Boomer Grigsby

Last updated
Boomer Grigsby
Boomer Grigsby.jpg
Grigsby in 2006
No. 51, 46
Position: Linebacker / Fullback
Personal information
Born: (1981-11-15) November 15, 1981 (age 41)
Canton, Illinois, U.S.
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:237 lb (108 kg)
Career information
College: Illinois State
NFL Draft: 2005  / Round: 5 / Pick: 138
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles:33
Receptions:2
Receiving yards:14
Total touchdowns:0
Player stats at NFL.com

James Harvey "Boomer" Grigsby (born November 15, 1981) is a former American football fullback. He played college football at Illinois State, and was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fifth round of the 2005 NFL Draft. Grigsby was also a member of the Miami Dolphins and Houston Texans.

Contents

Early years

Grigsby attended and played high school football at Canton High School where he was an all-area linebacker during his senior season. [1] He was not recruited to play college football until an Illinois State coach saw him lifting weights in his high school's weight room. [1]

College career

Grigsby was a four-year letterman at Illinois State University. As a sophomore, he set a school record with 179 tackles and also recorded what would remain a career-high four sacks. [1]

The following season, Grigsby tied his own school record with 179 tackles. [1] He came in second behind only future Kansas City Chiefs teammate Jared Allen in the voting for the Buck Buchanan Award, given annually to the top defensive player in Division I-AA. [1]

In 44 games (40 starts), at Illinois State, Grigsby recorded a school record 580 tackles to go along with 41.5 tackles for a loss, 13 sacks, six fumble recoveries, five forced fumbles and seven passes defended. [1] He was Gateway Football Conference Player of the Year, a Division I-AA All-American and Buchanan award finalist each of his final three seasons. [1]

Professional career

Kansas City Chiefs

Grigsby was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fifth round (138th overall) of the 2005 NFL Draft. [2] On July 15, he signed a three-year, $1.067 million contract with the team. [3] It included a signing bonus of $142,000 and base salaries of $230,000 (2005), $310,000 (2006) and $385,000 (2007). [3]

Grigsby played in all 16 regular season games that year in a reserve role and finished third on the team with 19 special teams tackles. [1]

"Boomer Grigsby has as much presence at the position as anybody I've been around at the start of his career."

Gunther Cunningham,
Chiefs defensive coordinator [3]

Appearing in 15 games in 2006, Grigsby again ranked third on the Chiefs in special teams tackles with 18. [1] He missed one game that season with foot injury. [1]

Prior to the 2007 regular season, Grigsby was converted from linebacker to fullback. [3] The transition was chronicled on the HBO reality series Hard Knocks:Training Camp with the Kansas City Chiefs .

Despite the position change and an injury to his ribs during the preseason, [3] Grigsby made the team. [1] He went on to appear in 13 games for the Chiefs that season including one start. [1] His first NFL reception came on a nine-yard pass from quarterback Brodie Croyle against the Denver Broncos on December 9, and he finished the season with two receptions for 14 yards. [1] He finished third on the team in special teams tackles (12) for the third straight season. [1]

A restricted free agent in the 2008 offseason, Grigsby was not tendered a contract by the Chiefs and became an unrestricted free agent. [4]

Miami Dolphins

On March 4, 2008, Grigsby agreed to terms on a one-year contract with the Miami Dolphins. [3] The signing reunited him with current Dolphins running backs coach James Saxon, who was Grigsby's position coach with the Chiefs in 2007. [1]

Grigsby won the team's starting fullback job in 2008 after incumbent Reagan Mauia was released during final cuts. However, after starting the Dolphins' season opener against the New York Jets on September 7, Grigsby was released by the team two days later in favor of free agent Casey Cramer. He spent the rest of the season out of football.

Houston Texans

Grigsby was signed by the Houston Texans on May 12, 2009. He was waived with an injury designation on August 18. After going unclaimed on waivers, he reverted to Texans' injured reserve. He was released with an injury settlement on August 25.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zach Thomas</span> American football player (born 1973)

Zachary Michael Thomas is an American former professional football player who was a middle linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons. He played college football for Texas Tech University, and was recognized as a unanimous All-American. He was selected in the fifth round, 22nd pick, in the 1996 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins, and played for the Dolphins in his first 12 seasons in the NFL, before playing his 13th and final season with the Dallas Cowboys.

