Aaron Gibson
{{Short description|American football player (born 1977)}}
{{About|American football player|American singer and contestant in The Voice|The Voice (U.S. season 11)}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Aaron Gibson
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| number = 71, 63, 78
| position = Offensive tackle
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1977|9|27|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 6
| weight_lbs = 370
| high_school = Indianapolis (IN) Decatur Central
| college = Wisconsin
| draftyear = 1999
| draftround = 1
| draftpick = 27
| pastteams =
- Detroit Lions ({{NFL Year|1999}}–{{NFL Year|2001}})
- Dallas Cowboys ({{NFL Year|2001}}–{{NFL Year|2002}})
- Chicago Bears ({{NFL Year|2002}}–{{NFL Year|2004}})
- Buffalo Bills ({{NFL Year|2006}})*
- Austin Wranglers ({{AFL Year|2007}})
- Utah Blaze ({{AFL Year|2008}})*
- Dallas Desperados ({{AFL Year|2008}})*
- Cleveland Gladiators ({{AFL Year|2008}})
- Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings ({{AFL Year|2010}})
| highlights =
- Consensus All-American (1998)
- First-team All-Big Ten (1998)
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 38
| statlabel2 = Games started
| statvalue2 = 34
| pfr = GibsAa20
}}
Aaron Gibson (born September 27, 1977) is an American former professional football player who was an offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for the Detroit Lions, Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bears. He also was a member of the Austin Wranglers and Cleveland Gladiators of the Arena Football League (AFL). He played college football at the University of Wisconsin.
Early life
Gibson attended Decatur Central High School, where he lettered in football and track. He holds the record for heaviest NFL player ever, at 410 lbs, weighing over 350 lbs in high school.{{Cite news|title=Pressure to grow burdened Gibson |last=Frias |first=Carlos |date=October 29, 2006 |newspaper=Palm Beach Post}}
He was a two-way player. As a senior, he was a first-team All-state selection and was named as a Top 33 Pick by the Bloomington Herald-Times. As a defensive tackle, he had 8 fumble recoveries and 11 passes defensed.
College career
Gibson accepted a football scholarship from the University of Wisconsin. He didn't play in his freshman year because of failing to meet the requirements of Proposition 48. The next year, he was a reserve right tackle behind All-American Jerry Wunsch and was used primarily as a blocking tight end, after making his debut in the fifth game against Ohio State University.
As a junior in 1997, he became the starter at right tackle. He spent two seasons blocking for Heisman Trophy winner Ron Dayne, who set the NCAA Division I career rushing
record (6,397 yards) in 1999.
As a senior in 1998, Gibson was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American, after having been named to the first-teams of the Football Writers Association, American Football Coaches Association, and the Football News and the Walter Camp Foundation. He was also a unanimous first-team All-Big Ten Conference selection. He was the first player in school history to be named a finalist for the Lombardi Award and Outland Trophy awards.
Professional career
=Pre-draft=
In the 1999 NFL Scouting Combine, Gibson ran the 40-yard dash in 5.3 seconds.{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.si.com/vault/1999/02/22/256260/big-cheese-the-badgers-aaron-gibson-pruned-his-weight-to-371-and-blossomed-into-a-bulldozer-of-a-blocker-who-probably-will-be-the-first-lineman-taken-in-the-nfl-draft |title=Big Cheese The Badgers Aaron Gibson Pruned His Weight To 371 And Blossomed Into A Bulldozer Of A Blocker Who Probably Will Be The First Lineman Taken In The NFL Draft |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=April 1999 | access-date=February 19, 2018}} He was described as "a proto-type right tackle in the NFL," for having "a huge body with big legs and a gigantic chest".
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 6 1/8
| weight = 386
| dash = 5.35
| ten split = 1.79
| twenty split = 3.02
| shuttle = 4.54
| cone drill = 7.99
| vertical = 24.0
| broad ft = 9
| broad in = 3
| bench = 31
| wonderlic =
| arm span = 35 1/2
| hand span = 10 1/2
| note = All values from NFL Combine{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=656&DraftYear=1999 |title=Aaron Gibson College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=January 26, 2025}}{{Cite web |url=https://nflcombineresults.com/playerpage.php?i=5091 |title=Aaron Gibson, Combine Results, OT - Wisconsin |website=nflcombineresults.com |access-date=November 13, 2021}}
}}
=Detroit Lions=
Gibson was selected by the Detroit Lions with the 27th overall pick in the 1999 National Football League Draft.{{Cite web |title=1999 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1999/draft.htm |access-date=March 28, 2023 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} He was expected to be the starting right tackle as a rookie, but suffered a left shoulder injury in an April post-draft minicamp and was placed on the injured reserve list.
