Connor McGovern (American football, born 1997)

Last updated

Connor McGovern
Connor McGovern (50530256623) (cropped).jpg
McGovern in 2020
No. 66 – Buffalo Bills
Position: Center
Personal information
Born: (1997-11-03) November 3, 1997 (age 26)
Larksville, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Height:6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight:318 lb (144 kg)
Career information
High school: Lake-Lehman (PA)
College: Penn State (2016–2018)
NFL draft: 2019  / round: 3 / pick: 90
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
  • Third-team All-Big Ten (2018)
Career NFL statistics as of Week 3, 2024
Games played:65
Games started:49
Player stats at PFR

Connor James McGovern (born November 3, 1997) is an American professional football center for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the third round of the 2019 NFL draft. He played college football at Penn State.

Contents

Early life

McGovern attended Lake-Lehman High School. He received Wyoming Valley Football Conference first-team All-League honors in 2013, 2014 and 2015. He was named the Wyoming Valley Football Conference Most Valuable Player and first-team All-state as a senior.

Also practiced basketball and track. He received All-conference honors in basketball as a junior. He was the District 2 shot put champion as a senior in 2015. He also set school strength records in bench press, power clean, squat and deadlift.

College career

McGovern accepted a football scholarship from Penn State University. As a true freshman, he started nine out of 13 games playing at right guard. He was named the Big Ten Freshman of the week during week 10 of his freshman season, and became the first offensive lineman to receive the honor. He also became the third Big Ten offensive lineman to receive any player of the week award since Penn State joined the conference, after Korey Stringer of Ohio State and Sean Poole of Michigan State. [1]

As a sophomore, McGovern was moved from guard to the center position, starting all 13 games. [2] As a junior, he started 12 games at right guard and one at center.

On January 2, 2019, McGovern announced that he would forgo his final year of eligibility and declare for the 2019 NFL Draft. [3]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 5+3⁄8 in
(1.97 m)		308 lb
(140 kg)		34+1⁄8 in
(0.87 m)		9+7⁄8 in
(0.25 m)		4.57 s7.66 s9 ft 4 in
(2.84 m)		28 reps
All values from NFL Combine [4] [5]

Dallas Cowboys

McGovern was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the third round (90th overall) of the 2019 NFL draft. [6] He missed all of the preseason with a torn pectoral muscle. He was placed on the injured reserve list on September 1. [7]

In 2020, he began the season as a backup guard behind Zack Martin and Connor Williams. In the sixth game against the Arizona Cardinals, Martin left the game with a concussion after a handful of snaps, and McGovern replaced him at right offensive guard. He would make his first career start in the next game against the Washington Football Team, while Martin recovered. Martin was later moved to right tackle in the tenth game against the Minnesota Vikings to help stabilize the offensive line performance, and McGovern was named the starter at right guard. He would remain in that role for the rest of the season, after Martin suffered a calf injury in the eleventh game against the Washington Football Team. He got his first start at fullback in the regular-season finale against the Philadelphia Eagles, he also played some snaps at guard and on special teams.

In 2021, he started the season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at right guard in place of Martin, who was placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. To get him more involved on game day, although he is a natural guard, he lined up as a fullback and blocking tight end under certain packages from offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. [8] In Week 11 against the Kansas City Chiefs, he was named the starting left guard over Connor Williams, who at the time was leading the league in penalties. He struggled in that game against defensive tackle Chris Jones, who registered 3.5 sacks. Williams regained his starting position in Week 15 against the New York Giants. In the five games that McGovern started at guard (four at left guard and one at right guard), the Cowboys had a 2-3 record.

In 2022, he split time with rookie Tyler Smith, working at left guard with the first-team offense in organized team activities and training camp. He started at center in the third preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks. He was named the starter at left guard for the season opener, after left tackle Tyron Smith was placed on the injured reserve list and the offensive line had to adjust to the loss. He suffered a high ankle sprain seven plays into the game and was replaced with Matt Farniok. He missed the following two games with the injury. In Week 17 against the Tennessee Titans, he started at center in the absence of Tyler Biadasz. He started 15 games, mostly at left guard, while surrendering just two sacks and one penalty.

Buffalo Bills

On March 16, 2023, McGovern signed a three-year contract with the Buffalo Bills, with the intention of replacing Rodger Saffold. [9] He started 17 games at left guard.

In 2024, after Mitch Morse was released as a salary cap casualty, McGovern was named the starter at center.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Berger</span> American football player (born 1982)

Joseph David Berger is an American former professional football player who was a guard in the National Football League (NFL) for the Miami Dolphins, Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings. He was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL draft. He played college football at Michigan Tech.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marco Rivera</span> American football player (born 1972)

Marco Anthony Rivera is an American former professional football player who was a guard in the National Football League (NFL) for the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys. He played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions.

