Trai Essex

Last updated

Trai Essex
Trai Essex 2012.JPG
Essex with the Steelers in January 2012
No. 66, 79
Position: Offensive guard
Personal information
Born: (1982-12-05) December 5, 1982 (age 41)
Fort Wayne, Indiana, U.S.
Height:6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight:324 lb (147 kg)
Career information
High school: Paul Harding (Fort Wayne)
College: Northwestern
NFL draft: 2005  / round: 3 / pick: 93
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played:77
Games started:28
Fumble recoveries:1
Player stats at PFR

Trai Jamar Essex (born December 5, 1982) is an American former professional football player who was an offensive guard for eight seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Indianapolis Colts. He played college football for the Northwestern Wildcats.

Contents

Early life

Essex grew up in Fort Wayne, Indiana where he attended Paul Harding High School and lettered in football and basketball. [1] In football, he was a standout tight end. He played in the first ever U.S. Army All-American Bowl (a high school football national all-star game) on December 30, 2000. [2]

In basketball, he was a member of the 2001 class 2A Indiana boys high school championship team. [3] His 14 rebounds ties for 3rd best ever in the class 2A championship game. [4] Essex was an All-Conference honoree as a junior.

College years

Essex attended Northwestern University, where he majored in African-American studies and was a letterman in football. He started every game as a true freshman at tight end, catching three passes for 24 yards and a touchdown. He was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman team by The Sporting News magazine. [1] He was moved from tight end to offensive tackle prior to his sophomore season and started 37 consecutive games at left tackle for the Wildcats in his final three seasons. He was named to ESPN's All-Bowl team following his performance in the 2003 Motor City Bowl. [1]

Professional career

Essex during the 2009 NFL season. Trai Essex.JPG
Essex during the 2009 NFL season.

Essex was selected in the third round of the 2005 NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. [5] He signed a $1.385 million three-year contract which included a $460,000 signing bonus. [6] After being held out of action through the first nine games of his rookie season, [7] he started at left tackle in four games in place of an injured Marvel Smith. [8] The Steelers' 2005 season ended with a victory in Super Bowl XL.

Essex did not make a start in the next two seasons, though he did suit up for 18 games. After the 2007 season he signed a restricted free agent tender which bound him to the team through 2008 for just over $900,000. [9]

Essex's fifth career start came when he again subbed for Smith at left tackle in a playoff game on January 5, 2008, which was a narrow loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. [8]

Essex showed promise in 2008 with strong performances in place of starting right guard Darnell Stapleton against the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings. Once again the team finished the season as Super Bowl champions, making Essex one of 21 players who were members of both of the Steelers' championship teams in the 2000s. [8]

Following the Steelers' victory in Super Bowl XLIII, Essex signed a $1.92 million, two-year contract with the team, which included a $500,000 signing bonus. [10] Before re-signing with Pittsburgh he fielded offers from the New York Jets and Tennessee Titans but was persuaded to return to the Steelers when he received assurances from the team that he would be given the opportunity to win a starting spot. [8]

Essex started at right guard for the entire 2009 season. He picked up where he left off in 2010 as the starting right guard. However, he was sidelined in the second game of the year with a high-ankle sprain. He eventually returned as the starter at right guard, but was replaced by Ramon Foster after getting three more starts. [11] The Steelers once again earned a trip to the Super Bowl XLV where they fell to the Green Bay Packers.

Essex was an unrestricted free agent following the 2010 NFL season. He was unable to sign a new contract due to the 2011 NFL lockout which canceled normal off-season team activities. During the lockout, Essex ballooned to 380 pounds, fifty pounds over his playing weight. Team personnel saw Essex at quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's wedding in July 2011, and were hesitant to extend a contract or invite Essex to training camp due to his lack of conditioning. [12] The team eventually re-signed him toward the end of camp at Roethlisberger's urging after Essex had worked on his own to bring his weight under control. He said at the time that he had lost an amount equivalent to the weight of "a couple newborn babies." [13] He was signed for the veteran minimum [14] of $810,000. [15]

Essex's "position flexibility" (i.e. the ability to play more than one role on the team) was key to his re-signing and was pressed to new heights in the 2011 season during which he played at all five offensive line positions. He played a good portion of the team's third game at right tackle when the starter, rookie Marcus Gilbert, was injured. He started the team's next game at left tackle in place of Jonathan Scott, who had also been injured in week three. He spent some time over the next few weeks at left guard because of yet more injuries. In week 13 he spent significant time at left guard and started at that position in week 15. [16]

