburgh Steelers]],<ref name="76AFC">{{cite web |title=1976 AFC Championship Game |url=http://news.steelers.com/article/78140/ |publisher=[[Pittsburgh Steelers]] |last=Labriola |first=Bob |accessdate=2007-10-07}}</ref> played December 26, 1976, to conclude a fifteen-year career in the league.<ref name=RDigest>{{cite magazine | date = December 1977 | title = BECOME AN UMPIRE | magazine = [[Reader's Digest]] | page = 224 | url = http://www.churchchrist.net/Sermons/Criticism.htm | accessdate = 2007-10-07 }}</ref>

Bell was given a choice of officiating the AFC Championship game or [[Super Bowl XI]] as his final NFL game by then-Director of Officiating [[Art McNally]]. When Bell chose the former, [[Jim Tunney (American football official)|Jim Tunney]] was selected as the referee for his second Super Bowl.

His successor as a referee, [[Jerry Markbreit]], was the line judge on Bell's crew in 1976, Markbreit's rookie year in the NFL. The other members of Bell's 1976 crew were umpire Gordon Wells, head linesman (later down judge) Ray Dodez, back judge Tom Kelleher and field judge Ed Merrifield (the back judge and field judge positions were swapped in 1998).

Bell wore uniform number 7 throughout his NFL career. The number was not used during the 1977 and 1978 NFL seasons; fellow referee [[Fred Silva]] took the number in 1979 and wore it through his retirement in 1988. [[Ron Blum]], who wore number 83 as a line judge from 1985 through 1992, changed to No. 7 upon his promotion to referee in 1993 and wore it through his retirement in 2007, even though he returned to his original position for his final four NFL seasons. Side judge Keith Washington currently wears No. 7.

Unlike nearly all other professional football officials, Bell did not have to serve an apprenticeship at another position before becoming a referee. He was the last official to be a referee in his rookie season until [[Brad Allen]] was hired in [[2014 NFL season|2014]].

==Personal==
In addition to NFL officiating, Bell was an [[Lawyer|attorney]] in [[Lexington, Kentucky]], and provided color commentary on [[Kentucky Wildcats football]] broadcasts on radio and television following his retirement.<ref name="KYHOF" /> He died of chronic leukemia, aged 63, on February 20, 1986.<ref>[http://articles.latimes.com/1986-02-21/sports/sp-10384_1_national-football-league-referee "Tommy Bell, Former NFL Referee, Is Dead at 63" Los Angeles Times, February 21, 1986]</ref>
The Rotary Club of Lexington (KY) honors Bell each year by awarding the Tommy Bell Award which recognizes Lexington's Outstanding High School Student Athlete. Bell was inducted into the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018.

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bell, Tommy}}
[[Category:1922 births]]
[[Category:1986 deaths]]
[[Category:Deaths from chronic leukemia]]
[[Category:National Football League officials]]
[[Category:Deaths from cancer in Kentucky]]
{{Sports-official-bio-stub}}

Guy Morriss

2024-05-10T01:05:02Z

Dslmsbs:

{{Short description|American football player and coach (1951–2022)}}
{{Use American English|date=August 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox college coach
| name = Guy Morriss
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1951|5|13}}
| birth_place = [[Colorado City, Texas]], U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2022|9|5|1951|5|13}}
| death_place = [[Danville, Kentucky]], U.S.
| alma_mater =
| player_years1 = 1969–1972
| player_team1 = [[TCU Horned Frogs football|TCU]]
| player_years2 = 1973–1983
| player_team2 = [[Philadelphia Eagles]]
| player_years3 = 1984–1987
| player_team3 = [[New England Patriots]]
| player_positions = [[Center (gridiron football)|Center]], [[Guard (gridiron football)|guard]]
| coach_years1 = 1988–1989
| coach_team1 = [[New England Patriots]] (OL)
| coach_years2 = 1991
| coach_team2 = [[Mansfield High School (Mansfield, Texas)|Mansfield HS (TX)]] ([[Offensive coordinator|OC]])
| coach_years3 = 1992
| coach_team3 = Washington Marauders
| coach_years4 = 1992–1993
| coach_team4 = [[Valdosta State Blazers football|Valdosta State]] (OL)
| coach_years5 = 1994
| coach_team5 = [[Arizona Cardinals]] (OL)
| coach_years6 = 1995
| coach_team6 = [[San Antonio Texans]] (OL)
| coach_years7 = 1996
| coach_team7 = [[Mississippi State Bulldogs football|Mississippi State]] (OL)
| coach_years8 = 1997–2000
| coach_team8 = [[Kentucky Wildcats football|Kentucky]] (AHC/OL)
| coach_years9 = 2001–2002
| coach_team9 = [[Kentucky Wildcats football|Kentucky]]
| coach_years10 = 2003–2007
| coach_team10 = [[Baylor Bears football|Baylor]]
| coach_years11 = 2008
| coach_team11 = [[Kentucky State Thorobreds football|Kentucky State]] (OL)
| coach_years12 = 2009–2012
| coach_team12 = [[Texas A&M–Commerce Lions football|Texas A&M–Commerce]]
| coach_years13 = 2014
| coach_team13 = [[Warren Central High School (Kentucky)|Warren Central HS (KY)]] (OL)
| coach_years14 = 2015
| coach_team14 = [[Lexington Christian Academy (Kentucky)|Lexington Christian Academy (KY)]] (OL)
| overall_record = 37–85
| bowl_record =
| tournament_record =
| championships = [[Lone Star Conference|LSC]] North Division (2009)
| awards =
| coaching_records =
}}
'''Guy Walker Morriss''' (May 13, 1951 – September 5, 2022) was an [[American football]] coach and player. He served as the head football coach at the [[University of Kentucky]] for two seasons (2001–2002) and at [[Baylor University]] for five seasons (2003–2007).

Morriss played [[college football]] at [[Texas Christian University]] (TCU) and spent 15 seasons as an [[offensive lineman]] in the [[National Football League]] (NFL) with the [[Philadelphia Eagles]] (1973–1983) and the [[New England Patriots]] (1984–1987). Morriss played in over 200 regular season games during his NFL career and started at [[Center (gridiron football)|center]] for the Eagles in [[Super Bowl XV]].

==Early years and playing career==
Morriss was born in [[Colorado City, Texas]], on May 13, 1951.<ref name="PFR player">{{cite web|title=Guy Morriss Stats|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MorrGu20.htm|work=Pro-Football-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|access-date=September 7, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The Eagles Encyclopedia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yV7lvstPuqgC&pg=PA59|publisher=Temple University Press|year=2005|last1=Didinger|first1=Ray|last2=Lyons|first2=Robert S.|page=59|isbn=9781592134540}}</ref> He attended [[Sam Houston High School (Arlington, Texas)|Sam Houston High School]] in [[Arlington, Texas]],<ref name="PFR player"/> where he played [[tight end]] for the school's team.<ref>{{cite news|title=Luke Joeckel will make Arlington history Thursday|url=https://www.star-telegram.com/sports/article3834636.html|first=Charean|last=Williams|date=April 24, 2013|access-date=September 7, 2022|newspaper=Fort Worth Star-Telegram}}</ref> He later earned a scholarship to [[Texas Christian University]] (TCU) in [[Fort Worth, Texas]], graduating in 1973 with a bachelor's degree in secondary education.<ref name="stepping down">{{cite news|title=Guy Morriss stepping down as A&M-Commerce; head football coach|url=https://www.heraldbanner.com/news/local_news/guy-morriss-stepping-down-as-a-m-commerce-head-football-coach/article_070f3105-1d56-5758-afb4-3a86ae0fdc60.html|date=November 12, 2012|access-date=September 7, 2022|newspaper=Herald-Banner|location=Greenville, Texas|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220907110308/https://www.heraldbanner.com/news/local_news/guy-morriss-stepping-down-as-a-m-commerce-head-football-coach/article_070f3105-1d56-5758-afb4-3a86ae0fdc60.html|archivedate=September 7, 2022|url-status=live}}</ref> He played as a [[guard (American football)|guard]] for the [[TCU Horned Frogs football|TCU Horned Frogs]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/181836183/?terms=%22guy%20morriss%22%20%22texas%20christian%22&match=1 |title=27 Oct 1973, Page 21 – The Philadelphia Inquirer at |publisher=Newspapers.com |date=October 27, 1973 |accessdate=September 9, 2022}}</ref>

The [[Philadelphia Eagles]] selected Morriss in the second round of the [[1973 NFL draft]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/185020323/?terms=%22guy%20morriss%22%20%22second%20round%22&match=1 |title=31 Jul 1973, Page 57 – Philadelphia Daily News at |publisher=Newspapers.com |date=July 31, 1973 |accessdate=September 9, 2022}}</ref> As a [[rookie]], the Eagles transitioned Morriss into a [[center (American football)|center]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109083592/ |title=Clipping from The Philadelphia Inquirer |publisher=Newspapers.com |date=November 16, 1980 |accessdate=September 9, 2022}}</ref> He played with the Eagles from 1973 to 1983, and started in 151 out of their 158 games in that period.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/437734296/?terms=%22guy%20morriss%22&match=1 |title=1 Aug 1985, 60 – The Boston Globe at |publisher=Newspapers.com |date=August 1, 1985 |accessdate=September 9, 2022}}</ref> In March 1984, the Eagles [[Waivers (American football)|waived]] Morriss.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/161995000/?terms=%22guy%20morriss%22&match=1 |title=16 Mar 1984, Page 35 – The News Journal at |publisher=Newspapers.com |date=March 16, 1984 |accessdate=September 9, 2022}}</ref> He signed with the [[New England Patriots]] that offseason,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/437567519/?terms=%22guy%20morriss%22%20patriots&match=1 |title=1 Aug 1984, 39 – The Boston Globe at |publisher=Newspapers.com |date=August 1, 1984 |accessdate=September 9, 2022}}</ref> and he played center and guard for the Patriots through the 1987 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/180635522/?terms=%22guy%20morriss%22%20eagles&match=1 |title=5 Nov 1987, Page 66 – Courier-Post at |publisher=Newspapers.com |date=November 5, 1987 |accessdate=September 9, 2022}}</ref> The Patriots waived Morriss before the 1988 season.<ref name=theboot/> He played in [[Super Bowl XV]] for the Eagles and as a backup to [[Pete Brock (American football)|Pete Brock]] in [[Super Bowl XX]] for the Patriots.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/440680856/?terms=%22guy%20morriss%22%20eagles&match=1 |title=24 Jan 1986, 48 – The Boston Globe at |publisher=Newspapers.com |date=January 24, 1986 |accessdate=September 9, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl XX - Chicago Bears vs. New England Patriots - January 26th, 1986 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198601260chi.htm |access-date=2023-11-16 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Magliocchetti |first=Geoff |date=2022-09-09 |title=Obit: Patriots Blocker, Coach Guy Morriss Passes at 71 |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/patriots/news/new-england-pats-guy-morriss-super-bowl-kentucky-obituary |access-date=2023-11-16 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |language=en}}</ref>

==Coaching career==
===Early career===
After he was waived, Morriss accepted a position with the Patriots as the offensive line coach for the 1988 season under [[Raymond Berry]].<ref name=theboot>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109146037/philadelphia-daily-news/|newspaper=[[Philadelphia Daily News]]|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=August 24, 1988|page=80|title=Pats Give Franklin the Boot}} {{Open access}}</ref> In 1992, after a brief stint as the head coach of the Washington Marauders of the [[Professional Spring Football League]],<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/college/2022/09/06/guy-morriss-dies-football-coach-kentucky-baylor|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|title=Former Baylor, Kentucky Football Coach Guy Morriss Dies|author=Lyons, Dan|date=September 6, 2022}}</ref> Morriss coached at [[Valdosta State University]] under [[Hal Mumme]], who developed the modern [[air raid offense]], and alongside [[Mike Leach (American football coach)|Mike Leach]]. He later re-joined Mumme and Leach in 1997 at Kentucky, where he was offensive line and assistant head coach. Morriss was given national recognition for his pass blocking schemes that helped turn Kentucky's offense into one of the best in the nation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cdispatch.com/sports/2020-10-09/fight-club-the-inside-story-of-mike-leach-hal-mumme-and-guy-morriss-boxing-offensive-linemen-and-the-1997-kentucky-wildcats/|title=Fight club: The inside story of Mike Leach, Hal Mumme and Guy Morriss' boxing offensive linemen and the 1997 Kentucky Wildcats|first=Ben|last=Portnoy|date=October 9, 2020|website=The Dispatch}}</ref>

===Kentucky===
After a [[Recruiting (college athletics)|recruiting]] scandal forced the resignation of Mumme at Kentucky, Morriss was named the school's interim head coach in 2001.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2001/02/07/mumme-resigns-at-kentucky/ |title=Mumme resigns at Kentucky |publisher=Tampabay.com |date= |accessdate=September 8, 2022}}</ref> After a 2–9 season, Kentucky named Morriss the school's permanent head coach,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/361801611/?terms=%22guy%20morriss%22%202-9&match=1 |title=3 Dec 2001, 12 – The Courier-Journal at |publisher=Newspapers.com |date=December 3, 2001 |accessdate=September 8, 2022}}</ref> where he led the Wildcats to a 7–5 turnaround season in 2002.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/356798105/?terms=%22guy%20morriss%22%20kentucky%207-5&match=1 |title=30 Dec 2002, 30 – Austin American-Statesman at |publisher=Newspapers.com |date=December 30, 2002 |accessdate=September 8, 2022}}</ref>

Morriss was the losing coach in the "[[Bluegrass Miracle]]" game at [[Commonwealth Stadium (Kentucky)|Commonwealth Stadium]] in 2002. Morriss's Kentucky Wildcats kicked a [[Field goal (football)|field goal]] to take the lead over [[LSU Tigers football|LSU]] with 11 seconds left, only to lose on an 80-yard [[Hail Mary pass]] as time expired. Seconds before the Hail Mary, Morriss was doused with [[Gatorade]] by [[quarterback]] [[Jared Lorenzen]] in a premature "victory bath".<ref>{{cite web|author=Barrett Sallee |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1172001-classic-sec-football-lsu-tops-kentucky-in-the-bluegrass-miracle |title=Classic SEC Football: LSU Tops Kentucky in 'The Bluegrass Miracle' | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors |publisher=Bleacher Report |date=May 4, 2012 |accessdate=September 8, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/28454233/the-stories-famous-sports-miracles|title=The stories behind famous sports miracles|date=February 19, 2020|website=ESPN.com}}</ref>

===Baylor===
Morriss resigned from Kentucky to accept the head coaching job for the [[Baylor Bears football|Baylor Bears]] in December 2002.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.ljworld.com/news/2002/dec/10/baylor_to_hire/|title=Baylor to hire Morriss}}</ref> Morriss took over a Baylor program that had a 17–61 overall record since joining the [[Big 12 Conference]] in 1996.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/646943069/?terms=%22guy%20morriss%22%20baylor&match=1 |title=27 Aug 2003, 45 – Fort Worth Star-Telegram at |publisher=Newspapers.com |date=August 27, 2003 |accessdate=September 8, 2022}}</ref> Morriss's first season in 2003 was highlighted by an upset win over [[Colorado Buffaloes football|Colorado]], a 19-point favorite.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/455071490/?terms=%22guy%20morriss%22%20baylor&match=1 |title=7 Oct 2003, 26 – The Daily Oklahoman at |publisher=Newspapers.com |date=October 7, 2003 |accessdate=September 8, 2022}}</ref> The team finished 3–9.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/137874080/?terms=%22guy%20morriss%22%20baylor%203-9&match=1 |title=St. Louis Post-Dispatch 23 Nov 2003, page Page 65 |publisher=Newspapers.com |date=November 23, 2003 |accessdate=September 8, 2022}}</ref> Morriss's second season in 2004 again only led to three wins and one conference win,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/647823270/?terms=%22guy%20morriss%22%20baylor%203-8&match=1 |title=23 Nov 2004, 43 – Fort Worth Star-Telegram at |publisher=Newspapers.com |date=November 23, 2004 |accessdate=September 8, 2022}}</ref> but Baylor had a 35–34 [[Overtime (sports)|overtime]] upset win over #16 [[Texas A&M Aggies football|Texas A&M]] (a 25-point favorite), in which Morriss made a gutsy call to "[[Two-point conversion|go for two]]" to win in the first overtime, instead of kicking the [[extra point]] and forcing a second overtime.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/647822803/?terms=%22guy%20morriss%22%20baylor&match=1 |title=3 Nov 2004, 60 – Fort Worth Star-Telegram at |publisher=Newspapers.com |date=November 3, 2004 |accessdate=September 8, 2022}}</ref> Morriss's third season in 2005 produced a 5–6 record (BU's best since 1995).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/791291196/?terms=%22guy%20morriss%22%20baylor%205-6&match=1 |title=20 Nov 2005, 3 – San Angelo Standard-Times at |publisher=Newspapers.com |date=November 20, 2005 |accessdate=September 8, 2022}}</ref>

In 2006, Morriss's fourth year, BU had a disappointing 1–3 non-conference mark (including a loss at home to [[Army Black Knights football|Army]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/303266339/?terms=%22guy%20morriss%22%20baylor%201-3&match=1 |title=30 Sep 2006, 27 – The Odessa American at |publisher=Newspapers.com |date=September 30, 2006 |accessdate=September 8, 2022}}</ref> BU rebounded with a 3–1 start in conference play. However, the momentum was stunted when [[quarterback]] Shawn Bell was injured in a loss to Texas A&M,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/650139136/?terms=%22guy%20morriss%22%20baylor%20%22shawn%20bell%22%20%22texas%20A%26m%22&match=1 |title=29 Oct 2006, 76 – Fort Worth Star-Telegram at |publisher=Newspapers.com |date=October 29, 2006 |accessdate=September 8, 2022}}</ref> and Baylor lost their final three games, finishing the year at 4–8 (3–5 in the Big 12).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/649428670/?terms=%22guy%20morriss%22%20baylor%204-8%20%22shawn%20bell%22&match=1 |title=22 Nov 2006, Z10 – Fort Worth Star-Telegram at |publisher=Newspapers.com |date=November 22, 2006 |accessdate=September 8, 2022}}</ref>

In 2007, Morriss failed again to produce a winning record for the Bears, as Baylor finished with a 3–9 record. The loss of a significant number of seniors, including Bell, was part of the blame for the poor season. In the season opener, Baylor was [[Shutout|shut out]] by [[TCU Horned Frogs football|TCU]], 27–0,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/357354698/?terms=%22guy%20morriss%22%20baylor%20tcu&match=1 |title=2 Sep 2007, 40 – Austin American-Statesman at |publisher=Newspapers.com |date=September 2, 2007 |accessdate=September 8, 2022}}</ref> but managed to win the next three non-conference games. Afterwards, Baylor did not defeat any of its Big 12 opponents, their last defeat being the 12th consecutive loss in Big 12 play.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/303661657/?terms=%22guy%20morriss%22%20baylor%203-9&match=1 |title=19 Nov 2007, 23 – The Odessa American at |publisher=Newspapers.com |date=November 19, 2007 |accessdate=September 8, 2022}}</ref>

On November 18, 2007, Baylor fired Morriss.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://baylorbears.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/111807aab.html|title=Morriss Will Not Return as Football Coach|publisher=Baylor Athleticsdate=November 18, 2007|access-date=November 19, 2007}}</ref> On November 28, 2007, former [[University of Houston]] head coach [[Art Briles]] replaced Morriss.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://baylorbears.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/112807aam.html|title=Art Briles Named Baylor's 25th Head Football Coach|publisher=Baylor Athletics|date=November 28, 2007|access-date=November 30, 2007}}</ref>

===Kentucky State===
In March 2008, Morriss accepted a job as a position coach at [[Kentucky State University]]. Morriss was the first person with coaching experience in a BCS conference to go to work in the [[Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference]] (a division II league consisting of historically black colleges and universities).<ref>{{cite news |title=Kentucky State hires Guy Morriss |url=http://www.wkyt.com/sports/headlines/16769531.html |publisher=[[WKYT]] |date=March 17, 2008 |access-date=October 3, 2009}}</ref>

===Texas A&M–Commerce===
In December 2008, [[Scott Conley (American football)|Scott Conley]] was removed as head coach of the [[Texas A&M–Commerce Lions football]] program after a 24–27 record in five seasons. On January 7, 2009, Morriss was offered the job to succeed Conley by athletic director Carlton Cooper and university president Daniel Jones.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/college-sports/|title=College Sports | Dallas Morning News|website=www.dallasnews.com}}</ref>

Morriss's tenure at Texas A&M–Commerce began with five losses, before the Lions reeled off five straight wins, finishing 5–5 overall with a 5–0 record in their division, winning the North Division of the [[Lone Star Conference]] outright.<ref name="Lions record">{{cite web|title=Football All-Time Records|url=https://lionathletics.com/alltime.aspx?path=football|access-date=September 7, 2022|publisher=Texas A&M–Commerce Lions}}</ref> Texas A&M–Commerce had its first division title since 2007 and its first outright title since 1990.<ref>{{cite news|title=Why stop at a double sweep of Louisville?|url=https://www.kentucky.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/mark-story/article44017656.html|first=Mark|last=Story|date=December 15, 2009|access-date=September 7, 2022|newspaper=Lexington Herald-Leader|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220907175444/https://www.kentucky.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/mark-story/article44017656.html|archivedate=September 7, 2022|url-status=live}}</ref> Morriss also introduced the idea of wearing throwback jerseys that had the moniker "EAST TEXAS" on the front, as homage to the schools previous name, East Texas State University.<ref>{{cite news|title=Traditions Part 7: Throwback East Texas Jerseys|url=https://thelionwire.com/2020/06/10/traditions-part-7-throwback-east-texas-jerseys/|date=June 10, 2020|access-date=September 7, 2022|publisher=The Lion Wire}}</ref>

After Morriss's first season, players from his football team coordinated an effort to illegally remove all copies of a student newspaper from campus because it contained an unfavorable article about a teammate who had been arrested on drug charges. Morriss said that he was "proud" of his players for taking the newspapers. He also referred to the theft as "the best team building exercise we have ever done." Morriss was subsequently disciplined by the school administration over the incident.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4963076 |title=Morriss backs 'team building exercise' |date=March 4, 2010 |work=[[ESPN.com]] |access-date=October 6, 2011}}</ref>

The 2010 season started with much excitement as a massive renovation to Memorial Stadium in Commerce was completed that added 3,500 seats to the east side of the stadium, a second press box, a new scoreboard with a video jumbotron, and new locker rooms.<ref>{{cite web|title=Memorial Stadium|url=https://lionathletics.com/sports/2013/11/7/Memorial%20Stadium.aspx|access-date=September 7, 2022|publisher=Texas A&M–Commerce Lions}}</ref> The Lions christened their newly renovated stadium by routing [[Upper Iowa Peacocks football|Upper Iowa]], 33–10, giving Morriss six straight wins as head coach. However, the Lions only won two more games the rest of the season and finished with a disappointing 3–8 season. The 2011 season only produced one win, a 60–28 win over [[Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds football|Eastern New Mexico]], and the Lions finished 1–9. 2012 produced an identical record of 1–9, the lone victory coming over long time rival [[Texas A&M–Kingsville Javelinas football|Texas A&M–Kingsville]], 21–14 in overtime.<ref name="Lions record"/>

On November 12, 2012, after leading the A&M–Commerce football program for four seasons, Morriss stepped down as head football coach. He stayed on at A&M–Commerce as special assistant to the athletic director. His duties included fundraising, teaching, and oversight of athletic facilities and special projects.<ref>{{cite web |title=Morriss Stepping Down as A&M-Commerce Head Coach |url=http://heraldbanner.com/topnews/x691737899/Guy-Morriss-stepping-down-as-A-M-Commerce-head-football-coach |date=November 12, 2012 |newspaper=[[Herald-Banner]] |access-date=November 12, 2012}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Morriss was married to Jackie Morriss until his death. Together, they had four daughters and five grandchildren.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=Hale>{{cite news|title=Guy Morriss, former Kentucky football coach, dies at 71|url=https://www.kentucky.com/sports/college/kentucky-sports/uk-football/article265124516.html|first=Jon|last=Hale|date=September 6, 2022|access-date=September 7, 2022|newspaper=Lexington Herald-Leader|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220907090851/https://www.kentucky.com/sports/college/kentucky-sports/uk-football/article265124516.html|archivedate=September 7, 2022|url-status=live}}</ref> Despite living in Kentucky, he was known to be proud of his [[Texas]] heritage. His first comment to the press when accepting the Baylor job was yelling "It's good to be back in the Lone Star."<ref>{{cite news|title=Morriss Comments Upon Coming to Baylor|url=https://baylorbears.com/news/2002/12/11/Morriss_Comments_Upon_Coming_to_Baylor.aspx|date=December 11, 2002|access-date=September 7, 2022|publisher=Baylor Bears}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=New Baylor coach gets to the point; Morriss says he plans to instill pride in the green and gold|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/456645877|page=1|first=Keith|last=Whitmire|date=December 11, 2002|access-date=September 7, 2022|publisher=Knight Ridder Tribune News Service|id={{ProQuest|456645877}}|via=[[ProQuest]]}}</ref>

Morriss was inducted into the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018.

In 2017, Morriss was diagnosed with [[Alzheimer's disease]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=May 22, 2017 |title=WKYT Exclusive {{!}} Former UK coach Guy Morriss battling Alzheimer's |language=en |work=[[WKYT]] |url=https://www.wkyt.com/content/news/WKYT-Exclusive-Former-UK-coach-Guy-Morriss-battling-Alzheimers-423711074.html |access-date=November 22, 2021}}</ref> He died in [[Danville, Kentucky]], on September 5, 2022, at the age of 71.<ref name="AP">{{cite news|title=Former NFL lineman, college coach Guy Morriss dies at 71|url=https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-nfl-sports-ron-jaworski-coaching-8d0ea6ab8c487726b39edebc7a2ed17e|date=September 6, 2022|access-date=September 7, 2022|work=Associated Press News}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wymt.com/2022/09/06/report-fmr-uk-football-coach-guy-morriss-dies-71/|title=Fmr. UK Football Coach Guy Morriss dies at 71|work=[[WYMT-TV]]|date=September 6, 2022|access-date=September 6, 2022}}</ref>

==Head coaching record==
{{CFB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | team = | conf =| bowl = | poll = no }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = [[Kentucky Wildcats football|Kentucky Wildcats]]
| conf = [[Southeastern Conference]]
| startyear = 2001
| endyear = 2002
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[2001 NCAA Division I-A football season|2001]]
| name = [[2001 Kentucky Wildcats football team|Kentucky]]
| overall = 2–9
| conference = 1–7
| confstanding = 5th (Eastern)
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[2002 NCAA Division I-A football season|2002]]
| name = [[2002 Kentucky Wildcats football team|Kentucky]]
| overall = 7–5
| conference = 3–5
| confstanding = T–4th (Eastern)
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Kentucky
| overall = 9–14
| confrecord = 4–12
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = [[Baylor Bears football|Baylor Bears]]
| conf = [[Big 12 Conference]]
| startyear = 2003
| endyear = 2007
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[2003 NCAA Division I-A football season|2003]]
| name = [[2003 Baylor Bears football team|Baylor]]
| overall = 3–9
| conference = 1–7
| confstanding = 6th (South)
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[2004 NCAA Division I-A football season|2004]]
| name = [[2004 Baylor Bears football team|Baylor]]
| overall = 3–8
| conference = 1–7
| confstanding = 6th (South)
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[2005 NCAA Division I-A football season|2005]]
| name = [[2005 Baylor Bears football team|Baylor]]
| overall = 5–6
| conference = 2–6
| confstanding = 5th (South)
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2006]]
| name = [[2006 Baylor Bears football team|Baylor]]
| overall = 4–8
| conference = 3–5
| confstanding = T–5th (South)
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season|2007]]
| name = [[2007 Baylor Bears football team|Baylor]]
| overall = 3–9
| conference = 0–8
| confstanding = 6th (South)
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Baylor
| overall = 18–40
| confrecord = 7–33
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = [[Texas A&M–Commerce Lions football|Texas A&M–Commerce Lions]]
| conf = [[Lone Star Conference]]
| startyear = 2009
| endyear = 2012
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = division
| year = [[2009 NCAA Division II football season|2009]]
| name = [[2009 Texas A&M–Commerce Lions football team|Texas A&M–Commerce]]
| overall = 5–5
| conference = 5–4
| confstanding = T–1st (North)
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[2010 NCAA Division II football season|2010]]
| name = Texas A&M–Commerce
| overall = 3–8
| conference = 2–8
| confstanding = T–6th (North)
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[2011 NCAA Division II football season|2011]]
| name = Texas A&M–Commerce
| overall = 1–9
| conference = 1–7
| confstanding = T–8th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[2012 NCAA Division II football season|2012]]
| name = Texas A&M–Commerce
| overall = 1–9
| conference = 1–7
| confstanding = T–8th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Texas A&M–Commerce
| overall = 10–31
| confrecord = 9–26
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record End
| overall = 37–85
| bowls = no
| poll = no
| polltype =
| legend =
}}
<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/coaches/guy-morriss-1.html|title=Guy Morriss Coaching Record|work=College Football at Sports-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|access-date=September 7, 2022}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{Sports links}}

{{Kentucky Wildcats football coach navbox}}
{{Baylor Bears football coach navbox}}
{{Texas A&M–Commerce Lions football coach navbox}}
{{Eagles1973DraftPicks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Morriss, Guy}}
[[Category:1951 births]]
[[Category:2022 deaths]]
[[Category:Arizona Cardinals coaches]]
[[Category:Baylor Bears football coaches]]
[[Category:Kentucky State Thorobreds football coaches]]
[[Category:Kentucky Wildcats football coaches]]
[[Category:Mississippi State Bulldogs football coaches]]
[[Category:New England Patriots coaches]]
[[Category:New England Patriots players]]
[[Category:Philadelphia Eagles players]]
[[Category:San Antonio Texans coaches]]
[[Category:TCU Horned Frogs football players]]
[[Category:Texas A&M–Commerce Lions football coaches]]
[[Category:Valdosta State Blazers football coaches]]
[[Category:High school football coaches in Kentucky]]
[[Category:High school football coaches in Texas]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Arlington, Texas]]
[[Category:People from Colorado City, Texas]]
[[Category:Coaches of American football from Texas]]
[[Category:People with Alzheimer's disease]]

Ernest Givins

2024-05-10T01:03:09Z

Dslmsbs:

{{Short description|American football player (born 1964)}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{multiple issues|
{{BLP sources|date=March 2012}}
{{More footnotes needed|date=March 2012}}
}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
|image=
|position=[[Wide receiver]]
|number=81, 84
|birth_date={{birth date and age|1964|9|3}}
|birth_place=[[St. Petersburg, Florida]], U.S.
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 9
| weight_lb = 172
|draftyear=1986
|draftround=2
|draftpick=34
|high_school=[[Lakewood High School (Florida)|Lakewood]] {{nowrap|(St. Petersburg, Florida)}}
|college=[[Louisville Cardinals football|Louisville]]
|teams=
* [[Houston Oilers]] ([[1986 NFL season|1986]]–[[1994 NFL season|1994]])
* [[Jacksonville Jaguars]] ([[1995 NFL season|1995]])
|highlights=
* Second-team [[All-Pro]] ([[1990 All-Pro Team|1990]])
* 2× [[Pro Bowl]] ([[1991 Pro Bowl|1990]], [[1993 Pro Bowl|1992]])
* [[PFWA All-Rookie Team]] ([[PFWA All-Rookie Team#1986|1986]])
|statlabel1=[[Reception (American football)|Reception]]s
|statvalue1=571
|statlabel2=Receiving Yards
|statvalue2=8,215
|statlabel3=[[Touchdowns]]
|statvalue3=49
|nfl=GIV415291
}}
'''Ernest Pastell Givins Jr.''' (born September 3, 1964), is an American former professional [[American football|football]] player who was a [[wide receiver]] for 10 seasons in the [[National Football League]] (NFL), primarily with the [[Houston Oilers]].