Al Joseph Johnson is an American football coach and former player. He served as the head football coach of the East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma from 2018 to 2021. Johnson played professionally as a center and guard in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Arizona Cardinals and Miami Dolphins. He played college football at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Montrae Holland</span> American football player (born 1980)

Montrae Rondrell Holland is an American former professional football offensive guard in the National Football League (NFL) for the New Orleans Saints, Denver Broncos and Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at Florida State University.

John Hugh Niland is an American former professional football player who was an offensive guard in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles. He was a six-time Pro Bowler and a three-time All-Pro. He played college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes.

John Christian Gesek Jr. is an American former professional football player who was an offensive lineman in the National Football League (NFL) for the Los Angeles Raiders, Dallas Cowboys, and Washington Redskins. He played college football for the Sacramento State Hornets and was selected in the 10th round of the 1987 NFL draft. Gesek won two Super Bowls with the Cowboys over the Buffalo Bills as a starting offensive lineman.

John Joseph Flannery is an American former professional football player who was an offensive guard and center in the National Football League (NFL) for the Houston Oilers, Dallas Cowboys, and St. Louis Rams. He played college football for the Syracuse Orangemen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sean Lee</span> American football player (born 1986)

Sean Patrick Lee is an American former professional football linebacker. He played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions, and was selected by the Cowboys in the second round of the 2010 NFL draft. He made two Pro Bowls and the 2016 All-Pro Team.

Mackenzy Bernadeau is a former American football guard. He was selected with the 250th pick by the Carolina Panthers in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL draft. He played college football at Bentley University.

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

Stefen David Wisniewski is an American former professional football player who was a guard and center. He was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the second round of the 2011 NFL draft out of Penn State. He also played for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">La'el Collins</span> American football player (born 1993)

La'el Collins is an American professional football offensive tackle who is a free agent. He played college football at LSU, where he won the Jacobs Blocking Trophy, recognizing the Southeastern Conference's (SEC) top offensive lineman, in 2014. Collins signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonathan Cooper</span> American football player (born 1990)

Jonathan Javell Cooper is an American former professional football player who was a guard in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Arizona Cardinals seventh overall in the 2013 NFL draft. He played college football for the North Carolina Tar Heels, where he earned All-American honors. He also spent time with the New England Patriots, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers, Washington Redskins, and Oakland Raiders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Xavier Suʻa-Filo</span> American football player (born 1991)

Xavier Filoitumua Suʻa-Filo is an American former professional football player who was a guard in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the UCLA Bruins, earning second-team All-American honors in 2013. He was selected by the Houston Texans in the second round of the 2014 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zack Martin</span> American football player (born 1990)

Zachary Edward Martin is an American professional football guard for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and was selected by the Cowboys in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft. Named to the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team, Martin has made nine Pro Bowl and nine All-Pro teams.

Marcus Martin is an American former professional football player who was a guard in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the third round of the 2014 NFL draft. He played college football for the USC Trojans.

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

Max Garcia is an American football guard who is a free agent. He was a team captain at Florida, where he was recognized as second-team All-SEC in 2014. He was selected by the Denver Broncos in the fourth round, 133rd overall, in the 2015 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Connor Williams (American football)</span> American football player (born 1997)

Connor Williams is an American professional football center for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Texas, and has previously played in the NFL for the Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chuma Edoga</span> American football player (born 1997)

Chuma Edoga is an American professional football offensive guard for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at USC and was drafted by the New York Jets in the third round of the 2019 NFL draft.

Matt Farniok is an American football center who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the seventh round of the 2021 NFL draft. He played college football at Nebraska.

Brock Hoffman is an American professional football center for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Coastal Carolina and Virginia Tech.

References

  1. ↑ Levarse, Derek (November 7, 2016). "Penn State's Connor McGovern makes history by winning Big Ten honor". Times Leader. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  2. ↑ Sankofa, Omari (April 18, 2017). "Connor McGovern settles in at center of Penn State offensive line". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  3. ↑ Coles, Jim (January 2, 2019). "Connor McGovern declares for NFL Draft". WNEP. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  4. ↑ "Connor McGovern Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  5. ↑ "Connor McGovern, Penn State, OG, 2019 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  6. ↑ "The Dallas Cowboys select OL Connor McGovern with the 90th pick in the 2019 NFL Draft". Blogging The Boys. April 26, 2019.
  7. ↑ Livesay, Connor (September 2, 2019). "Report: Cowboys to place Connor McGovern on IR, calling up Jordan Chunn from practice squad". Blogging The Boys. SB Nation. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  8. ↑ "Cowboys Connor McGovern on playing FB: "livin' a lot of fat kids' dreams"". sportdfw. September 28, 2021.
  9. ↑ White, Alec (March 16, 2023). "Bills sign G Connor McGovern to three-year deal". BuffaloBills.com. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.