Erik Lorig

Last updated

Erik Lorig
No. 44, 41
Position: Fullback
Personal information
Born: (1986-11-17) November 17, 1986 (age 37)
Rolling Hills, California, U.S.
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:265 lb (120 kg)
Career information
High school: Palos Verdes Peninsula
(Rolling Hills Estates, California)
College: Stanford
NFL draft: 2010  / Round: 7 / Pick: 253
Career history
Career NFL statistics
Receptions:39
Receiving yards:220
Receiving touchdowns:2
Player stats at PFR

Erik Lorig (born November 17, 1986) is a former American football fullback who played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL).

Contents

He played defensive end and occasionally tight end in college football at Stanford. He was selected by the Buccaneers in the seventh round of the 2010 NFL Draft, converted to fullback in his rookie season, and played for the team for four years. His rookie contract was for four years with incentive escalators. In March 2014, the Saints signed Lorig in free agency to a four-year contract. [1]

Early life

Lorig was born in Rolling Hills, California. He is of German and Scandinavian descent. [2] [3] [4] [5]

He played high school football as a tight end and linebacker at Palos Verdes Peninsula High School in California. [6] [7] He was named the All-Bay Conference Defensive Player of the Year both his junior and senior years. [8] He received Cal-Hi Sports, Parade Magazine , PrepStar and SuperPrep All-America honors as a senior. [9]

College career

He played college football for the Stanford Cardinal at defensive end. [10] At 6-foot-4, 280 pounds, he ran the 40-yard (37 m) dash in 4.76 seconds, and was known for having a quick burst off the line. Lorig did not work out while at the combine due to injury. In his first two years at Stanford, Lorig played tight end and wore number 80. In his freshman campaign, Lorig played in all 12 games where he contributed on special teams and served as the offense's blocking TE, often lining up in the backfield as an H-back/fullback. He recorded 10 catches for 100 yards.

He was then asked by the new coaching staff to switch to defensive end for his junior year, and proceeded to record 39 tackles, including 6 tackles for loss and 3 sacks in 2008, and had 37 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and 2 sacks in 2007. [11] His NFL prospect status took a severe hit in 2009, when he sat out most of the season because of a torn pectoral muscle. [12] [13] [14]

In his five years at Stanford he started 25 of 29 games, and had 95 tackles, 16.5 tackles for a loss, and 4.5 sacks, earning Honorable Mention All-Pac 10 as a junior, and All-Pac All-Academic team twice (2008, 2009). [11] [15]

As an undergraduate at Stanford, Lorig majored in Public Policy, a sub-department within the School of Economics, with an emphasis in Technology Policy, and minored in Film and Media Studies. As part of the team's approach to academics as well as sports, the players' GPAs were posted in the locker room, along with their weight lifting results. [16] He obtained a master's degree in Digital Media Technologies at Stanford in 2011, taking classes during his off-seasons. [15]

Professional career

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Lorig was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the seventh round (253rd overall) of the 2010 NFL Draft. [17] He was signed to a four-year contract for $1.8 million on June 18, 2010. [18]

Lorig switched from defensive end to fullback/tight end on October 3, 2010. [19] He made his NFL debut at Cincinnati a week later, and had his first NFL start against Carolina on November 14, 2010, starting at fullback. [19] In 2010, he played in 12 games, starting 1, and in 2011, he played in 16 games, starting 7. [20]

On September 9, 2012, he tied for first on the team with a career-high four receptions. [19] He had his first career touchdown reception at Minnesota on October 25, 2012. [19] In 2012, he played in all 16 games, starting 7. [20] In 2013, he played in 15 games, starting 9. [20] In his four seasons with the Buccaneers, he played in 62 regular season games (starting 24 at fullback and tight end), while catching 30 passes for 193 yards and one touchdown. [10] [11] Lorig helped lead running back Doug Martin to several Buccaneer franchise records including: Martin's 1,926 yards from scrimmage in a single season ranks him second in Buccaneers' history behind James Wilder Sr. (2,229 yards from scrimmage) [21] Martin went on to two Pro Bowl selections in 2012 and 2013, with Lorig as his lead blocker. [21]