==High school and college==
Givins attended [[Lakewood High School (Florida)|Lakewood High School]] where he was a star football player. He attended [[Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College]], then transferred to the [[University of Louisville]]. At Louisville he set records for punt return and kickoff return that still stand.

==Professional career==
Givins was selected by the Houston Oilers in the 2nd round of the [[1986 NFL Draft]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=1986 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1986/draft.htm |access-date=2023-10-02 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GiviEr00.htm|title=Ernest Givins|work=Pro Football Reference|access-date=December 13, 2014}}</ref> A {{height|ft=5|in=9}}, 175 lbs. [[wide receiver]], he played in 10 NFL seasons from 1986 to 1995.

During his rookie season, in a Week 9, 1986 game against the [[Miami Dolphins]], Givins took a reverse and was injured after getting hit in the head/neck area and was taken off the field on a stretcher. He only missed one game and returned two weeks later in Week 11 against the Steelers.

A two-time [[Pro Bowl]] selection in 1990 and 1992, he played most of his career with the Oilers, catching passes from quarterback [[Warren Moon]], along with receivers [[Curtis Duncan]], [[Haywood Jeffires]] and [[Drew Hill]] in the Oilers' "run and shoot" offense. Givins was best known for his [[touchdown celebration]] dance known as the "Electric Slide."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.caller.com/sports/oilers-ex-givins-still-looking-for-recognition|title=Oilers-ex Givins still looking for recognition|last=Goddard|first=Lee|date=August 24, 2010|work=Corpus Christi Caller-Times|access-date=December 13, 2014}}</ref>

After nine seasons with the Oilers, Givins played one season with the [[Jacksonville Jaguars]], then retired.

===Oilers/Titans franchise records===
* Most receiving yards (career): 7,935 <ref>{{cite web|title=Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans Career Receiving Leaders|url= https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/oti/career-receiving.htm |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=January 11, 2019}}</ref>
* Receptions (career): 542

==Post-professional career==
He is very active in St. Petersburg's football community. In the mid-1990s, he was offensive coordinator of his high school alma mater, Pinellas Lakewood High School.

==Coaching career==
Givins served as head coach of St. Petersburg semi-pro football team, the St. Pete Sharks (Suncoast Semi-pro Football League).
Givins served as head coach of the Sarasota Millionaires (initially in the United Football Federation and as of 2014 in the Florida Football Alliance (FFA), from 2012 to 2014.
On May 26, 2017, Givins was named head coach of the Dunedin Pirates (Florida Football Alliance) based in Dunedin, Florida.

Givins has been the [[offensive coordinator]] for [[Gibbs High School (St. Petersburg, Florida)|Gibbs High School]]'s [[High school football|football]] team. He also works at Bay Point Middle School in St. Petersburg as a campus monitor.

==Personal life==
Givins' brother, [[Anthony Givins|Anthony]], is the head coach of the St. Petersburg-based [[University of Faith]] football team.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kruse|first=Michael|url=http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/college/at-college-footballs-lowest-rung-games-are-matter-of-faith-and-creative/2204711|title=At college football's lowest rung, games are matter of faith and creative financing|newspaper=[[Tampa Bay Times]]|date=November 1, 2014|access-date=February 5, 2015}}</ref>

Givins was inducted into the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==

{{Houston Oilers 1986 draft navbox}}
{{1995 Jacksonville Jaguars}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Givins, Ernest}}
[[Category:1964 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American football wide receivers]]
[[Category:American football tight ends]]
[[Category:Louisville Cardinals football players]]
[[Category:Houston Oilers players]]
[[Category:Jacksonville Jaguars players]]
[[Category:American Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:Players of American football from St. Petersburg, Florida]]

{{widereceiver-1960s-stub}}
{{ULouisville-stub}}

Wesley Woodyard

2024-05-10T01:01:27Z

Dslmsbs:

{{Short description|American football player (born 1986)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
|image = Wesley Woodyard 2018 08-09.jpg
|image_size =
|caption = Woodyard with the Tennessee Titans in 2018
|current_team =
|number = 52, 59
|position = [[Linebacker]]
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1986|07|21}}
|birth_place = [[LaGrange, Georgia]], U.S.
|height_ft = 6
|height_in = 0
|weight_lbs = 233
|high_school = [[LaGrange High School (Georgia)|LaGrange (GA)]]
|college = [[Kentucky Wildcats football|Kentucky]] (2004–2007)
|undraftedyear = 2008
|pastteams =
* [[Denver Broncos]] ({{NFL Year|2008}}–{{NFL Year|2013}})
* [[Tennessee Titans]] ({{NFL Year|2014}}–{{NFL Year|2019}})
|status=
|highlights =
* 2× First-team All-[[Southeastern Conference|SEC]] ([[2006 All-SEC football team|2006]], [[2007 All-SEC football team|2007]])
|statweek=
|statseason=
|statlabel1=[[Tackle (football move)|Total tackles]]
|statvalue1=943
|statlabel2=[[Quarterback sack|Sack]]s
|statvalue2=28.0
|statlabel3=[[Pass deflected|Pass deflections]]
|statvalue3=31
|statlabel4=[[Interception]]s
|statvalue4=8
|statlabel5=[[Fumble|Forced fumbles]]
|statvalue5=7
|statlabel6=[[Touchdown|Defensive touchdowns]]
|statvalue6=2
|nfl =wesley-woodyard
|pfr =WoodWe20
}}
'''Wesley Woodyard Jr.''' (born July 21, 1986) is a former [[American football]] [[linebacker]]. He played [[college football]] for the [[University of Kentucky]] and was signed as an [[undrafted free agent]] by the [[Denver Broncos]] in 2008. Woodyard has also played for the [[Tennessee Titans]].

==High school career==
Woodyard was born in [[LaGrange, Georgia]] and attended [[LaGrange High School (Georgia)|LaGrange High School]]. He was named the [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] Class AAA Defensive Player of the Year by the ''[[Atlanta Journal-Constitution]]'' and was first-team all-state as a senior by the Georgia Sportswriters Association and the Journal-Constitution. As a four-year letterman and two-year starter at outside linebacker, the team posted a 51–3 record during his three seasons, winning a pair of state championships.

==College career==
As a freshman in 2004, Woodyard played in the first 10 games, and midway through the season, he switched from [[strong safety]] to [[inside linebacker]]. Woodyard recorded 34 tackles for the season and was selected for the Freshman All-SEC Team by SEC coaches. As a sophomore in 2005, he started all 11 games at linebacker. For the season, Woodyard recorded 100 tackles, seven for-a-loss, and four [[fumble]] recoveries. He was named second-team Sophomore [[All-America]]n and All-[[Southeastern Conference|SEC]] honorable mention.

As a junior in 2006, Woodyard started all 13 games at linebacker, leading the team with 122 tackles and tackles-for-loss with 9.5. For the season, he earned Defensive [[Most valuable player|MVP]] honors in the [[Music City Bowl]]. As a senior in 2007, Woodyard started all 13 games at [[linebacker]], leading the team with 139 tackles. He is a member of [[Omega Psi Phi]] fraternity.

==Professional career==
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 0 3/8
| weight = 227
| dash = 4.51
| ten split = 1.52
| twenty split = 2.58
| shuttle = 4.25
| cone drill = 7.15
| vertical = 30
| broad ft = 9
| broad in = 10
| bench =
| wonderlic =
| arm span = 34 5/8
| hand span = 9 3/4
| note = All values are from [[NFL Combine]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=33152&DraftYear=2008 |title=2008 NFL Draft Scout Wesley Woodyard College Football Profile |access-date=July 2, 2023 |website=DraftScout.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://insider.espn.com/nfl/draft/player/_/id/11988 |title=Wesley Woodyard 2008 NFL Draft Profile |website=insider.espn.com |access-date=July 2, 2023}}</ref>
}}

===Denver Broncos===
On April 29, 2008, the [[Denver Broncos]] signed Woodyard to a three-year, [[United States dollar|$]]1.17 million contract that included a $20,000 signing bonus after he went undrafted in the [[2008 NFL Draft]].<ref name="spotrac">{{cite web| title=Spotrac.com: Wesley Woodyard contract| url=http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/wesley-woodyard?id=2354| access-date=March 18, 2018| website=Spotrac.com}}</ref><ref name="broncos">{{cite web| title=2009 Denver Broncos - Breaking Down the Roster - The Linebackers| url=https://www.milehighreport.com/platform/amp/2009/7/25/951307/2009-denver-broncos-breaking-down| access-date=March 18, 2018| website=milehighreport.com| date=July 25, 2009}}</ref>

====2008 season: Rookie year====
Throughout training camp, Woodyard competed for a job as an outside linebacker against [[Boss Bailey]], [[Nate Webster]], [[Jamie Winborn]], [[Louis Green]], [[Jordan Beck (American football)|Jordan Beck]], and [[Spencer Larsen]].<ref>{{cite web| title=2008 Denver Broncos – Training Camp Preview – Defense| url=http://broncotalk.net/2008/07/1918/broncos-blog/2008-denver-broncos-training-camp-preview-defense/| access-date=March 18, 2018| website=broncotalk.net| date=July 26, 2008}}</ref> Head coach [[Mike Shanahan]] named Woodyard the backup weakside linebacker behind D. J. Williams to start the regular season.

Woodyard made his NFL debut in the season-opener at the [[2008 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]] and recorded a solo [[Tackle (football move)|tackle]] during the 41–14 victory. On November 6, 2008, Woodyard earned his first NFL start in place of [[D. J. Williams (linebacker)|D. J. Williams]] who sustained a knee injury.<ref>{{cite web| title=Broncos' Roster Breakdown| url=http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2008/11/tony_grossis_scouting_report_d.html| access-date=March 18, 2018| website=cleveland.com| author=Turner, Jamie| date=November 4, 2008}}</ref> He finished the 34–30 victory at the [[2008 Cleveland Browns season|Cleveland Browns]] with a season-high ten combined tackles. On December 31, 2008, the Denver Broncos fired Mike Shanahan after the Broncos finished with an 8–8 record and did not qualify for the playoffs.<ref>{{cite web| title=Broncos fire Shanahan after 14 seasons as head coach| url=http://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=3800768| access-date=March 18, 2018| website=ESPN.com| date=December 31, 2008}}</ref> Woodyard finished his rookie season with 55 combined tackles (47 solo) and a pass deflection in 16 games and six starts.<ref name="career">{{cite web| title=NFL Player stats: Wesley Woodyard (career)| url=http://www.nfl.com/player/wesleywoodyard/2354/careerstats| access-date=March 18, 2018| website=NFL.com}}</ref>

====2009 season====
The Broncos new defensive coordinator [[Mike Nolan]] opted to convert to a base [[3-4 defense]], using four linebackers instead of three. Woodyard competed against [[Mario Haggan]], [[Braxton Kelley]], and [[Lee Robinson (American football)|Lee Robinson]] for a roster spot as a backup inside linebacker.<ref>{{cite web| title=Denver Broncos Linebacker Wesley Woodyard "Bulking Up" For New Role| url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/190113| access-date=March 18, 2018| website=bleacherreport.com| author=Bedinger, Sayre| date=June 1, 2009}}</ref> Head coach [[Josh McDaniels]] named Woodyard the backup inside linebacker behind D. J. Williams and Andra Davis to start the regular season.<ref>{{cite web| title=Ourlads.com: Denver Broncos' Depth Chart: 09/06/2009| url=http://www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/archive/40/DEN| access-date=March 18, 2018| website=Ourlads.com}}</ref> On September 10, Woodyard was named the special teams captain by his teammates for the 2009 season.<ref>{{cite web| title=Denver Broncos Name Seven Team Captains For 2009 Season| url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/251885-denver-broncos-name-seven-team-captains-for-2009-season| access-date=March 20, 2018| website=BleacherReport.com| author=Bedinger, Sayre| date=September 10, 2009}}</ref>

On September 13, Woodyard recorded three combined tackles, broke up a pass, and intercepted a pass by quarterback [[Carson Palmer]] as the Broncos won 12–7 at the [[2009 Cincinnati Bengals season|Cincinnati Bengals]].<ref>{{cite web| title=NFL Game Center: Week 1-2008: Denver Broncos @ Cincinnati Bengals| url=http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2009091303/2009/REG1/broncos@bengals| access-date=March 18, 2018| website=NFL.com}}</ref> In Week 9, he collected a season-high eight combined tackles during a 28–10 loss to the [[2009 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]].<ref>{{cite web| title=NFL Player stats: Wesley Woodyard (2009)| url=http://www.nfl.com/player/wesleywoodyard/2354/gamelogs?season=2009| access-date=March 18, 2018| website=NFL.com}}</ref> Woodyard finished his second NFL season with 44 combined tackles (32 solo), two pass deflections, and an interception in 16 games and 16 starts.<ref name="career"/>

====2010 season====
Throughout training camp, Woodyard competed for a job as a backup inside linebacker against [[Akin Ayodele]], [[Joe Mays (American football)|Joe Mays]], and [[Nick Greisen]].<ref>{{cite web| title=Broncos feel better about themselves| url=https://www.chieftain.com/sports/local/broncos-feel-better-about-themselves/article_b63617fc-b009-11df-9c2e-001cc4c03286.html| access-date=March 19, 2018| website=chieftain.com| author=Stapleton, Arnie| date=August 25, 2010}}</ref> Josh McDaniels named him the backup inside linebacker behind [[D. J. Williams (linebacker)|D. J. Williams]] and Joe Mays.<ref>{{cite web| title=Ourlads.com: Denver Broncos' Depth Chart: 09/05/2010| url=http://www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/archive/110/DEN| access-date=March 19, 2018| website=Ourlads.com}}</ref>

Woodyard was a healthy scratch for the Broncos' Week 2 victory against the [[2010 Seattle Seahawks season|Seattle Seahawks]]. On September 20, Woodyard was featured in a press conference held by the Broncos after their wide receiver [[Kenny McKinley]] committed suicide the day prior.<ref>{{cite web| title=Detectives: McKinley spoke of suicide| url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-detectives-mckinley-spoke-of-suicide-2010sep21-story.html| access-date=March 20, 2018| website=sandiegouniontribune.com| author=Stapleton, Arnie| date=September 21, 2010}}</ref> He was inactive for their Week 4 victory at the [[2010 Tennessee Titans season|Tennessee Titans]] after sustaining a hamstring injury.<ref>{{cite web| title=Special teams unit hurt by injuries| url=http://blogs.denverpost.com/broncos/2010/10/01/special-teams-unit-hurt-by-injuries/5407/| access-date=March 20, 2018| website=blogs.denverpost.com| author=Jones, Lindsay| date=October 1, 2010}}</ref>
Woodyard also missed three consecutive games (Weeks 6–8) after he aggravated his hamstring injury.<ref>{{cite web| title=NFL: Broncos dealing with more injuries| url=http://www.staugustine.com/sports/2010-10-12/nfl-broncos-dealing-more-injuries| access-date=March 20, 2018| website=staugustine.com| date=October 12, 2010}}</ref> On November 14, 2010, Woodyard earned his first career start and recorded two solo tackles during a 49–29 win against the [[2010 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]]. On December 6, the Broncos fired McDaniels after they lost at the [[2010 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]] and fell to a 3–9 record.<ref>{{cite web| title=McDaniels fired as Broncos coach after controversy, losses pile up| url=https://www.denverpost.com/2010/12/06/mcdaniels-fired-as-broncos-coach-after-controversy-losses-pile-up/| access-date=March 20, 2018| website=Denverpost.com| author=Klis, Mike| date=December 6, 2010}}</ref> In Week 16, he made his second NFL start and collected a season-high nine combined tackles in the Broncos' 24–23 win against the [[2010 Houston Texans season|Houston Texans]]. The following week, Woodyard recorded five solo tackles and made his first NFL sack on quarterback [[Philip Rivers]] during the Broncos' 33–28 loss to the [[2010 San Diego Chargers season|San Diego Chargers]].<ref>{{cite web| title=NFL Player stats: Wesley Woodyard (career)| url=http://www.nfl.com/player/wesleywoodyard/2354/gamelogs?season=2010| access-date=March 20, 2018| website=NFL.com}}</ref> Woodyard finished the 2010 season with 37 combined tackles (33 solo) and one sack in 11 games and three starts.<ref>{{cite web| title=NFL Player stats: Wesley Woodyard (career)| url=http://www.nfl.com/player/wesleywoodyard/2354/careerstats| access-date=March 20, 2018| website=NFL.com}}</ref>

====2011 season====
On July 29, 2011, the Broncos signed Woodyard to a one-year, $1.85 million contract.<ref name="spotrac"/> He was voted as the special teams captain for the third consecutive year. Woodyard competed against D. J. Williams, [[Lee Robinson (American football)|Lee Robinson]], and Braxton Kelley for the role as the starting weakside linebacker. He was moved to outside linebacker after new Broncos' defensive coordinator [[Don Martindale]] opted to switch to a base [[4-3 defense]]. Head coach [[John Fox (American football)|John Fox]] named Woodyard the starting weakside linebacker to start the regular season after D. J. Williams suffered a dislocated elbow and was projected to miss 3-4 games.<ref>{{cite web| title=D.J. Williams out 3-4 Weeks with a dislocated elbow| url=http://blogs.denverpost.com/broncos/2011/08/27/d-j-williams-out-3-4-weeks-with-dislocated-elbow/9128/| website=blogs.denverpost.com| author=Klis, Mike| date= August 27, 2011}}</ref>

On September 18, 2011, Woodyard recorded a season-high 13 combined tackles (ten solo) and broke up a pass during their 24–22 victory against the [[2011 Cincinnati Bengals season|Cincinnati Bengals]]. The following week, he collected a ten combined tackles (seven solo) during a 17–14 loss at the [[2011 Tennessee Titans season|Tennessee Titans]]. He was demoted back to backup outside linebacker after Williams returned from injury in Week 5. Woodyard missed the Broncos' Week 10 victory at the [[2011 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]] after he sustained a shoulder injury the previous week. He finished the 2011 season with 97 combined tackles (67 solo) and two pass deflections in 15 games and seven starts.

====2012 season====
[[File: Wesley Woodyard 2012.JPG|thumb|225px|Woodyard in 2012]]
On May 19, 2012, the Denver Broncos signed Woodyard to a two-year, $3.5 million contract.<ref>{{cite news|work=NBCSports.com|url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/03/19/broncos-keep-wesley-woodyard-on-two-year-deal/|title=Broncos keep Wesley Woodyard on two-year deal|first=Evan|last=Silva|date=March 19, 2012|access-date=January 19, 2014}}</ref> Woodyard entered training camp slated as the starting weakside linebacker after [[D. J. Williams (linebacker)|D. J. Williams]] was suspended for six games for failing a test for performance-enhancing drugs.<ref>{{cite web| title=Broncos linebacker D.J. Williams flunked second doping test, court documents say| url=http://blogs.denverpost.com/crime/2012/07/11/broncos-linebacker-dj-williams-flunked-doping-test-court-documents/4168/| access-date=March 20, 2018| website=blogs.denverpost.com| author=Ingold, John| date=July 11, 2012}}</ref> He faced minor competition from [[Danny Trevathan]], [[Cyril Obiozor]], and [[Mike Mohamed]].<ref>{{cite web| title=Woodyard, Mays leading the charge| url=http://denverbroncos.com/news-and-blogs/article-1/Woodyard-Mays-Leading-the-Charge/c90f48f1-a902-4f2a-bfbc-f9b7ec16a99b| access-date=March 20, 2018| website=denverbroncos.com| author=Everett, Tyler| date=July 28, 2012}}</ref>

Woodyard started the Broncos' season-opener against the [[2012 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]] and recorded a career-high 12 solo tackles and sacked [[Ben Roethlisberger]] during their 31–19 victory. On October 28, 2012, Woodyard collected a season-high 13 combined tackles (nine solo), two pass deflections, a sack, and intercepted a pass by [[Drew Brees]] during the Broncos' 34–14 win against the [[2012 New Orleans Saints season|New Orleans Saints]].<ref>{{cite web| title=NFL Game Center: Week 8-2012: New Orleans Saints @ Denver Broncos| url=http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2012102811/2012/REG8/saints@broncos| access-date=March 20, 2017| website=NFL.com}}</ref> The following week, Woodyard recorded a season-high 14 combined tackles (four solo) in the Broncos' 31–23 win at the [[2012 Cincinnati Bengals season|Cincinnati Bengals]]. Woodyard was inactive for the Broncos' Week 14 victory at the [[2012 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]] due to an ankle injury he sustained the previous game.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Crabtree |first=Curtis |date=2012-12-05 |title=Richard Seymour, Wesley Woodyard out for Thursday night |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/richard-seymour-out-wesley-woodyard-doubful-for-thursday-night |access-date=2024-03-05 |website=NBC Sports |language=en-US}}</ref> In Week 16, he collected eight combined tackles and a season-high 1.5 sacks as Denver defeated the [[2012 Cleveland Browns season|Cleveland Browns]] 34–12.<ref>{{cite web| title=NFL Player stats: Wesley Woodyard (2012)| url=http://www.nfl.com/player/wesleywoodyard/2354/gamelogs?season=2012| access-date=March 20, 2018| website=NFL.com}}</ref> He finished the 2012 season with a career-high 117 combined tackles (73 solo), six pass deflections, 5.5 sacks, and a career-high three interceptions in 15 games and 14 starts.<ref name="career"/>

The Broncos finished the 2012 season atop the [[AFC West]] with a 13–3 record, clinching a playoff berth and first-round bye. On January 12, 2013, Woodyard started in his first NFL playoff game and recorded seven solo tackles in the Broncos' 38–35 loss to the [[2012 Baltimore Ravens season|Baltimore Ravens]] in the AFC Divisional round.

====2013 season====
Woodyard entered training camp slated as the starting weakside linebacker. On August 20, 2013, starting strongside linebacker [[Von Miller]] was suspended for the first six games for violating the league's substance abuse policy.<ref>{{cite web| title=Von Miller suspended six games by NFL| url=https://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000232174/article/von-miller-suspended-six-games-for-nfl-policy-violation| access-date=March 20, 2018| website=NFL.com| author=Rosenthal, Greg| date=August 20, 2013}}</ref> Defensive coordinator [[Jack Del Rio]] shifted middle linebacker [[Nate Irving]] to Miller's strongside linebacker position and had Woodyard take over as the middle linebacker. Head coach John Fox officially named Woodyard the starting middle linebacker to start the regular season, along with outside linebackers Nate Irving and [[Danny Trevathan]].<ref>{{cite web| title=Ourlads.com: Denver Broncos Depth Chart: 09/05/2013| url=http://www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/archive/150/DEN| access-date=March 20, 2018| website=Ourlads.com}}</ref>

Woodyard suffered a neck injury during the Broncos' Week 5 win at the [[2013 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]] and was unable to play in the next two games (Weeks 6–7).<ref>{{cite web| title=Wesley Woodyard dealing with shoulder injury| url=https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/wesley-woodyard-dealing-with-shoulder-injury/| access-date=March 20, 2018| website=cbssports.com| author=Mello, Igor| date=October 6, 2013}}</ref> On November 24, 2013, Woodyard recorded a season-high 15 combined tackles (seven solo) during a 34–31 loss at the [[2013 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]]. The following week, he collected five solo tackles, broke up a pass, and intercepted a pass by [[Alex Smith]] during their 35–28 victory at the [[2013 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]]. After a string of poor performances, Woodyard was benched in favor of veteran [[Paris Lenon]] for the last four games of the season.<ref>{{cite web| title=Inconsistent Broncos defense searches for right mix| url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/broncos/2013/12/11/broncos-defense-wesley-woodyard/3993505/| access-date=March 20, 2018| website=usatoday.com| author=Jones, Lindsay| date=December 11, 2013}}</ref> He finished the {{NFL Year|2013}} season with 84 combined tackles (48 solo), four pass deflections, 1.5 sacks, and an interception in 14 games and ten starts.<ref name="career"/> The Broncos selected him for the team's [[Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award|Walter Payton Man of the Year Award]] for 2013.<ref>{{cite web|work=DenverBroncos.com|url=http://www.denverbroncos.com/news-and-blogs/article-1/Woodyard-Named-Broncos%E2%80%99-Walter-Payton-Man-of-the-Year/a89c46ab-6765-41ec-826a-9ebd4904adf7|title=Woodyard Named Broncos' Walter Payton Man of the Year|date=November 27, 2013|first=Stuart|last=Zaas|access-date=January 19, 2014}}</ref>

The Broncos finished atop the AFC West with a 13–3 record, clinching a first-round and home-field advantage. They went on to [[Super Bowl XLVIII]] after they defeated the [[2013 San Diego Chargers season|San Diego Chargers]] in the AFC Divisional Round and the [[2013 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]] in the AFC Championship. On February 2, 2014, Woodyard made three combined tackles as the Broncos were routed 43–8 to the [[2013 Seattle Seahawks season|Seattle Seahawks]] in [[Super Bowl XLVIII]].<ref>{{cite web| title=NFL Player stats: Wesley Woodyard (2013)| url=http://www.nfl.com/player/wesleywoodyard/2354/gamelogs?season=2013| access-date=March 20, 2018| website=NFL.com}}</ref>

====2014 season====
Woodyard became an unrestricted free agent in 2014 and attended visits with the [[New England Patriots]] and [[Tennessee Titans]], while also receiving interest from the [[Dallas Cowboys]] and [[Baltimore Ravens]]. He stated that his original intent was to stay with the Broncos, but Woodyard did not receive a contract offer from them.<ref>{{cite web| title=Eric Decker visiting with New York Jets as free-agent receiver| url=https://www.denverpost.com/2014/03/12/eric-decker-visiting-with-new-york-jets-as-free-agent-receiver/| access-date=March 20, 2017| website=DenverPost.com| author=Klis, Mike| date=April 27, 2014}}</ref>

===Tennessee Titans===
On March 14, 2014, the [[Tennessee Titans]] signed Woodyard to a four-year, $15.75 million contract that included $4.75 million guaranteed and a $3 million signing bonus.<ref name="spotrac"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000334051/article/titans-agree-to-4year-contract-with-lb-wesley-woodyard|title=Wesley Woodyard, Tennessee Titans sign $16M deal|website=[[NFL.com]] }}</ref>

====2014 season====
Head coach [[Ken Whisenhunt]] named Woodyard the starting left inside linebacker opposite [[Zaviar Gooden]] and along with outside linebackers [[Kamerion Wimbley]] and [[Derrick Morgan]].<ref>{{cite web| title=Ourlads.com: Tennessee Titans Depth Chart: 10/01/2014| url=http://www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/archive/164/TEN| access-date=March 20, 2018| website=Ourlads.com}}</ref>

Woodyard made his Titans debut in their season-opener at the [[2014 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]] and recorded five solo tackles and sacked [[Alex Smith]] during a 26–10 victory. On September 27, 2014, Woodyard recorded a season-high nine combined tackles, broke up two passes, and intercepted a pass by [[Andrew Luck]] during their 41–17 loss at the [[2014 Indianapolis Colts season|Indianapolis Colts]]. He finished the {{NFL Year|2014}} season with 94 combined tackles (53 solo), three pass deflections, 2.5 sacks, and two interceptions in 16 games and starts.<ref name="career"/>

====2015 season====
Throughout training camp, Woodyard competed against [[Avery Williamson]], [[Zach Brown]], and [[Zaviar Gooden]] for a job as the starting inside linebacker.<ref>{{cite web| title=Projected 2015 starters: Tennessee Titans| url=https://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000492382/article/projected-2015-starters-tennessee-titans| access-date=March 20, 2018| website=NFL.com}}</ref> Head coach Ken Whisenhunt named Woodyard the backup inside linebacker behind Avery Williamson and Zach Brown to start the regular season.<ref>{{cite web| title=Ourlads.com: Tennessee Titans Depth Chart: 09/01/2015| url=http://www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/archive/175/TEN| access-date=March 20, 2018| website=Ourlads.com}}</ref>

During Week 2, Woodyard made two solo tackles, sacked quarterback [[Johnny Manziel]], and forced a fumble in a 28–14 loss at the [[2015 Cleveland Browns season|Cleveland Browns]].<ref>{{cite web| title=NFL Game Center: Week 2-2015: Tennessee Titans @ Cleveland Browns| url=http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2015092003/2015/REG2/titans@browns| access-date=March 20, 2018| website=NFL.com}}</ref> He was promoted to the starting lineup ahead of Zach Brown prior to the Titans' Week 4 matchup against the [[2015 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo Bills]].<ref>{{cite web| title=Titans' Zach Brown disappointed by demotion| url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/nfl/titans/2015/10/15/brown-disappointed-demotion/74014060/?from=new-cookie| access-date=March 20, 2018| website=tennessean.com| author=Glennon, John| date=October 15, 2015}}</ref> On October 18, 2015, Woodyard recorded a season-high ten combined tackles (eight solo) and sacked quarterback [[Ryan Tannehill]] during a 38–10 loss to the [[2015 Miami Dolphins season|Miami Dolphins]]. On November 4, 2015, the Titans fired head coach Ken Whisenhunt after they fell to a 1–6 record. Tight ends coach [[Mike Mularkey]] was named the interim head coach for the remainder of the season.<ref>{{cite web| title=Titans fire coach Ken Whisenhunt| url=http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/14042981/ken-whisenhunt-fired-coach-tennessee-titans| access-date=March 20, 2018| website=ESPN.com| author=Kuharsky, Paul| date=March 4, 2015}}</ref> Woodyard finished the {{NFL Year|2015}} season with 87 combined tackles (54 solo) and five sacks in 16 games and 14 starts.<ref name="career"/>

====2016 season====
Woodyard entered training camp slated as the starting left inside linebacker after Zach Brown departed for the [[Buffalo Bills]] in free agency. Defensive coordinator [[Dick LeBeau]] named Woodyard the starting inside linebacker with Avery Williamson and outside linebackers [[Brian Orakpo]] and Derrick Morgan.<ref>{{cite web| title=Ourlads.com: Tennessee Titans Depth Chart: 09/01/2016| url=http://www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/archive/187/TEN| access-date=March 20, 2018| website=Ourlads.com}}</ref>

During Week 12, Woodyard recorded five solo tackles, a career-high three pass deflections, and intercepted a pass by [[Jay Cutler]] during a 27–21 victory at the [[2016 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]]. On January 1, 2017, he collected a season-high six combined tackles in a 24–17 victory against the [[2016 Houston Texans season|Houston Texans]].<ref>{{cite web| title=NFL Player stats: Wesley Woodyard (2016)| url=http://www.nfl.com/player/wesleywoodyard/2354/gamelogs?season=2016| access-date=March 20, 2016| website=NFL.com}}</ref> He finished the season with 57 combined tackles (42 solo), five pass deflections, two sacks, and an interception in 16 games and ten starts.<ref name="career"/> He shared time with [[Sean Spence]] who started the other six games in place of Woodyard.

