Patrick Stephen Hape (born June 6, 1974) is a former American football fullback and tight end for the Denver Broncos, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected in the fifth round of the 1997 NFL draft.[1]

Patrick Hape
No. 82, 86
Position:Tight end
Personal information
Born: (1974-06-06) June 6, 1974 (age 50)
Killen, Alabama, U.S.
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:254 lb (115 kg)
Career information
High school:Killen (AL) Brooks
College:Alabama
NFL draft:1997 / round: 5 / pick: 137
Career history
Career NFL statistics
Games played:124
Receptions:51
Receiving yards:287
Receiving touchdowns:11
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Hape played four seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a tight end, and five seasons with the Denver Broncos, although he did not play in 2005. His career high in receptions came in 2001 when he had 15 catches for 96 yards and 3 touchdowns in his first year with the Broncos. In eight seasons, Hape grabbed 51 receptions for 287 yards and 11 touchdowns. 22% of his career receptions were touchdowns.[2] He also scored the first regular-season touchdown at Invesco Field at Mile High.

In December 2000, Hape was fined $5,000 by the NFL for excessive end zone celebration with teammates Keyshawn Johnson and Dave Moore.[3]

He was known for his versatility, outstanding blocking, durability in remaining rather injury-free, reliability near the goal line, ability to play the H-Back position (a position developed by coach Joe Gibbs), and a colorful personality in the locker room.[citation needed]

He signed a three-year, $1.7 million contract with the Broncos in April 2004,[4] only to be cut by Denver on August 30, 2005.[5]

In late May 2006, free agent Hape was briefly reunited with his former offensive coordinator, Gary Kubiak, signing a contract with the Houston Texans after being out of the league in 2005.[6] He was released by the Texans less than three months later, essentially ending his active NFL career.[7] He is no longer listed as an active NFL player, nor has he explicitly retired.[8]

Hape is also friends with former-Buccaneer teammate Mike Alstott.[citation needed]

As a Buccaneer, he wore jersey number 82. As a Bronco, he switched to number 86. In his brief stint as a Texan in 2006, he wore number 45.

He is an avid golfer, winning the Town of Castle Rock Celebrity Golf Tournament in 2004, playing with other Denver Bronco teammates.[9]

He went on bowling excursions to bolster team chemistry while in Denver with then-Bronco teammates including Matt Lepsis, Tom Nalen, and Jeb Putzier.[10]

The future NFLer earned all-state accolades while playing tight end, linebacker and running back at Brooks High School in Alabama. Hape rushed for 660 yards and scored seven touchdowns as a prep. At the University of Alabama, Hape majored in Business Management.[11] Hape is currently a financial advisor at Merrill Lynch.[12]

References

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  1. ^ "1997 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  2. ^ http://pro-football-reference.com/cgi-bin/search.cgi [permanent dead link]
  3. ^ "Bucs fined for end zone dance". Archived from the original on July 8, 2007.
  4. ^ "Fantasy Football - Patrick Hape - Free Agent - Fanball.com". Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. Retrieved July 13, 2007.
  5. ^ "FOX Sports on MSN: Patrick Hape - Transactions". Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved July 13, 2007.
  6. ^ "TE/HB Hape returns to league after year-long absence". June 2006.
  7. ^ "CBS.SportsLine.com - Patrick Hape". Archived from the original on October 14, 2002.
  8. ^ "Archived copy". NFL.com. Archived from the original on July 18, 2007. Retrieved July 13, 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. ^ "Town of Castle Rock - Town Calendar". Archived from the original on September 28, 2007.
  10. ^ "Cbs4denver.com - Bowling Excursions Help Bring Broncos Together". Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved July 12, 2007.
  11. ^ "Patrick Hape | PLAYERS | NFLPLAYERS.COM". Archived from the original on December 26, 2005.
  12. ^ https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-hape-05188912 [self-published source]