Lorig became a free agent in 2014. [22] In February 2014, the Buccaneers were reported to be interested in re-signing him. [22]

New Orleans Saints

During NFL free agency, Lorig signed a four-year contract reportedly worth $5 million with a $1 million signing bonus with the New Orleans Saints on March 18, 2014. [23] In the 2014 season, Lorig lead running back Mark Ingram II to a franchise rushing record for consecutive 100 yard games in a season, and helped elect Ingram to a Pro Bowl selection. [24]

After suffering a broken ankle in his first training camp with the team, Lorig returned to play on October 18 against the Green Bay Packers, leading running back Mark Ingram II run for over 100 yards and recording two receptions from Drew Brees. In the final seconds of the game, Lorig took two carries of the football while the game clock wound down. [25]

On November 28 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Lorig scored his first touchdown with the Saints in the 2nd quarter, giving the Saints the lead over the Steelers. [26]

He was released by the Saints later in the 2015 season. [27] After departing the Saints, Lorig spent the 2016 season with several other teams. He has played 66 games in the NFL. [28]

Accolades

In 2015 he was inducted into the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. [29]

Post-football

Lorig is an MBA student at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Class of 2020, focusing on finance and real estate. [30] [16]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex Smith (tight end)</span> American football player (born 1982)

Edwin Alexander Smith, is a former American football tight end. He played college football at Stanford and was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft. Smith was also a member of the New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles, Cleveland Browns, and Cincinnati Bengals, New Orleans Saints, and Washington Redskins.

Darnell Joseph Dinkins is a former American football coach and tight end. He played college football at the University of Pittsburgh. In the National Football League (NFL), Dinkins played for the New York Giants, Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, and New Orleans Saints. He was most recently the tight ends coach for the Rutgers University Scarlet Knights football team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Lynch (American football)</span> American football player and executive (born 1971)

John Terrence Lynch Jr. is an American football executive and former safety who is the general manager of the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Stanford and was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the third round of the 1993 NFL draft, later winning Super Bowl XXXVII with them. Lynch also spent four seasons with the Denver Broncos before retiring in 2008 and working as a color commentator for NFL on Fox games until being named general manager of the 49ers in 2017. He made nine Pro Bowls during his career and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021.

Darian Durrell Barnes is a former American football fullback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions and New Orleans Saints. He played college football at Hampton University.

James D. Runnels is an American football coach and former fullback. He played college football at Oklahoma from 2002 to 2005. He played in the National Football League (NFL) for 4 seasons from 2006 to 2009, with his longest tenue as a player with the Chicago Bears.

David Edward Moore is an American former football tight end and long snapper who played in the National Football League (NFL) with the played for the Miami Dolphins, the Buffalo Bills, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers over the span of his 15-year career. His last official game was the 2007 Pro Bowl in Honolulu, Hawaii. Moore didn't miss more than two games in any season for his entire Buccaneers career since first joining the team in 1993. At the time of his retirement, he was the fourth tight end in NFL history to play 200 career games. In fact, before him, only 206 NFL players had accomplished this feat in the entirety of the National Football League's existence. During his career he had a rate of one touchdown scored for every 7.7 passes caught, which was the best touchdown rate by any player in Buccaneers history who had at least 50 career receptions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malcolm Jenkins</span> American football player (born 1987)

Malcolm Jenkins is an American former professional football player who was a safety for 13 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes, earning consensus All-American honors, and winning the Jim Thorpe Award as a senior. He was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the first round of the 2009 NFL draft and played for the Philadelphia Eagles from 2014 to 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Dominik</span> American football executive