====2017 season====
On March 15, 2017, the Titans signed Woodyard to a three-year, $10.5 million extension that includes $2 million guaranteed.<ref name="spotrac"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Wesley Woodyard cuts 2017 pay, adds two years to deal|url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/03/15/wesley-woodyard-cuts-2017-pay-adds-two-years-to-deal/|author=Alper, Josh|website=ProFootballTalk.NBCSports.com|date=March 15, 2017}}</ref>

Head coach Mike Mularkey named Woodyard the starting inside linebacker after Sean Spence departed for the [[Indianapolis Colts]] in free agency. During Week 9, he recorded a season-high 14 combined tackles (nine solo) and broke up a pass in a narrow 23–20 victory over the [[2017 Baltimore Ravens season|Baltimore Ravens]]. During Week 15, he collected ten combined tackles (seven solo) and a sack in a 25–23 road loss against the [[2017 San Francisco 49ers season|San Francisco 49ers]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wesley Woodyard 2017 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WoodWe20/gamelog/2017/ |access-date=2024-03-21 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

Woodyard finished the 2017 season with a career-high 124 combined tackles (84 solo), five pass deflections, and five sacks in 16 games and starts.<ref name="career"/> [[Pro Football Focus]] gave Woodyard an overall grade of 78.6, which gave him the 28th highest grade among all qualified linebackers in 2017.<ref>{{cite web| title=Pro Football Focus: Wesley Woodyard| url=https://www.profootballfocus.com/nfl/players/wesley-woodyard/4583| access-date=March 20, 2018| website=ProFootballFocus.com}}</ref>

====2018 season====
During a 34–10 Week 10 victory over the [[2018 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]], Woodyard registered 10 tackles and 1.5 sacks. This effort earned him AFC Defensive Player of the Week.<ref>{{cite web|title=Titans LB Wesley Woodyard Named AFC Defensive Player of the Week|url= https://www.titansonline.com/news/titans-lb-wesley-woodyard-named-afc-defensive-player-of-the-week|author=Wyatt, Jim|website=TitansOnline.com|date=November 14, 2018|access-date=November 14, 2018}}</ref>

Woodyard finished the 2018 season with 113 tackles, 4.5 sacks, two pass deflections, and a fumble recovery in 14 games and starts.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wesley Woodyard 2018 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WoodWe20/gamelog/2018/ |access-date=2023-11-06 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

====2019 season====
[[File:Wesley_Woodyard_2019_12-08.jpg|thumb|225px|Woodyard in 2019]]
During Week 7 against the [[2019 Los Angeles Chargers season|Los Angeles Chargers]], Woodyard recorded six tackles and a forced fumble in the 23–20 win. Woodyard's forced fumble occurred late in the fourth quarter when he stripped the football from [[Melvin Gordon]] on the goal line and teammate [[Jurrell Casey]] made the recovery.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 October 2019 |title=Casey recovers fumble, Titans hold off Chargers' rally 23-20 |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap?gameId=401127979 |access-date=20 October 2019 |website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

Woodyard's role decreased in 2019 due to the emergence of second-year linebackers [[Rashaan Evans]] and [[Harold Landry]]. He finished the season with 42 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, and a pass deflection in 15 games and two starts.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wesley Woodyard 2019 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WoodWe20/gamelog/2019/ |access-date=2023-11-06 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

==NFL career statistics==
=== Regular season ===
{| class= "wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team
! colspan="2"| Games
! colspan="4"| Tackles
! colspan="4"| Fumbles
! colspan="6"| Interceptions
|-
! GP !! GS !! Cmb !! Solo !! Ast !! Sck !! FF !! FR !! Yds !! TD !! Int !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD !! PD
|-
! [[2008 NFL season|2008]] !! [[2008 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| '''16''' || 6 || 55 || 47 || 8 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 1
|-
! [[2009 NFL season|2009]] !! [[2009 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| '''16''' || 0 || 46 || 38 || 8 || 0.0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 2
|-
! [[2010 NFL season|2010]] !! [[2010 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| 11 || 3 || 24 || 20 || 4 || 1.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2011 NFL season|2011]] !! [[2011 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| 15 || 7 || 90 || 60 || 30 || 0.0 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 2
|-
! [[2012 NFL season|2012]] !! [[2012 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| 15 || 14 || 114 || 70 || '''44''' || '''5.5''' || 1 || 1 || '''12''' || 0 || '''3''' || '''40''' || 13.3 || '''25''' || 0 || '''6'''
|-
! [[2013 NFL season|2013]] !! [[2013 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| 14 || 10 || 91 || 52 || 39 || 1.5 || '''3''' || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 4
|-
! [[2014 NFL season|2014]] !! [[2014 Tennessee Titans season|TEN]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 94 || 53 || 41 || 2.5 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 2 || 20 || 10.0 || 13 || 0 || 3
|-
! [[2015 NFL season|2015]] !! [[2015 Tennessee Titans season|TEN]]
| '''16''' || 12 || 84 || 51 || 33 || 5.0 || 1 || 1 || 3 || '''1''' || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2016 NFL season|2016]] !! [[2016 Tennessee Titans season|TEN]]
| '''16''' || 10 || 53 || 39 || 14 || 2.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 21 || '''21.0''' || 21 || 0 || 5
|-
! [[2017 NFL season|2017]] !! [[2017 Tennessee Titans season|TEN]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || '''121''' || '''81''' || 40 || 5.0 || 0 || '''2''' || 4 || '''1''' || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 5
|-
! [[2018 NFL season|2018]] !! [[2018 Tennessee Titans season|TEN]]
| 14 || 14 || 113 || 69 || 44 || 4.5 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 2
|-
! [[2019 NFL season|2019]] !! [[2019 Tennessee Titans season|TEN]]
| 15 || 2 || 42 || 25 || 17 || 1.0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 1
|-
! colspan="2"| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WoodWe20.htm Career] !! 180 !! 110 !! 951 !! 627 !! 324 !! 28.0 !! 8 !! 5 !! 19 !! 2 !! 8 !! 81 !! 14.7 !! 25 !! 0 !! 31
|}

=== Postseason ===
{| class= "wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team
! colspan="2"| Games
! colspan="4"| Tackles
! colspan="4"| Fumbles
! colspan="6"| Interceptions
|-
! GP !! GS !! Cmb !! Solo !! Ast !! Sck !! FF !! FR !! Yds !! TD !! Int !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD !! PD
|-
! [[2011–12 NFL playoffs|2011]] !! [[2011 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| 2 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2012–13 NFL playoffs|2012]] !! [[2012 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| 1 || 1 || 7 || 7 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2013–14 NFL playoffs|2013]] !! [[2013 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| '''3''' || 0 || 7 || 4 || 3 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2017–18 NFL playoffs|2017]] !! [[2017 Tennessee Titans season|TEN]]
| 2 || '''2''' || '''16''' || 8 || '''8''' || '''0.5''' || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2019-20 NFL playoffs|2019]] !! [[2019 Tennessee Titans season|TEN]]
| '''3''' || 0 || 11 || '''10''' || 1 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! colspan="2"| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WoodWe20/gamelog/post/ Career] !! 11 !! 3 !! 42 !! 30 !! 12 !! 0.5 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0.0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0
|}

==Personal life==
Woodyard is a [[Christianity|Christian]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Whitehead: How I met my fiance, Wesley Woodyard|url=http://milehighsports.com/2012/11/18/whitehead-how-i-met-my-fiance-wesley-woodyard/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Wesley Woodyard| website=[[YouTube]] |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxayQYZWtuM |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/wxayQYZWtuM |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live}}{{cbignore}}</ref> He and his wife, Veronica,<ref>{{cite web|title=wooddro52|url=http://instagram.com/p/mvhGVqC73a/# |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/mvhGVqC73a |archive-date=December 24, 2021 |url-access=registration}}{{cbignore}}</ref> have four kids.

In September 2016, Woodyard was part of a viral video. Woodyard, decked out in full uniform, picked up a young boy encouraging the
Titans prior to the team's game against the [[Detroit Lions]] and carried him a few steps. The video has spread across social media and it was shown on [[NFL Network]] soon after. Regarding his kind gesture, Woodyard told Titans Online: "I have a son, and it just touched my heart, seeing the kid there. That’s the thing about this game of football, it allows us to bring each other together. It doesn’t matter about the skin color, race, or anything, money. We are all the same, we all enjoy Sundays, and to me that was special, seeing the kid in the tunnel.”

Woodyard was inducted into the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018.

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{footballstats|pfr=W/WoodWe20}}
* [http://www.ukathletics.com/genrel/070704aao.html Kentucky Wildcats bio]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Woodward, Wesley}}
[[Category:1986 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:African-American Christians]]
[[Category:Players of American football from LaGrange, Georgia]]
[[Category:American football linebackers]]
[[Category:Kentucky Wildcats football players]]
[[Category:Denver Broncos players]]
[[Category:Tennessee Titans players]]

Tim Lester (running back)

2024-05-10T01:00:49Z

Dslmsbs:

{{Short description|American football player (1968–2021)}}
{{For|the head football coach and former quarterback|Tim Lester (American football coach)}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Tim Lester
| image =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1968|06|15}}
| birth_place = [[Miami, Florida]], U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2021|01|12|1968|06|15}}
| death_place = [[Milton, Georgia]], U.S.
| number = 34
| position= [[Running back]]
| height_ft =
| height_in =
| weight_lb =
| high_school = [[Miami Southridge High School|Miami Southridge]] (Miami, Florida)
| college = [[Eastern Kentucky Colonels football|Eastern Kentucky]]
| draftyear = 1992
| draftround = 10
| draftpick = 255
| pastteams=
* [[Los Angeles Rams]] ({{nfly|1992|1994}})
* [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] ({{nfly|1995|1998}})
* [[Dallas Cowboys]] ({{nfly|1999}})
| highlights =
| statlabel1 = Rushing attempts
| statvalue1 = 33
| statlabel2 = Rushing yards
| statvalue2 = 126
| statlabel3 = Rushing touchdowns
| statvalue3 = 2
| nfl = tim-lester
}}

'''Timothy Lee Lester''' (June 15, 1968 – January 12, 2021) was an American professional [[American football|football]] player.

==Career==
He was a [[running back]] for eight seasons in the [[National Football League]] (NFL) with the [[Los Angeles Rams]], [[Pittsburgh Steelers]], and [[Dallas Cowboys]].<ref name = "steeler">{{Cite news |url=https://steelersnow.com/tim-lester-former-steelers-fb-dies-at-52/|title=Tim Lester, Former Steelers FB, Dies at 52 |first=Alan |last=Saunders |website=SteelersNow.com |date=January 12, 2021 |access-date=January 15, 2021}}</ref><ref name = "guardian">{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/jan/13/tim-lester-nfl-obituary-coronavirus |title=Ex-Steelers fullback Tim Lester dies from Covid-19 complications aged 52 |author= |date=January 13, 2021 |website= The Guardian|publisher= |access-date=February 17, 2021|quote=}}</ref> Lester was drafted by the Rams in the tenth round of the [[1992 NFL Draft]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=1992 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1992/draft.htm |access-date=2023-05-07 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

Lester was inducted into the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018.

==Death==
Lester died from complications of [[COVID-19]] in January 2021, at the age of 52.<ref name = "guardian"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2021/01/13/former-nfl-player-tim-lester-dies-of-covid-19-at-age-52 |title=Former NFL player Tim Lester dies of COVID-19 at age 52 |last=Smith |first=Michael David |date=January 13, 2021 |website=Pro Football Talk |publisher= |access-date=February 17, 2021 |quote=}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Los Angeles Rams 1992 draft navbox}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lester, Tim}}
[[Category:1968 births]]
[[Category:2021 deaths]]
[[Category:Miami Southridge Senior High School alumni]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Miami]]
[[Category:American football running backs]]
[[Category:Eastern Kentucky Colonels football players]]
[[Category:Dallas Cowboys players]]
[[Category:Deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic in Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Los Angeles Raiders players]]
[[Category:Pittsburgh Steelers players]]
[[Category:Scottish Claymores coaches]]
[[Category:People from Milton, Georgia]]

{{runningback-1960s-stub}}

Wesley Woodyard

2024-05-10T00:58:42Z

Dslmsbs:

{{Short description|American football player (born 1986)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
|image = Wesley Woodyard 2018 08-09.jpg
|image_size =
|caption = Woodyard with the Tennessee Titans in 2018
|current_team =
|number = 52, 59
|position = [[Linebacker]]
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1986|07|21}}
|birth_place = [[LaGrange, Georgia]], U.S.
|height_ft = 6
|height_in = 0
|weight_lbs = 233
|high_school = [[LaGrange High School (Georgia)|LaGrange (GA)]]
|college = [[Kentucky Wildcats football|Kentucky]] (2004–2007)
|undraftedyear = 2008
|pastteams =
* [[Denver Broncos]] ({{NFL Year|2008}}–{{NFL Year|2013}})
* [[Tennessee Titans]] ({{NFL Year|2014}}–{{NFL Year|2019}})
|status=
|highlights =
* 2× First-team All-[[Southeastern Conference|SEC]] ([[2006 All-SEC football team|2006]], [[2007 All-SEC football team|2007]])
|statweek=
|statseason=
|statlabel1=[[Tackle (football move)|Total tackles]]
|statvalue1=943
|statlabel2=[[Quarterback sack|Sack]]s
|statvalue2=28.0
|statlabel3=[[Pass deflected|Pass deflections]]
|statvalue3=31
|statlabel4=[[Interception]]s
|statvalue4=8
|statlabel5=[[Fumble|Forced fumbles]]
|statvalue5=7
|statlabel6=[[Touchdown|Defensive touchdowns]]
|statvalue6=2
|nfl =wesley-woodyard
|pfr =WoodWe20
}}
'''Wesley Woodyard Jr.''' (born July 21, 1986) is a former [[American football]] [[linebacker]]. He played [[college football]] for the [[University of Kentucky]] and was signed as an [[undrafted free agent]] by the [[Denver Broncos]] in 2008. Woodyard has also played for the [[Tennessee Titans]].

==High school career==
Woodyard was born in [[LaGrange, Georgia]] and attended [[LaGrange High School (Georgia)|LaGrange High School]]. He was named the [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] Class AAA Defensive Player of the Year by the ''[[Atlanta Journal-Constitution]]'' and was first-team all-state as a senior by the Georgia Sportswriters Association and the Journal-Constitution. As a four-year letterman and two-year starter at outside linebacker, the team posted a 51–3 record during his three seasons, winning a pair of state championships.

==College career==
As a freshman in 2004, Woodyard played in the first 10 games, and midway through the season, he switched from [[strong safety]] to [[inside linebacker]]. Woodyard recorded 34 tackles for the season and was selected for the Freshman All-SEC Team by SEC coaches. As a sophomore in 2005, he started all 11 games at linebacker. For the season, Woodyard recorded 100 tackles, seven for-a-loss, and four [[fumble]] recoveries. He was named second-team Sophomore [[All-America]]n and All-[[Southeastern Conference|SEC]] honorable mention.

As a junior in 2006, Woodyard started all 13 games at linebacker, leading the team with 122 tackles and tackles-for-loss with 9.5. For the season, he earned Defensive [[Most valuable player|MVP]] honors in the [[Music City Bowl]]. As a senior in 2007, Woodyard started all 13 games at [[linebacker]], leading the team with 139 tackles. He is a member of [[Omega Psi Phi]] fraternity.

==Professional career==
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 0 3/8
| weight = 227
| dash = 4.51
| ten split = 1.52
| twenty split = 2.58
| shuttle = 4.25
| cone drill = 7.15
| vertical = 30
| broad ft = 9
| broad in = 10
| bench =
| wonderlic =
| arm span = 34 5/8
| hand span = 9 3/4
| note = All values are from [[NFL Combine]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=33152&DraftYear=2008 |title=2008 NFL Draft Scout Wesley Woodyard College Football Profile |access-date=July 2, 2023 |website=DraftScout.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://insider.espn.com/nfl/draft/player/_/id/11988 |title=Wesley Woodyard 2008 NFL Draft Profile |website=insider.espn.com |access-date=July 2, 2023}}</ref>
}}

===Denver Broncos===
On April 29, 2008, the [[Denver Broncos]] signed Woodyard to a three-year, [[United States dollar|$]]1.17 million contract that included a $20,000 signing bonus after he went undrafted in the [[2008 NFL Draft]].<ref name="spotrac">{{cite web| title=Spotrac.com: Wesley Woodyard contract| url=http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/wesley-woodyard?id=2354| access-date=March 18, 2018| website=Spotrac.com}}</ref><ref name="broncos">{{cite web| title=2009 Denver Broncos - Breaking Down the Roster - The Linebackers| url=https://www.milehighreport.com/platform/amp/2009/7/25/951307/2009-denver-broncos-breaking-down| access-date=March 18, 2018| website=milehighreport.com| date=July 25, 2009}}</ref>

====2008 season: Rookie year====
Throughout training camp, Woodyard competed for a job as an outside linebacker against [[Boss Bailey]], [[Nate Webster]], [[Jamie Winborn]], [[Louis Green]], [[Jordan Beck (American football)|Jordan Beck]], and [[Spencer Larsen]].<ref>{{cite web| title=2008 Denver Broncos – Training Camp Preview – Defense| url=http://broncotalk.net/2008/07/1918/broncos-blog/2008-denver-broncos-training-camp-preview-defense/| access-date=March 18, 2018| website=broncotalk.net| date=July 26, 2008}}</ref> Head coach [[Mike Shanahan]] named Woodyard the backup weakside linebacker behind D. J. Williams to start the regular season.

Woodyard made his NFL debut in the season-opener at the [[2008 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]] and recorded a solo [[Tackle (football move)|tackle]] during the 41–14 victory. On November 6, 2008, Woodyard earned his first NFL start in place of [[D. J. Williams (linebacker)|D. J. Williams]] who sustained a knee injury.<ref>{{cite web| title=Broncos' Roster Breakdown| url=http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2008/11/tony_grossis_scouting_report_d.html| access-date=March 18, 2018| website=cleveland.com| author=Turner, Jamie| date=November 4, 2008}}</ref> He finished the 34–30 victory at the [[2008 Cleveland Browns season|Cleveland Browns]] with a season-high ten combined tackles. On December 31, 2008, the Denver Broncos fired Mike Shanahan after the Broncos finished with an 8–8 record and did not qualify for the playoffs.<ref>{{cite web| title=Broncos fire Shanahan after 14 seasons as head coach| url=http://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=3800768| access-date=March 18, 2018| website=ESPN.com| date=December 31, 2008}}</ref> Woodyard finished his rookie season with 55 combined tackles (47 solo) and a pass deflection in 16 games and six starts.<ref name="career">{{cite web| title=NFL Player stats: Wesley Woodyard (career)| url=http://www.nfl.com/player/wesleywoodyard/2354/careerstats| access-date=March 18, 2018| website=NFL.com}}</ref>

====2009 season====
The Broncos new defensive coordinator [[Mike Nolan]] opted to convert to a base [[3-4 defense]], using four linebackers instead of three. Woodyard competed against [[Mario Haggan]], [[Braxton Kelley]], and [[Lee Robinson (American football)|Lee Robinson]] for a roster spot as a backup inside linebacker.<ref>{{cite web| title=Denver Broncos Linebacker Wesley Woodyard "Bulking Up" For New Role| url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/190113| access-date=March 18, 2018| website=bleacherreport.com| author=Bedinger, Sayre| date=June 1, 2009}}</ref> Head coach [[Josh McDaniels]] named Woodyard the backup inside linebacker behind D. J. Williams and Andra Davis to start the regular season.<ref>{{cite web| title=Ourlads.com: Denver Broncos' Depth Chart: 09/06/2009| url=http://www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/archive/40/DEN| access-date=March 18, 2018| website=Ourlads.com}}</ref> On September 10, Woodyard was named the special teams captain by his teammates for the 2009 season.<ref>{{cite web| title=Denver Broncos Name Seven Team Captains For 2009 Season| url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/251885-denver-broncos-name-seven-team-captains-for-2009-season| access-date=March 20, 2018| website=BleacherReport.com| author=Bedinger, Sayre| date=September 10, 2009}}</ref>

On September 13, Woodyard recorded three combined tackles, broke up a pass, and intercepted a pass by quarterback [[Carson Palmer]] as the Broncos won 12–7 at the [[2009 Cincinnati Bengals season|Cincinnati Bengals]].<ref>{{cite web| title=NFL Game Center: Week 1-2008: Denver Broncos @ Cincinnati Bengals| url=http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2009091303/2009/REG1/broncos@bengals| access-date=March 18, 2018| website=NFL.com}}</ref> In Week 9, he collected a season-high eight combined tackles during a 28–10 loss to the [[2009 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]].<ref>{{cite web| title=NFL Player stats: Wesley Woodyard (2009)| url=http://www.nfl.com/player/wesleywoodyard/2354/gamelogs?season=2009| access-date=March 18, 2018| website=NFL.com}}</ref> Woodyard finished his second NFL season with 44 combined tackles (32 solo), two pass deflections, and an interception in 16 games and 16 starts.<ref name="career"/>

====2010 season====
Throughout training camp, Woodyard competed for a job as a backup inside linebacker against [[Akin Ayodele]], [[Joe Mays (American football)|Joe Mays]], and [[Nick Greisen]].<ref>{{cite web| title=Broncos feel better about themselves| url=https://www.chieftain.com/sports/local/broncos-feel-better-about-themselves/article_b63617fc-b009-11df-9c2e-001cc4c03286.html| access-date=March 19, 2018| website=chieftain.com| author=Stapleton, Arnie| date=August 25, 2010}}</ref> Josh McDaniels named him the backup inside linebacker behind [[D. J. Williams (linebacker)|D. J. Williams]] and Joe Mays.<ref>{{cite web| title=Ourlads.com: Denver Broncos' Depth Chart: 09/05/2010| url=http://www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/archive/110/DEN| access-date=March 19, 2018| website=Ourlads.com}}</ref>

Woodyard was a healthy scratch for the Broncos' Week 2 victory against the [[2010 Seattle Seahawks season|Seattle Seahawks]]. On September 20, Woodyard was featured in a press conference held by the Broncos after their wide receiver [[Kenny McKinley]] committed suicide the day prior.<ref>{{cite web| title=Detectives: McKinley spoke of suicide| url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-detectives-mckinley-spoke-of-suicide-2010sep21-story.html| access-date=March 20, 2018| website=sandiegouniontribune.com| author=Stapleton, Arnie| date=September 21, 2010}}</ref> He was inactive for their Week 4 victory at the [[2010 Tennessee Titans season|Tennessee Titans]] after sustaining a hamstring injury.<ref>{{cite web| title=Special teams unit hurt by injuries| url=http://blogs.denverpost.com/broncos/2010/10/01/special-teams-unit-hurt-by-injuries/5407/| access-date=March 20, 2018| website=blogs.denverpost.com| author=Jones, Lindsay| date=October 1, 2010}}</ref>
Woodyard also missed three consecutive games (Weeks 6–8) after he aggravated his hamstring injury.<ref>{{cite web| title=NFL: Broncos dealing with more injuries| url=http://www.staugustine.com/sports/2010-10-12/nfl-broncos-dealing-more-injuries| access-date=March 20, 2018| website=staugustine.com| date=October 12, 2010}}</ref> On November 14, 2010, Woodyard earned his first career start and recorded two solo tackles during a 49–29 win against the [[2010 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]]. On December 6, the Broncos fired McDaniels after they lost at the [[2010 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]] and fell to a 3–9 record.<ref>{{cite web| title=McDaniels fired as Broncos coach after controversy, losses pile up| url=https://www.denverpost.com/2010/12/06/mcdaniels-fired-as-broncos-coach-after-controversy-losses-pile-up/| access-date=March 20, 2018| website=Denverpost.com| author=Klis, Mike| date=December 6, 2010}}</ref> In Week 16, he made his second NFL start and collected a season-high nine combined tackles in the Broncos' 24–23 win against the [[2010 Houston Texans season|Houston Texans]]. The following week, Woodyard recorded five solo tackles and made his first NFL sack on quarterback [[Philip Rivers]] during the Broncos' 33–28 loss to the [[2010 San Diego Chargers season|San Diego Chargers]].<ref>{{cite web| title=NFL Player stats: Wesley Woodyard (career)| url=http://www.nfl.com/player/wesleywoodyard/2354/gamelogs?season=2010| access-date=March 20, 2018| website=NFL.com}}</ref> Woodyard finished the 2010 season with 37 combined tackles (33 solo) and one sack in 11 games and three starts.<ref>{{cite web| title=NFL Player stats: Wesley Woodyard (career)| url=http://www.nfl.com/player/wesleywoodyard/2354/careerstats| access-date=March 20, 2018| website=NFL.com}}</ref>

====2011 season====
On July 29, 2011, the Broncos signed Woodyard to a one-year, $1.85 million contract.<ref name="spotrac"/> He was voted as the special teams captain for the third consecutive year. Woodyard competed against D. J. Williams, [[Lee Robinson (American football)|Lee Robinson]], and Braxton Kelley for the role as the starting weakside linebacker. He was moved to outside linebacker after new Broncos' defensive coordinator [[Don Martindale]] opted to switch to a base [[4-3 defense]]. Head coach [[John Fox (American football)|John Fox]] named Woodyard the starting weakside linebacker to start the regular season after D. J. Williams suffered a dislocated elbow and was projected to miss 3-4 games.<ref>{{cite web| title=D.J. Williams out 3-4 Weeks with a dislocated elbow| url=http://blogs.denverpost.com/broncos/2011/08/27/d-j-williams-out-3-4-weeks-with-dislocated-elbow/9128/| website=blogs.denverpost.com| author=Klis, Mike| date= August 27, 2011}}</ref>

On September 18, 2011, Woodyard recorded a season-high 13 combined tackles (ten solo) and broke up a pass during their 24–22 victory against the [[2011 Cincinnati Bengals season|Cincinnati Bengals]]. The following week, he collected a ten combined tackles (seven solo) during a 17–14 loss at the [[2011 Tennessee Titans season|Tennessee Titans]]. He was demoted back to backup outside linebacker after Williams returned from injury in Week 5. Woodyard missed the Broncos' Week 10 victory at the [[2011 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]] after he sustained a shoulder injury the previous week. He finished the 2011 season with 97 combined tackles (67 solo) and two pass deflections in 15 games and seven starts.

