Ben Gottschalk

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Ben Gottschalk

| image =

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption =

| current_team =

| number = --

| position = Center

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|2|15}}

| birth_place = Santa Monica, California, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 5

| weight_lbs = 293

| high_school = Notre Dame
(Sherman Oaks, California)

| college = SMU

| undraftedyear = 2014

| pastteams =

Kansas City Chiefs ({{NFL Year|2014}})*
Tampa Bay Buccaneers ({{NFL Year|2015}})*
San Francisco 49ers ({{NFL Year|2015}})*
Tampa Bay Buccaneers ({{NFL Year|2015}}–{{NFL Year|2016}})

| status =

| highlights =

| statseason =

| statweek =

| statlabel1 = Games played

| statvalue1 = 2

| statlabel2 = Games started

| statvalue2 = 1

}}

Ben Gottschalk (born February 15, 1992) is an American former professional football center. He played college football at SMU, and subsequently played in the National Football League (NFL) with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Early life

Gottschalk is Jewish, and is from Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, California.{{cite web |url=http://www.49ers.com/news/article-2/49ers-WaiveInjured-OL-Ben-Gottschalk/b8787c9a-f503-4603-8c93-bc341c9378a5 |title=49ers Waive/Injured OL Ben Gottschalk |website=49ers.com |date= |accessdate=September 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012071627/http://www.49ers.com/news/article-2/49ers-WaiveInjured-OL-Ben-Gottschalk/b8787c9a-f503-4603-8c93-bc341c9378a5 |archive-date=October 12, 2016 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=http://www.jewishjournal.com/bloggish/item/jewish_football_players_of_the_year_and_sporty_rabbis |title=Jewish Football Players of the Year (and Sporty Rabbis) | Bloggish |work=Jewish Journal |date=January 28, 2014 |accessdate=September 4, 2016}} He has two older brothers, Adam and William.{{cite web|url=http://blogs.dailynews.com/preps/2009/09/10/hs-foot-q-and-a-with-notre-dam/ |title=HS FOOT: Q and A with Notre Dame offensive lineman Ben Gottschalk | Daily News High School Sports Spotlight |website=Blogs.dailynews.com |date=September 10, 2009 |accessdate=September 4, 2016}}{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-nov-01-sp-sondheimer1-story.html |title=Notre Dame's Kasdorf is the new king of sling |website=Los Angeles Times |date=November 1, 2008 |access-date=September 4, 2016}}

He was a three-star Rivals.com and Scout.com prospect out of Notre Dame High School (Sherman Oaks, California), Class of 2010.{{cite web|url=http://sportsday.dallasnews.com/college-sports/collegesheadlines/2015/04/09/ex-smu-ol-ben-gottschalk-signs-with-tampa-bay-buccaneers |title=College Sports: Ex-SMU OL Ben Gottschalk signs with Tampa Bay Buccaneers | SportsDay |website=Sportsday.dallasnews.com |date= April 9, 2015|accessdate=September 4, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.smumustangs.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/gottschalk_ben00.html |title=Archived copy |accessdate=March 15, 2016 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315115959/http://www.smumustangs.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/gottschalk_ben00.html |archivedate=March 15, 2016 }}{{cite web|author= |url=https://247sports.com/player/ben-gottschalk-4369 |title=Ben Gottschalk, Tampa Bay, Pro-Style Quarterback |website=247sports.com |date= |accessdate=September 4, 2016}} He was ranked as the 94th-best player in California and the 14th-best center in the US by Rivals, was All-CIF Pac-5 Division First-team, was a Serra League Most Valuable Lineman, and was a member of the 2008 GSP Super All-State Underclass Team. He also threw the shot put in the 2009 and 2010 seasons.{{cite web|url=http://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/Athlete.aspx?AID=1168681#/L0 |title=Ben Gottschalk - CA Track and Field Profile |website=Athletic |date=October 8, 2013 |accessdate=September 4, 2016}}

College career

Gottschalk played college football at SMU, playing in 47 games, with 24 starts (starting all the team's games his junior and senior years), on the offensive line{{cite web |last=Smith |first=Scott |url=http://www.buccaneers.com/news/article-smith/Buccaneers-Add-Two-to-Roster/342f2c2a-e19e-483b-8caa-b13ec07cbcb9 |title=Buccaneers Add Two to Roster |website=Buccaneers.com |date=April 9, 2015 |accessdate=September 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160327130827/http://www.buccaneers.com/news/article-smith/Buccaneers-Add-Two-to-Roster/342f2c2a-e19e-483b-8caa-b13ec07cbcb9 |archive-date=March 27, 2016 |url-status=dead }} He was a member of the 2012 Jewish Sports Review college football All-American team.{{cite web|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/varsitytimesinsider/2013/03/football-gabe-marks-is-on-jewish-sports-reviews-all-america-team.html |title=Football: Gabe Marks is on Jewish Sports Review's All-America team |website=Latimesblogs.latimes.com |date=March 7, 2013 |accessdate=September 4, 2016}}

Professional career

=Kansas City Chiefs=

Gottschalk was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Kansas City Chiefs on May 19, 2014. On August 27, 2014, he was waived.

On August 31, 2014, he was signed to the Chiefs' practice squad. On September 9, 2014, he was waived.