Mark Dominik is a former professional football executive and scout for the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL) from 1994 to 2013. Dominik joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after spending a year and a half working in both the college and pro personnel departments of the Kansas City Chiefs. In 1995, Dominik was named pro personnel assistant with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He moved up to pro scout, coordinator of pro scouting and on to director of pro scouting from 1997 to 2008. Dominik succeeded Bruce Allen as general manager on January 17, 2009. Dominik held the position of general manager from 2009 through the 2013 season. His record as Bucs GM was 28-52. Dominik during his tenure as general manager with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was active in the military community. He was a finalist in the NFL's salute to service award in 2012. Dominik also was formerly an analyst for ESPN where he was on SportsCenter, NFL Insiders, ESPN Radio and NFL Live. Dominik is a host on Sirius XM NFL Radio. Born in St. Cloud, Minnesota, Dominik holds a bachelor of science degree in sports management from the University of Kansas. Currently he is a partner at X10 Capital and a "Football GM and Scouting" instructor for the online sports-career training school Sports Management Worldwide, founded and run by Dr. Lynn Lashbrook.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alterraun Verner</span> American football player (born 1988)

Alterraun Ennis Verner is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the UCLA Bruins, earning first-team All-American honors. Verner was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL draft. He was voted second-team All-Pro and named to the Pro Bowl with the Titans in 2013. He also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Miami Dolphins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jason Pierre-Paul</span> American football player (born 1989)

Jason Andrew Pierre-Paul is an American football linebacker who is a free agent. He played college football for the South Florida Bulls and was selected by the New York Giants in the first round of the 2010 NFL draft. With the Giants, Pierre-Paul made two Pro Bowls, was first-team All-Pro and won Super Bowl XLVI. With the Buccaneers, Pierre-Paul made his third Pro Bowl and won Super Bowl LV.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Crabtree</span> American football player (born 1985)

Thomas Louis Crabtree is a former American football tight end in the National Football League (NFL). He spent most of his career with the Green Bay Packers, with whom he won Super Bowl XLV over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cameron Jordan</span> American football player (born 1989)

Cameron Tyler Jordan is an American football defensive end for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the California Golden Bears, and was selected by the Saints in the first round of the 2011 NFL draft. A member of the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team, Jordan is an eight-time Pro Bowler, a three-time All-Pro selection, and is the Saints' all-time franchise sack leader.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mason Foster</span> American football player (born 1989)

Mason Foster is a former American football linebacker. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the third round of the 2011 NFL draft. He played college football at Washington. He was also a member of the Chicago Bears and Washington Redskins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luke Stocker</span> American football player (born 1988)

Lucas Aaron Stocker is a former American football tight end and fullback. He played college football at the University of Tennessee, and was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fourth round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He has also played for the Tennessee Titans, Atlanta Falcons and Minnesota Vikings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Conte</span> American football player (born 1989)

Christopher Michael Conte is a former American football safety. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He played college football at California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Akiem Hicks</span> American football player (born 1989)

Akiem Jamar Hicks is an American football defensive end who is a free agent. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the third round of the 2012 NFL draft and has also played for the New England Patriots and Chicago Bears. He played college football at Sacramento City College and at the University of Regina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhett Ellison</span> American football player (born 1988)

Rhett Marshall Ellison is a former American football tight end and fullback who played seven seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at USC and was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL Draft. He also played for the New York Giants for three seasons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cameron Brate</span> American football player (born 1991)

Cameron Brate is an American football tight end who is a free agent. He played college football at Harvard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season</span> 45th season in franchise history; second Super Bowl appearance and win

The 2020 season was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 45th in the National Football League (NFL) and their second under head coach Bruce Arians. The club acquired long-time New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady in free agency, and traded for Brady's former Patriots teammate, tight end Rob Gronkowski during the offseason. They improved on their 7–9 record from the previous season by finishing 11–5 to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2007 – though 10 of their 11 wins were against non-playoff teams. They advanced through the playoffs to reach and win Super Bowl LV. They were the first team only having one Pro Bowler to do so since the 2007 Giants, and the first team to play in and win the Super Bowl in their home stadium, Raymond James Stadium. They were the 7th wild card team in NFL history to win the Super Bowl, as well as the fifth team to win three road games to advance to the Super Bowl, joining the 2010 Green Bay Packers, 2007 New York Giants, 2005 Pittsburgh Steelers, and 1985 New England Patriots.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antoine Winfield Jr.</span> American football player (born 1998)

Antoine Duane Winfield Jr. is an American football safety for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Minnesota Golden Golphers, earning unanimous All-American honors. Winfield was selected by the Buccaneers in the second round of the 2020 NFL draft.