====2012 season====
[[File: Wesley Woodyard 2012.JPG|thumb|225px|Woodyard in 2012]]
On May 19, 2012, the Denver Broncos signed Woodyard to a two-year, $3.5 million contract.<ref>{{cite news|work=NBCSports.com|url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/03/19/broncos-keep-wesley-woodyard-on-two-year-deal/|title=Broncos keep Wesley Woodyard on two-year deal|first=Evan|last=Silva|date=March 19, 2012|access-date=January 19, 2014}}</ref> Woodyard entered training camp slated as the starting weakside linebacker after [[D. J. Williams (linebacker)|D. J. Williams]] was suspended for six games for failing a test for performance-enhancing drugs.<ref>{{cite web| title=Broncos linebacker D.J. Williams flunked second doping test, court documents say| url=http://blogs.denverpost.com/crime/2012/07/11/broncos-linebacker-dj-williams-flunked-doping-test-court-documents/4168/| access-date=March 20, 2018| website=blogs.denverpost.com| author=Ingold, John| date=July 11, 2012}}</ref> He faced minor competition from [[Danny Trevathan]], [[Cyril Obiozor]], and [[Mike Mohamed]].<ref>{{cite web| title=Woodyard, Mays leading the charge| url=http://denverbroncos.com/news-and-blogs/article-1/Woodyard-Mays-Leading-the-Charge/c90f48f1-a902-4f2a-bfbc-f9b7ec16a99b| access-date=March 20, 2018| website=denverbroncos.com| author=Everett, Tyler| date=July 28, 2012}}</ref>

Woodyard started the Broncos' season-opener against the [[2012 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]] and recorded a career-high 12 solo tackles and sacked [[Ben Roethlisberger]] during their 31–19 victory. On October 28, 2012, Woodyard collected a season-high 13 combined tackles (nine solo), two pass deflections, a sack, and intercepted a pass by [[Drew Brees]] during the Broncos' 34–14 win against the [[2012 New Orleans Saints season|New Orleans Saints]].<ref>{{cite web| title=NFL Game Center: Week 8-2012: New Orleans Saints @ Denver Broncos| url=http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2012102811/2012/REG8/saints@broncos| access-date=March 20, 2017| website=NFL.com}}</ref> The following week, Woodyard recorded a season-high 14 combined tackles (four solo) in the Broncos' 31–23 win at the [[2012 Cincinnati Bengals season|Cincinnati Bengals]]. Woodyard was inactive for the Broncos' Week 14 victory at the [[2012 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]] due to an ankle injury he sustained the previous game.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Crabtree |first=Curtis |date=2012-12-05 |title=Richard Seymour, Wesley Woodyard out for Thursday night |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/richard-seymour-out-wesley-woodyard-doubful-for-thursday-night |access-date=2024-03-05 |website=NBC Sports |language=en-US}}</ref> In Week 16, he collected eight combined tackles and a season-high 1.5 sacks as Denver defeated the [[2012 Cleveland Browns season|Cleveland Browns]] 34–12.<ref>{{cite web| title=NFL Player stats: Wesley Woodyard (2012)| url=http://www.nfl.com/player/wesleywoodyard/2354/gamelogs?season=2012| access-date=March 20, 2018| website=NFL.com}}</ref> He finished the 2012 season with a career-high 117 combined tackles (73 solo), six pass deflections, 5.5 sacks, and a career-high three interceptions in 15 games and 14 starts.<ref name="career"/>

The Broncos finished the 2012 season atop the [[AFC West]] with a 13–3 record, clinching a playoff berth and first-round bye. On January 12, 2013, Woodyard started in his first NFL playoff game and recorded seven solo tackles in the Broncos' 38–35 loss to the [[2012 Baltimore Ravens season|Baltimore Ravens]] in the AFC Divisional round.

====2013 season====
Woodyard entered training camp slated as the starting weakside linebacker. On August 20, 2013, starting strongside linebacker [[Von Miller]] was suspended for the first six games for violating the league's substance abuse policy.<ref>{{cite web| title=Von Miller suspended six games by NFL| url=https://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000232174/article/von-miller-suspended-six-games-for-nfl-policy-violation| access-date=March 20, 2018| website=NFL.com| author=Rosenthal, Greg| date=August 20, 2013}}</ref> Defensive coordinator [[Jack Del Rio]] shifted middle linebacker [[Nate Irving]] to Miller's strongside linebacker position and had Woodyard take over as the middle linebacker. Head coach John Fox officially named Woodyard the starting middle linebacker to start the regular season, along with outside linebackers Nate Irving and [[Danny Trevathan]].<ref>{{cite web| title=Ourlads.com: Denver Broncos Depth Chart: 09/05/2013| url=http://www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/archive/150/DEN| access-date=March 20, 2018| website=Ourlads.com}}</ref>

Woodyard suffered a neck injury during the Broncos' Week 5 win at the [[2013 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]] and was unable to play in the next two games (Weeks 6–7).<ref>{{cite web| title=Wesley Woodyard dealing with shoulder injury| url=https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/wesley-woodyard-dealing-with-shoulder-injury/| access-date=March 20, 2018| website=cbssports.com| author=Mello, Igor| date=October 6, 2013}}</ref> On November 24, 2013, Woodyard recorded a season-high 15 combined tackles (seven solo) during a 34–31 loss at the [[2013 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]]. The following week, he collected five solo tackles, broke up a pass, and intercepted a pass by [[Alex Smith]] during their 35–28 victory at the [[2013 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]]. After a string of poor performances, Woodyard was benched in favor of veteran [[Paris Lenon]] for the last four games of the season.<ref>{{cite web| title=Inconsistent Broncos defense searches for right mix| url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/broncos/2013/12/11/broncos-defense-wesley-woodyard/3993505/| access-date=March 20, 2018| website=usatoday.com| author=Jones, Lindsay| date=December 11, 2013}}</ref> He finished the {{NFL Year|2013}} season with 84 combined tackles (48 solo), four pass deflections, 1.5 sacks, and an interception in 14 games and ten starts.<ref name="career"/> The Broncos selected him for the team's [[Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award|Walter Payton Man of the Year Award]] for 2013.<ref>{{cite web|work=DenverBroncos.com|url=http://www.denverbroncos.com/news-and-blogs/article-1/Woodyard-Named-Broncos%E2%80%99-Walter-Payton-Man-of-the-Year/a89c46ab-6765-41ec-826a-9ebd4904adf7|title=Woodyard Named Broncos' Walter Payton Man of the Year|date=November 27, 2013|first=Stuart|last=Zaas|access-date=January 19, 2014}}</ref>

The Broncos finished atop the AFC West with a 13–3 record, clinching a first-round and home-field advantage. They went on to [[Super Bowl XLVIII]] after they defeated the [[2013 San Diego Chargers season|San Diego Chargers]] in the AFC Divisional Round and the [[2013 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]] in the AFC Championship. On February 2, 2014, Woodyard made three combined tackles as the Broncos were routed 43–8 to the [[2013 Seattle Seahawks season|Seattle Seahawks]] in [[Super Bowl XLVIII]].<ref>{{cite web| title=NFL Player stats: Wesley Woodyard (2013)| url=http://www.nfl.com/player/wesleywoodyard/2354/gamelogs?season=2013| access-date=March 20, 2018| website=NFL.com}}</ref>

====2014 season====
Woodyard became an unrestricted free agent in 2014 and attended visits with the [[New England Patriots]] and [[Tennessee Titans]], while also receiving interest from the [[Dallas Cowboys]] and [[Baltimore Ravens]]. He stated that his original intent was to stay with the Broncos, but Woodyard did not receive a contract offer from them.<ref>{{cite web| title=Eric Decker visiting with New York Jets as free-agent receiver| url=https://www.denverpost.com/2014/03/12/eric-decker-visiting-with-new-york-jets-as-free-agent-receiver/| access-date=March 20, 2017| website=DenverPost.com| author=Klis, Mike| date=April 27, 2014}}</ref>

===Tennessee Titans===
On March 14, 2014, the [[Tennessee Titans]] signed Woodyard to a four-year, $15.75 million contract that included $4.75 million guaranteed and a $3 million signing bonus.<ref name="spotrac"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000334051/article/titans-agree-to-4year-contract-with-lb-wesley-woodyard|title=Wesley Woodyard, Tennessee Titans sign $16M deal|website=[[NFL.com]] }}</ref>

====2014 season====
Head coach [[Ken Whisenhunt]] named Woodyard the starting left inside linebacker opposite [[Zaviar Gooden]] and along with outside linebackers [[Kamerion Wimbley]] and [[Derrick Morgan]].<ref>{{cite web| title=Ourlads.com: Tennessee Titans Depth Chart: 10/01/2014| url=http://www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/archive/164/TEN| access-date=March 20, 2018| website=Ourlads.com}}</ref>

Woodyard made his Titans debut in their season-opener at the [[2014 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]] and recorded five solo tackles and sacked [[Alex Smith]] during a 26–10 victory. On September 27, 2014, Woodyard recorded a season-high nine combined tackles, broke up two passes, and intercepted a pass by [[Andrew Luck]] during their 41–17 loss at the [[2014 Indianapolis Colts season|Indianapolis Colts]]. He finished the {{NFL Year|2014}} season with 94 combined tackles (53 solo), three pass deflections, 2.5 sacks, and two interceptions in 16 games and starts.<ref name="career"/>

====2015 season====
Throughout training camp, Woodyard competed against [[Avery Williamson]], [[Zach Brown]], and [[Zaviar Gooden]] for a job as the starting inside linebacker.<ref>{{cite web| title=Projected 2015 starters: Tennessee Titans| url=https://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000492382/article/projected-2015-starters-tennessee-titans| access-date=March 20, 2018| website=NFL.com}}</ref> Head coach Ken Whisenhunt named Woodyard the backup inside linebacker behind Avery Williamson and Zach Brown to start the regular season.<ref>{{cite web| title=Ourlads.com: Tennessee Titans Depth Chart: 09/01/2015| url=http://www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/archive/175/TEN| access-date=March 20, 2018| website=Ourlads.com}}</ref>

During Week 2, Woodyard made two solo tackles, sacked quarterback [[Johnny Manziel]], and forced a fumble in a 28–14 loss at the [[2015 Cleveland Browns season|Cleveland Browns]].<ref>{{cite web| title=NFL Game Center: Week 2-2015: Tennessee Titans @ Cleveland Browns| url=http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2015092003/2015/REG2/titans@browns| access-date=March 20, 2018| website=NFL.com}}</ref> He was promoted to the starting lineup ahead of Zach Brown prior to the Titans' Week 4 matchup against the [[2015 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo Bills]].<ref>{{cite web| title=Titans' Zach Brown disappointed by demotion| url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/nfl/titans/2015/10/15/brown-disappointed-demotion/74014060/?from=new-cookie| access-date=March 20, 2018| website=tennessean.com| author=Glennon, John| date=October 15, 2015}}</ref> On October 18, 2015, Woodyard recorded a season-high ten combined tackles (eight solo) and sacked quarterback [[Ryan Tannehill]] during a 38–10 loss to the [[2015 Miami Dolphins season|Miami Dolphins]]. On November 4, 2015, the Titans fired head coach Ken Whisenhunt after they fell to a 1–6 record. Tight ends coach [[Mike Mularkey]] was named the interim head coach for the remainder of the season.<ref>{{cite web| title=Titans fire coach Ken Whisenhunt| url=http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/14042981/ken-whisenhunt-fired-coach-tennessee-titans| access-date=March 20, 2018| website=ESPN.com| author=Kuharsky, Paul| date=March 4, 2015}}</ref> Woodyard finished the {{NFL Year|2015}} season with 87 combined tackles (54 solo) and five sacks in 16 games and 14 starts.<ref name="career"/>

====2016 season====
Woodyard entered training camp slated as the starting left inside linebacker after Zach Brown departed for the [[Buffalo Bills]] in free agency. Defensive coordinator [[Dick LeBeau]] named Woodyard the starting inside linebacker with Avery Williamson and outside linebackers [[Brian Orakpo]] and Derrick Morgan.<ref>{{cite web| title=Ourlads.com: Tennessee Titans Depth Chart: 09/01/2016| url=http://www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/archive/187/TEN| access-date=March 20, 2018| website=Ourlads.com}}</ref>

During Week 12, Woodyard recorded five solo tackles, a career-high three pass deflections, and intercepted a pass by [[Jay Cutler]] during a 27–21 victory at the [[2016 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]]. On January 1, 2017, he collected a season-high six combined tackles in a 24–17 victory against the [[2016 Houston Texans season|Houston Texans]].<ref>{{cite web| title=NFL Player stats: Wesley Woodyard (2016)| url=http://www.nfl.com/player/wesleywoodyard/2354/gamelogs?season=2016| access-date=March 20, 2016| website=NFL.com}}</ref> He finished the season with 57 combined tackles (42 solo), five pass deflections, two sacks, and an interception in 16 games and ten starts.<ref name="career"/> He shared time with [[Sean Spence]] who started the other six games in place of Woodyard.

====2017 season====
On March 15, 2017, the Titans signed Woodyard to a three-year, $10.5 million extension that includes $2 million guaranteed.<ref name="spotrac"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Wesley Woodyard cuts 2017 pay, adds two years to deal|url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/03/15/wesley-woodyard-cuts-2017-pay-adds-two-years-to-deal/|author=Alper, Josh|website=ProFootballTalk.NBCSports.com|date=March 15, 2017}}</ref>

Head coach Mike Mularkey named Woodyard the starting inside linebacker after Sean Spence departed for the [[Indianapolis Colts]] in free agency. During Week 9, he recorded a season-high 14 combined tackles (nine solo) and broke up a pass in a narrow 23–20 victory over the [[2017 Baltimore Ravens season|Baltimore Ravens]]. During Week 15, he collected ten combined tackles (seven solo) and a sack in a 25–23 road loss against the [[2017 San Francisco 49ers season|San Francisco 49ers]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wesley Woodyard 2017 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WoodWe20/gamelog/2017/ |access-date=2024-03-21 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

Woodyard finished the 2017 season with a career-high 124 combined tackles (84 solo), five pass deflections, and five sacks in 16 games and starts.<ref name="career"/> [[Pro Football Focus]] gave Woodyard an overall grade of 78.6, which gave him the 28th highest grade among all qualified linebackers in 2017.<ref>{{cite web| title=Pro Football Focus: Wesley Woodyard| url=https://www.profootballfocus.com/nfl/players/wesley-woodyard/4583| access-date=March 20, 2018| website=ProFootballFocus.com}}</ref>

====2018 season====
During a 34–10 Week 10 victory over the [[2018 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]], Woodyard registered 10 tackles and 1.5 sacks. This effort earned him AFC Defensive Player of the Week.<ref>{{cite web|title=Titans LB Wesley Woodyard Named AFC Defensive Player of the Week|url= https://www.titansonline.com/news/titans-lb-wesley-woodyard-named-afc-defensive-player-of-the-week|author=Wyatt, Jim|website=TitansOnline.com|date=November 14, 2018|access-date=November 14, 2018}}</ref>

Woodyard finished the 2018 season with 113 tackles, 4.5 sacks, two pass deflections, and a fumble recovery in 14 games and starts.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wesley Woodyard 2018 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WoodWe20/gamelog/2018/ |access-date=2023-11-06 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

====2019 season====
[[File:Wesley_Woodyard_2019_12-08.jpg|thumb|225px|Woodyard in 2019]]
During Week 7 against the [[2019 Los Angeles Chargers season|Los Angeles Chargers]], Woodyard recorded six tackles and a forced fumble in the 23–20 win. Woodyard's forced fumble occurred late in the fourth quarter when he stripped the football from [[Melvin Gordon]] on the goal line and teammate [[Jurrell Casey]] made the recovery.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 October 2019 |title=Casey recovers fumble, Titans hold off Chargers' rally 23-20 |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap?gameId=401127979 |access-date=20 October 2019 |website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

Woodyard's role decreased in 2019 due to the emergence of second-year linebackers [[Rashaan Evans]] and [[Harold Landry]]. He finished the season with 42 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, and a pass deflection in 15 games and two starts.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wesley Woodyard 2019 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WoodWe20/gamelog/2019/ |access-date=2023-11-06 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

==NFL career statistics==
=== Regular season ===
{| class= "wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team
! colspan="2"| Games
! colspan="4"| Tackles
! colspan="4"| Fumbles
! colspan="6"| Interceptions
|-
! GP !! GS !! Cmb !! Solo !! Ast !! Sck !! FF !! FR !! Yds !! TD !! Int !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD !! PD
|-
! [[2008 NFL season|2008]] !! [[2008 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| '''16''' || 6 || 55 || 47 || 8 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 1
|-
! [[2009 NFL season|2009]] !! [[2009 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| '''16''' || 0 || 46 || 38 || 8 || 0.0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 2
|-
! [[2010 NFL season|2010]] !! [[2010 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| 11 || 3 || 24 || 20 || 4 || 1.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2011 NFL season|2011]] !! [[2011 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| 15 || 7 || 90 || 60 || 30 || 0.0 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 2
|-
! [[2012 NFL season|2012]] !! [[2012 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| 15 || 14 || 114 || 70 || '''44''' || '''5.5''' || 1 || 1 || '''12''' || 0 || '''3''' || '''40''' || 13.3 || '''25''' || 0 || '''6'''
|-
! [[2013 NFL season|2013]] !! [[2013 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| 14 || 10 || 91 || 52 || 39 || 1.5 || '''3''' || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 4
|-
! [[2014 NFL season|2014]] !! [[2014 Tennessee Titans season|TEN]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 94 || 53 || 41 || 2.5 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 2 || 20 || 10.0 || 13 || 0 || 3
|-
! [[2015 NFL season|2015]] !! [[2015 Tennessee Titans season|TEN]]
| '''16''' || 12 || 84 || 51 || 33 || 5.0 || 1 || 1 || 3 || '''1''' || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2016 NFL season|2016]] !! [[2016 Tennessee Titans season|TEN]]
| '''16''' || 10 || 53 || 39 || 14 || 2.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 21 || '''21.0''' || 21 || 0 || 5
|-
! [[2017 NFL season|2017]] !! [[2017 Tennessee Titans season|TEN]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || '''121''' || '''81''' || 40 || 5.0 || 0 || '''2''' || 4 || '''1''' || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 5
|-
! [[2018 NFL season|2018]] !! [[2018 Tennessee Titans season|TEN]]
| 14 || 14 || 113 || 69 || 44 || 4.5 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 2
|-
! [[2019 NFL season|2019]] !! [[2019 Tennessee Titans season|TEN]]
| 15 || 2 || 42 || 25 || 17 || 1.0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 1
|-
! colspan="2"| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WoodWe20.htm Career] !! 180 !! 110 !! 951 !! 627 !! 324 !! 28.0 !! 8 !! 5 !! 19 !! 2 !! 8 !! 81 !! 14.7 !! 25 !! 0 !! 31
|}

=== Postseason ===
{| class= "wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team
! colspan="2"| Games
! colspan="4"| Tackles
! colspan="4"| Fumbles
! colspan="6"| Interceptions
|-
! GP !! GS !! Cmb !! Solo !! Ast !! Sck !! FF !! FR !! Yds !! TD !! Int !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD !! PD
|-
! [[2011–12 NFL playoffs|2011]] !! [[2011 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| 2 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2012–13 NFL playoffs|2012]] !! [[2012 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| 1 || 1 || 7 || 7 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2013–14 NFL playoffs|2013]] !! [[2013 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| '''3''' || 0 || 7 || 4 || 3 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2017–18 NFL playoffs|2017]] !! [[2017 Tennessee Titans season|TEN]]
| 2 || '''2''' || '''16''' || 8 || '''8''' || '''0.5''' || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2019-20 NFL playoffs|2019]] !! [[2019 Tennessee Titans season|TEN]]
| '''3''' || 0 || 11 || '''10''' || 1 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! colspan="2"| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WoodWe20/gamelog/post/ Career] !! 11 !! 3 !! 42 !! 30 !! 12 !! 0.5 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0.0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0
|}

==Personal life==
Woodyard is a [[Christianity|Christian]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Whitehead: How I met my fiance, Wesley Woodyard|url=http://milehighsports.com/2012/11/18/whitehead-how-i-met-my-fiance-wesley-woodyard/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Wesley Woodyard| website=[[YouTube]] |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxayQYZWtuM |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/wxayQYZWtuM |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live}}{{cbignore}}</ref> He and his wife, Veronica,<ref>{{cite web|title=wooddro52|url=http://instagram.com/p/mvhGVqC73a/# |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/mvhGVqC73a |archive-date=December 24, 2021 |url-access=registration}}{{cbignore}}</ref> have four kids.

In September 2016, Woodyard was part of a viral video. Woodyard, decked out in full uniform, picked up a young boy encouraging the
Titans prior to the team's game against the [[Detroit Lions]] and carried him a few steps. The video has spread across social media and it was shown on [[NFL Network]] soon after. Regarding his kind gesture, Woodyard told Titans Online: "I have a son, and it just touched my heart, seeing the kid there. That’s the thing about this game of football, it allows us to bring each other together. It doesn’t matter about the skin color, race, or anything, money. We are all the same, we all enjoy Sundays, and to me that was special, seeing the kid in the tunnel.”

Woodyard was inducted into the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2019.

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{footballstats|pfr=W/WoodWe20}}
* [http://www.ukathletics.com/genrel/070704aao.html Kentucky Wildcats bio]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Woodward, Wesley}}
[[Category:1986 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:African-American Christians]]
[[Category:Players of American football from LaGrange, Georgia]]
[[Category:American football linebackers]]
[[Category:Kentucky Wildcats football players]]
[[Category:Denver Broncos players]]
[[Category:Tennessee Titans players]]

Lou Michaels

2024-05-10T00:56:38Z

Dslmsbs:

{{Short description|American football player (1935–2016)}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Lou Michaels
| image = Lou Michaels 1959.jpg
| caption = Michaels with the Rams in 1959
| number = 55, 83, 79, 75
| position = [[Placekicker]], [[defensive end]]
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1935|9|28}}
| birth_place = [[Swoyersville, Pennsylvania]], U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2016|1|19|1935|9|28}}
| death_place = Swoyersville, Pennsylvania, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 2
| weight_lbs = 243
| high_school = Swoyersville (PA)<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bennett|first1=Steve|url=http://citizensvoice.com/sports/swoyersville-football-1951-1.1414164|title=Swoyersville Football 1951|date=December 10, 2012|newspaper=The Citizens' Voice|location=Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania|access-date=January 19, 2016}}</ref>
| college = [[Kentucky Wildcats football|Kentucky]]
|draftyear=1958
|draftround=1
|draftpick=4
|pastteams=
* [[Los Angeles Rams]] ({{NFL Year|1958}}–{{NFL Year|1960}})
* [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] ({{NFL Year|1961}}–{{NFL Year|1963}})
* [[History of the Indianapolis Colts|Baltimore Colts]] ({{NFL Year|1964}}–{{NFL Year|1969}})
* [[Green Bay Packers]] ({{NFL Year|1971}})
| highlights =
* [[NFL champion]] ([[1968 NFL Championship Game|1968]])
* 2× [[Pro Bowl]] (1962, 1963)
* 2× Consensus [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] ([[1956 College Football All-America Team|1956]], [[1957 College Football All-America Team|1957]])
* [[Southeastern Conference football individual awards#Player of the Year|SEC Player of the Year]] (1957)
* 2× First-team [[List of All-SEC football teams|All-SEC]] ([[1956 All-SEC football team|1956]], [[1957 All-SEC football team|1957]])
| CollegeHOF = 1782
}}

'''Louis Andrew Michaels''' (originally '''Majka''') (September 28, 1935 – January 19, 2016) was an [[American football]] player who was a standout [[defensive lineman]] for the [[University of Kentucky]] [[Kentucky Wildcats football|Wildcats]] from 1955 to 1957. After Kentucky's victory over archrival [[1957 Tennessee Volunteers football team|Tennessee]] in 1957, Michaels has been quoted saying, "Nothing sucks like a Big Orange." Michaels played professionally for 14 years, 1958–71, with the [[Los Angeles Rams]], [[Pittsburgh Steelers]], [[History of the Indianapolis Colts|Baltimore Colts]] and [[Green Bay Packers]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL). He also played [[placekicker]], and was selected to the [[Pro Bowl]] after the 1962 and 1963 seasons. In 1962, Michaels led the league in field goals made. He finished his career with a 54.8% field goal percentage and 955 points.

By 1969 he was almost exclusively a placekicker for the Colts but after a season in which he was successful on less than half his field goal attempts and struggled especially with longer kicks, rookie [[Jim O'Brien (American football)|Jim O'Brien]] won the Colts placekicking job in the 1970 preseason and Michaels was waived.<ref>{{cite news|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=2022-09-05|newspaper=Evening Sun|date=September 10, 1970|title=It'll happen to me, says Colts' O'Brien|author=Tanton, Bill|page=F1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109012542/the-evening-sun/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=2022-09-05|newspaper=Daily Times|date=September 10, 1970|title=Rookie O'Brien to do Hosses' place kicking|page=20|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109013078/the-daily-times/}}</ref> After sitting out the 1970 season he tried out with the Packers in their 1971 training camp and won their place kicking job.<ref>{{cite news|title=Veteran Michaels starts career as Packers' kicker|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=2022-09-05|newspaper=La Crosse Tribune|date=September 22, 1971|page=33|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109013926/the-la-crosse-tribune/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=2022-09-05|newspaper=Charlotte News|date=October 7, 1971|title=Mean old Lou just wasn't through|author=Harris, Larry|page=15A|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109013664/the-charlotte-news/}}</ref> After playing the first 10 games of the Packers' season he was placed on the [[taxi squad]] and rookie [[Tim Webster (American football)|Tim Webster]] replaced him for the last 4 games of the season.<ref>{{cite news|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=2022-09-05|newspaper=La Crosse Tribune|date=December 21, 1971|title=Pack's Devine needs lots of gifts from Santa|page=25|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109014677/the-la-crosse-tribune/}}</ref> After being listed behind Webster and rookie [[Chester Marcol]] on the Packers' preseason depth chart in 1972, Michaels did not report the Packers' training camp and the team waived him.<ref>{{cite news|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=2022-09-05|newspaper=Evening Sun|date=July 18, 1972|title=Rams' QB picture collapses|page=C10|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109016051/the-evening-sun/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=2022-09-05|newspaper=Ironwood Daily Globe|date=July 19, 1972|title=Nutcracker sour for Pack rookies|page=11|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109016558/ironwood-daily-globe/}}</ref>

Michaels was inducted into the [[College Football Hall of Fame]] in 1992 and into the National Polish American Sports Hall of Fame in 1994. He was inducted into the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2019. His brother, [[Walt Michaels]], also played in the NFL.