=Tampa Bay Buccaneers (first stint)=

Gottschalk signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on April 9, 2015.{{cite web|last=Smith|first=Scott|title=Buccaneers Add Two to Roster|url=http://www.buccaneers.com/news/article-smith/Buccaneers-Add-Two-to-Roster/342f2c2a-e19e-483b-8caa-b13ec07cbcb9|accessdate=April 9, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150412015925/http://www.buccaneers.com/news/article-smith/Buccaneers-Add-Two-to-Roster/342f2c2a-e19e-483b-8caa-b13ec07cbcb9|archive-date=April 12, 2015|url-status=dead}} On May 28, 2015, he was waived.{{cite web|url=http://www.csnbayarea.com/49ers/49ers-part-ways-ol-ben-gottschalk |title=49ers part ways with OL Ben Gottschalk | CSN Bay Area |accessdate=March 15, 2016 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315100730/http://www.csnbayarea.com/49ers/49ers-part-ways-ol-ben-gottschalk |archivedate=March 15, 2016 }}

=San Francisco 49ers=

On June 6, 2015, he was signed by the San Francisco 49ers to a two-year contract.{{cite web|url=http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2015/06/16/49ers-sign-ol-ben-gottschalk-and-2-more-waive-2-others/ |title=49ers Sign OL Ben Gottschalk And 2 More, Waive 2 Others |website=CBS Sacramento |date=June 16, 2015 |accessdate=September 4, 2016}} On August 6, 2015, while injured he was waived a few days after undergoing foot surgery. On August 7, 2015, he was placed on injured reserve. On August 13, 2015, he was waived from injured reserve. The 49ers paid him an injury settlement worth $56,118.{{cite web|url=http://www.ninersnation.com/2015/8/18/9173607/49ers-ben-gottschalk-agree-to-56118-injury-settlement |title=49ers, Ben Gottschalk agree to $56,118 injury settlement |publisher=Niners Nation |date=August 18, 2015 |accessdate=September 4, 2016}}

=Tampa Bay Buccaneers (second stint)=

On November 25, 2015, Gottschalk was signed to the Buccaneers' practice squad. On January 5, 2016, he signed a reserve/future contract with the Buccaneers.{{Cite news|title = Buccaneers sign 9 players to reserve/futures contracts|url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/redskins/buccaneers-sign-9-players-to-reservefutures-contracts/2016/01/05/f9c33020-b3f7-11e5-8abc-d09392edc612_story.html|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190114153401/https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/redskins/buccaneers-sign-9-players-to-reservefutures-contracts/2016/01/05/f9c33020-b3f7-11e5-8abc-d09392edc612_story.html|url-status = dead|archive-date = January 14, 2019|newspaper = The Washington Post|date = January 5, 2016|access-date = January 7, 2016|issn = 0190-8286|language = en-US|agency = Associated Press}}

On September 3, 2016, Gottschalk was released by the Buccaneers as part of final roster cuts.{{cite web|title=Bucs Trim Roster to 53|url=http://www.buccaneers.com/news/article-smith/Bucs-Trim-Roster-to-53/497131d1-73d4-477a-9857-dabc52dfaf49|last=Smith|first=Scott|website=Buccaneers.com|date=September 3, 2016|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170807072107/http://www.buccaneers.com/news/article-smith/Buccaneers-Trim-Roster-to-53/497131d1-73d4-477a-9857-dabc52dfaf49|archivedate=August 7, 2017}} The next day, he was signed to the Buccaneers' practice squad.{{cite web|title=Bucs Form Practice Squad|url=http://www.buccaneers.com/news/article-smith/Bucs-Form-Practice-Squad/886664da-3a04-4f34-abb4-4189c88e579a|last=Smith|first=Scott|website=Buccaneers.com|date=September 5, 2016|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170807073104/http://www.buccaneers.com/news/article-smith/Buccaneers-Form-2016-Practice-Squad/886664da-3a04-4f34-abb4-4189c88e579a|archivedate=August 7, 2017}} On November 12, Gottschalk was promoted to the Buccaneers active roster.{{cite web|title=Gottschalk & Russell Promoted to Active Roster|url=http://www.buccaneers.com/news/article-smith/Gottschalk--Russell-Promoted-to-Active-Roster/f1f0c13f-5a9d-40f3-ac45-a38f79550862|author=Smith, Scott|website=Buccaneers.com|date=November 12, 2016|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180507085842/http://www.buccaneers.com/news/article-smith/Gottschalk--Russell-Promoted-to-Active-Roster/f1f0c13f-5a9d-40f3-ac45-a38f79550862|archivedate=May 7, 2018}} He suffered a knee injury in Week 11 and was placed on injured reserve on November 22, 2016.{{cite web|title=Josh Allen, Javien Elliott Promoted|url=http://www.buccaneers.com/news/article-smith/Josh-Allen-Javien-Elliott-Promoted/d14c5022-f76b-401b-b25c-da4eec3b9372|author=Smith, Scott|website=Buccaneers.com|date=November 22, 2016|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170907075445/http://www.buccaneers.com/news/article-smith/Josh-Allen-Javien-Elliott-Promoted/d14c5022-f76b-401b-b25c-da4eec3b9372|archivedate=September 7, 2017}} On May 1, 2017, he was waived by the Buccaneers.{{cite web|title=Bucs' Rookie Free Agents Flesh Out Roster|url=http://www.buccaneers.com/news/article-smith/Bucs-Rookie-Free-Agents-Flesh-Out-Roster/0bbae856-9641-489b-bc56-2349782ddfb7|author=Smith, Scott|website=Buccaneers.com|date=May 1, 2017|accessdate=May 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170504111140/http://www.buccaneers.com/news/article-smith/Bucs-Rookie-Free-Agents-Flesh-Out-Roster/0bbae856-9641-489b-bc56-2349782ddfb7|archive-date=May 4, 2017|url-status=dead}}