References

  1. "Saints Sign Fullback Erik Lorig to Four-Year Contract".
  2. "Erik Lorig, Green Yogi of The Month". Thegreenyogimb.com. February 28, 2013. Retrieved November 18, 2013.
  3. "Kaplan's Korner". Jweekly. Archived from the original on January 2, 2011. Retrieved November 18, 2013.
  4. "2011 NFL Football Preview". Jewish Sports Review . 8 (87): 6–7. September–October 2011.
  5. "Jews in the News: Erik Lorig, Jonah Hill & Jeffrey Goldberg". Letmypeoplegrow.org. Retrieved November 18, 2013.
  6. "Player Bio: Erik Lorig". Stanford University. Archived from the original on January 7, 2012. Retrieved April 30, 2015.
  7. "Game Day Spotlight: Erik Lorig". buccaneers.com.
  8. "Erik Lorig: The Versatile Star Of The NFL". Shalom Life.
  9. "2008 Stanford Football"
  10. 1 2 "New Orleans Saints, free agent fullback Erik Lorig agree to 4-year deal". Fox News. October 1, 2006. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
  11. 1 2 3 "New Orleans Saints agree to terms with fullback Erik Lorig on four-year contract". Neworleanssaints.com. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
  12. Carroll, Chuck (June 18, 2010). "Bucs Sign Two Draft Picks, Release Crowell and Two Others". Football News Now. Archived from the original on June 24, 2010. Retrieved April 30, 2015.
  13. "Former USF Bulls star Matt Grothe excited about first day of Tampa Bay Buccaneers minicamp". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved September 22, 2010.
  14. "Erik Lorig, Stanford, NFL Draft". CBS Sports. Archived from the original on July 22, 2012. Retrieved September 22, 2010.
  15. 1 2 Campbell, Charlie (March 18, 2011). "Lorig Works on Mastering Fullback and Masters Degree". Pewter Report. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
  16. 1 2 "Interview: From Stanford to the NFL to Wharton the Impressive Road of Erik Lorig". November 20, 2019.
  17. "2010 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  18. Biggs, Brad (June 18, 2010). "Bucs sign 7th rounder Lorig, cut two". nationalfootballpost.com. Archived from the original on June 23, 2010. Retrieved June 18, 2010.
  19. 1 2 3 4 Erik Lorig. "Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Erik Lorig". Buccaneers.com. Retrieved November 18, 2013.
  20. 1 2 3 "Erik Lorig, FB for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers". Nfl.com. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
  21. 1 2 "Martin on Rookie of the Year Short List". Tampa Bay Buccaneers . January 4, 2013. Archived from the original on December 21, 2016. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
  22. 1 2 "Buccaneers want to re-sign Erik Lorig and Jonathan Casillas". Bucs Nation. February 26, 2014. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
  23. Mike Triplett, "Saints to sign new fullback Erik Lorig", ESPN, March 18, 2014.
  24. "Saints down Panthers, end seven-game road losing streak". ESPN.com. Associated Press. October 31, 2014. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  25. "Green Bay Packers recover New Orleans Saints fullback Erik Lorig's fumble - NFL Videos". NFL.com .
  26. Batista, Mike. "New Orleans Saints vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: Live Pittsburgh Score and Analysis". Bleacher Report.
  27. "ERIK LORIG". foxsports.com. Retrieved March 10, 2016.
  28. "Erik Lorig Career Stats". NFL.com.
  29. "Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame Home". scjewishsportshof.com.
  30. "Go to Work with an NFL Player: Erik Lorig". Wharton Business Daily. September 28, 2018 via acast.com.