Michaels died January 19, 2016, from [[pancreatic cancer]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bennett|first1=Steve|title=Local football legend Lou Michaels dies|url=http://citizensvoice.com/sports/local-football-legend-lou-michaels-dies-1.1997042|access-date=January 19, 2016|newspaper=The Citizens' Voice|date=January 19, 2016|location=Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Michaels was born to a Polish family, son of a coal miner from [[Swoyersville, Pennsylvania]]. The family's surname is originally Majka, but was anglicized to Michaels in school.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.polishsportshof.com/portfolio_page/walt-michaels/|title=NPASHF | Walt Michaels}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Southeastern Conference Football Player of the Year navbox}}
{{1956 College Football Consensus All-Americans}}
{{1957 College Football Consensus All-Americans}}
{{1958 NFL Draft}}
{{RamsFirstPick}}
{{Los Angeles Rams 1958 draft navbox}}
{{1968 Baltimore Colts}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Michaels, Lou}}
[[Category:1935 births]]
[[Category:2016 deaths]]
[[Category:American football defensive ends]]
[[Category:American football placekickers]]
[[Category:Baltimore Colts players]]
[[Category:Green Bay Packers players]]
[[Category:Kentucky Wildcats football players]]
[[Category:Los Angeles Rams players]]
[[Category:Pittsburgh Steelers players]]
[[Category:All-American college football players]]
[[Category:College Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Eastern Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:People from Swoyersville, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Luzerne County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:American people of Polish descent]]
[[Category:Deaths from pancreatic cancer in Pennsylvania]]

Joe Johnson (defensive end)

2024-05-10T00:53:18Z

Dslmsbs:

{{Short description|American football player (born 1972)}}
{{Other people|Joe Johnson}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
|image= |
|name=Joe Johnson
|position=[[Defensive end]]
|number=94, 91
|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1972|7|11}}
|birth_place=[[Cleveland, Ohio]], U.S.
|height_ft=6
|height_in=4
|weight_lbs = 275
|draftyear=1994
|draftround=1
|draftpick=13
|high_school = [[Jennings High School (Missouri)|Jennings (MO)]]
|college=[[Louisville Cardinals football|Louisville]]
|teams=
* [[New Orleans Saints]] ([[1994 NFL season|1994]]–[[2001 NFL season|2001]])
* [[Green Bay Packers]] ([[2002 NFL season|2002]]–[[2003 NFL season|2003]])
|statlabel1=[[Quarterback sack|Sacks]]
|statvalue1=52.5
|statlabel2=Games
|statvalue2=117
|statlabel3=Seasons
|statvalue3=10
|highlights=
* [[NFL Comeback Player of the Year]] (2000)
* First-team [[All-Pro]] ([[2000 All-Pro Team|2000]])
* 2× [[Pro Bowl]] ([[1999 Pro Bowl|1998]], [[2001 Pro Bowl|2000]])
* [[PFWA All-Rookie Team]] ([[PFWA All-Rookie Team#1994|1994]])
* [[New Orleans Saints#New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame|New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame]]
|nflnew=joejohnson/2501429
|pfr=J/JohnJo04
|HOF=
|CollegeHOF=
}}

'''Joseph T. Johnson''' (born July 11, 1972) is an American former professional [[American football|football]] player who was a [[defensive end]] in the [[National Football League]] (NFL) for the [[New Orleans Saints]] and the [[Green Bay Packers]].<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JohnJo04.htm | title = Joe Johnson Stats | access-date = November 1, 2023 | website = Pro-Football-Reference.com}}</ref> In the [[1994 NFL draft]], he was selected by the Saints in the first round with the 13th overall pick.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1994 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1994/draft.htm |access-date=2023-03-31 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> He was elected to the [[Pro Bowl]] after [[1998 New Orleans Saints season|the 1998 season]], missed the entire [[1999 New Orleans Saints season|1999 season]] with a severe knee injury that left his career in doubt, but came back in [[2000 New Orleans Saints season|2000]] to once again be named to the Pro Bowl and also named the [[NFL Comeback Player of the Year]]. In 2002 Green Bay picked him up in free agency and ESPN named him the biggest free agency bust in Green Bay's history. The Packers gave the former Saints defender a six-year, $33 million contract that included a $6.5 million signing bonus. What they got in return was two sacks in 11 games over two injury-filled seasons, before they cut him.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Western |first1=Evan "Tex" |title=Packers' Worst Free Agent Signing? ESPN says it's Joe Johnson |url=https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/packers-free-agency-2016-news-reports/2016/4/4/11361768/packers-worst-free-agent-signing-espn-says-its-joe-johnson |access-date=February 26, 2020 |publisher=[[Acme Packing Company]] |work=acmepackingcompany.com}}</ref> He played [[college football]] for the [[Louisville Cardinals football|Louisville Cardinals]]. He was inducted into the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2019.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{1994 NFL Draft}}
{{Saints1994DraftPicks}}
{{SaintsFirstPick}}
{{New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame}}
{{NFL Comeback Players of the Year}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Joe}}
[[Category:1972 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Cleveland]]
[[Category:American football defensive ends]]
[[Category:American football defensive tackles]]
[[Category:Louisville Cardinals football players]]
[[Category:New Orleans Saints players]]
[[Category:Green Bay Packers players]]
[[Category:National Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Missouri]]

{{defensive-lineman-1970s-stub}}
{{ULouisville-stub}}

Corey Peters

2024-05-10T00:51:32Z

Dslmsbs:

{{Short description|American football player (born 1988)}}
{{For|the New Zealand Paralympic alpine skier|Corey Peters (alpine skier)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
|name=Corey Peters
|image=Corey Peters.JPG
|caption=Peters with the Cardinals in 2017
|number=91, 98
|position=[[Nose tackle]]
|birth_date= {{Birth date and age|1988|6|8}}
|birth_place=[[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]], U.S.
|height_ft = 6
|height_in = 3
|weight_lbs = 335
|high_school=[[Central High School (Louisville, Kentucky)|Central]] ([[Louisville, Kentucky]])
|college=[[Kentucky Wildcats football|Kentucky]]
|draftyear=2010
|draftround=3
|draftpick=83
|pastteams=
*[[Atlanta Falcons]] ({{NFL Year|2010}}–{{NFL Year|2014}})
*[[Arizona Cardinals]] ({{NFL Year|2015|2021}})
*[[Jacksonville Jaguars]] ({{NFL Year|2022}})
|status=
|highlights=
* First-team All-[[Southeastern Conference|SEC]] ([[2009 All-SEC football team|2009]])
|statweek=
|statseason=
|statlabel1=[[Tackle (football move)|Total tackles]]
|statvalue1=336
|statlabel2=[[Quarterback sacks|Sacks]]
|statvalue2=19.0
|statlabel3=[[Fumble|Forced fumbles]]
|statvalue3=1
|statlabel4=[[Fumble|Fumble recoveries]]
|statvalue4=3
|statlabel5=[[Interceptions]]
|statvalue5=1
|statlabel6=[[Touchdown|Defensive touchdowns]]
|statvalue6=1
|nflnew=Corey-Peters
|pfr=PeteCo00
}}
'''Corey Peters''' (born June 8, 1988) is a former [[American football]] [[nose tackle]]. He played [[college football]] at [[Kentucky Wildcats football|Kentucky]]. He was drafted by the [[Atlanta Falcons]] in the third round of the [[2010 NFL Draft]], and spent time with the [[Arizona Cardinals]] and [[Jacksonville Jaguars]].

==Early years==
Peters played high school football for [[Louisville Central High School]], where he was first-team all state.<ref name="uk1">{{Cite web |url=http://www.ukathletics.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/peters_corey00.html |title=Corey Peters bio at University of Kentucky Official Athletic Site |access-date=April 24, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407075936/http://www.ukathletics.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/peters_corey00.html |archive-date=April 7, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==College career==
Peters played college football at [[Kentucky Wildcats football|Kentucky]]. He started two games as a freshman and started 12 games as a sophomore. As a junior, he tallied 36 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and four quarterback sacks.<ref name="uk1"/> As a senior Peters had four sacks and twelve tackles for losses.<ref>[http://www.ukathletics.com/blog/2010/04/calm-collected-peters-isnt-sweating-nfl-draft.html Calm, Collected Peters isn't sweating NFL Draft, University of Kentucky Official Athletics Site]</ref> Peters was also named second-team All-SEC as a senior.<ref>[http://www.ukathletics.com/blog/2009/12/cobb-named-first-team-all-sec.html University of Kentucky Official Athletics site, Cobb named first-team All-SEC]</ref>

==Professional career==
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 3 1/4
| weight = 300
| dash = 4.90
| ten split = 1.68
| twenty split = 2.83
| shuttle = 4.49
| cone drill = 7.31
| vertical = 33
| broad ft = 8
| broad in = 7
| bench = 26
| wonderlic =
| arm span = 34
| hand span = 9
| note = All values from [[NFL Combine]] and [[Pro Day]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/corey-peters/32005045-5409-9667-87ff-b243fa214ce8 |title=Corey Peters Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=April 15, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=66110&DraftYear=2010 | title=2010 Draft Scout Corey Peters, Kentucky NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile }}</ref>
}}

===Atlanta Falcons===
Peters was drafted by the [[Atlanta Falcons]] in the third round, 83rd overall, of the [[2010 NFL Draft]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=2010 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2010/draft.htm |access-date=2023-05-13 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>[http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/2010/draft/breakdowns/by_round/3.html 3rd Round of 2010 NFL Draft at CNN/SI.com]</ref> The Atlanta Falcons signed Corey Peters to a four-year deal on June 8, 2010.<ref>{{cite web|title=Falcons sign third round pick Corey Peters|url=http://www.atlantafalcons.com/News/Articles/2010/06/1-11/Falcons_sign_third_round_pick_Peters.aspx|website=AtlantaFalcons.com|date=June 8, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100621023347/http://www.atlantafalcons.com/News/Articles/2010/06/1-11/Falcons_sign_third_round_pick_Peters.aspx|archive-date=June 21, 2010}}</ref>

On March 4, 2014, Peters and the Falcons agreed on a one-year deal that kept him in Atlanta throughout the [[2014 Atlanta Falcons season|2014 season]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Adams|first=Jay|title=Falcons Sign Peters to One-Year Deal|url=http://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/article-1/Falcons-Sign-Peters-to-One-Year-Deal/07ce3701-7256-482c-b049-840793ae9265|website=AtlantaFalcons.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304033134/http://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/article-1/Falcons-Sign-Peters-to-One-Year-Deal/07ce3701-7256-482c-b049-840793ae9265|access-date=March 4, 2014|archive-date=March 4, 2016}}</ref>

===Arizona Cardinals===
On March 10, 2015, Peters signed a three-year deal with the [[Arizona Cardinals]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=McClure|first1=Vaugh|title=DL Corey Peters to join Cardinals|url=http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/12452918/corey-peters-leave-atlanta-falcons-arizona-cardinals|publisher=ESPN|access-date=March 10, 2015|date=March 10, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.azcardinals.com/news-and-events/article-2/Cardinals-Agree-To-Terms-With-Iupati-Weatherspoon-Peters/f97101e7-d670-4d50-9b6d-38160c71cded|title=Cardinals Agree To Terms With Mike Iupati, Sean Weatherspoon, Corey Peters|work=AZCardinals.com|date=March 11, 2015|first=Darren|last=Urban|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171001121822/http://www.azcardinals.com/news-and-events/article-2/Cardinals-Agree-To-Terms-With-Iupati-Weatherspoon-Peters/f97101e7-d670-4d50-9b6d-38160c71cded|archive-date=October 1, 2017}}</ref> He tore his left [[Achilles tendon]] on August 20, 2015, during practice, and was placed on [[injured reserve]] the next day.<ref>{{cite web|work=ESPN.com|url=http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/13475913/corey-peters-arizona-cardinals-tears-achilles-done-season|title=Corey Peters lost after tearing Achilles in Cardinals practice|first=Josh|last=Weinfuss|date=August 20, 2015|access-date=August 23, 2015}}</ref>

On December 1, 2017, Peters signed a three-year contract extension with the Cardinals.<ref>{{cite web|title=Corey Peters signs three-year extension with Cardinals|url=http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000886013/article/corey-peters-signs-threeyear-extension-with-cardinals|author=Bergman, Jeremy|website=NFL.com|date=December 1, 2017|access-date=December 1, 2017|archive-date=December 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171202053358/http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000886013/article/corey-peters-signs-threeyear-extension-with-cardinals|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2018, Peters started 15 games, recording a career-high 51 tackles and 2.5 sacks.

In Week 10 of the 2020 season, Peters suffered a season-ending knee injury and was placed on injured reserve on November 19, 2020.<ref>{{cite web|title=Jordan Phillips, Corey Peters Put On IR As Cardinals Deal With D-Line Woes|url=https://www.azcardinals.com/news/jordan-phillips-corey-peters-injured-reserve-cardinals-defensive-line-woes|author=Urban, Darren|website=AZCardinals.com|date=November 19, 2020}}</ref>

On August 2, 2021, Peters signed a one-year deal with the Cardinals.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cardinals Re-Sign Defensive Lineman Corey Peters|url=https://www.azcardinals.com/news/cardinals-re-sign-defensive-lineman-corey-peters|author=Urban, Darren|website=AZCardinals.com|date=August 2, 2021}}</ref>

===Jacksonville Jaguars===
On September 12, 2022, Peters signed with the practice squad of the [[Jacksonville Jaguars]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Jaguars add veterans Corey Peters, James Murray to practice squad|url=https://jaguarswire.usatoday.com/2022/09/12/jaguars-add-veterans-corey-peters-james-murray-to-practice-squad/|author=Dillon, John|website=USAToday.com|date=September 12, 2022}}</ref> He was promoted to the active roster on October 12.<ref>{{cite web|title=Roster Moves: Jaguars sign two players to the active roster and two players to the practice squad|url=https://www.jaguars.com/news/roster-moves-jaguars-sign-two-players-to-the-active-roster-and-two-players-to-th|website=Jaguars.com|date=October 12, 2022}}</ref>

===Retirement===
Peters announced his retirement from the NFL after 13 seasons on April 6, 2023.<ref>{{cite web|title=Veteran DL Corey Peters retires after 12 NFL seasons|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/36093953/veteran-dl-corey-peters-retires-12-nfl-seasons|website=ESPN.com|date=April 6, 2023}}</ref>

Peters was inducted into the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2019.

==NFL career statistics==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team
! rowspan="2"| GP
! colspan="4"| Tackles
! colspan="3"| Fumbles
! colspan="6"| Interceptions
|-
! Cmb !! Solo !! Ast !! Sck !! FF !! FR !! Yds !! Int !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD !! PD
|-
! [[2010 NFL season|2010]] !! [[2010 Atlanta Falcons season|ATL]]
| 16 || 33 || 25 || 8 || 1.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1
|-
! [[2011 NFL season|2011]] !! [[2010 Atlanta Falcons season|ATL]]
| 15 || 26 || 21 || 5 || 3.0 || 0 || 1 || 13 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 0 || 3
|-
! [[2012 NFL season|2012]] !! [[2010 Atlanta Falcons season|ATL]]
| 10 || 15 || 11 || 4 || 0.0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1
|-
! [[2013 NFL season|2013]] !! [[2010 Atlanta Falcons season|ATL]]
| 15 || 46 || 29 || 17 || 5.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 2
|-
! [[2014 NFL season|2014]] !! [[2014 Atlanta Falcons season|ATL]]
| 15 || 26 || 15 || 11 || 2.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2015 NFL season|2015]] !! [[2015 Arizona Cardinals season|ARI]]
| 0 || colspan="13"| ''Did not play due to injury''
|-
! [[2016 NFL season|2016]] !! [[2016 Arizona Cardinals season|ARI]]
| 15 || 21 || 12 || 9 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2017 NFL season|2017]] !! [[2017 Arizona Cardinals season|ARI]]
| 12 || 22 || 18 || 4 || 1.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1
|-
! [[2018 NFL season|2018]] !! [[2018 Arizona Cardinals season|ARI]]
| 15 || 51 || 34 || 17 || 2.5 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2019 NFL season|2019]] !! [[2019 Arizona Cardinals season|ARI]]
| 16 || 38 || 19 || 19 || 2.5 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2020 NFL season|2020]] !! [[2020 Arizona Cardinals season|ARI]]
| 9 || 15 || 10 || 5 || 2.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1
|-
! [[2021 NFL season|2021]] !! [[2021 Arizona Cardinals season|ARI]]
| 14 || 24 || 10 || 14 || 0.0 || 0 || 1 || 4 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1
|-
! [[2022 NFL season|2022]] !! [[2022 Jacksonville Jaguars season|JAX]]
| 12 || 20 || 11 || 9 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! colspan="2"| Career<ref name=ESPN>{{cite web|title=Corey Peters Stats|url=http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/stats/_/id/13292/corey-peters|website=ESPN|publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures|access-date=August 19, 2015}}</ref> || 164 || 336 || 214 || 122 || 19.0 || 1 || 3 || 17 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 0 || 10
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.azcardinals.com/team/roster/Corey-Peters/58fc30ad-bbd3-40c0-b8a1-544c464e124f Arizona Cardinals bio]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20140407075936/http://www.ukathletics.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/peters_corey00.html Kentucky Wildcats bio]

{{Falcons2010DraftPicks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Peters, Corey}}
[[Category:1988 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American football defensive tackles]]
[[Category:American football defensive ends]]
[[Category:Arizona Cardinals players]]
[[Category:Atlanta Falcons players]]
[[Category:Central High School (Louisville, Kentucky) alumni]]
[[Category:Jacksonville Jaguars players]]
[[Category:Kentucky Wildcats football players]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Pittsburgh]]

Champ Bailey

2024-05-10T00:49:22Z

Dslmsbs:

{{Short description|American football player (born 1978)}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Champ Bailey
| image = Champ Bailey 2010.JPG
| image_size = 200px
| alt =
| caption = Bailey with the Broncos in 2010
| number = 24
| position = [[Cornerback]]
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1978|6|22|mf=y}}
| birth_place = [[Fort Campbell, Kentucky]], U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 0
| weight_lb = 192
| high_school = [[Charlton County High School|Charlton County]] ([[Folkston, Georgia]])
| college = [[Georgia Bulldogs football|Georgia]] (1996–1998)
| draftyear = 1999
| draftround = 1
| draftpick = 7
| pastteams =
* [[Washington Redskins]] ({{NFL Year|1999|2003}})
* [[Denver Broncos]] ({{NFL Year|2004|2013}})
* [[New Orleans Saints]] ({{NFL Year|2014}})*

| highlights =
* 4× First-team [[All-Pro]] ([[2004 All-Pro Team|2004]]–[[2007 All-Pro Team|2007]])
* 4× Second-team All-Pro ([[2000 All-Pro Team|2000]], [[2003 All-Pro Team|2003]], [[2007 All-Pro Team|2007]], [[2012 All-Pro Team|2012]])
* 12× [[Pro Bowl]] ([[2001 Pro Bowl|2000]]–[[2008 Pro Bowl|2007]], [[2010 Pro Bowl|2009]]–[[2013 Pro Bowl|2012]])
* [[List of NFL annual interceptions leaders|NFL interceptions leader]] (2006)
* [[National Football League 2000s All-Decade Team|NFL 2000s All-Decade Team]]
* [[Pro Football Writers of America NFL All-Rookie Team|PFWA All-Rookie Team]] ([[Pro Football Writers of America NFL All-Rookie Team#1999|1999]])
* [[Washington Commanders#90 Greatest|Washington Commanders 90 Greatest]]
* [[Denver Broncos#50th Anniversary Team|Denver Broncos 50th Anniversary Team]]
* [[Denver Broncos Ring of Fame]]
* [[Bronko Nagurski Trophy]] (1998)
* Consensus [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] ([[1998 College Football All-America Team|1998]])
* 2× First-team [[List of All-SEC football teams|All-SEC]] ([[1997 All-SEC football team|1997]], [[1998 All-SEC football team|1998]])
; NFL record
* Most pass deflections: 203
| statlabel1 = Total [[Tackle (football move)#Gridiron football|tackles]]
| statvalue1 = 931
| statlabel2 = [[Interception]]s
| statvalue2 = 52
| statlabel3 = Interception yards
| statvalue3 = 464
| statlabel4 = [[Pass deflected|Pass deflections]]
| statvalue4 = 203
| statlabel5 = Forced [[fumble]]s
| statvalue5 = 7
| statlabel6 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue6 = 6
| statlabel7 = [[Quarterback sack|Sacks]]
| statvalue7 = 3
| statlabel8 = Total [[touchdown]]s
| statvalue8 = 5
| nfl = champ-bailey
| pfr = BailCh00
| HOF = champ-bailey
| CollegeHOF = 2481
}}

'''Roland''' "'''Champ'''" '''Bailey Jr.''' (born June 22, 1978) is an American former [[American football|football]] [[cornerback]] who played in the [[National Football League]] (NFL). He played [[college football]] for the [[Georgia Bulldogs football|Georgia Bulldogs]], where he earned consensus [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] honors, and was selected by the [[Washington Redskins]] in the first round of the [[1999 NFL draft]].

In 2004, Bailey was traded to the [[Denver Broncos]], where he played for ten seasons until he was released in early 2014, following the Broncos [[Super Bowl XLVIII]] loss. Bailey signed with the [[New Orleans Saints]] shortly afterward but was released before the start of the regular season. In October 2014, Bailey announced his retirement from the NFL after 15 seasons. He was selected to 12 [[Pro Bowl]]s in his career, the most ever for a cornerback. He holds the current NFL record for most passes defended, with 203. In 2019, he was elected to the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]] in his first year of eligibility. Bailey is widely considered to be one of the greatest cornerbacks in NFL history.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Ledbetter|first=D. Orlando|date=2019-08-01|title=Long way from Folkston to Canton, Ohio for Champ Bailey|url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/football/long-way-from-folkston-canton-ohio-for-champ-bailey/D4pbVG0brNseebJaKTZmqL/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-11-05|website=ajc|language=English|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190802140614/https://www.ajc.com/sports/football/long-way-from-folkston-canton-ohio-for-champ-bailey/D4pbVG0brNseebJaKTZmqL/ |archive-date=August 2, 2019 }}</ref>

==Early years==
Bailey was born in [[Fort Campbell, Kentucky]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nfl.com/players/champ-bailey/|title=Champ Bailey |publisher=NFL Enterprises LLC |access-date=September 6, 2012}}</ref> and grew up in [[Folkston, Georgia]], where he was a three-sport athlete (football, [[basketball]], [[Track and field|track]]) at [[Charlton County High School]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Barney|first=Justin|date=2019-10-04|title=Champ Bailey returns to Charlton a hall of famer|url=https://www.news4jax.com/sports/2019/10/04/champ-bailey-returns-to-charlton-a-hall-of-famer/|access-date=2021-11-05|website=WJXT|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> His two brothers, Ronald and [[Boss Bailey]], also played football at Charlton County and the University of Georgia. Champ's first two seasons at Georgia overlapped with Ronald's last two seasons; Champ then played his final season alongside Boss. Ronald went on to sign with the NFL's [[Dallas Cowboys]] but suffered a career-ending injury. Boss played [[linebacker]] in the NFL for the [[Detroit Lions]] from 2003 to 2007, then joined Champ on the Denver Broncos in 2008.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Demasio|first=Nunyo|date=2002-11-17|title=Speaking Softly, a Big Hit|language=en-US|newspaper=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2002/11/17/speaking-softly-a-big-hit/32b2e8f3-619f-42c4-b984-cbb12e6fd6fe/|access-date=2021-11-05|issn=0190-8286}}</ref>

At Charlton County High School, Bailey recorded 3,573 rushing yards, 58 rushing touchdowns, 13 100-yard rushing games, and 1,211 passing yards on 74 completions. On defense he recorded eight interceptions, while on special teams he returned 26 kickoffs for 731 yards and 22 punts for 318 yards. His total offensive yardage was 5,855 with 394 points scored. He still holds school records for season rushing yards (1,858), season rushing touchdowns (28), season scoring (180), and single-game rushing (417 yards), while also tying the record for single-game rushing touchdowns.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eteamz.com/charltoncoindians/news/index.cfm?cat=190708|title=Charlton County Indians School Records|publisher=Charlton County High School|access-date=September 12, 2013|archive-date=August 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180802053431/http://www.eteamz.com/charltoncoindians/news/index.cfm?cat=190708|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==College career==
Bailey received an [[athletic scholarship]] to attend the [[University of Georgia]], where he played for the [[Georgia Bulldogs football]] team from 1996 to 1998. He was regarded as one of college football's greatest multiple threats (offense, defense, and special teams) in his three seasons as a Bulldog. In his final year at Georgia, he registered 52 tackles (four for losses), three interceptions, seven passes deflected, 47 catches for 744 yards (15.8 avg.), five touchdowns, 84 yards rushing on 16 carries, 12 kickoff returns for 261 yards and four punt returns for 49 yards. He averaged 103.5 all-purpose yards per game and logged 957 plays (547 defense, 301 offense, and 109 special teams) on the way to earning consensus first-team All-America and first-team [[List of All-SEC football teams|All-Southeastern Conference]] honors and claiming the [[Bronko Nagurski Trophy]] as the nation's top defensive player. Against the [[Virginia Cavaliers football|Virginia Cavaliers]] in the [[Peach Bowl]], he caught three passes for 73 yards, including a 14-yard touchdown, rushed three times for nine yards, returned five kickoffs for 104 yards, returned a punt 12 yards, and posted two tackles and one pass defended at cornerback. In three years at Georgia, he played 33 games (24 starts) and recorded 147 total tackles, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble, eight interceptions and 27 passes defended. He was an All-SEC first-team selection as a sophomore, starting every game at left cornerback and one game at wide receiver.{{citation needed|date=January 2014}}

===Track and field===
Bailey was also a standout track and field athlete at Georgia; he ran the [[55 meters]] and [[60 meters]], recording personal bests of 6.35 seconds and 6.85 seconds, respectively. He also competed in [[long jump]] and [[triple jump]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Champ BAILEY {{!}} Profile|url=https://www.worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/champ-bailey-173454|website=www.worldathletics.org|access-date=2020-05-19}}</ref>

Bailey set a school indoor long jump record in 1998 of {{convert|7.89|m|ftin|sp=us}} to finish third at the SEC Indoor Track and Field Championships.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=498&contentID=2152 |title=Champ Bailey |work=Denver Broncos Official Website |access-date=November 28, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070702194858/http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=498&contentID=2152 |archive-date=July 2, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Professional career==

===1999 NFL Draft===
Bailey was selected with the seventh overall pick in the first round of the [[1999 NFL draft]] by the Redskins.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1999 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1999/draft.htm |access-date=2023-03-28 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nfl.com/draft/history/fulldraft?season=1999 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080419222959/http://www.nfl.com/draft/history/fulldraft?season=1999 |archive-date=April 19, 2008 |title=NFL Draft History: Full Draft|website=[[NFL.com]] }}</ref> He was the first ever drafted player to come from his hometown of Folkston, Georgia.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Champ Bailey "Something To Prove"|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/216688-champ-bailey-something-to-prove|last=T|first=David|website=Bleacher Report|language=en|access-date=2020-05-19}}</ref>

{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 5
| height in = 11+3/4
| weight = 184
| dash = 4.28
| ten split = 1.48
| twenty split = 2.49
| shuttle = 3.79
| cone drill =
| vertical = 37.0
| broad ft = 10
| broad in = 1
| bench =
| arm span = 31+3/8
| hand span = 9
| note = All values from NFL Combine and Georgia Pro Day<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=60922&DraftYear=1999 |title=Champ Bailey, Georgia, CB, 1999 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football |website=draftscout.com |access-date=August 27, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://nflcombineresults.com/playerpage.php?i=4886 |title=Champ Bailey, Combine Results, CB - Georgia |website=nflcombineresults.com |access-date=August 27, 2021}}</ref>
}}

===Washington Redskins===
On July 24, 1999, Bailey signed a 5-year, $12 million contract including a $2 million signing bonus.<ref>"REDSKINS, LIONS SIGN NO 1 DRAFT PICKS", [[Chicago Tribune]], July 25, 1999.</ref> Bailey quickly established a reputation as one of the league's best defensive backs.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_50_228/ai_n8576576/ | work=The Sporting News | title=Shutdown corner: the term starts and ends with Deion | first=Troy | last=Aikman | year=2004}}</ref> He was a large presence on the Redskins defense and benefited from time spent with eventual [[Hall of Fame]] cornerback teammates [[Deion Sanders]] and [[Darrell Green]]. After the 2003 season, Bailey's contract with the Redskins expired and he threatened to boycott training camp if the club exercised the [[franchise tag]].<ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2004/03/04/broncos-redskins040304.html Broncos swap Portis for Bailey], CBC Sports, March 5, 2004.</ref> In a surprising move, the Redskins gave Bailey permission to seek a trade.<ref>Len Pasquarelli, [http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=pasquarelli_len&id=1734533 'Skins could use 'franchise' tag on CB; Champ Bailey, one of the league's top cornerbacks, was surprisingly given permission by the Redskins to seek a trade], ESPN, February 16, 2004.</ref>

===Denver Broncos===
Prior to the 2004 season, Bailey was traded to Denver along with a second-round draft pick for [[Clinton Portis]].

On September 12, 2004, during the NFL's opening [[ESPN Sunday Night Football|Sunday Night Football]] game of the season, Bailey intercepted his first pass as a Denver Bronco.

On January 14, 2006, in a divisional playoff game against the [[New England Patriots]], he broke the record for the longest non-scoring play in NFL history at the time. With the Patriots near the goal line, he intercepted a pass from quarterback [[Tom Brady]] in the end zone and returned it 100 yards to the New England one-yard line before he was tackled by New England's [[Benjamin Watson]].

