Paul Bergmann

Last updated

Paul Bergmann
Personal information
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:250 lb (113 kg)
Career information
College: UCLA
Position: Tight end
NFL draft: 1984  / Round: 1
Career highlights and awards

Paul Bergmann is an American former professional football player who was a tight end in the United States Football League (USFL) and National Football League (NFL).

Contents

Early years

Bergmann's football career began on the receiving end of John Elway's passes under legendary coach Jack Neumeier at Granada Hills Charter High School. [1] Bergmann was a All-League, All-Valley, All-L.A. City receiver and linebacker. In the 1979 East vs. West Shrine All Star game Bergmann caught 9 passes and touchdowns from former teammate N.F.L. Hall of Fame John Elway and future UCLA Hall of Fame QB Tom Ramsey. Elway went on to Stanford, and Bergmann went to play at UCLA, on a full scholarship.

College

Bergmann lettered for the UCLA Bruins in 1982 and 1983. He was the recipient of the UCLA N.N. Sugarman Memorial Award for Best Leadership On Offense 1983, the UCLA George W. Dickerson Award for Outstanding Offensive Player in the 1983 USC game defeating the Trojans 27-17 for the PAC-10 Championship and a trip to the Rose Bowl. He was a 1st Team All-Pac-10 selection, UPI 1st Team All-West Coast, a 2nd Team AP and a UPI All-American selection. [2] In those seasons, UCLA's record was 10-1-1, 7-4-1. [3] Bergmann has 85 career receptions catching passes in 24 consecutive games, for 1076 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns. His season receptions and cumulative receptions were all-time UCLA records for a Tight-End.

CareerUCLA85107612.75
CareerUCLA85107612.75

Bergmann was a starting member of UCLA's 1983 Rose Bowl, where he led all receivers with 6 receptions defeating the Michigan Wolverines and the 1984 Rose Bowl Championship, where he caught the first touchdown pass of the game and 4 receptions thrown by Rick Neuheisel. [4] [5] Quarterback Rick Neuheisel would be the Rose Bowl MVP in the defeat of the Illinois Fighting Illini 45-9.

Professional career

Bergmann was selected by the Jacksonville Bulls in the 3rd round of the 1984 USFL draft (43rd overall) and signed with them. That season he played in 16 games with 15 starts and 48 receptions for 647yds and 3 tds and one rush for 6 yards.

That summer he was the 8th pick in the 1st round of the 1984 NFL supplemental draft of USFL and CFL players by the Indianapolis Colts, [6] [7] but did not choose to go to the NFL at that time.

Despite being named the most valuable offensive player on the team and the 2nd leading receiver, he was cut by the Bulls going into the 1985 season because he wasn't big enough for what they wanted a tight end to do and because they were able to get another tight end in the dispersal draft. [8] He was picked up by the New Jersey Generals who planned to place him on their development team, so he asked to be waived instead. [9] He was then signed by the USFL's Oakland Invaders in 1985, played in 13 games and caught his last pass of his professional career in the 1985 Championship game versus the Baltimore Stars - which was also the last game of the original USFL. [10]

The Colts still held Bergmann's rights but waived him from the injured reserve list in November of 1985 without him ever taking the field. [11] The following spring he was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs but spent the season on the injured reserve list. [12] [13] During the following training camp he was waived without ever playing in a game in the NFL. [14]

Later Life

He resides in Ojai, California, with his wife. Bergmann was ordained by the Evangelical Church Alliance, Bradley Illinois on October 12, 1995, and then by Ojai Valley Community Church February 1st 1998 where he served as a progressive Senior Pastor 1998-2021. [15]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Elway</span> American football player and executive (born 1960)

John Albert Elway Jr. is an American former professional football quarterback who spent his entire 16-year career with the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). Following his playing career, he then spent 11 years with the Broncos in various front office positions, eventually being promoted to general manager. Elway, along with former backup quarterback and head coach Gary Kubiak, are the only individuals to be associated with all three of the Broncos' Super Bowl wins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Al Toon</span> American football player

Albert Lee Toon Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL) for eight seasons. A two-time First-team All-Big Ten pick at the University of Wisconsin, Toon set several school football records for the Wisconsin Badgers. The three-time Pro Bowl selectee played his entire NFL career with the Jets (1985-1992), leading his team and the league in receptions during the late 1980s. He is considered to be among the Jets' all-time greatest wide receivers and overall players in franchise history.

