Ben Braunecker
{{Short description|American football player (born 1994)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Ben Braunecker
| image = Ben Braunecker 2018.png
| caption = Braunecker with the Chicago Bears in 2018
| current_team =
| number = 84, 82
| position = Tight end
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1994|2|7|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Ferdinand, Indiana, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 3
| weight_lbs = 247
| high_school = Forest Park
(Ferdinand, Indiana)
| college = Harvard
| undraftedyear = 2016
| pastteams =
- Chicago Bears ({{NFL Year|2016}}–{{NFL Year|2019}})
| highlights =
| statlabel1 = Receptions
| statvalue1 = 13
| statlabel2 = Receiving yards
| statvalue2 = 142
| statlabel3 = Receiving touchdowns
| statvalue3 = 1
| pfr = B/BrauBe00
}}
Ben Braunecker (born February 7, 1994) is an American former professional football tight end. He played college football at Harvard. He was signed by the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2016, and played for the team through 2019.
Early life
Braunecker attended Forest Park High School in Indiana, where he played for the football team on offense, defense and special teams. He started for three years and was team captain for his senior year. In his high school career, Braunecker recorded 51 receptions for 1,254 yards and 16 touchdowns. As a return specialist, he had 29 kickoff returns for 1,005 yards, while on defense, he recorded 101 tackles and seven interceptions. He was twice named All-State (Honorable Mention); he was the Southwestern Indiana MVP and twice All-Conference.{{Cite web |title=48 Ben Braunecker |url=http://www.gocrimson.com/sports/fball/2015-16/bios/braunecker_ben_31xk?view=bio |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150719123357/http://gocrimson.com/sports/fball/2015-16/bios/braunecker_ben_31xk?view=bio |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 19, 2015 |access-date=October 1, 2016 |website=Harvard Crimson }}
He was also a IHSAA State Finalist in the discus and shot put.{{Cite web|url=https://www.courierpress.com/story/sports/2019/12/01/bears-ben-braunecker-has-love-football-and-molecular-biology/3909556002/|title = A tale of two passions: Ben Braunecker has a love for football and ... Molecular biology}}
College career
In his senior year, Braunecker was named a consensus All-American as he was selected to the Associated Press Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) All-America first-team, the Walter Camp FCS All-America team, the STATS FCS All-America first-team, American Football Coaches Association FCS Coaches' All-America team and the College Sporting News Fabulous Fifty FCS All-America team. He was also honored on the College Sports Madness All-America first-team and the InstantScouting FCS All-America team.
He was also named first-team All-Ivy League when he recorded 48 catches for 850 yards and eight touchdowns. He finished his college career with 68 receptions for 1,168 yards and 10 touchdowns. Harvard won 3 Ivy League titles during his career, compiling a 24–4 conference record and an overall record of 36–4.{{Cite news |last=Clegg |first=Jonathan |date=March 1, 2016 |title=The Best Player at the NFL Combine Went to ... Harvard? |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-best-player-at-the-nfl-combine-went-to-harvard-1456877247 |access-date=October 1, 2016}}
Braunecker majored in molecular and cell biology.{{Cite web |last=Stankevitz |first=JJ |date=November 10, 2019 |title=Ben Braunecker's first career touchdown gives Bears much-needed spark |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/bears/ben-brauneckers-first-career-touchdown-gives-bears-much-needed-spark |access-date=November 11, 2019 |publisher=NBC Sports Chicago}}
Professional career
Braunecker attended the NFL Combine and was the fastest in the 60-yard shuttle, was ranked second in the vertical leap, broad jump, three-cone drill and 20-yard shuttle and had the third-highest repetitions in the bench press of all tight ends. He was projected by many analysts to be a fourth to sixth round draft selection. NFLDraftScout.com ranked him the sixth best tight end out of the 102 available. He attended Harvard's Pro Day and was able to beat his combine time and numbers. Braunecker chose to stand on his combine numbers for his 3-cone drill, short shuttle, and bench press.{{Cite web |title=Ben Braunecker, DS #6 TE, Harvard: 2016 NFL Draft |url=http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=1005889&draftyear=2016&genpos=TE |access-date=December 22, 2016 |website=nfldraftscout.com}}
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 3+3/8
| weight = 250
| dash = 4.73
| ten split = 1.63
| twenty split = 2.74
| shuttle = 4.20
| cone drill = 6.90
| vertical = 35+1/2
| broad ft = 10
| broad in = 1
| bench = 20
| wonderlic =
| arm span = 32+3/4
| hand span = 9+1/2
| note = All values from NFL Combine{{Cite web |title=NFL Events: Combine Player Profiles – Ben Braunecker |url=http://www.nfl.com/draft/2016/profiles/ben-braunecker?id=2555482 |access-date=December 22, 2016 |website=nfl.com}}}}
Braunecker went undrafted in the 2016 NFL draft and was signed by the Chicago Bears after the draft.{{Cite news |last=Jahns |first=Adam |date=May 8, 2016 |title=Get to know the Bears' undrafted free-agent signings |work=Chicago Sun-Times |url=http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/get-to-know-the-bears-undrafted-free-agent-signings/ |access-date=May 8, 2016}}