In [[2006 NFL season|2006]], Bailey had 10 interceptions (tied for best in the NFL with Patriots cornerback [[Asante Samuel]]) and did not give up a touchdown during the season. Bailey, [[San Diego Chargers]] [[running back]] [[LaDainian Tomlinson]] and [[Miami Dolphins]] [[defensive end]] [[Jason Taylor (American football player)|Jason Taylor]] were unanimous choices for the NFL All-Pro team. Following the season's conclusion, Bailey finished second in voting for NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

In 2009, Bailey did not allow a touchdown in 80 passes thrown his way that year, played on 98% of the snaps and remained one of the best-tackling cornerbacks in the game.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.denverpost.com/ci_15354803 |work=Denver Post |first=Mike |last=Klis |title=Broncos will have to deal with Bailey decision |date=June 23, 2010}}</ref>

On September 15, 2009, Bailey was chosen for the Broncos 50th Anniversary team by the Denver community. This team was honored during the halftime show of the Legacy game versus the Patriots on October 11.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.milehighreport.com/2009/9/15/1032381/denver-broncos-50th-anniversary/ |title = Denver Broncos 50th Anniversary Team Released|date = September 15, 2009}}</ref>

In 2010, Bailey matched up against some of the NFL's best wideouts. He held [[Dwayne Bowe]] to no catches on 2 targets. The [[Arizona Cardinals]] only completed 3 passes on him for 19 yards in a game where he matched up with [[Larry Fitzgerald]]. Bailey was selected to play in his record-breaking 10th Pro Bowl. No cornerback in NFL history has been to more.{{citation needed|date=January 2014}}

It was announced on February 22, 2011 by the Broncos vice president of football operations, [[John Elway]], that Bailey was re-signed to a 4-year contract.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_17454037 |work=Denver Post |first=Mike |last=Klis |title=Broncos re-sign Champ Bailey to four-year contract for $43 million |date=February 22, 2011}}</ref>

During the 2012 offseason, Bailey was named the 46th-best player in the NFL by the league's network, [[NFL Network]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://broncotalk.net/2012/05/37292/broncos-blog/champ-bailey-ranked-no-46-in-nflns-top-100/ | title=Champ Bailey ranked No. 46 in NFLN's Top 100 | access-date=July 1, 2012 | archive-date=June 3, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120603205233/http://broncotalk.net/2012/05/37292/broncos-blog/champ-bailey-ranked-no-46-in-nflns-top-100/ | url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2012, Bailey was named an All-Pro for the 8th time of his career and was selected to the [[2013 Pro Bowl]]. The Pro Bowl selection was his 12th, extending the record he set for trips by a cornerback, and tied the record for most Pro Bowls played, along with [[Randall McDaniel]] and [[Will Shields]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nfl.com/photos/mind-blowing-stats-for-the-2013-pro-bowl-0ap1000000130611|title=Mind-blowing stats for the 2013 Pro Bowl|work=[[National Football League]]|date=January 24, 2013|access-date=February 3, 2022}}</ref>

During the 2013 offseason, Bailey was named the 53rd-best player in the NFL by his peers on the league's network, NFL Network.{{citation needed|date=January 2014}}

During the course of the 2013 season, Bailey was limited to a career-low 5 games with a foot injury; however, Bailey returned in time for the playoffs and held his own when fellow cornerback, [[Chris Harris (cornerback)|Chris Harris]], was ruled out for the remainder of the season after a torn [[Anterior cruciate ligament|ACL]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Champ Bailey starting in place of Chris Harris |url=http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/133217/champ-bailey |work=CBS Sports |date=January 19, 2014 |access-date=January 21, 2014}}</ref> Bailey played in his first Super Bowl at [[Super Bowl XLVIII]] in which he had 4 tackles in a 43–8 loss to the [[Seattle Seahawks]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201402020den.htm |title=Super Bowl XLVIII - Seattle Seahawks vs. Denver Broncos - February 2nd, 2014 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en |access-date=November 3, 2017}}</ref>

On March 6, 2014, the [[Denver Broncos]] released Bailey.<ref>{{cite web |title=Broncos release Champ Bailey |url=http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/10559528/denver-broncos-release-veteran-cornerback-champ-bailey |publisher=ESPN |date=March 6, 2014 |access-date=March 6, 2014}}</ref>

===New Orleans Saints===
On April 4, 2014, Champ Bailey signed a two-year, $7 million contract with the [[New Orleans Saints]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_25495319/champ-bailey-signing-new-orleans-saints-report |title = Champ Bailey agrees to terms with New Orleans Saints for two-year deal|date = April 4, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|work=NFL.com|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/champ-bailey-new-orleans-saints-agree-to-contract-0ap2000000339499|title=Champ Bailey, New Orleans Saints agree to contract|first=Gregg|last=Rosenthal|date=April 4, 2014|access-date=February 3, 2022}}</ref> Bailey failed to make the final roster and was released by the team on August 30, 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/nfl-roster-deadline-cutdown-bubble-top-10-michael-sam-champ-bailey-manningham-waivers-contracts/1c7awaz8cskk414ot4lsh2ckvp|title=Manningham, Bailey, Sam among top 10 potential roster cut casualties - Sporting News |date=August 29, 2014 |access-date=February 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903040434/http://beta.sportingnews.com/article/4605504-nfl-roster-deadline-cutdown-bubble-top-10-michael-sam-champ-bailey-manningham-waivers-contracts |archive-date=September 3, 2014 }}</ref>

===Retirement===
Bailey announced his retirement from professional football on October 18, 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/champ-bailey-retiring-after-15-nfl-seasons-0ap3000000419329 |title=Champ Bailey retiring after 15 NFL seasons |first=Marc|last=Sessler|work=NFL.com|date=October 28, 2014|access-date=February 3, 2022}}</ref>
On November 14, 2014, it was announced that Bailey would sign a one-day contract with Denver to allow him to officially retire as a Bronco.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.nfl.com/news/champ-bailey-to-sign-one-day-contract-retire-with-broncos-0ap3000000428115 | title=Champ Bailey to sign one-day contract, retire with Broncos| website=[[NFL.com]]|date=November 14, 2014|access-date=February 3, 2022}}</ref>

===Pro Football Hall of Fame===
On February 2, 2019, Bailey was elected to the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]] in his first year of eligibility. He was enshrined on August 3, 2019, during a ceremony in Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.profootballhof.com/pro-football-hall-of-fames-class-of-2019/|title=Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2019|website=Pro Football Hall of Fame Official Site}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Bailey married his wife, Jessica, at the Pelican Hill resort in Newport Beach, California in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Georgia|url=https://www.dawgnation.com/pwa/georgia/article/georgia-football-legends-champ-bailey-hines-ward-have-atlanta-houses-for-sale-during-super-bowl|access-date=2020-07-13|website=www.dawgnation.com|archive-date=July 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200713025618/https://www.dawgnation.com/pwa/georgia/article/georgia-football-legends-champ-bailey-hines-ward-have-atlanta-houses-for-sale-during-super-bowl|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=NFL Star Champ Bailey -- MARRIES HOT MODEL GIRLFRIEND|url=https://www.tmz.com/2014/07/14/champ-bailey-marries-hot-girlfriend-jessica-herrera/|access-date=2020-07-13|website=TMZ|language=en}}</ref>

Bailey was inducted into the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2019.

==NFL career statistics==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="2"| Legend
|-
| style="background:#e0cef2; width:3em;"|
| NFL record
|-
| style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"|
| Led the league
|-
| style="width:3em;"| '''Bold'''
| Career high
|-
| style="width:3em;"| Underline
| Incomplete data
|}

===Regular season===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team
! colspan="2"| Games
! colspan="6"| Tackles
! colspan="6"| Interceptions
! colspan="5"| Fumbles
|-
! {{abbr|GP|Games played}} !! {{abbr|GS|Games started}} !! {{abbr|Cmb|Total tackles}} !! {{abbr|Solo|Solo tackles}} !! {{abbr|Ast|Assists on tackles}} !! {{abbr|TFL|Tackles for loss}} !! {{abbr|QBH|Quarterback hits}} !! {{abbr|Sck|Sacks}} !! {{abbr|PD|Pass deflections}} !! {{abbr|Int|Interceptions on defense}} !! {{abbr|Yds|Interception return yardage}} !! {{abbr|Y/I|Yards per interception return}} !! {{abbr|Lng|Longest interception return}} !! {{abbr|TD|Interceptions returned for touchdowns}} !! {{abbr|FF|Forced fumbles}} !! {{abbr|FR|Fumbles recovered}} !! {{abbr|Yds|Fumble recovery returns yardage}} !! {{abbr|Y/F|Yards per fumble recovery return}} !! {{abbr|TD|Fumble recoveries returned for touchdowns}}
|-
! [[1999 NFL season|1999]] !! [[1999 Washington Redskins season|WAS]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 80 || 73 || 7 || 2 || — || '''1.0''' || 16 || 5 || 55 || 11.0 || 59 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || — || 0
|-
! [[2000 NFL season|2000]] !! [[2000 Washington Redskins season|WAS]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 61 || 56 || 5 || 0 || — || 0.0 || 14 || 5 || 48 || 9.6 || 48 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0.0 || 0
|-
! [[2001 NFL season|2001]] !! [[2001 Washington Redskins season|WAS]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 51 || 49 || 2 || 1 || — || 0.0 || 18 || 3 || 17 || 5.7 || 12 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 0 || 0.0 || 0
|-
! [[2002 NFL season|2002]] !! [[2002 Washington Redskins season|WAS]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 68 || 62 || 6 || 2 || — || 0.0 || style="background:#cfecec;"| '''24''' || 3 || 2 || 0.7 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0.0 || 0
|-
! [[2003 NFL season|2003]] !! [[2003 Washington Redskins season|WAS]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 72 || 68 || 4 || 5 || — || 0.0 || 9 || 2 || 2 || 1.0 || 2 || 0 || 1 || '''2''' || 1 || 0.5 || 0
|-
! [[2004 NFL season|2004]] !! [[2004 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 81 || 68 || '''13''' || '''6''' || — || 0.0 || 12 || 3 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || — || 0
|-
! [[2005 NFL season|2005]] !! [[2005 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| 14 || 14 || 66 || 60 || 6 || 3 || — || 0.0 || 23 || 8 || 139 || '''17.4''' || 65 || style="background:#cfecec;"| '''2''' || 1 || 0 || 0 || — || 0
|-
! [[2006 NFL season|2006]] !! [[2006 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || '''86''' || '''74''' || 12 || 5 || 0 || 0.0 || 21 || style="background:#cfecec;"| '''10''' || style="background:#cfecec;"| '''162''' || 16.2 || '''70''' || 1 || 0 || 1 || '''4''' || '''4.0''' || 0
|-
! [[2007 NFL season|2007]] !! [[2007 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| 15 || 15 || 84 || 71 || '''13''' || 5 || 1 || 0.0 || 14 || 3 || 3 || 1.0 || 3 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || — || 0
|-
! [[2008 NFL season|2008]] !! [[2008 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| 9 || 9 || 44 || 39 || 5 || 3 || '''2''' || '''1.0''' || 3 || 1 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || '''2''' || 0 || 0 || — || 0
|-
! [[2009 NFL season|2009]] !! [[2009 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 74 || 63 || 11 || 3 || 0 || 0.0 || 15 || 3 || 18 || 6.0 || 11 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || — || 0
|-
! [[2010 NFL season|2010]] !! [[2010 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| 15 || 15 || 45 || 41 || 4 || 3 || 1 || '''1.0''' || 13 || 2 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || — || 0
|-
! [[2011 NFL season|2011]] !! [[2011 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| 13 || 13 || 39 || 35 || 4 || 1 || 0 || 0.0 || 10 || 2 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || — || 0
|-
! [[2012 NFL season|2012]] !! [[2012 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| '''16''' || 15 || 66 || 61 || 5 || 3 || 0 || 0.0 || 8 || 2 || 18 || 9.0 || 18 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || — || 0
|-
! [[2013 NFL season|2013]] !! [[2013 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| 5 || 3 || 14 || 12 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 3 || 0 || 0 || — || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || — || 0
|-
! colspan="2"| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BailCh00.htm Career] !! 215 !! 212 !! 931 !! 832 !! 99 !! 42 !! 4 !! 3.0 !! style="background:#e0cef2;"| 203 !! 52 !! 464 !! 8.9 !! 70 !! 4 !! 7 !! 6 !! 5 !! 0.8 !! 0
|}

===Postseason===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team
! colspan="2"| Games
! colspan="6"| Tackles
! colspan="6"| Interceptions
|-
! {{abbr|GP|Games played}} !! {{abbr|GS|Games started}} !! {{abbr|Cmb|Total tackles}} !! {{abbr|Solo|Solo tackles}} !! {{abbr|Ast|Assists on tackles}} !! {{abbr|TFL|Tackles for loss}} !! {{abbr|QBH|Quarterback hits}} !! {{abbr|Sck|Sacks}} !! {{abbr|PD|Pass deflections}} !! {{abbr|Int|Interceptions on defense}} !! {{abbr|Yds|Interception return yardage}} !! {{abbr|Y/I|Yards per interception return}} !! {{abbr|Lng|Longest interception return}} !! {{abbr|TD|Interceptions returned for touchdowns}}
|-
! [[1999–00 NFL playoffs|1999]] !! [[1999 Washington Redskins season|WAS]]
| 2 || '''2''' || 4 || 4 || 0 || 0 || — || 0.0 || 2 || '''1''' || 5 || 5.0 || 5 || 0
|-
! [[2004–05 NFL playoffs|2004]] !! [[2004 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| 1 || 1 || 8 || 8 || 0 || 0 || — || 0.0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || — || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2005–06 NFL playoffs|2005]] !! [[2005 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| 2 || '''2''' || 5 || 3 || '''2''' || 0 || — || 0.0 || 2 || '''1''' || '''100''' || '''100.0''' || '''100''' || 0
|-
! [[2011–12 NFL playoffs|2011]] !! [[2011 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| 2 || '''2''' || 5 || 3 || '''2''' || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || '''3''' || 0 || 0 || — || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2012–13 NFL playoffs|2012]] !! [[2012 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| 1 || 1 || 2 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || — || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2013–14 NFL playoffs|2013]] !! [[2013 Denver Broncos season|DEN]]
| '''3''' || '''2''' || '''11''' || '''11''' || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || — || 0 || 0
|-
! colspan="2"| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BailCh00/gamelog/post/ Career] !! 11 !! 10 !! 35 !! 31 !! 4 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0.0 !! 9 !! 2 !! 105 !! 52.5 !! 100 !! 0
|}

===NFL records===
* Most [[Pro Bowl]] selections for a defensive back (12)
* Most passes defended (203)
* Longest interception return in a postseason game without scoring (100 yds) (vs [[New England Patriots]], 1/14/06)
* Youngest player to intercept 3 passes in a game (21) (at Arizona Cardinals, 10/17/99)

===Pro Bowl records===
* Most career interceptions in Pro Bowl (4)

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Biography}}
{{Commons category-inline}}

{{Bronko Nagurski Trophy}}
{{1998 NCAA Division I-A College Football Consensus All-Americans}}
{{1999 NFL Draft}}
{{RedskinsFirstPick}}
{{Redskins1999DraftPicks}}
{{Washington Commanders 90 Greatest}}
{{NFL season interception leaders}}
{{NFL2000s}}
{{2019 Football HOF}}
{{Pro Football Hall of Fame members}}
{{Broncos50th}}
{{Denver Broncos Ring of Honor}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bailey, Champ}}
[[Category:1978 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:All-American college football players]]
[[Category:American Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:American football cornerbacks]]
[[Category:American football wide receivers]]
[[Category:Denver Broncos players]]
[[Category:Georgia Bulldogs football players]]
[[Category:National Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:New Orleans Saints players]]
[[Category:People from Christian County, Kentucky]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Charlton County, Georgia]]
[[Category:Washington Redskins players]]
[[Category:Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American sportspeople]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American sportspeople]]
[[Category:Coaches of American football from North Carolina]]

Bob Fry

2024-01-26T02:19:03Z

Dslmsbs:

{{Short description|American football player and coach (1930–2019)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{other uses|Bob Fry (golfer)|Robert Fry (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Bob Fry
| image = Bob Fry 1959.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Fry in 1959
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 4
| weight_lbs = 235
| number = 75
| position = [[Offensive tackle]]
| birth_date = {{birth date|1930|11|11}}
| birth_place = [[Cincinnati]], [[Ohio]], U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2019|11|10|1930|11|11}}
| death_place = [[Wilmington, North Carolina]], U.S.
| high_school = [[Elder High School|Elder]] (Cincinnati, Ohio)
| college = [[University of Kentucky|Kentucky]]
| draftyear = 1953
| draftround = 3
| draftpick = 36
| pastteams =
* [[Los Angeles Rams]] ({{NFL Year|1953}}, {{NFL Year|1956}}–{{NFL Year|1959}})
* [[Dallas Cowboys]] ({{NFL Year|1960}}–{{NFL Year|1964}})
* [[Cleveland Browns]] ({{NFL Year|1965}})*
| pastteamsnote = yes
| pastcoaching =
* [[Atlanta Falcons]] ({{NFL Year|1967}}) Assistant offensive line coach
* Atlanta Falcons ({{NFL Year|1968}}) Offensive line coach
* [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] ({{NFL Year|1969}}–{{NFL Year|1973}}) Offensive line coach
* [[New York Jets]] ({{NFL Year|1974}}–{{NFL Year|1982}}) Offensive line coach
* Atlanta Falcons ({{NFL Year|1983}}–{{NFL Year|1984}}) Offensive line coach
| highlights =
* 2× Third-team All-[[Southeastern Conference|SEC]] ([[1951 All-SEC football team|1951]], [[1952 All-SEC football team|1952]])
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 126
| statlabel2 = Games started
| statvalue2 = 119
| nflnew = bobfry/2514470
| pfr = FryxBo20
| pfrcoach = FryxBo0
}}

'''Robert Moellering Fry''' (November 11, 1930 – November 10, 2019)<ref>[https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/robert-fry-obituary?pid=194447140 Robert Moellering Fry]</ref> was a former [[American football]] [[offensive lineman]] in the [[National Football League]] (NFL) for the [[Los Angeles Rams]] and [[Dallas Cowboys]]. He played [[college football]] at the [[University of Kentucky]] and was [[NFL Draft|drafted]] in the third round of the [[1953 NFL Draft]].

==Early years==
Fry attended [[Elder High School]] before moving on to the [[University of Kentucky]], where he was coached by [[Paul "Bear" Bryant]]. He was a part of the freshman [[basketball]] team that included [[Cliff Hagan]] and [[Frank Ramsey (basketball)|Frank Ramsey]].

In 1950, he was named the starting [[End (American football)|offensive end]] as a sophomore and contributed to Kentucky's best season under Bryant,<ref>{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1817&dat=19501112&id=le8-AAAAIBAJ&sjid=OU0MAAAAIBAJ&pg=6339,3512964 | title=Parilli Passes Stun State In 48–21 Win | accessdate=February 3, 2018}}</ref> finishing with an 11–1 record and a 13–7 upset in the [[Sugar Bowl]] over the eventual [[1950 college football season|national champions]] the [[University of Oklahoma]], also ending the Sooners' 31-game winning streak.

As a senior, he was moved to the [[offensive tackle]] position and earned his second straight third-team [[Southeastern Conference|All-SEC]] honors.

==Professional career==
===Los Angeles Rams===
Fry was selected by the [[Los Angeles Rams]] in the third round (36th overall) of the [[1953 NFL Draft]].<ref>{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1338&dat=19530610&id=APNXAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ePYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5720,3689571 | title=Trio of Players Signed By Rams | accessdate=February 3, 2018}}</ref> He became a starter at [[left tackle]] as a rookie, before spending the next two years out of football while serving his military service.

He returned in [[1956 NFL season|1956]] and maintained his starting role for four straight seasons, even though at the time he was one of the lightest [[offensive linemen]] in the [[National Football League|NFL]].{{citation needed|date=October 2019}}

===Dallas Cowboys===
Fry was selected by the [[Dallas Cowboys]] after being left unprotected in the [[1960 NFL Expansion Draft]],<ref>{{cite web | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19600314&id=kP4jAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ihAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4628,2019352 | title=Dallas Gets Putnam, Five More Vets | accessdate=February 3, 2018 | archive-date=April 27, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160427234601/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19600314&id=kP4jAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ihAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4628,2019352 | url-status=dead }}</ref> becoming the first starting [[left tackle]] in franchise history.

He was a starter on the left side of the line during the Cowboys first three seasons, until he lost his spot to [[Tony Liscio]] in the middle of the [[1963 NFL season|1963 season]] and was moved to the [[right tackle]] position in place of [[Ed Nutting]].<ref>{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1842&dat=19640905&id=kA4sAAAAIBAJ&sjid=oMgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3112,681423| title=Cowboys Beef Up Defense | accessdate=February 3, 2018}}</ref>

In [[1964 NFL season|1964]], he started five games at [[right tackle]], after being passed on the depth chart by [[Ray Schoenke]]. On July 19, 1965, he was traded to the [[Cleveland Browns]] in exchange for a [[player to be named later]].<ref>{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1917&dat=19650720&id=xj1GAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zOgMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2578,3603895&hl=en | title=Grid Giant Rookies Impress | accessdate=February 3, 2018}}</ref>

===Cleveland Browns===
Fry retired after being released by the [[Cleveland Browns]] on August 29, 1965.

==Coaching career==
In [[1967 NFL season|1967]], after being the [[Atlanta Falcons]]' chief talent scout, he was named the assistant [[offensive line]] coach and eventually was promoted to offensive line coach.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=888&dat=19670202&id=QsgNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=bHQDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4570,850567 | title=Sports In Brief | accessdate=February 3, 2018}}</ref>

In [[1969 NFL season|1969]], he joined the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] as the offensive line coach.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1129&dat=19690218&id=jsYwAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_WwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4100,2601782 | title=Steeler Coach Staff Completed | accessdate=February 3, 2018}}</ref>

In [[1974 NFL season|1974]], Fry began a nine-year stint as the [[New York Jets]] offensive line coach.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1917&dat=19740118&id=4BNGAAAAIBAJ&sjid=AegMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1679,680004 | title=Fry Named Jet Coach For Offense | accessdate=February 3, 2018}}</ref> He resigned in [[1983 NFL season|1983]] after the unexpected firing of [[head coach]] [[Walt Michaels]], becoming the offensive line coach and offensive coordinator for the [[Atlanta Falcons]].<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/02/16/sports/2-more-aides-leave-jets.html | title=2 More Aides Leave Jets | accessdate=February 3, 2018}}</ref>

== Awards ==
In 2020, Fry was inducted into the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame.

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{1950 Kentucky Wildcats football navbox}}
{{Los Angeles Rams 1953 draft navbox}}
{{1960 Dallas Cowboys}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fry, Bob}}
[[Category:1930 births]]
[[Category:2019 deaths]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Cincinnati]]
[[Category:American football offensive tackles]]
[[Category:Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball players]]
[[Category:Kentucky Wildcats football players]]
[[Category:Los Angeles Rams players]]
[[Category:Dallas Cowboys players]]
[[Category:Atlanta Falcons coaches]]
[[Category:New York Jets coaches]]
[[Category:Pittsburgh Steelers coaches]]
[[Category:American men's basketball players]]
[[Category:Elder High School alumni]]

Elois Grooms

2024-01-26T02:12:56Z

Dslmsbs:

{{Short description|American football player (born 1953)}}
{{No significant coverage (sports)|date=May 2023}}{{Infobox NFL biography
|name=Elois Grooms
|image=
|caption=
|position=[[Defensive end]]
|number=
|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1953|5|20|mf=y}}
|birth_place=[[Tompkinsville, Kentucky]], U.S.
|death_date=
|death_place=
|height_ft = 6
|height_in = 4
|weight_lbs = 249
|high_school =
|college=[[Tennessee Tech]]
|draftyear=1975
|draftround=3
|draftpick=63
|pastteams=
* [[New Orleans Saints]] (1975–1981)
* [[St. Louis Cardinals (NFL)|St. Louis Cardinals]] (1982–1985)
* [[Philadelphia Eagles]] (1987)
|highlights=
|statseason=
|statlabel1=
|statvalue1=
|statlabel2=
|statvalue2=
|statlabel3=
|statvalue3=
|nfl=GRO226518
}}
'''Elois T. Grooms''' (born May 20, 1953) is a former [[American football]] [[defensive lineman]] in the [[National Football League]] (NFL). He was [[NFL draft|drafted]] by the [[New Orleans Saints]] in the third round of the [[1975 NFL Draft]], and he played with the Saints until 1981. Then he played for the [[St. Louis Cardinals (NFL)|St. Louis Cardinals]] from 1982 to 1985 and for the [[Philadelphia Eagles]] in 1987. He played [[college football]] at [[Tennessee Technological University|Tennessee Tech]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Elois Grooms Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GrooEl20.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230417004714/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GrooEl20.htm |archive-date=2023-04-17 |access-date=2023-04-17 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> Grooms was inducted into the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020.

== References ==
{{Reflist}}{{Saints1975DraftPicks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Grooms, Elois}}
[[Category:1953 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Tompkinsville, Kentucky]]
[[Category:American football defensive linemen]]
[[Category:New Orleans Saints players]]
[[Category:Philadelphia Eagles players]]
[[Category:St. Louis Cardinals (football) players]]
[[Category:Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles football players]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Kentucky]]

{{defensive-lineman-1950s-stub}}

Eric Wood

2024-01-26T02:11:11Z

Dslmsbs:

{{Short description|American football player (born 1986)}}
{{Other people}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
|name=Eric Wood
|image=Eric Wood Bills70.jpg
|caption=Wood in 2013
|current_team=
|number=70
|position=[[Center (American football)|Center]]
|birth_date={{birth date and age|1986|3|18|mf=y}}
|birth_place=[[Cincinnati]], [[Ohio]], U.S.
|height_ft=6
|height_in=4
|weight_lbs=310
|high_school=[[Elder High School|Elder]] (Cincinnati)
|college=[[Louisville Cardinals football|Louisville]] (2004–2008)
|draftyear=2009
|draftround=1
|draftpick=28
|pastteams=
* [[Buffalo Bills]] ({{NFL Year|2009}}–{{NFL Year|2017}})
|highlights=
* [[Pro Bowl]] ([[2016 Pro Bowl|2015]])
* First-team Freshman [[All-America]]n (2005)
* Second-team All-[[Big East Conference (1979–2013)|Big East]] (2006)
* 2× First-team All-Big East (2007, 2008)
|statlabel1=Games played
|statvalue1=120
|statlabel2=Games started
|statvalue2=120
|nfl=eric-wood
|pfr=eric-wood
}}

'''Eric Wood''' (born March 18, 1986) is an American former professional [[American football|football]] player who was a [[Center (American football)|center]] for the [[Buffalo Bills]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL). He played [[college football]] for the [[Louisville Cardinals football|Louisville Cardinals]] and was selected in the first round of the [[2009 NFL Draft]] by the Bills with the 28th overall pick. Wood played nine seasons in the NFL, including a [[2016 Pro Bowl|Pro Bowl]] appearance, before retiring following the 2017 season due to a neck injury.<ref name=retire>{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/22223621/eric-wood-buffalo-bills-career-ending-neck-injury|title=Bills Center Eric Wood to Retire Due to Neck Injury|publisher=ESPN|first=Mike|last=Rodak|date=January 26, 2018|access-date=January 26, 2018}}</ref> Since 2019, he has been the color commentator and analyst on the [[Buffalo Bills Radio Network]].

==High school career==
Wood attended [[Elder High School]] in [[Cincinnati, Ohio]], where he played both the [[Offensive tackle|tackle]] and guard positions. His team went 28–2 over the last two seasons, including two consecutive state titles. After playing [[tight end]] as a junior, Wood started all 15 games at offensive tackle in his senior year and earned first-team All-League honors.

Considered a two-star recruit by both ''[[Rivals.com]]'' and ''[[Scout.com]]'',<ref name="Rivals Recruiting Profile">{{Citation |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/recruiting/player-Eric-Wood-25112 |title=Eric Wood Recruiting Profile |work=Rivals.com |access-date=November 27, 2009 }}</ref><ref name="Scout Recruiting Profile">{{Citation |url=http://recruiting.scout.com/a.z?s=73&p=8&c=1&nid=920125 |title=Eric Wood Recruiting Profile |work=Scout.com |access-date=November 27, 2009 }}</ref> Wood was not ranked among the nation's top offensive line prospects. He chose Louisville over [[Bowling Green State University|Bowling Green]], [[Ohio University|Ohio]], [[University of Cincinnati|Cincinnati]], [[Indiana University (Bloomington)|Indiana]] and [[Columbia University|Columbia]].

==College career==
After [[Redshirt (college sports)|redshirting]] his initial year at Louisville, Wood started all 12 games at [[Center (American football)|center]] for the [[2005 Louisville Cardinals football team|Cardinals in 2005]]. He earned Freshman All-American honors by ''Rivals.com'', ''[[Sporting News]]'' and ''[[College Football News]]''. Wood was an excellent student, earned Academic All-Big East accolades as well.

Wood remained Louisville's starting center in his sophomore and junior seasons, starting all 13 and 12 games, respectively. Led by [[quarterback]] [[Brian Brohm]], the [[2007 Louisville Cardinals football team|2007 Cardinals]] offense ranked sixth nationally with an average of 488.0 yards per game. Wood earned All-Big East honors in both years, and again in his senior season. He finished his career with 49 consecutive starts at center, the second-longest streak in school history behind [[Travis Leffew]] (51, 2002–05).

==Professional career==
===NFL draft===
Alongside [[Alex Mack]], Wood was considered one of the best centers available in the [[2009 NFL Draft]].<ref name="CBS center ranking">{{Citation |url=http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/prospectrankings/TSX/2009_C |title=NFL Draft - 2009 C Draft Prospects |work=CBSSports.com |date=April 25, 2009 }}</ref> He has been compared to [[Brad Meester]] by ''The Sporting News'',<ref name="TSNprofile">{{Citation |url=http://warroom.sportingnews.com/nfl/draft/2009/players/8395.html |date=April 25, 2009 |work=SportingNews.com |title=Pro Football War Room: Eric Wood }}</ref> but his instincts and "nastiness" on the field had scouts comparing him to the NFL's old time centers like [[Mike Webster]] of the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] and [[Tim Grunhard]] of the [[Kansas City Chiefs]].<ref name="CBS draft profile">{{Citation |url=http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/522812 |work=CBSSports.com |title=Eric Wood Draft Profile }}</ref>

Wood was selected with the 28th pick of the [[2009 NFL Draft]] by the [[Buffalo Bills]], using the pick acquired from the [[Philadelphia Eagles]] via a trade for [[Jason Peters]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=2009 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2009/draft.htm |access-date=2023-05-12 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> With Mack being selected with the 21st pick by the [[Cleveland Browns]], at marked the first time two centers were drafted in round one since the [[1983 NFL Draft]], with [[Dave Rimington]] and [[Don Mosebar]].