Matthew M. Roth is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the second round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played college football at Iowa. He also played for the Cleveland Browns and Jacksonville Jaguars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Landon Johnson</span> American football player (born 1981)

Landon Tremone Johnson is a former American football linebacker. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the third round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football at Purdue.

Byron Keith Traylor is a former American football nose tackle who played 17 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He was originally drafted by the Denver Broncos in the third round of the 1991 NFL Draft. He played college football at Central Oklahoma. Traylor has won a total of three Super Bowl rings; he won two with the Denver Broncos and one with the New England Patriots.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Channing Crowder</span> American football player (born 1983)

Randolph Channing Crowder Jr. is an American former college and professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for six seasons during the 2000s. He played college football for Florida, and was recognized as an All-American. Crowder was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft, and played his entire professional career for the Dolphins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">D. J. Williams (linebacker)</span> American football player (born 1982)

Genos Derwin "D. J." Williams, Jr. is a former American football linebacker who played 11 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at the University of Miami and was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He also played for the Chicago Bears.

Donnie Spragan, Jr. is a former American football linebacker. He was signed by the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent in 1999. Spragan has also been a member of the Green Bay Packers, Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins, and Buffalo Bills. He played college football at Stanford and Pacific.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vonnie Holliday</span> American football player (born 1975)

Dimetry Giovonni "Vonnie" Holliday is a former American football defensive lineman. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers 19th overall in the 1998 NFL Draft. He played college football at North Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bryan Cox</span> American football player and coach (born 1968)

Bryan Keith Cox Sr. is an American football coach and former player. He is the assistant defensive line coach for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for Western Illinois University, an FCS program that has developed other NFL talent, and received attention for his aggressive style of play. Although Cox was a relatively late fifth-round pick by the Miami Dolphins in the 1991 NFL Draft, he rose to prominence as a standout linebacker during his twelve NFL seasons from 1991 through 2002. He was a three-time pro bowler with the Dolphins, and was also a member of the New England Patriots club that won Super Bowl XXXVI.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Akin Ayodele</span> American football player (born 1979)

Akinola James Ayodele is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins, and Buffalo Bills. He was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football at Purdue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charlie Anderson</span> American football player (born 1981)

Charlie Alexander Anderson is a former American football linebacker. He was drafted by the Houston Texans in the sixth round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football at Mississippi.

Travis Antwon Daniels is a former American football cornerback. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played college football at Louisiana State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Randy Starks</span> American football player (born 1983)

Randolph Starks Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end for 12 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Maryland Terrapins. Starks was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the third round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He also played for the Miami Dolphins and Cleveland Browns.

Reggie Jermaine Torbor is a former American football linebacker. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football at Auburn.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rob Ninkovich</span> American football player (born 1984)

Robert Michael Ninkovich is a former American football outside linebacker who played eleven seasons in National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Purdue as a defensive end and was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the fifth round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He also played for the Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots, winning two Super Bowls with the latter. After eight seasons with the Patriots, Ninkovich announced his retirement from the NFL following the 2016 season.

Casey Ross Cramer is a former American football fullback. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the seventh round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football at Dartmouth.

Kelvin Vincent Smith is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League for the Miami Dolphins, Carolina Panthers and Dallas Cowboys. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the seventh round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Syracuse.

Brian Thomas Johnston is a former American football linebacker. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Gardner–Webb.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raekwon McMillan</span> American football player (born 1995)

Raekwon McMillan is an American football linebacker for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins and has also played for the Las Vegas Raiders. He played college football at Ohio State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elandon Roberts</span> American football player (born 1994)

Elandon Roberts is an American football linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Houston. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the sixth round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He plays primarily as a linebacker on defense, but when injuries during the 2019 season left the Patriots without a fullback on the roster, Roberts began to play that position as well.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 "TEAM: Roster Boomer Grigsby Profile". MiamiDolphins.com. Archived from the original on 12 August 2008. Retrieved 9 July 2008.
  2. "2005 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2023-05-07.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "KFFL - Boomer Grigsby, FB". KFFL.com. Archived from the original on December 4, 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2008.
  4. "Free Agency Wire -- 3/1/08". Scout.com. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2008.