Willie Lee "Flipper" Anderson Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the Los Angeles Rams (1988–1994), the Indianapolis Colts (1995), the Washington Redskins (1996), and the Denver Broncos (1997). As a Bronco, he was part of their Super Bowl XXXII championship team over the Green Bay Packers. As a Ram, he set the NFL record for most receiving yards in a game with 336 against the Saints on November 26, 1989. In his record-breaking game, Anderson accumulated 40 of those yards in overtime.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rick Neuheisel</span> American football analyst, coach, player, and attorney (born 1961)

Richard Gerald Neuheisel Jr. is an American football analyst, coach, and former player. He served as the head football coach at the University of Colorado Boulder from 1995 to 1999, at the University of Washington from 1999 to 2002, and at his alma mater, the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), from 2008 to 2011, compiling a career college football coaching record of 87–59. From 2005 to 2007, Neuheisel was an assistant coach with the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL), as quarterbacks coach for two seasons and offensive coordinator for one. He formerly served as head coach for the Arizona Hotshots of the Alliance of American Football (AAF) before the collapse of the league. Before coaching, Neuheisel played quarterback for the UCLA Bruins from 1980 to 1983, then spent two seasons with the San Antonio Gunslingers of the United States Football League (USFL) before splitting the 1987 NFL season between the San Diego Chargers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gary Clark (American football)</span> American football player (born 1962)

Gary C. Clark is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins (1985–92), Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals (1993–94), and Miami Dolphins (1995).

David Lamar Williams is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL). Williams was named a unanimous All-American twice playing college football for the Illinois Fighting Illini, and is an inducted member of the College Football Hall of Fame as well as the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.

Jerel Jamal Stokes is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for nine seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the UCLA Bruins, earning unanimous All-American honors in 1993. A first-round selection in the 1995 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers, he played in the NFL for the 49ers, Jacksonville Jaguars and New England Patriots. He won a Super Bowl with the Patriots in 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roy Jefferson</span> American football player (born 1943)

Roy Lee Jefferson is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for 12 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Colts, and Washington Redskins. He played college football for the Utah Utes. During 162 regular season games in the NFL, he had 451 receptions for 7,539 yards and 52 touchdowns.

Michael David Young is a former professional American football player. He was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for ten seasons, playing for the Los Angeles Rams, the Denver Broncos, the Philadelphia Eagles, and the Kansas City Chiefs. Michael Young’s career in professional sports has spanned over 33 years as he is one of the very few NFL players to occupy senior level executive positions for multiple professional sports franchises.

The 1984 Rose Bowl game, played on Monday, January 2, was the 70th edition. The unranked UCLA Bruins upset the #4 Illinois Fighting Illini by a score of 45–9.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 UCLA Bruins football team</span> American college football season

The 2008 UCLA Bruins football team represented the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They opened the season at home against Tennessee under new head coach Rick Neuheisel, at the Rose Bowl stadium in Pasadena, California. The Bruins played six of the Top 25 teams in the 2007 final Associated Press rankings. More than half of the opponents had won nine or more games during the 2007 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2009 UCLA Bruins football team</span> American college football season

The 2009 UCLA Bruins football team represented the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Under second-year head coach Rick Neuheisel, they opened the season at the Rose Bowl on September 5 against San Diego State. The last game of the season, against USC was moved from the "Championship Saturday" weekend of December. Instead, the UCLA–USC rivalry game was played on Saturday, November 28 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2011 Pac-12 Football Championship Game</span> College football game