When backup center Doug Legursky (who was starting due to an injury to Maurkice Pouncey) was injured early in the team's week 16 game against the St. Louis Rams Essex was forced to play center for the first time in his career. The Steelers shut out the Rams 27–0 in that game and coach Mike Tomlin presented Essex with a game ball as recognition of the magnitude of his contributions. [12]

Essex was released by the Steelers at the end of the 2012 training camp. [17] [18] [19]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tommy Maddox</span> American football player (born 1971)

Thomas Alfred Maddox is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback for nine seasons in the National Football League (NFL), most notably with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He also played one season each for the New Jersey Red Dogs of the Arena Football League (AFL) and the Los Angeles Xtreme of the XFL. In the XFL's only season, Maddox was the league's most valuable player (MVP) while leading the Xtreme to victory in the league's championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Super Bowl XL</span> 2006 National Football League championship game

Super Bowl XL was an American football game between the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Seattle Seahawks and the American Football Conference (AFC) champion Pittsburgh Steelers to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion for the 2005 season. The Steelers defeated the Seahawks by the score of 21–10. The game was played on February 5, 2006, at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. It is the most recent Super Bowl broadcast on ABC who lost the rights to broadcast Super Bowl games in the next NFL television contract and the first where all aspects of the game itself were aired in HD. This was the last of 10 straight Super Bowls to feature a team seeking its first win.

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

Benjamin Todd Roethlisberger Sr., nicknamed "Big Ben", is an American former professional football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 18 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He played college football for the Miami RedHawks, and was selected by the Steelers in the first round of the 2004 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Troy Polamalu</span> American football player and executive (born 1981)

Troy Aumua Polamalu is an American former professional football player who spent his entire 12-year career as a safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). An eight-time Pro Bowl and six-time All-Pro selection, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall Of Fame in 2020, his first year of eligibility.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Byron Leftwich</span> American football coach and former player (born 1980)

Byron Antron Leftwich is an American former professional football quarterback and coach who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 10 seasons. He played college football for the Marshall Thundering Herd, twice receiving MAC Most Valuable Player honors, and was selected seventh overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2003 NFL draft. Leftwich held a starting role with the Jaguars during his first four seasons and spent the remainder of his career as a backup for the Atlanta Falcons, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. With the Steelers, he was a member of the team that won Super Bowl XLIII.

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

James Alfred Farrior is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for 15 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Virginia Cavaliers. He played with the New York Jets and the Pittsburgh Steelers, and earned two Super Bowl rings with the Steelers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Casey Hampton</span> American football player (born 1977)

Casey Hampton Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a five-time Pro Bowl nose tackle and 2-time Super Bowl Champion over twelve seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). Prior to that he was an All-American college football player for the Texas Longhorns and a first round pick of the Steelers in the 2001 NFL draft.

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

Charles D'Donte Batch is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Eastern Michigan Eagles. He was selected by the Detroit Lions in the second round of the 1998 NFL draft and played 15 seasons in the NFL, most of it as a backup with his hometown Pittsburgh Steelers, with whom he earned two Super Bowl rings.

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

Ivan "Ike" Taylor is a former American football cornerback. He was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL) in the fourth round of the 2003 NFL draft, and spent his entire 12-year career in Pittsburgh. He played college football at University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Harrison (American football)</span> American football player (born 1978)

James Henry Harrison Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Kent State Golden Flashes and was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2002. A five-time Pro Bowl selection, Harrison won two Super Bowls with the Steelers: XL and XLIII. In 2008, he became the only undrafted player to be named Associated Press NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Harrison was known for his hard-hitting style during games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brett Keisel</span> American football player (born 1978)

Brett Keisel is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end for 13 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the BYU Cougars. He was selected by the Steelers in the seventh round of the 2002 NFL draft.

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

Santonio Holmes Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of the 2006 NFL draft after playing college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes. In 2009, Holmes was named the most valuable player (MVP) of Super Bowl XLIII as the Steelers beat the Arizona Cardinals. In 2010, Holmes was traded to the New York Jets in exchange for the Jets' fifth round pick. Holmes also played a season for the Chicago Bears.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rashard Mendenhall</span> American football player (born 1987)

Rashard Jamal Mendenhall is an American former football running back who played for six seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Illinois Fighting Illini and was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of the 2008 NFL draft. He won Super Bowl XLIII with the Steelers against the Arizona Cardinals, for whom he later played one season.

The 2008 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 76th season in the National Football League (NFL). The season concluded with the team winning Super Bowl XLIII to become the first franchise in the NFL with six Super Bowl titles.