He entered training camp battling for a backup tight end position with Khari Lee, Tony Moeaki, Rob Housler, and Greg Scruggs. Braunecker struggled with a severe ankle injury during the 2016 offseason and missed the entire preseason.{{Cite news |last=Campbell |first=Rich |date=October 1, 2016 |title=Bears elevate tight end Ben Braunecker to active roster |work=Chicago Tribune |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/ct-bears-ben-braunecker-active-roster-20161001-story.html |access-date=October 1, 2016}} He was released on September 3,{{Cite web |last=Mayer, Larry |date=September 3, 2016 |title=Bears trim 22 to reach 53-man limit |url=http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-rostermoves/Bears-trim-22-to-reach-53-man-limit/2eb298bf-b806-403c-8c82-930683de72d9 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021021223/http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-rostermoves/Bears-trim-22-to-reach-53-man-limit/2eb298bf-b806-403c-8c82-930683de72d9 |archive-date=October 21, 2017 |website=ChicagoBears.com}} but was signed to the practice squad the following day.{{Cite web |last=Mayer |first=Larry |date=September 4, 2016 |title=Bears sign Paulsen, claim 2 off waivers |url=http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-rostermoves/Bears-sign-Paulsen-claim-2-off-waivers/bf99c94f-4415-41e2-8a7b-1271817f13db |access-date=October 1, 2016 |publisher=Chicago Bears}} Going into the regular season, he was the Bears' third option at tight end, behind Zach Miller and Logan Paulsen. On October 1, 2016, he was promoted to the active roster and was officially named the Bears' third tight end on their depth chart behind veterans Miller and Paulsen.{{Cite web |last=Mayer |first=Larry |date=October 1, 2016 |title=Braunecker elevated to active roster |url=https://www.chicagobears.com/news/braunecker-elevated-to-active-roster-17798427 |publisher=Chicago Bears}} He made his first NFL start against the Green Bay Packers on October 20.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BrauBe00.htm|title = Ben Braunecker Stats| website=Pro-Football-Reference.com }}
On September 3, 2017, Braunecker was waived by the Bears and was signed to the practice squad the next day.{{Cite web |last=Mayer, Larry |date=September 3, 2017 |title=Bears claim three players off waivers |url=http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1/Bears-claim-three-players-off-waivers/638b3665-97de-4e6c-94cd-980ad3dff5a0 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170904201947/http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1/Bears-claim-three-players-off-waivers/638b3665-97de-4e6c-94cd-980ad3dff5a0 |archive-date=September 4, 2017 |access-date=September 4, 2017 |website=ChicagoBears.com}}{{Cite web |last=Mayer, Larry |date=September 4, 2017 |title=Bears sign Jenkins, nine to practice squad |url=http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1/Bears-sign-Jenkins-nine-to-practice-squad/6839c7c6-56dc-4237-9c92-33d3626dedd9 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171108100212/http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1/Bears-sign-Jenkins-nine-to-practice-squad/6839c7c6-56dc-4237-9c92-33d3626dedd9 |archive-date=November 8, 2017 |website=ChicagoBears.com}} He was promoted to the active roster on November 7, 2017.{{Cite web |last=Alper, Josh |date=November 7, 2017 |title=Bears promote Ben Braunecker, put Zach Miller on injured reserve |url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/11/07/bears-promote-ben-braunecker-put-zach-miller-on-injured-reserve/ |website=ProFootballTalk.NBCSports.com}}
In 2018, Braunecker played in 15 games with two starts, recording three receptions for 42 yards and three special teams tackles.{{Cite web |last=Mayer |first=Larry |date=February 7, 2019 |title=Bears 2018 position review: Tight end |url=https://www.chicagobears.com/news/bears-2018-position-review-tight-end |access-date=February 11, 2019 |publisher=Chicago Bears}}
On March 11, 2019, Braunecker signed a two-year contract extension with the Bears.{{Cite web |last=Gantt, Darin |date=March 11, 2019 |title=Bears sign tight end Ben Braunecker |url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2019/03/11/bears-sign-tight-end-ben-braunecker/ |website=Pro Football Talk |publisher=NBC Sports}} On November 10, 2019, he scored his first career NFL touchdown on an 18-yard touchdown pass from Mitchell Trubisky against the Detroit Lions. He was placed on injured reserve on December 15, 2019.{{Cite web |last=Mayer, Larry |date=December 15, 2019 |title=Roster moves: Hicks activated, Braunecker to IR |url=https://www.chicagobears.com/news/roster-moves-hicks-activated-braunecker-to-ir |website=ChicagoBears.com}}
Braunecker was released by the Bears on July 23, 2020.{{cite news|last=Mayer|first=Larry|url=https://www.chicagobears.com/news/roster-move-bears-release-ben-braunecker|title=Roster Move: Bears release Ben Braunecker|publisher=Chicago Bears|date=July 23, 2020|access-date=July 23, 2020}}
Personal life
Braunecker is married to former University of Notre Dame swimmer Sydney Golic; she is the daughter of former NFL player Mike Golic.{{cite news|last=Hladik|first=Matt|url=https://thespun.com/more/sports-media/mike-golics-daughter-sydney-announces-engagement-to-nfl-player|title=Mike Golic's Daughter Sydney Announces Engagement To NFL Player|publisher=The Spun|date=July 20, 2020|access-date=July 20, 2020}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Footballstats |nfl=Ben-Braunecker|espn= |cbs= |yahoo= |si= |pfr=BrauBe00 |dbf= |rotoworld=}}
- [https://gocrimson.com/sports/football/roster/ben-braunecker/2031 Harvard Crimson bio]
- [http://www.chicagobears.com/team/roster/Ben-Braunecker/e0041110-370c-44b6-8c3a-8d759a58c2c2 Chicago Bears bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Braunecker, Ben}}
Category:American football tight ends
Category:Chicago Bears players
Category:Harvard Crimson football players