The 2011 Pac-12 Football Championship Game was played on Friday, December 2, 2011 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon to determine the 2011 football champion of the Pac-12 Conference. The game featured the UCLA Bruins of the South Division against the Oregon Ducks of the North Division. It was the first football conference championship for the Pac-12 Conference, or any of its predecessors. The game took place at Oregon's Autzen Stadium, as the Ducks' conference record of 8–1 was better than UCLA's record of 5–4. The Ducks defeated the Bruins 49–31, and would earn a berth in the 2012 Rose Bowl. At the Rose Bowl Game, the Ducks defeated the Wisconsin Badgers 45–38 for the Rose Bowl Championship trophy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jordan Lasley</span> American football player (born 1996)

Jordan Lasley is an American football wide receiver who is a free agent. He played college football for the UCLA Bruins and was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Pittman Jr.</span> American football player (born 1997)

Michael Pittman Jr. is an American football wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at USC, where he was named a consensus second-team All-American as a senior, and was selected by the Colts in the second round of the 2020 NFL draft.

Sage Surratt is an American football tight end for the Memphis Showboats of the United Football League (UFL). He was signed by the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent after not being selected in the 2021 NFL Draft, and was on their practice squad for 2021. He played college football at Wake Forest.

James Michael Dougherty is an American football coach who is currently the quarterbacks coach and pass game coordinator for the Washington Huskies. Prior to that, quarterbacks coach and pass game coordinator at Arizona.

Maurice Alexander Jr. is an American football wide receiver for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected with the 8th pick in the 17th round of the 2022 USFL draft. He played college football at the Florida International University. After college, he went unsigned as an undrafted free agent in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Ethan W. Fernea is an American football wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at UCLA before signing with the Indianapolis Colts in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sal Cannella (American football)</span> American football player

Salvatore Cannella is an American football tight end for the Arlington Renegades of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football for Auburn. After going undrafted in the 2020 NFL Draft he signed with the TSL Generals of The Spring League (TSL). He also played for the Green Bay Packers, the Miami Dolphins, and the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL), the New Orleans Breakers of the United States Football League (USFL).

References

  1. ↑ "Huddling With His Congregation - Los Angeles Times". Articles.latimes.com. 1999-01-30. Retrieved 2011-03-12.
  2. ↑ "Paul Bergmann, UCLA Bruins, Football, Where Is Paul Bergmann Now?, Where Are They Now?, Whatever Happened To, College Football, Stats, News, Photos, College Career". LostLettermen.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-21. Retrieved 2011-03-12.
  3. ↑ Jack McCallum (1982-10-11). "Until this year UCLA was an acronym for Uncommonly - 10.11.82 - SI Vault". Sportsillustrated.cnn.com. Retrieved 2011-03-12.
  4. ↑ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1632442/ [ user-generated source ]
  5. ↑ Boyles, Bob; Guido, Paul (4 August 2008). The USA Today College Football ... - Google Books. ISBN   9781602393318 . Retrieved 2011-03-12.
  6. ↑ "1984 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2023-10-10.
  7. ↑ "UCLA Drafted Players/Alumni". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2011-03-12.
  8. ↑ "The Oakland Invaders, desperately in need of a pass-catching". UPI. 14 March 1985. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  9. ↑ "Ex-Bruin Bergmann an Instant Invader". San Francisco Examiner. 14 March 1985.
  10. ↑ "1985 USFL Championship Game" . Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  11. ↑ "The Indianapolis Colts signed Keli McGregor and put tight end Tim Sherwin on injured reserve Wednesday". 7 November 1985. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  12. ↑ "The Kansas City Chiefs Monday announced the signing of eight first-year free agents, including former Kansas quarterback Frank Seurer". 14 April 1986. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  13. ↑ "Tuesday's Sports Transactions". 2 September 1986. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  14. ↑ "Monday's Sports Transactions". 24 August 1987. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  15. ↑ "Huddling With His Congregation - Page 2 - Los Angeles Times". Articles.latimes.com. 1999-01-30. Archived from the original on 2012-07-01. Retrieved 2011-03-12.
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.