J. J. Birden

Last updated

JJ Birden
No. 88, 89
Position: Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (1965-06-16) June 16, 1965 (age 59)
Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Height:5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:157 lb (71 kg)
Career information
High school: Lakeridge (Lake Oswego, Oregon)
College: Oregon
NFL draft: 1988  / round: 8 / pick: 216
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career NFL statistics
Receptions:244
Receiving yards:3,441
Touchdowns:17
Player stats at PFR

LaJourdain J. Birden Sr. (born June 16, 1965) is an American former professional football player who was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the eighth round of the 1988 NFL draft.

Contents

A now retired wide receiver, Birden graduated from Lakeridge High School in Lake Oswego, Oregon, and the University of Oregon. [2] He played in 9 NFL seasons for the Kansas City Chiefs and Atlanta Falcons from 1988 to 1996.

College career

Weighing just 140 pounds by the end of his senior high school season, Birden was considered too small to be an NCAA receiver and was not offered any football scholarships. His speed did earn him several track-and-field scholarship offers though, and he selected Oregon because it was the only one in which he would be allowed to play football as well. Joining the team as a walk-on in 1984, Birden caught just six passes in his first two seasons. He made the starting lineup as a junior, but injuries over his final two years resulted in him just catching 39 total passes during that timespan. He finished his four seasons at Oregon with 45 receptions for 739 yards and a touchdown. He later admitted "I had a very unimpressive college career". [3]

Professional career

Despite his undistinguished college career, Birden still received an invite to the 1988 NFL combine, where his speed was impressive enough to get Cleveland Browns coach Marty Schottenheimer to select him in the 8th round of the 1988 NFL draft with the 261st overall pick. [4] However, a knee injury kept him on injured reserve in the 1988 season and cost him a chance to qualify as a sprinter for the 1988 US Olympics team. After the season, Schottenheimer left the team to coach in Kansas City and Birden was cut. Birden received several offers from other teams, but his lingering knee injury limited him to spending the 1989 season on the Dallas Cowboys practice squad. After that season, Birden was released again.

In 1990, Birden rejoined his former coach Marty Schottenheimer on the Kansas City Chiefs. Birden was cut during training camp, but re-signed a few weeks later and went on to play for Kansas City for the next five seasons. His first two years were as a backup, which featured an 8-catch, 188-yard, 2-touchdown performance in the final game of the 1991 season. In 1992, Birden made the starting lineup and started in 40 of his 45 games with the Chiefs over the next three seasons. He also started in all 22 games he played for the Falcons before retiring.

Birden finished his career with 244 receptions for 3,441 yards and 17 touchdowns. He also played in nine playoff games, catching 33 passes for 429 yards and three touchdowns in that span. [5]

NFL career statistics

Legend
BoldCareer high

Regular season

YearTeamGamesReceiving
GPGSRecYdsAvgLngTD
1990 KAN 1101535223.5903
1991 KAN 1502746517.2572
1992 KAN 16114264415.3723
1993 KAN 16165172114.1502
1994 KAN 13134863713.3444
1995 ATL 1010313039.8241
1996 ATL 12123031910.6572
93622443,44114.19017

Playoffs

YearTeamGamesReceiving
GPGSRecYdsAvgLngTD
1990 KAN 10000.000
1991 KAN 2033712.3180
1992 KAN 1147819.5240
1993 KAN 331619212.0262
1994 KAN 1145614.0210
1995 ATL 1166410.7271
963342712.9273

After football

Following his football career, Birden became an executive for Xocai with Team X 88. Later he became a distributor of Isagenix health and wellness products and continues to represent Isagenix. Birden has also travelled extensively as a motivational and opportunity speaker and trainer for companies large and small; team building seminars, as well as youth group life skill development meetings.

Birden and his wife Raina have three children and five adopted children. They live in Scottsdale, Arizona. [2]

In 2010, Birden was inducted into the University of Oregon's Athletic Hall of Fame for his performance on the Ducks' 1985 Track and Field NCAA Championship team.

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References

  1. ↑ Chiefs, 1991 Media Guide (PDF). p. 42.
  2. 1 2 Newell, Cliff (July 3, 2008). "Birden sees plenty of success after pro football career". Lake Oswego Review . Archived from the original on January 26, 2009. Retrieved July 8, 2008.
  3. ↑ "J.J. Birden defines list of ex-Ducks who went from overlooked to solid pros".
  4. ↑ "1988 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  5. ↑ "J.J. Birden Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com .
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