{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 3 7/8
| weight = 310
| dash = 5.24
| ten split = 1.83
| twenty split = 3.02
| shuttle = 4.51
| cone drill = 7.56
| vertical = 30.5
| broad ft = 8
| broad in = 3
| bench = 30
| arm span = 33 3/4
| hand span = 10 3/8
| note = All values from [[NFL Combine]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/eric-wood/3200574f-4f03-3999-db0d-4d13bee8d4ad |title=Eric Wood Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=June 29, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1018210&DraftYear=2019 |title=2009 NFL Draft Scout Eric Wood College Football Profile |access-date=November 27, 2009 |website=DraftScout.com}}</ref>
}}

===Buffalo Bills===
In his rookie season, Wood was counted on to start at right guard. He joined a completely retooled Bills offensive line that was expected to feature two rookie starters—him, and second round pick [[Andy Levitre]] at left guard—and no players returning to the same position. On July 28, 2009, Wood signed a five-year contract with the Bills, reportedly worth more than $12 million.<ref>{{Citation |url=http://www.buffalonews.com/452/story/747418.html |title=Bills sign latter of first-round picks, lineman Wood |first=Mark |last=Gaughan |newspaper=Buffalo News |date=July 29, 2009}}</ref>

[[File:Eric Wood 2016.jpg|thumb|Wood in 2016]]
Wood immediately became the Bills starting right [[offensive guard]] next to center [[Geoff Hangartner]], with Levitre at left guard.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/buf/2009_roster.htm|title=2009 Buffalo Bills Starters, Roster, & Players - Pro-Football-Reference.com|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=September 15, 2018}}</ref> On November 22, 2009, in his 10th game, Wood fractured his [[tibia]] and [[fibula]] in the fourth quarter of an 18–15 loss to the [[Jacksonville Jaguars]],<ref>{{Citation |url=http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/story/870526.html |title=Broken leg ends Wood's rookie season |first=Allen |last=Wilson |date=November 22, 2009 |newspaper=Buffalo News}}</ref> after Jaguars [[defensive tackle]] [[Montavious Stanley]] ran into Wood's leg.<ref name="GrahamESPN">{{Citation|last=Graham|first=Tim|title=Wood injury another awful blow to Bills|date=November 23, 2009|url=http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/12628/wood-injury-another-awful-blow-to-bills|work=ESPN}}</ref> Wood underwent season-ending surgery in a Jacksonville hospital and did not return to Buffalo with the team. He was placed on the injured reserve list on November 24, 2009.

On March 30, 2010, Wood told the Buffalo Bills that his leg was healing well and that he gave it an 80% chance to be ready for training camp.<ref>{{Citation |first=John |last=Wawrow |date=March 30, 2010 |title=Bills lineman Wood confident leg will be healed in time for training camp |work=The Canadian Press |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5gkyDCSb0fRpp0WLX6rN_hf63mUXA }}.</ref> He eventually started 14 games in the [[2010 NFL season]], missing only [[2010 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Steelers]] and [[2010 Minnesota Vikings season|Vikings]] games because of an ankle injury.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5899266 |title=Buffalo Bills juggle starters on injury-ravaged offensive line |work=ESPN |date=December 8, 2010}}</ref> The Bills were playing the same trio up the middle: Wood at right guard, Hangartner at center, and Levitre at left guard.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/buf/2010_roster.htm|title=2010 Buffalo Bills Starters, Roster, & Players - Pro-Football-Reference.com|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=September 15, 2018}}</ref>

In 2011, Wood was switched to center, between Levitre and new starting right guard [[Kraig Urbik]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/buf/2011_roster.htm|title=2011 Buffalo Bills Starters, Roster, & Players - Pro-Football-Reference.com|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=September 15, 2018}}</ref> These three have been instrumental in the resurgence in the Bills offense, led by [[Ryan Fitzpatrick]] at [[quarterback]] and [[Fred Jackson (running back)|Fred Jackson]] at [[running back]]. However, he was hurt in game 9 and did not play the rest of the year, replaced first by Urbik and then by [[Colin Brown (American football)|Colin Brown]].

In 2015, the NFL announced Wood as one of the 32 players honored as the Bills' ''Man of the Year'' and eligible to win the ''[[Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.buffalobills.com/?campaign=buf:fanshare:facebook|title=Inside The Bills {{!}} Eric Wood earns NFL Man of the Year nomination|access-date=May 25, 2016}}</ref>

It was reported that Wood suffered a broken leg playing in a game against the [[Seattle Seahawks]] on November 7, 2016. The Bills reported that this injury would keep Wood out for the remainder of the season.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/bills-eric-wood-done-for-season/|title=Bills' Eric Wood: Done for season|newspaper=CBSSports.com|access-date=November 8, 2016}}</ref> He was placed on injured reserve on November 14, 2016.<ref>{{cite web|title=Eric Wood to I-R; Roberson called up to 53-man roster|url=http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-1/Eric-Wood-to-I-R-Roberson-called-up-to-53-man-roster/d9663a4a-d2af-48c8-a6be-be60f92771c3|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170127143320/http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-1/Eric-Wood-to-I-R-Roberson-called-up-to-53-man-roster/d9663a4a-d2af-48c8-a6be-be60f92771c3|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 27, 2017|author=Brown, Chris|website=BuffaloBills.com|date=November 14, 2016}}</ref>

On August 26, 2017, Wood signed a two-year, $16 million contract extension with the Bills.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bills sign center Eric Wood to two-year extension|url=http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000834819/article/bills-sign-c-eric-wood-to-twoyear-extension|author=Patra, Kevin|website=NFL.com|date=August 26, 2017}}</ref>

On January 26, 2018, after the Bills made their first playoff appearance since [[1999 NFL season|1999]], Wood announced that he had failed his end-of-season physical and would no longer be cleared to play professional football.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bills center Eric Wood to retire because of neck injury|url=http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000911028/article/bills-center-eric-wood-to-retire-because-of-neck-injury|author=Shook, Nick|website=NFL.com|date=January 26, 2018}}</ref> [[Adam Schefter]] of ''[[ESPN]]'' said the cause of the failed physical, a neck injury, was partially due to wear and tear, but also part of a "complicated medical situation" (Wood later specified that the disc between his second and third vertebrae had come dangerously close to his spinal cord, which he suspected happened during the week 6 game of the 2017 season).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/956919896054665217|title=Adam Schefter on Twitter|access-date=September 15, 2018}}</ref> Wood had played through the entire 2017 season, handling every offensive snap that year without missing any.<ref name=retire/> He had intended to wait until after the [[2018 Pro Bowl]] to announce the injury; he had been designated as an alternate to the game and did not consider his condition to be a hindrance to playing in the game. News of the injury had leaked to the press two days before the game, and the two Pro Bowlers named to the position for the AFC both played in the game.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://buffalonews.com/2018/01/26/sources-eric-wood-was-hoping-to-make-nfl-farewell-in-pro-bowl/|title=Sources: Eric Wood was hoping to make NFL farewell in Pro Bowl|work=The Buffalo News|date=January 26, 2018|access-date=January 28, 2018}}</ref> He reached an injury settlement with the Bills on May 31, 2018, and was officially released.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bills reach settlement with Eric Wood following career-ending neck injury|url=http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/23662721/buffalo-bills-reach-injury-settlement-veteran-center-eric-wood|author=Rodak, Mike|website=ESPN.com|date=May 31, 2018}}</ref>

==Post-playing career==
In September 2018, Wood signed on as a columnist for ''[[The Athletic]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://theathletic.com/author/eric-wood/ |title=Eric Wood |website=theathletic.com |access-date=September 27, 2018}}</ref> He replaced [[Mark Kelso]] as color commentator on the [[Buffalo Bills Radio Network]] in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wgr550.radio.com/articles/news/eric-wood-named-bills-new-radio-color-commentator|title = Eric Wood named as Bills' new radio color commentator|date = May 21, 2019}}</ref> Wood opted out of the 2020 season due to travel difficulties associated with the coronavirus pandemic, but returned in 2021.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Pergament |first1=Alex |title=Eric Wood returns to Buffalo Bills radio booth this season |url=https://buffalonews.com/entertainment/television/eric-wood-returns-to-buffalo-bills-radio-booth-this-season/article_e3641bc8-e89e-11eb-a302-93c659d8060a.html |website=buffalonews.com |publisher=The Buffalo News |access-date=3 December 2022}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Wood is a [[Christianity|Christian]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Romano |first1=Jason |title=NEW PODCAST: Eric Wood - Former Buffalo Bills Pro Bowl Offensive Lineman |url=https://sportsspectrum.com/podcast/2021/02/01/new-podcast-eric-wood-former-pro-bowl-offensive-lineman/ |website=Sports Spectrum |access-date=23 December 2022}}</ref> He is married to Leslie Wood. They have one daughter and one son together.<ref name="WAVE">{{cite web |last1=Cogan |first1=Shannon |title=Former Louisville Cardinal, NFL player Eric Wood on what drives his philanthropy |url=https://www.wave3.com/2022/10/07/former-louisville-cardinal-nfl-player-eric-wood-what-drives-his-philanthropy/?outputType=amp |access-date=23 December 2022}}</ref>

Wood created The Evan Wood Fund for [[John R. Oishei Children's Hospital]]. The fund is named after his brother Evan Wood who had cerebral palsy and died when he was 11 years old.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Evan Wood Fund |url=https://www.ochbuffalo.org/foundation/evan-wood-fund/ |access-date=23 December 2022}}</ref><ref name="WAVE"/>

Wood is a board member for Kids Cancer Alliance.<ref name="WAVE"/>

Wood was inducted into the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[http://www.buffalobills.com/team/roster/Eric-Wood/28177895-2da7-45bc-bdcf-80ff3f3995f2 Buffalo Bills bio]
*[http://uoflsports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/wood_eric00.html Louisville Cardinals bio]
*[https://twitter.com/EWood70?lang=en Eric Wood on Twitter]

{{2009 NFL Draft}}
{{BillsFirstPick}}
{{Bills2009DraftPicks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wood, Eric}}
[[Category:1986 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Cincinnati]]
[[Category:American football offensive guards]]
[[Category:Louisville Cardinals football players]]
[[Category:Buffalo Bills players]]
[[Category:Unconferenced Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:Elder High School alumni]]
[[Category:National Football League announcers]]
[[Category:Buffalo Bills announcers]]

Glenn Presnell

2024-01-26T02:09:12Z

Dslmsbs:

{{Short description|American football player, coach, and administrator (1905–2004)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox college coach
| name = Glenn Presnell
| image = Glenn Presnell (1943).jpg
| alt =
| caption = Presnell from 1943 ''Cornhusker''
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1905|7|28}}
| birth_place = [[Gilead, Nebraska]], U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2004|9|13|1905|7|28}}
| death_place = [[Ironton, Ohio]], U.S.
| alma_mater =
| player_years1 = 1925–1927
| player_team1 = [[Nebraska Cornhuskers football|Nebraska]]
| player_years2 = 1929–1930
| player_team2 = [[Ironton Tanks]]
| player_years3 = 1931–1936
| player_team3 = [[Portsmouth Spartans]]/[[Detroit Lions]]
| player_positions = [[Halfback (American football)|Halfback]]
| coach_years1 = 1936
| coach_team1 = [[Lawrence Tech Blue Devils football|Lawrence Tech]]
| coach_years2 = 1937
| coach_team2 = [[Kansas Jayhawks football|Kansas]] (backfield)
| coach_years3 = 1938–1941
| coach_team3 = [[Nebraska Cornhuskers football|Nebraska]] (backfield)
| coach_years4 = 1942
| coach_team4 = [[Nebraska Cornhuskers football|Nebraska]]
| coach_years5 = 1944
| coach_team5 = [[North Carolina Pre-Flight Cloudbusters football|North Carolina Pre-Flight]] (backfield)
| coach_years6 = 1946
| coach_team6 = [[Nebraska Cornhuskers football|Nebraska]] (assistant)
| coach_years7 = 1947–1953
| coach_team7 = [[Eastern Kentucky Colonels football|Eastern Kentucky]] (assistant)
| coach_years8 = 1954–1963
| coach_team8 = [[Eastern Kentucky Colonels football|Eastern Kentucky]]
| admin_years1 = 1942
| admin_team1 = [[Nebraska Cornhuskers|Nebraska]] (acting AD)
| admin_years2 = 1963–1971
| admin_team2 = [[Eastern Kentucky Colonels|Eastern Kentucky]]
| overall_record = 45–61–4
| bowl_record = 0–1
| tournament_record =
| championships = 2 [[Ohio Valley Conference|OVC]] (1954, 1962)
| awards =
* [[NFL champion]] ([[1935 NFL season|1935]])
* First-team [[All-Pro]] ([[1933 All-Pro Team|1933]])
* [[List of National Football League season rushing touchdowns leaders|NFL rushing touchdowns leader]] (1933)
* [[NFL scoring leader]] ({{nfly|1933}})
* [[1927 College Football All-America Team|All-American, 1927]]
| coaching_records =
}}
'''Glenn Emery "Press" Presnell''' (July 28, 1905 – September 13, 2004) was an [[American football]] player, coach, and college athletics administrator. He set the NFL single-season scoring record in 1933 and led the league in total offense. He was the last surviving member of the [[Detroit Lions]] inaugural 1934 team and helped lead the team to its first NFL championship in 1935. He also set an NFL record with a 54-yard field goal in 1934, a record which was not broken for 19 years. Presnell served as the head football coach at the [[University of Nebraska–Lincoln]] in 1942 and at Eastern Kentucky State College—now known as [[Eastern Kentucky University]]–from 1954 to 1963, compiling a career [[college football]] coaching record of 45–56–3. He was also the [[athletic director]] at Eastern Kentucky from 1963 to 1971.

==Early years==
Born in [[Gilead, Nebraska]], Presnell attended DeWitt High School and the [[University of Nebraska–Lincoln]]. He played [[college football]] as a [[Halfback (American football)|halfback]] for the [[Nebraska Cornhuskers football]] team from 1925 to 1927. In 1925, Presnell led Nebraska to a 14–0 victory over an [[Illinois Fighting Illini football|Illini team]] that included the "Galloping Ghost", [[Red Grange]].<ref name=Casey>{{cite news|author=Casey Laughman|title=Presnell still loves the game: Oldes living former NFL standout played at Nebraska in the 1920s|newspaper=McCook Daily Gazette (AP story)|date=August 9, 2002|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WIIjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=WWsFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1622,5055748&dq=glenn+presnell&hl=en}}</ref> As one writer put it, "all the galloping was done by Presnell this day."<ref name=JW>{{cite news|author=Jim Walker|title=Glenn Presnell|newspaper=The Coffin Corner (reprinted from The Ironton Tribune)|date=July 20, 1980|url=http://www.profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/04-08-109.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120511104810/http://www.profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/04-08-109.pdf|archive-date=May 11, 2012}}</ref> Presnell was selected as a first-team player on the [[1927 College Football All-America Team]].

==Professional football==
After leaving Nebraska, Presnell played football for the [[Ironton Tanks]] in [[Ironton, Ohio]]. He was a player-coach for the team and also taught science at Ironton High School. Presnell was a halfback in Ironton's single wing offense and also played on defense at what would later be considered the safety position. Although not officially part of the [[National Football League]], the Tanks played against teams in the league. In 1930, Presnell led Ironton to victories over both the [[New York Giants]] and the [[Chicago Bears]]. Against the Giants, the Tanks trailed 12-6 with three seconds left. Presnell threw a touchdown pass to [[Gene Alford]] and then kicked the extra point to give Ironton a 13–12 victory over a Giants team that finished in second place in the NFL. He also scored two touchdowns against the Bears, including an 88-yard run.<ref name=Casey/><ref name=JW/>

After the 1930 season, the Tanks folded. In 1931, Presnell joined the [[Portsmouth Spartans]] in the NFL. He had his best season in 1933, when he led the NFL in [[total offense]] with 1,296 yards. He also broke the single-season NFL scoring record with 64 points. [[Ken Strong]] tied with Presnell with the same point total in 1933.<ref name=NFL33/><ref name=NYT/> During the [[1933 NFL season]], Presnell completed 50 of 125 passes for 774 passing yards and added 522 rushing yards on 118 carries for an average of 4.4 yards per carry.<ref name=PFR>{{cite web|title=Glenn Presnell|publisher=pro-football-reference.com|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/P/PresGl20.htm}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Glenn Presnell Leads Pro Backs In General Play|newspaper=The Newburgh News|date=January 8, 1934|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uClGAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1ecMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3189,839044&dq=glenn+presnell&hl=en}}</ref> He also kicked five field goals and 13 extra points. He led the NFL with six rushing touchdowns and 13 successful extra point conversions. He also finished second in the league (behind [[Harry Newman (American football)|Harry Newman]]) in passing touchdowns, passes completed, pass attempts, and passing yards.<ref name=NFL33>{{cite web|title=1933 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards|publisher=pro-football-reference.com|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1933/leaders.htm}}</ref> Following the 1933 season, Presnell was selected as a first-team All-NFL player by the NFL, the United Press, and Collyers Eye Magazine.<ref name=PFR/>

In 1934, the owner of the Portsmouth Spartans sold the team. The team was moved from [[Portsmouth, Ohio]] to [[Detroit|Detroit, Michigan]], and became the [[Detroit Lions]]. When Presnell visited Detroit to sign his first contract with the Lions in 1934, team owner [[George A. Richards]] allowed Presnell to pick the team's colors. Presnell later recalled:<blockquote>"Mr. Richards, the owner, the day I was up there and signed my contract, he said: 'There's a table out there in the next office covered with uniforms. Why don't you pick out the colors you like?' I went out. My wife was with me. We saw this Honolulu blue and silver and we fell in love with it."</blockquote><ref name=Casey/><ref name=NYT/>

Presnell remained with the Lions from 1934 to 1936. He combined with [[Dutch Clark]], [[Ace Gutowsky]], and [[Ernie Caddel]] to lead the Lions to a second-place finish in 1934. And in 1935, the same group led the Lions to their first NFL championship, culminating with a 26-7 victory over the [[New York Giants]] in the [[1935 NFL Championship Game]]. Presnell also set an NFL record with a 54-yard field goal in 1934, a mark that was not broken until 1953.<ref name=NYT/>

==Coaching and later years==
Presnell began his coaching career while still paying for the Lions in 1936, when he was hired as head football coach at Lawrence Institute of Technology—now known as [[Lawrence Technological University]]—in [[Highland Park, Michigan]].<ref>{{cite news |author= |title=Presnell To Coach At Lawrence Tech |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-escanaba-daily-press/127554076/ |newspaper=[[Daily Press (Michigan)|The Escanaba Daily Press]] |location=[[Escanaba, Michigan]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=April 10, 1936 |page=15 |access-date=July 3, 2023 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] {{Open access}} }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author= |title=State Colleges Ready to Begin Grid Grinds |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press/127554021/ |newspaper=[[Detroit Free Press]] |location=[[Detroit|Detroit, Michigan]] |date=September 6, 1936 |page=4, sports section |access-date=July 3, 2023 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] {{Open access}} }}</ref> He retired as a player after the 1936 season at age 31. Presnell worked as an assistant football coach at the [[University of Kansas]] in 1937 and then as the backfield coach at Nebraska from 1938 to 1941.<ref>{{cite news|title=Presnell To Help Jones: Is Picked as Backfield Coach for Nebraska's Eleven|newspaper=The New York Times|date=February 4, 1938|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1938/02/04/96794426.pdf}}</ref> In February 1942, he became the head football coach and athletic director at Nebraska.<ref>{{cite news|title=Nebraska Job To Presnell|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press (UP story)|date=February 3, 1942|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xzsbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=50wEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5029,3627983&dq=glenn+presnell&hl=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Glenn Presnell 1942|publisher=Husker Century|url=http://www.netnebraska.org/extras/husker_century/hc_mvp/hc2_coaches/gpresnell.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329123353/http://www.netnebraska.org/extras/husker_century/hc_mvp/hc2_coaches/gpresnell.html|archive-date=March 29, 2012}}</ref> The Cornhuskers compiled a record of 3-7 in Presnell's one season as head coach.

In December 1942, Presnell enlisted in the [[United States Navy]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Presnell Passes Navy Exam|newspaper=The New York Times|date=December 10, 1942|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1942/12/10/85617562.pdf}}</ref> In May 1943, he was commissioned as a lieutenant and assigned to the Navy's physical education training program.<ref>{{cite news|title=Presnell Naval Lieutenant|newspaper=The New York Times|date=May 20, 1943|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1943/05/20/88536368.pdf}}</ref> In 1944 Presnell served as backs coach at the [[North Carolina Pre-Flight Cloudbusters football|North Carolina Pre-Flight School]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lib.unc.edu/blogs/ncm/index.php/2009/10/21/bear-bryant-in-chapel-hill/ |title=Bear Bryant in Chapel Hill |first=Jason |last=Tomberlin |date=October 21, 2009 |work=North Carolina Miscellany |publisher=UNC University Libraries |access-date=January 15, 2012}}</ref> He spent three years in the Navy.

In 1954, Presnell returned to coaching as the head football coach for [[Eastern Kentucky University]]. He held that position from 1954 to 1963. He was then [[athletic director]] at Eastern Kentucky until his retirement in 1971.

Presnell died in September 2004 in [[Ironton, Ohio]] at the age of 99. He had been the last surviving member of the Detroit Lions' inaugural 1934 team.<ref name=NYT>{{cite news|title=Glenn Presnell, 99, Star Back in the N.F.L. in the 1930s, Dies|author=Richard Goldstein|newspaper=The New York Times|date=September 18, 2004|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/18/sports/football/18presnell.html}}</ref>

==Head coaching record==
{{CFB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | team = | conf = | bowl = | poll = no }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = [[Lawrence Tech Blue Devils football|Lawrence Tech Blue Devils]]
| conf = [[Michigan-Ontario Collegiate Conference]]
| startyear = 1936
| endyear = single
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[1936 college football season|1936]]
| name = Lawrence Tech
| overall = 0–5–1
| conference =
| confstanding =
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Lawrence Tech
| overall = 0–5–1
| confrecord =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = [[Nebraska Cornhuskers football|Nebraska Cornhuskers]]
| conf = [[Big Six Conference]]
| startyear = 1942
| endyear = single
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[1942 college football season|1942]]
| name = [[1942 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team|Nebraska]]
| overall = 3–7
| conference = 3–2
| confstanding = 3rd
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Nebraska
| overall = 3–7
| confrecord = 3–2
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = [[Eastern Kentucky Colonels football|Eastern Kentucky Maroons]]
| conf = [[Ohio Valley Conference]]
| startyear = 1954
| endyear = 1963
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| year = [[1954 college football season|1954]]
| name = [[1954 Eastern Kentucky Maroons football team|Eastern Kentucky]]
| overall = 8–1–1
| conference = 5–0
| confstanding = 1st
| bowlname = [[1955 Tangerine Bowl|Tangerine]]
| bowloutcome = L
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[1955 college football season|1955]]
| name = Eastern Kentucky
| overall = 5–4–1
| conference = 3–2
| confstanding = 3rd
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[1956 NCAA College Division football season|1956]]
| name = Eastern Kentucky
| overall = 4–5
| conference = 2–3
| confstanding = T–3rd
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[1957 NCAA College Division football season|1957]]
| name = Eastern Kentucky
| overall = 4–5
| conference = 3–2
| confstanding = 3rd
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[1958 NCAA College Division football season|1958]]
| name = Eastern Kentucky
| overall = 3–6
| conference = 3–3
| confstanding = 4th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[1959 NCAA College Division football season|1959]]
| name = Eastern Kentucky
| overall = 3-6
| conference = 2–4
| confstanding = 5th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[1960 NCAA College Division football season|1960]]
| name = Eastern Kentucky
| overall = 3–6–1
| conference = 1–4–1
| confstanding = T–6th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[1961 NCAA College Division football season|1961]]
| name = Eastern Kentucky
| overall = 4–5
| conference = 3–3
| confstanding = 4th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| year = [[1962 NCAA College Division football season|1962]]
| name = Eastern Kentucky
| overall = 6–3
| conference = 4–2
| confstanding = T–1st
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = [[1963 NCAA College Division football season|1963]]
| name = Eastern Kentucky
| overall = 2–8
| conference = 1–6
| confstanding = 7th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Eastern Kentucky
| overall = 42–49–3
| confrecord = 27–29–1
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record End
| overall = 45–61–4
| bowls = no
| poll = no
| polltype =
}}

==Awards==
* Member of Nebraska Hall of Fame (1973).
* [[Professional Football Researchers Association]] Hall of Very Good Class of 2007 <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.profootballresearchers.com/hall-of-very-good-2007.htm |title=Hall of Very Good Class of 2007 |access-date=November 23, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180707030855/http://www.profootballresearchers.com/hall-of-very-good-2007.htm |archive-date=July 7, 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Inducted into Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame (2020).

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Footballstats |nfl=glenn-presnell |espn= |cbs= |yahoo= |si= |pfr=P/PresGl20 |rotoworld= }}
* {{Find a Grave|9471916}}

{{Navboxes
|list =
{{Detroit Lions}}
{{Detroit Lions starting quarterback navbox}}
{{Lawrence Tech Blue Devils football coach navbox}}
{{Nebraska Cornhuskers football coach navbox}}
{{Nebraska Cornhuskers athletic director navbox}}
{{Eastern Kentucky Colonels football coach navbox}}
{{Eastern Kentucky Colonels athletic director navbox}}
{{1935 Detroit Lions}}
{{NFL rushing touchdowns leaders}}
{{NFL scoring leaders}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Presnell, Glenn}}
[[Category:1905 births]]
[[Category:2004 deaths]]
[[Category:American football halfbacks]]
[[Category:Detroit Lions players]]
[[Category:Eastern Kentucky Colonels athletic directors]]
[[Category:Eastern Kentucky Colonels football coaches]]
[[Category:Kansas Jayhawks football coaches]]
[[Category:Lawrence Tech Blue Devils football coaches]]
[[Category:Nebraska Cornhuskers football coaches]]
[[Category:Nebraska Cornhuskers football players]]
[[Category:Nebraska Cornhuskers athletic directors]]
[[Category:North Carolina Pre-Flight Cloudbusters football coaches]]
[[Category:Portsmouth Spartans players]]
[[Category:Ironton Tanks players]]
[[Category:United States Navy officers]]
[[Category:United States Navy personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:People from Thayer County, Nebraska]]
[[Category:Coaches of American football from Nebraska]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Nebraska]]

Leeman Bennett

2024-01-26T02:06:40Z

Dslmsbs:

{{Short description|American football player and coach (born 1938)}}
{{BLP sources|date=March 2010}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Leeman Bennett
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| position =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1938|6|20|mf=y}}
| birth_place = [[Paducah, Kentucky]], U.S.
| death_date = 
| death_place =
| high_school =
| college = [[Kentucky Wildcats football|Kentucky]]
| pastteams =
* [[Kentucky Wildcats football|Kentucky]] (1957-1960)
| pastteamsnote =
| pastcoaching =
* Kentucky (1961-1962) Assistant coach
* Kentucky (1965) Assistant coach
* [[Pittsburgh Panthers football|Pittsburgh]] (1966) Assistant coach
* [[Cincinnati Bearcats football|Cincinnati]] (1967) Running backs coach
* Cincinnati (1968) Offensive coordinator
* [[Navy Midshipmen football|Navy]] (1969) Offensive coordinator
* [[Arizona Cardinals|St. Louis Cardinals]] (1970-1971) Offensive backs coach
* [[Detroit Lions]] (1972) Offensive backs coach
* [[Los Angeles Rams]] (1973–1976) Wide receivers coach
* [[Atlanta Falcons]] (1977–1982) Head coach
* [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]] (1985–1986) Head coach
| highlights =
| coachregrecord = NFL: {{Winning percentage|50|69|record=y}}
| coachplayoffrecord = NFL: {{Winning percentage|1|3|record=y}}
| coachrecord = NFL: {{Winning percentage|51|72|record=y}}
| pfrcoach = BennLe0
}}

'''Leeman Bennett''' (born June 20, 1938) is a former [[American football]] coach who served at both the collegiate and professional levels, but is best remembered as head coach of the [[National Football League]] (NFL)'s [[list of Atlanta Falcons head coaches|Atlanta Falcons]] and [[list of Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coaches|Tampa Bay Buccaneers]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/BennLe0.htm|title=Leeman Bennett|publisher=[[Pro-Football-Reference.com|Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref>

==Early life==
A native of [[Paducah, Kentucky]], Bennett graduated from [[Kentucky Wildcats football|the University of Kentucky]], playing at both quarterback and defensive back under head coach [[Blanton Collier]] for three seasons beginning in 1958. During Collier's final season with the Wildcats in 1961, Bennett began his coaching career by serving as an assistant coach with the team.

==Coaching career==
===College===
Bennett continued the following year under new head coach [[Charlie Bradshaw (football coach)|Charlie Bradshaw]], then served in the military the next two years. In his first full year as a coach, Bennett was on the staff for Bradshaw's infamous first team that was known as the [[Thin Thirty]]. He resumed his career at [[Kentucky Wildcats football|Kentucky]] in 1965, then moved on to [[Pittsburgh Panthers football|the University of Pittsburgh]] the following year. After only one season, Bennett accepted the running backs coaching position under [[Homer Rice]] at [[Cincinnati Bearcats football|the University of Cincinnati]] in 1967, then was promoted to offensive coordinator the following season.

On February 7, 1969, Bennett assumed similar duties at the [[U.S. Naval Academy]] under [[Rick Forzano]], but left on March 13, 1970, to become running backs coach with the NFL's [[1970 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season|St. Louis Cardinals]]. Bennett survived a coaching change after his first season, but left after [[1971 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season|the 1971 NFL season]] to become an assistant with [[1972 Detroit Lions season|the Detroit Lions]].

===NFL===
After Chuck Knox was hired as head coach of [[1973 Los Angeles Rams season|the Los Angeles Rams]] in January 1973, he hired Bennett as the team's receivers coach. Over the next four years, the team's high-powered offense helped them reach three [[NFC Championship game]]s, but never made a [[Super Bowl]]. Bennett became a head coach being hired by the Falcons on February 3, 1977.

During his first season in Atlanta, Bennett's defense became known as the "Grits Blitz" for its ferocious style and allowing just 129 points, a record for a 14-game season. The overall improvement of the team became evident the following season, when the Falcons defeated [[1978 Philadelphia Eagles season|the Philadelphia Eagles]] in the [[National Football Conference|NFC]] Wild Card game, then put up a strong fight against the defending [[Super Bowl]] champion [[1978 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]].