The following season, he started the first 10 games at right tackle, until suffering a right shoulder injury (torn posterior subluxation) and being placed on the injured reserve list on December 4. In 2001, he started five of the first six games of the season, before being waived on October 30.{{cite web| url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2001/10/31/lions-waive-99-top-pick-gibson/ | title=Lions waive '99 top pick Gibson | date=October 31, 2001 | access-date=February 19, 2018}}
=Dallas Cowboys=
On October 31, 2001, he was claimed off waivers by the Dallas Cowboys but played only in the season finale. In 2002, Gibson had the distinction of becoming the NFL's first player to be officially listed at {{convert|400|lb|kg|0|disp=or}}.{{cite web | url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2002/07/28/nfl-lineman-comes-up-big-no-fat-lies/ | title=NFL lineman comes up big: no fat lies | date=July 28, 2002 | access-date=February 19, 2018 | archive-date=September 30, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150930092848/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2002-07-28/sports/0207280330_1_gibson-ted-washington-heaviest-player | url-status=live }} Gibson was limited by a knee injury in training camp and eventually released on September 18, 2002.{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=861&dat=20020919&id=CxZZAAAAIBAJ&sjid=bkYNAAAAIBAJ&pg=5646,4038817&hl=es | title=Cowboys release Gibson | access-date=February 19, 2018}}
=Chicago Bears=
On November 26, 2002, he was signed by the Chicago Bears as a free agent to replace an injured Marc Colombo.{{cite web| url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2002/11/27/big-deal-bears-bring-in-gibson/ | title=Big deal: Bears bring in Gibson | access-date=February 19, 2018}} In 2003, he had his most consistent professional season, starting at right tackle in all sixteen games with the Bears, after Colombo was lost for the year when he was placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list. In 2004, he played four games (three starts) and was declared inactive in 10. It would be the last season in which he made an appearance in a regular season NFL game.
=Buffalo Bills=
On April 5, 2006, Gibson signed with the Buffalo Bills as a free agent. He was cut on August 28.
=Austin Wranglers (AFL)=
On January 24, 2007, he was signed by the Austin Wranglers of the Arena Football League.{{cite web|url=http://www.arenafan.com/teams/?page=transactions&type=old&team=104 |title=Aaron Gibson |publisher=ArenaFan.com |date=2014 |access-date=February 19, 2018}} On April 4, he was placed on the injured reserve list. On May 5, he was activated. He played in eleven games and had 3 tackles for the season. On July 30, he was traded along with defensive lineman Rob Schroeder to the Utah Blaze in exchange for past considerations.
=Utah Blaze (AFL)=
On October 12, 2007, he was traded to the Dallas Desperados in exchange for offensive lineman Devin Wyman and future considerations.{{cite web|url=http://www.arenafan.com/news/?page=pressrel&article=7971 |title=Blaze trade Gibson to Dallas |publisher=ArenaFan.com |date=October 12, 2007|access-date=February 19, 2018}}
=Dallas Desperados (AFL)=
On February 22, 2008, he was released by the Dallas Desperados of the Arena Football League, owned by Jerry Jones, who also owned the Dallas Cowboys, where Gibson had previously played.{{cite web|url=http://www.arenafan.com/news/?page=pressrel&article=8334 |title=Desperados release eight, re-sign Jones |publisher=ArenaFan.com |date=2014 |access-date=February 19, 2018}}
=Cleveland Gladiators (AFL)=
On March 13, 2008, he was signed by the Cleveland Gladiators of the Arena Football League.{{cite web|url=http://www.arenafan.com/news/?page=pressrel&article=8478 |title=Gladiators Sign Aaron Gibson |publisher=ArenaFan.com |date=2014 |access-date=February 19, 2018}} On May 22, he was placed on the injured reserve list.
=Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings (AFL)=
On March 22, 2010, he was assigned to the Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings.{{cite web|url=http://www.arenafan.com/teams/?page=transactions&type=old&team=141 |title=Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings Team Roster |publisher=ArenaFan.com |date=2014 |access-date=February 19, 2018}} On August 9, he was suspended by the team. He was not re-signed after the season.
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- [https://www.chicagotribune.com/2003/11/09/gibsons-loss-is-bears-gain/ Gibson's loss is Bears' gain]
{{1998 NCAA Division I-A College Football Consensus All-Americans}}
{{1999 NFL Draft}}
{{LionsFirstPick}}
{{Lions1999DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gibson, Aaron}}
Category:All-American college football players
Category:American football offensive tackles
Category:Austin Wranglers players
Category:Bossier–Shreveport Battle Wings players
Category:Buffalo Bills players
Category:Chicago Bears players
Category:Cleveland Gladiators players
Category:Dallas Cowboys players
Category:Detroit Lions players