The 2009 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 77th season in the National Football League (NFL). They were coming off a season in which they compiled a 12–4 regular season record and capped the season by winning the franchise's record sixth Super Bowl. The team's coaching staff remained the same for the third consecutive year.

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

Joseph Walter Haden III is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback for 12 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Florida Gators, earning unanimous All-American honors and was a member of a BCS National Championship team. He was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the first round of the 2010 NFL draft and played for them for seven seasons. He also played for the Pittsburgh Steelers for five seasons.

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

Ramon Sentel Foster, nicknamed "the Big Ragu", is a former American football guard who played 11 seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He is the brother of former Rams offensive lineman Renardo Foster. He played college football at Tennessee where he played in a career total of 44 games and also earned All-SEC honors as a freshman and a junior. Foster is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity.

The 2010 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the team's 78th season as a professional sports franchise and as a member of the National Football League (NFL), the eleventh season under the leadership of general manager Kevin Colbert, and the fourth under head coach Mike Tomlin.

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

David William DeCastro is an American former professional football player who was a guard for nine seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Stanford Cardinal, earning unanimous All-American honors. He was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of the 2012 NFL draft, and he was considered one of the best guard prospects available. He was a six-time Pro Bowl selection with the Steelers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trai Turner</span> American football player (born 1993)

Trai Denzell Turner is an American professional football offensive guard who is a free agent. He played college football for the LSU Tigers and was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the third round of the 2014 NFL draft, where he made the Pro Bowl every year from 2015 to 2019. Turner has also played for the Los Angeles Chargers, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Washington Commanders.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Trai Essex (team bio)". Steelers.com. Archived from the original on January 20, 2012.
  2. ↑ "East 2000 Roster" (PDF). Scout.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 21, 2007. Retrieved January 13, 2011.
  3. ↑ "IHSAA Boys Basketball State Champions".
  4. ↑ "IHSAA Basketball State Finals Records". www.ihsaa.org. Archived from the original on August 25, 2009.
  5. ↑ "2005 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  6. ↑ "2005 Steelers salaries". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Archived from the original on October 12, 2008. Retrieved January 13, 2012.
  7. ↑ "Roethlisberger plans to play despite sore thumb". ESPN . AP. December 1, 2005. Archived from the original on April 10, 2016. Retrieved January 12, 2012.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Bouchette, Ed (August 8, 2009). "Steelers' Essex makes smooth switch to right guard". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . Archived from the original on September 18, 2009. Retrieved January 13, 2012.
  9. ↑ Loede, Matt (February 28, 2008). "Steelers Tender One-Year Contracts to Four Players". Steelers Gab. Archived from the original on January 4, 2011. Retrieved January 13, 2012.
  10. ↑ Clayton, John (March 17, 2009). "Source: Essex, Steelers agree". ESPN. Archived from the original on November 11, 2013. Retrieved January 13, 2012.
  11. ↑ Hayes, Reggie (February 4, 2011). "Been there, done that; Fort Wayne's Trai Essex makes Super Bowl a habit". The News-Sentinel . Archived from the original on September 8, 2012. Retrieved January 13, 2012.
  12. 1 2 Cook, Ron (December 25, 2011). "Essex performs great as 'next up'". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . Archived from the original on January 8, 2012. Retrieved January 13, 2012.
  13. ↑ Bouchette, Ed (August 24, 2011). "On The Steelers: Timmons' new contract means Polamalu will wait". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . Archived from the original on January 11, 2012. Retrieved January 13, 2012.
  14. ↑ Florio, Mike (July 25, 2011). "Minimum salaries shoot up under new deal". Profootballtalk.com . Archived from the original on January 31, 2012. Retrieved January 13, 2012.
  15. ↑ Bryan, Dave (February 11, 2011). "Steelers 2011 Salary Cap Total and Current Roster". Steelers Depot (blog). Archived from the original on September 10, 2012. Retrieved January 13, 2012.
  16. ↑ Bryan, Dave (January 10, 2011). "Steelers Offensive Line Injuries And The 10 Different Starting Combinations Used In 2011". Steeler Depot. Archived from the original on September 18, 2012. Retrieved January 13, 2011.
  17. ↑ Associated Press via YahooSports
  18. ↑ Bouchette, Ed (January 12, 2012). "Eleven Steelers could become unrestricted free agents". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . Archived from the original on January 15, 2012. Retrieved January 13, 2012.
  19. ↑ Varley, Teresa (January 11, 2012). "Essex wants to stay and start". Steelers.com . Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 13, 2012.
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.