Jeremy Staat

Last updated

Jeremy Staat
No. 92, 94, 95
Position: Defensive lineman / Offensive lineman
Personal information
Born: (1976-10-10) October 10, 1976 (age 47)
Bakersfield, California, U.S.
Height:6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Weight:300 lb (136 kg)
Career information
High school: Bakersfield
College: Arizona State
NFL draft: 1998  / Round: 2 / Pick: 41
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Tackles:20

Jeremy Ray Staat (born October 10, 1976) is an American former professional football player who was a defensive lineman and offensive lineman who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1998 through 2000 and the St. Louis Rams for two games in 2003. He also played for the Los Angeles Avengers of the Arena Football League (AFL). After his football career, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and was deployed to Iraq. On September 17, 2019, Staat, a registered Republican, announced his candidacy for Congress in California's 8th District.

Contents

Football career

Staat was a two-sport star in Bakersfield High School in Bakersfield, California, where he was All-Area selection. He then attended Bakersfield College, a junior college, where he played offensive and defensive line for two years while also excelling in track and field. After initially expressing interest in transferring to the University of Nebraska as a walk on, he was offered a full ride scholarship to Arizona State University as a defensive lineman.[ citation needed ]

At ASU, Staat became friends with free safety Pat Tillman, and was a roommate with Tillman's brother for a semester. [1] While playing for the Sun Devils, he won the Morris Trophy as the best defensive lineman in the Pac-10 Conference in 1997 and was named a FWAA First-team All-American.

In the 1998 NFL draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers selected Staat with the 41st overall pick. [2] The Steelers had debated about whether to take Staat or Alan Faneca with their first round pick but ultimately was able to take both. He played three seasons in Pittsburgh, starting in eleven games in the 1999 season. He would sign with the Seattle Seahawks in 2001 but would be cut from the team following the preseason. Cut by a football team for the first time in his life, Staat began seriously considering joining the military following the September 11, 2001 attacks. However, Tillman, who had quit a lucrative career with the Arizona Cardinals to become a U.S. Army Ranger after the attacks, talked Staat into staying in the league for at least three more games to earn his NFL retirement benefits. [1]

In 2002, he signed with the Oakland Raiders and was moved to offensive guard by Bill Callahan. He would be cut during the preseason, however, after Jon Gruden was traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Despite speculation that he would reunite with Jake Plummer on the Arizona Cardinals, following an injury to defensive lineman Tom Burke, he would ultimately remain unsigned. Staat eventually earned his pension during a stint with the St. Louis Rams during the 2003 season after transitioning back to the defensive line. The following season, he joined the Los Angeles Avengers of the Arena Football League. During the season, he learned Tillman had been killed in action in Afghanistan, in what was later revealed to be a "friendly fire" incident. The loss of his friend further reduced his interest in football. He would throw his helmet during the middle of practice and storm off the field, leaving the Avengers and professional football forever.

Post-football career

Immediately after football, one of Staat's friends got him a job working at a Walgreens drug store. Staat, like Tillman's family, was dismayed by the United States Army's handling of the story surrounding Tillman's death; himself noting that "The fog around his death was thickened by lies." [1] However, after spending time deciding on his own future, he opted to follow his deceased friend and teammate's example and join the military; but instead of the Army, he joined the United States Marine Corps. [1]

Staat joined the Marine Corps in 2006. In March 2007, Lance Corporal Staat deployed with 1st Battalion 3rd Marines for a seven-month mission in Iraq. He was an infantry machine gunner and drove around in seven-ton armored trucks used to transport soldiers. [1]

Staat's Iraq tour was fairly quiet, his unit suffered two injuries and no one was killed in action. His opinions changed: "It wasn't a blood fest, like some people make it out to be. It was pretty controlled. We had a pretty good sense of security. My eyes were opened up. They [the Iraqis] were just people. I expected to see guys running around with AK-47s, shouting about Allah and shooting into the sky." [1] After returning from his tour, he started to have back, hip and heart problems. He was put on light duty and began the process of seeking a medical discharge. [1]

Following his military career, Staat opted to return and finish his degree. He graduated from Arizona State University in 2009 with a master's degree, and returned to his hometown of Bakersfield, where he teaches welding at Bakersfield College. [1]

In 2019, Staat announced that he would be running for Congress in the 2020 Election on the Republican Party ticket for California's 8th congressional district. He lost in the March primary to Jay Obernolte.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pat Tillman</span> American football player and soldier (1976–2004)

Patrick Daniel Tillman Jr. was an American professional football player for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL) who left his sports career and enlisted in the United States Army in May 2002 in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks. His service in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as his subsequent death, received national attention, especially so when it was discovered he had been killed by friendly fire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jake Plummer</span> American football player (born 1974)

Jason Steven "Jake" Plummer is an American former professional football quarterback who played 10 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Arizona State Sun Devils. Plummer was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the second round of the 1997 NFL draft, spending six seasons with the Cardinals and then four with the Denver Broncos.

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

Orlando Lamar Pace is an American former football offensive tackle who played for 13 seasons in the National Football League (NFL), primarily with the St. Louis Rams. Pace played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes, where he twice received unanimous All-American honors, and was selected by the Rams first overall in the 1997 NFL draft. He spent all but one season of his professional career in St. Louis, concluding his NFL tenure as a member of the Chicago Bears.