After the team endured a losing season [[1979 Atlanta Falcons season|in 1979]], Bennett [[1980 Atlanta Falcons season|in 1980]] led the team to its first [[NFC West|division]] title and a then-team record 12 wins. However, a fourth quarter collapse against [[1980 Dallas Cowboys season|the Cowboys]] in the first round of the playoffs abruptly ended the season.

While another losing record followed in 1981, the team lost its final three games, dashing hopes of a playoff return. However, the strike-shortened [[1982 NFL season]] saw Bennett's team finish 5–4, reaching the postseason in the expanded playoffs, losing the first-round game to [[1982 Minnesota Vikings season|the Minnesota Vikings]]. A late season slump, coupled with the playoff losses and overall inconsistency, resulted in Bennett being fired on January 14, 1983. He was the first coach in Falcons history to depart with a winning record, going 47–44 (including a 1–3 record in the playoffs). The next coach to finish with a winning record was [[Jim L. Mora|Jim Mora]] in 2006 (26–22).

For the next two years, Bennett sold [[recreational vehicles]] before [[list of Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coaches|the Tampa Bay Buccaneers]] hired him on January 23, 1985, replacing the retiring [[John McKay (football coach)|John McKay]]. However, Bennett's previous success did not come with him to Tampa Bay, with consecutive 2–14 finishes. On December 29, 1986, he was fired by team owner [[Hugh Culverhouse]].

==Life after football==
Bennett then returned to [[Atlanta]], where he purchased a car dealership and was named chairman of the selection committee for the [[Peach Bowl]]. In 1991, Bennett sold the dealership and was hired as director of development for the [[Greater Atlanta Christian School]], where his two sons had attended. Eight years later, he co-founded the First National Bank of [[John's Creek]] in [[Alpharetta, Georgia]], later serving as its director. Bennett also contributed to Falcons radio shows. He would be inducted into the Atlanta Sports Hall of Fame in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ASHOF Home |url=http://www.atlantasportshalloffame.org/ |access-date=2022-03-24 |website=www.atlantasportshalloffame.org}}</ref> In 2020, Bennett was inducted into the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame.

While still handling his bowl game duties, Bennett is mostly retired, spending much of his free time golfing and hunting. He also spends his time with his family.

==Head coaching record==
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"|Team !! rowspan="2"|Year !! colspan="4"|Regular season !! colspan="4"|Postseason
|-
!Won!!Lost!!Win %!!Finish!! Won !! Lost !! Win % !! Result
|-
![[1977 Atlanta Falcons season|ATL]]||[[1977 NFL season|1977]]
|7
|7
|{{winpct|7|7}}
| 2nd in NFC West
! colspan="4" |
|-style="background:#96CDCD;"
![[1978 Atlanta Falcons season|ATL]]
![[1978 NFL season|1978]]
|9
|7
|{{winpct|9|7}}
| '''2nd in NFC West'''
| 1
| 1
| {{winpct|1|1}}
| Lost to [[1978 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]] in [[1978–79 NFL playoffs|NFC Divisional Playoffs]]
|-
![[1979 Atlanta Falcons season|ATL]]
![[1979 NFL season|1979]]
|6
|10
|{{winpct|6|10}}
| 3rd in NFC West
! colspan="4" |
|-style="background:#D0E7FF;"
![[1980 Atlanta Falcons season|ATL]]
![[1980 NFL season|1980]]
|12
|4
|{{winpct|12|4}}
| '''1st in NFC West'''
| 0
| 1
| {{winpct|0|1}}
| Lost to [[1980 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]] in [[1980–81 NFL playoffs|NFC Divisional Playoffs]]
|-
![[1981 Atlanta Falcons season|ATL]]||[[1981 NFL season|1981]]
|7
|9
|{{winpct|7|9}}
| 2nd in NFC West
! colspan="4" |
|-style="background:#96CDCD;"
![[1982 Atlanta Falcons season|ATL]]||[[1982 NFL season|1982]]
|5
|4
|{{winpct|5|4}}
| '''5th in NFC'''
| 0
| 1
| {{winpct|0|1}}
| Lost to [[1982 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota Vikings]] in [[1982–83 NFL playoffs|NFC First Round]]
|-
! colspan="2"|ATL total
! 46
! 41
! {{winpct|46|41}}
!
! 1
! 3
! {{winpct|1|3}}
!
|-
![[1985 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season|TB]]
![[1985 NFL season|1985]]
|2
|14
|{{winpct|2|14}}
| 5th in NFC Central
! colspan="4" |
|-
![[1986 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season|TB]]
![[1986 NFL season|1986]]
|2
|14
|{{winpct|2|14}}
| 5th in NFC Central
! colspan="4" |
|-
! colspan="2"|TB total|| 4 || 28 || {{winpct|4|28}} || || colspan="4" |
|-
! colspan="2"|Total<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/BennLe0.htm|title=Leeman Bennett Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks|publisher=[[Pro-Football-Reference.com|Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref>|| 50 || 69 || {{winpct|50|69}} || || 1 || 3 || {{winpct|1|3}} ||
|-
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Atlanta Falcons coach navbox}}
{{Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach navbox}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bennett, Leeman}}
[[Category:1938 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American football quarterbacks]]
[[Category:American members of the Churches of Christ]]
[[Category:Atlanta Falcons head coaches]]
[[Category:Cincinnati Bearcats football coaches]]
[[Category:Detroit Lions coaches]]
[[Category:Kentucky Wildcats football coaches]]
[[Category:Kentucky Wildcats football players]]
[[Category:Los Angeles Rams coaches]]
[[Category:Pittsburgh Panthers football coaches]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Kentucky]]
[[Category:St. Louis Cardinals (football) coaches]]
[[Category:Tampa Bay Buccaneers coaches]]
[[Category:Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coaches]]

Cletidus Hunt

2024-01-26T02:05:09Z

Dslmsbs:

{{Short description|American football player (born 1976)}}

{{Infobox NFL player
|image = |
|caption=
|position=[[Defensive tackle]]
|number=97
|height_ft=6
|height_in=4
|weight_lb=305
|birth_date= {{birth date and age|1976|01|2}}
|birth_place=[[Memphis, Tennessee]], U.S.
|death_date=
|draftyear=1999
|draftround=3
|draftpick=94
|high_school=[[Memphis City Schools|Whitehaven]] (Memphis, Tennessee)
|college=[[Kentucky State University|Kentucky State]]
|teams=
* [[Green Bay Packers]] ([[1999 NFL season|1999]]–[[2004 NFL season|2004]])
* [[New York Dragons]] ([[2007 AFL season|2007]])
|statlabel1=[[Tackle (football move)|Tackles]]
|statvalue1=128
|statlabel2=[[Quarterback sack|Sacks]]
|statvalue2=17
|statlabel3=Forced [[fumble]]s
|statvalue3=3
|nfl=HUN172193
|pfr=H/HuntCl20
}}

'''Cletidus Marquell Hunt''' (born January 2, 1976) is a former [[defensive tackle]] in the [[National Football League]] (NFL) and the [[Arena Football League (1987–2008)|Arena Football League]] (AFL).

==Early life==
Hunt was born in [[Memphis, Tennessee]], and played [[college football]] for [[Kentucky State University]].

==NFL career==
Hunt was drafted by the [[Green Bay Packers]] in the [[1999 NFL Draft]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=1999 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1999/draft.htm |access-date=2023-03-28 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> In his NFL career, he has amassed 119 [[Tackle (football move)|tackles]], 17 [[Quarterback sack|sacks]], and played in 85 games.

== AFL career ==
Hunt signed with the [[New York Dragons]] of the Arena Football League on May 23, 2007. On November 2, 2007, Hunt was waived by the Dragons.<ref>[http://www.arenafan.com/teams/New_York_Dragons-72/transactions/ ArenaFan Online : New York Dragons - Team Transactions]</ref>

In 2020, Hunt was inducted into the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.nfl.com/players/cletidushunt/profile?id=HUN172193 NFL.com player page]
*[http://www.arenafan.com/players/Cletidus_Hunt-10544/ AFL stats]

{{Packers1999DraftPicks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hunt, Cletidus}}
[[Category:1976 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American football defensive tackles]]
[[Category:Green Bay Packers players]]
[[Category:Kentucky State Thorobreds football players]]
[[Category:New York Dragons players]]
[[Category:Northwest Mississippi Rangers football players]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Memphis, Tennessee]]

{{defensive-lineman-1970s-stub}}
{{ArenaFootballLeague-stub}}

Reggie Swinton

2024-01-26T01:58:10Z

Dslmsbs: /* Personal life */

{{Short description|American gridiron football player (born 1975)}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2015}}{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2015}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
|number= 10, 80, 87, 88
|position=[[Wide receiver]] [[Return specialist]]
|birth_date={{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1975|7|24}}
|birth_place=[[Little Rock, Arkansas]], U.S.
|height_ft=6
|height_in=0
|weight_lbs=186
|high_school=[[Little Rock Central High School|Little Rock Central]]
|college=[[Murray State University|Murray State]]
|pastteams=
* [[Jacksonville Jaguars]] ({{NFL Year|1998}})*
* [[Toronto Argonauts]] ({{CFL Year|1999}})*
* [[Winnipeg Blue Bombers]] ({{CFL Year|1999}})
* [[Edmonton Eskimos]] ({{CFL Year|1999}})
* [[Seattle Seahawks]] ({{NFL Year|2000}})*
* [[Las Vegas Outlaws (XFL)]] (2001)*
* [[Arkansas Twisters]] ([[2001 AF2 season|2001]])
* [[Dallas Cowboys]] ({{NFL Year|2001}}–{{NFL Year|2003}})
* [[Green Bay Packers]] ({{NFL Year|2003}})
* [[Detroit Lions]] ({{NFL Year|2003}}–{{NFL Year|2004}})
* [[Houston Texans]] ({{NFL Year|2005}})*
* [[Arizona Cardinals]] ({{NFL Year|2005}})
|pastteamsnote=yes
|statlabel1=[[Reception (American football)|Receptions]]
|statvalue1=41
|statlabel2=[[Receiving yards]]
|statvalue2=493
|statlabel3=[[Touchdown|Receiving touchdowns]]
|statvalue3=2
|statlabel4=[[Return yards]]
|statvalue4=6,230
|statlabel5=[[Touchdown|Return touchdowns]]
|statvalue5=4
|highlights=
* Second-team [[Division I-AA]] [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] (1996)
* [[Ohio Valley Conference|All-OVC]] (1996)
|nflnew=reggie-swinton
|pfr=SwinRe00
}}
'''Reginald "Reggie" Terrell Swinton''' (born August 24, 1975) is a former [[American football]] [[wide receiver]] and [[return specialist]] in the [[National Football League]] (NFL) for the [[Dallas Cowboys]], [[Detroit Lions]] and [[Arizona Cardinals]]. He played [[college football]] at [[Murray State University]].

==Early years==
Swinton attended [[Little Rock Central High School|Central High School]] and received All-State honors in [[American football|football]], [[basketball]], [[baseball]] and [[track & field|track]].

He accepted a football scholarship from [[Murray State University]] to play under head coach [[Houston Nutt]].

As a junior in 1996, he became the first Murray State player to amass more than 1,000 receiving yards in a season (1,042), while being selected [[Ohio Valley Conference|All-Ohio Valley Conference]] and second-team [[Division I-AA]] [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]]. He also posted 66 receptions (led the team) and 8 receiving touchdowns (tied for the team lead). He contributed to the team winning back-to-back Ohio Valley Conference Championships and advancing to quarterfinals of the NCAA [[Division I-AA]] playoffs. He registered 10 receptions for 224 receiving yards (second in school history) and 3 touchdowns (tied school record) against [[Southern Illinois University]]. He set a school record with four 100-yard receiving games.

As a senior in 1997, head coach Nutt resigned after accepting the same job at [[Boise State University]]. It was later reported that Swinton fell out of favor with the coaching staff. He led the team with 35 receptions for 642 yards and 7 receiving touchdowns. He set a school record with an 80-yard reception against [[Austin Peay University]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://goracers.com/news/2016/9/24/football-late-touchdown-sends-semo-past-racers.aspx|work=Murray State Racers|title=Late Touchdown Sends SEMO Past Racers|access-date=January 4, 2021}}</ref>

From 1994 to 1997, he established the school records for career receptions (144), career receiving yards (2,346), career receiving touchdowns (20) and 100-yard receiving games (7).

==Professional career==
Swinton was signed as an [[undrafted free agent]] by the [[Jacksonville Jaguars]] after the [[1998 NFL Draft]] on April 23. He was waived on August 25.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1998-08-26-1998238095-story.html|title=Transactions|work=The Baltimore Sun|access-date=June 4, 2021}}</ref>

His pro career began in February 1999 in the [[Canadian Football League]] (CFL) with the [[Toronto Argonauts]], who in March traded him along with [[quarterback]] [[Kerwin Bell]] to the [[Winnipeg Blue Bombers]] in exchange for [[Eric Blount]], [[wide receiver]] Mitch Running and two players on the team's negotiation list.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/blount-back-with-bombers-1.282816|title=Blount back with Bombers|date=April 3, 2001|work=CBC|access-date=January 4, 2021}}</ref> The Blue Bombers signed him on July 13, only to be released on August 2. He was re-signed on August 9 and cut again on August 16. During his time with the team he ranked 10th in the CFL in [[Kickoff (American football)|kickoff returns]] with a 25.8-yard average and one [[touchdown]]. On September 13, 1999, he signed with the [[Edmonton Eskimos]] of the CFL, but was released on October 12.

On February 25, 2000, he was signed as a [[free agent]] by the [[Seattle Seahawks]], but was cut before the start of the season on August 27.

In 2001, he was selected by the [[Las Vegas Outlaws (XFL)|Las Vegas Outlaws]] in the [[2001 XFL Draft]] and was cut on January 29 before the start of the season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/the-inaugural-xfl-draft/n-2707770|title=The inaugural XFL draft|work=OurSports Central|date=October 31, 2000 |access-date=June 4, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/2001/01/29/SPORTS-TRANSACTIONS-FOR-MONDAY-JANUARY-29/5200980744400/|title=SPORTS TRANSACTIONS FOR MONDAY, JANUARY 29|work=UPI|access-date=June 4, 2021}}</ref> He resurfaced that same year with the [[Arkansas Twisters]] of the [[AF2]], who initially released him before the stat of the season, only to re-sign him after the fourth game . Swinton led the team and set franchise records with 85 receptions for 1,463 yards, 33 touchdowns and 22 points in 13 games, while also setting the club single-game receiving record (174 yards).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://goracers.com/news/2007/5/31/68709|work=Murray State Racers|title=Former Racer All-American Retires From Arena Football|access-date=January 4, 2021}}</ref>

His [[offensive coordinator]] with the Twisters ([[Ron Calcagni]]) recommended him to the [[Dallas Cowboys]], who in turn would sign him on August 6, 2001. Swinton made the team and set single-season club records for kickoff returns (56), kickoff return yards (1,327), and combined kick return yards (1,741). His 13.7-yard average on [[punt return]]s ranked third in the NFL and second in the [[National Football Conference|NFC]], and his 23.7-yard average on kickoff returns was ninth in the NFL and seventh in the NFC. Even though he was not given punt return duties until week 7, his 414 punt return yards were the seventh most in club history and tied the mark combined kick returns (87). This production earned him second-team All-Pro honors from ''College and Pro Football Newsweekly'' as a punt returner.

In 2002, after missing the first two games with a hamstring strain, against the [[Philadelphia Eagles]] he broke the franchise record with 231 kickoff return yards in a game and ranked third in team history with 215 combined return yards. His 24.9-yard average on kickoff returns (including a touchdown) ranked tenth in the NFL. He averaged 7.4 yards on punt returns.

On September 29, 2003, he was traded to the [[Green Bay Packers]] in exchange for a conditional seventh-round draft pick, in order to groom rookie [[Zuriel Smith]] for the returner role.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-oct-01-sp-nflrep1-story.html|title=Cowboys' Swinton Goes to the Packers in a Trade|work=Los Angeles Times|date=October 2003 |access-date=January 4, 2021}}</ref> After being declared inactive for a week-5 game, he was cut on September 9, 2003.

On October 10, 2003, Swinton was claimed off waivers by the [[Detroit Lions]], to replace [[Eddie Drummond]] who suffered a sprained knee and ankle against the [[Minnesota Vikings]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2003-10-14-0310140155-story.html|title=Transactions|work=The Baltimore Sun|access-date=January 4, 2021}}</ref> He finished the season averaging 13.8 yards on punt returns, fourth-best in the NFL. He also was one of only two players in the league (with Kansas City's [[Dante Hall]]) to have both a kickoff and punt return for a touchdown that season.

On September 5, 2004, he was released by the Lions, but was re-signed on September 20 after Drummond was lost for the season with a shoulder injury.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2004-09-21-0409210252-story.html|title=Transactions|work=The Baltimore Sun|access-date=January 4, 2021}}</ref> In 2004, he averaged 22.8 yards on kickoff returns and 6.5 yards on punt returns, and had his best year as a receiver, catching 18 passes for 410 yards.

On April 18, 2005, he signed as a [[free agent]] with the [[Houston Texans]] and was waived on September 3.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.houstontexans.com/news/texans-sign-swinton-2674764|title=Texans sign Swinton|work=Houston Texans|access-date=January 14, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/04/sports/transactions.html|title=Transactions|work=The New York Times|date=September 4, 2005 |access-date=January 14, 2021}}</ref> On September 5, he was signed by the [[Arizona Cardinals]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2005-09-06-0509060220-story.html|title=Transactions|work=The Baltimore Sun|access-date=January 4, 2021}}</ref> where as the team's primary kick returner he averaged 23.1 yards on kickoff returns and 8.0 yards on punt returns, after a hamstring and toe injury limited him during the season. He wasn't re-signed at the end of the year.

Swinton finished with four career NFL kick returns for touchdowns: two on punt returns and two on kickoff returns.

==Personal life==
On September 17, 2012, he was named Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Football Sports Director of Arkansas.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.arkansasbusiness.com/article/88384/jims-notebook-reggie-swinton-makes-push-for-aau-youth-football|title=Jim's Notebook: Reggie Swinton Makes Push For AAU Youth Football|work=Arkansas Business|access-date=January 4, 2021}}</ref> In 2022, Swinton was inducted into the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Swinton has a blended family and is married to Patricia Walker-Swinton. They have four children: Craig Steele (CJ), Sydney Steele, Ryan Swinton, and Reggie Swinton, II. His father and uncle were selected in the [[Major League Baseball Draft]]. In 2002, he released a rap CD entitled "Whatcha gone do?".

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*[https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/top-10-with-harris-gone-staff-writers-rank-cowboys-best-return-specialist-378791 Top 10: With Harris Gone, Staff Writers Rank Cowboys' Best Return Specialists]
*[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=861&dat=20011213&id=FUZTAAAAIBAJ&sjid=hYUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5750,3152693 Swinton sparking returns]
*[https://www.statscrew.com/football/stats/p-swintreg001 American Football Stats]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Swinton, Reggie}}
[[Category:1975 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Little Rock, Arkansas]]
[[Category:Little Rock Central High School alumni]]
[[Category:American football wide receivers]]
[[Category:American football return specialists]]
[[Category:Murray State Racers football players]]
[[Category:Dallas Cowboys players]]
[[Category:Detroit Lions players]]
[[Category:Arizona Cardinals players]]
[[Category:Arkansas Twisters players]]
[[Category:Green Bay Packers players]]
[[Category:Winnipeg Blue Bombers players]]
[[Category:Edmonton Elks players]]

Steve Ortmayer

2024-01-26T01:53:42Z

Dslmsbs:

{{Short description|American football player, coach, and executive (1944–2021)}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Steve Ortmayer
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1944|2|13}}
| birth_place = [[Painesville, Ohio]], U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2021|3|9|1944|2|13}}
| death_place = [[Lexington, Kentucky]], U.S.
| college = [[Vanderbilt Commodores football|Vanderbilt]], [[La Verne Leopards football|La Verne]]
| pastcoaching =
* [[Colorado Buffaloes football|Colorado]] (1967–1973) Defensive line coach
* [[Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football|Georgia Tech]] (1974) Offensive line coach
* [[Kansas City Chiefs]] ({{NFL Year|1975}}–{{NFL Year|1977}}) Special teams coordinator
* [[Oakland Raiders]] ({{NFL Year|1978}}–{{NFL Year|1986}}) Special teams coordinator
* [[Los Angeles Raiders]] ({{NFL Year|1990}}–{{NFL Year|1994}}) Special teams coordinator
* [[Green Bay Packers]] ({{NFL Year|1999}}) Special teams coordinator
* [[Kentucky Wildcats football|Kentucky]] (2003–2010) Special teams coordinator
| pastexecutive =
* [[San Diego Chargers]] ({{nfly|1987}}–{{nfly|1989}}) General manager
| highlights =
* 2× [[Super Bowl]] champion
** [[Super Bowl XV|XV]]
** [[Super Bowl XVIII|XVIII]]
}}
'''Conrad Stephen Ortmayer''' (February 13, 1944 – March 9, 2021) was an [[American football]] player, coach, and executive who served as the general manager of the [[National Football League]] (NFL)'s [[San Diego Chargers]] and [[St. Louis Rams]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/chargers-rams/story/2021-03-09/ortmayer-chargers-raiders-nfl-exec-dies|title=Steve Ortmayer, former Chargers GM, dies at 77|work=[[The San Diego Union-Tribune]]|author=Krasovic, Tom|accessdate=March 9, 2021|date=March 9, 2021}}</ref>

==Early life and playing career==
Born in [[Painesville, Ohio]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/coach/ortm00400coach.html|title=Steve Ortmayer|publisher=Pro Football Archives|accessdate=March 9, 2021}}</ref> Ortmayer grew up in [[Nashville, Tennessee]], and [[Dallas|Dallas, Texas]]. He played one season at [[Vanderbilt University]] before transferring to the [[University of La Verne]] and playing three seasons there.

==Coaching career==
Ortmayer got his start in coaching at the [[University of Colorado at Boulder]] in 1967 and also spent a season at [[Georgia Institute of Technology|Georgia Tech]]. From 1968 to 1973, he was assistant head coach, [[offensive line]] coach, and [[defensive line]] coach for Colorado. In 1974, he was assistant head coach and offensive line coach for the [[Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football|Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets]]. After one year with the [[Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football|Yellow Jackets]], Ortmayer moved on to the [[National Football League]] (NFL) to be the special teams coach of the [[Kansas City Chiefs]] from 1975 to 1977. Ortmayer spent 25 seasons in the NFL and won two Super Bowl rings as special teams coach with the [[Oakland Raiders|Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders]]. In 2003, he became assistant head coach, special teams coordinator, and tight ends coach at the [[University of Kentucky]]. Ortmayer has coached in five college bowl games and for eight NFL playoff teams, in addition to his two Super Bowl wins with the Raiders.

==Executive career==
In 1987, Ortmayer moved to the [[San Diego Chargers]] as [[General manager (American football)|general manager]] where he served until his release in December 1989. He then rejoined the Raiders until moving to an administrative office with the [[Los Angeles Rams]]. With the Raiders, he served in a number of capacities ranging from assistant coach to director of football operations. Ortmayer was on the sidelines when the Raiders won both Super Bowl XV and Super Bowl XVIII. In 1995, as vice president of football operations of the Rams, Ortmayer oversaw the move from Los Angeles to [[St. Louis]]. In 2000, Ortmayer was named director of player personnel of the [[XFL (2001)|XFL]]'s [[Memphis Maniax]].<ref>[http://corporate.wwe.com/news/2000/2000_07_28.3.jsp Veteran Pro Football Executive Steve Ortmayer Joins XFL-Memphis] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070608023814/http://corporate.wwe.com/news/2000/2000_07_28.3.jsp |date=2007-06-08 }} World Wrestling Entertainment. Accessed 2 July 2007.</ref> In 2022, Ortmayer was inducted into the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Los Angeles Chargers general manager navbox}}
{{Los Angeles Rams general manager navbox}}
{{Super Bowl XV}}
{{Super Bowl XVIII}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ortmayer, Steve}}
[[Category:1944 births]]
[[Category:2021 deaths]]
[[Category:Colorado Buffaloes football coaches]]
[[Category:Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football coaches]]
[[Category:Kansas City Chiefs coaches]]
[[Category:Kentucky Wildcats football coaches]]
[[Category:La Verne Leopards football players]]
[[Category:Los Angeles Raiders coaches]]
[[Category:National Football League general managers]]
[[Category:Oakland Raiders coaches]]
[[Category:San Diego Chargers executives]]
[[Category:St. Louis Rams executives]]
[[Category:Vanderbilt Commodores football players]]
[[Category:People from Painesville, Ohio]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Dallas]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Nashville, Tennessee]]

{{Amfoot-coach-stub}}

Elbie Nickel

2024-01-26T01:50:54Z

Dslmsbs:

{{Short description|American football player (1922–2007)}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
|image=ElbieNickel1954Bowman.jpg
|caption=
|position=[[Tight end]]
|number=81
|birth_date={{birth date|1922|12|28|mf=y}}
|birth_place=[[Lewis County, Kentucky|Fullerton, Kentucky]], U.S.
|death_date={{death date and age|2007|02|27|1922|12|28}}
|death_place =[[Chillicothe, Ohio]], U.S.
|height_ft=6
|height_in=1
|weight_lbs=196
|high_school=McKell ([[South Shore, Kentucky]])
|college=[[Cincinnati Bearcats football|Cincinnati]]
|draftyear=1947
|draftround=17
|draftpick=149
|pastteams=
* [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] (1947–1957)
|statlabel1=[[Reception (American football)|Receptions]]
|statvalue1=329
|statlabel2=Receiving yards
|statvalue2=5,131
|statlabel3=[[Touchdown]]s
|statvalue3=37
|nfl=NIC630080
|pfr=
|pfrcoach=
|cfl=
|afl=
|highlights=
* 3× [[Pro Bowl]] (1952, 1953, 1956)
* [[Pittsburgh Steelers All-Time Team]]
* [[Pittsburgh Steelers Legends team]]
* [[Pittsburgh Steelers#Hall of Honor|Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Honor]]
|HOF=
|CollegeHOF=
}}

'''Elbert Everett "Elbie" Nickel''' (December 28, 1922 – February 27, 2007) was an American professional [[American football|football]] player who was a [[tight end]] in the [[National Football League]] (NFL). He played 11 seasons for the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] (1947–1957).

Nickel starred in three sports at the [[University of Cincinnati]] – he was an [[End (American football)|end]] on the [[college football|football]] team, a top scorer on the [[basketball]] team and a [[pitcher]]-[[outfielder]] in [[baseball]]. His education was put on hold by [[United States Army|Army]] service in [[World War II]]. Nickel returned to the University of Cincinnati at the conclusion of World War II and was part of the 1946 University of Cincinnati football team that played in the 1947 Sun Bowl where the University of Cincinnati defeated Virginia Tech. This was the first bowl game for the University of Cincinnati.<ref>{{cite news | first=Ed | last=Bouchette | title=Elbie Nickel / Best Tight End in Steelers History | date=March 2, 2007 | url =http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07061/766180-122.stm | work =Post-Gazette NOW News | access-date = January 3, 2008 }}</ref>

Entering the 1947 NFL Draft, Nickel was listed at 6'1" and 196 lbs., minuscule for a tight end nowadays, but the game was different back then, and the Steelers would take Nickel in the 17 round with the 149th overall pick. Nickel's career with the Steelers almost didn't happen, since he received an offer from the local Cincinnati Reds to play baseball, but Nickel opted to sign with Pittsburgh and play football instead of baseball. Generally considered one of the best tight ends in Steelers' history,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wexell |first1=Jim |title=Elbie Nickel passes |url=https://247sports.com/nfl/pittsburgh-steelers/Article/Elbie-Nickel-passes-104403123/ |website=247Sports |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=August 20, 2018 |date=March 1, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Maynard |first1=Mark |title=MAYNARD: McKell's Elbie Nickel became a Steelers legend |url=http://www.dailyindependent.com/sports/local_sports/maynard-mckell-s-elbie-nickel-became-a-steelers-legend/article_aca6b378-c6da-555f-b13b-45094488d353.html |website=The Daily Independent |access-date=August 20, 2018 |date=August 26, 2010}}</ref> Nickel recorded 329 career receptions as a tight end and is now second in career receptions by a Steelers' tight end behind Heath Miller (490). Nickel was selected to the Pro Bowl three times, 1952, 1953 and 1956. In conjunction with the 2007 celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Steelers, Nickel was selected as one of 33 players on the [[Pittsburgh Steelers All-Time Team]].{{Citation needed|date=August 2016}}

Nickel was selected to the Pittsburgh Steelers' Hall of Honor in 2019 along with tight end, tackle [[Larry Brown (tight end, born 1949)|Larry Brown]], coach [[Bill Cowher]] and wide receiver [[Hines Ward]]. In 2022, Nickel was inducted into the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame.

==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
{{Portal|Biography}}
*{{Find a Grave|18133358|access-date=August 9, 2010}}

{{Pittsburgh Steelers All-Time Team}}
{{Pittsburgh Steelers 50th season All-Time team}}
{{Pittsburgh Steelers Legends team}}
{{Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Honor}}
{{Steelers1947DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nickel, Elbie}}
[[Category:1922 births]]
[[Category:2007 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Lewis County, Kentucky]]
[[Category:American football tight ends]]
[[Category:Cincinnati Bearcats football players]]
[[Category:Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball players]]
[[Category:United States Army personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:United States Army soldiers]]
[[Category:Pittsburgh Steelers players]]
[[Category:Eastern Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:American men's basketball players]]

{{tightend-1920s-stub}}