The 1992 NFL season was the 73rd regular season of the National Football League (NFL). Due to the damage caused by Hurricane Andrew, the New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins game that was scheduled for September 6 at Joe Robbie Stadium was rescheduled to October 18. Both teams originally had that weekend off. This marked the first time since the 1966 NFL season and the AFL seasons of 1966 and 1967 that there were byes in week 1.

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

Maximillian Weisner Starks IV is an American former college and professional football player who was an offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for ten seasons. He played college football for the University of Florida. He was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the 2004 NFL Draft, and also played for the San Diego Chargers, St. Louis Rams, and Arizona Cardinals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Russ Grimm</span> American football player and coach (born 1959)

Russell Scott Grimm is an American former professional football player who was a guard for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL). He has also served as an assistant coach for the Redskins, Pittsburgh Steelers, Arizona Cardinals, and Tennessee Titans. As a professional, Grimm had multiple selections to both the All-Pro and Pro Bowl teams, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010. Grimm played 11 seasons for the Redskins and was a first-team selection to the NFL 1980s All-Decade Team.

Jackie Ray Slater, nicknamed "Big Bad Jackie", is an American former professional football player who was an offensive tackle for 20 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played his entire career with the Rams franchise: 19 seasons in Los Angeles, from 1976 to 1994, and one in St. Louis in 1995. Slater holds the record amongst all offensive linemen who have played the most seasons with one franchise.

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

LaMarr Dewayne Woodley is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at the University of Michigan, earning unanimous All-American honors. He was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round of the 2007 NFL draft. In his second season, he won Super Bowl XLIII over the Arizona Cardinals as a member of the Steelers. Woodley also played for the Cardinals and the Oakland Raiders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Levi Brown (offensive tackle)</span> American football player (born 1984)

Levi James Brown III is an American former professional football player who was an offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Arizona Cardinals fifth overall in the 2007 NFL draft. He played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gene Lipscomb</span> American football player (1931–1963)

Eugene Allen Lipscomb, known by the nickname "Big Daddy" due to his habit of calling everyone around him "Little Daddy", was an American professional football defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for ten seasons, as well as a sometimes professional wrestler.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arizona State Sun Devils football</span> Football team of Arizona State University

The Arizona State Sun Devils football team represents Arizona State University (ASU) in the sport of American college football. The Sun Devils team competes in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as a member of the Big 12 Conference. ASU has fielded a football team since 1897. The Sun Devils are led by head coach Kenny Dillingham and play their home games at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. The Sun Devils have won seventeen conference titles.

Mark Tucker is a former American football lineman.

Phillip Snow is an American football coach who was the senior defensive analyst for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as the defensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers from 2020 to 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank Varrichione</span> American football player (1932–2018)

Frank Joseph Varrichione was an American athlete. Varrichione was best remembered for being part of the 1953 University of Notre Dame football team that shared the collegiate national championship with a 9-0-1 record and for having played eleven seasons in the National Football League (NFL).

Todd Alexander Kalis is a former American football player in the National Football League (NFL). He was an offensive lineman for the Minnesota Vikings (1988–1993), the Pittsburgh Steelers (1994) and the Cincinnati Bengals (1995).

Eberle Hynson "Elbie" Schultz was an American football player in the National Football League (NFL) from 1940 to 1947. An All-American lineman for Oregon State University during his collegiate days, Schultz was drafted into the NFL in 1940 by the Philadelphia Eagles. He also played for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Rams, as well as two combined-franchise wartime teams during the course of an 8-year professional career.

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

LaShawn Maurkice Pouncey is an American former football center who played for 11 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Florida Gators, where he was a member of a BCS National Championship team, recognized as a consensus All-American, and won the 2009 Rimington Trophy, awarded annually to the best college football center. He was selected by the Steelers in the first round of the 2010 NFL draft. Pouncey was a nine-time Pro Bowler and named to five All-Pro teams, and was also named to the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team. He is the twin brother of former NFL center Mike Pouncey.

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

Alejandro Villanueva Martín is a Spanish-American former professional football player who was an offensive tackle for eight seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Army Black Knights and fulfilled his service commitment after graduation, where he reached the rank of captain. Villanueva also served in the 75th Ranger Regiment, earning a Bronze Star. After serving three tours of duty in Afghanistan, he signed a contract with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2014, but was waived prior to the season. He then signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers and played for them for six seasons until signing with the Baltimore Ravens in 2021 for his final season.

Vincent Wayne Amey is an American football coach and former defensive end, who is currently a defensive analyst at Arizona State. He played college football at Arizona State. He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the seventh round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He then played for the Las Vegas Outlaws of the short-lived XFL. In 2019, he was the defensive line coach for the San Diego Fleet of the Alliance of American Football (AAF) before joining the Los Angeles Wildcats of the revived XFL the following year.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Ted Miller, From ASU to the NFL to Iraq, Staat finally graduates, ESPN.com, May 14, 2009, Accessed May 14, 2009.
  2. ↑ "1998 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  1. ^ "NFL Draft - Jeremy Staat - April 13, 1998". Sports Illustrated-CNN. Retrieved March 17, 2006.
  2. ^ NFL.com wire reports (March 23, 2007). "Tillman's college roommate deployed to Iraq". NFL.com. Archived from the original on March 29, 2007. Retrieved March 23, 2007.
  3. ^ Staat, Tillman's ASU teammate, joins Marines retrieved March 17, 2006
  4. ^ "Former Tillman teammate headed to Iraq". Fox Sports. Associated Press. March 21, 2006. Archived from the original on March 28, 2007. Retrieved March 21, 2007.
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.