Brian Waters

{{for|the Australian rules footballer|Brian Waters (footballer)}}

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Brian Waters

| image = Brian Waters - 2009 Pro Bowl.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Waters at the 2009 Pro Bowl

| number = 54, 64

| position = Guard

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1977|2|18|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Waxahachie, Texas, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 3

| weight_lbs = 320

| high_school = Waxahachie

| college = North Texas (1995–1998)

| undraftedyear = 1999

| pastteams = * Dallas Cowboys ({{NFL Year|1999}})*

Berlin Thunder ({{NFLE Year|2000}})
Kansas City Chiefs ({{NFL Year|2000}}–{{NFL Year|2010}})
New England Patriots ({{NFL Year|2011}})
Dallas Cowboys ({{NFL Year|2013}})

| highlights = * Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year (2009)

2× First-team All-Pro (2004, 2005)
6× Pro Bowl (2004–2006, 2008, 2010, 2011)
Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame
First-team All-Big West (1998)

| statlabel1 = Games played

| statvalue1 = 186

| statlabel2 = Games started

| statvalue2 = 170

| pfr = WateBr55

}}

Brian Demond Waters (born February 18, 1977) is an American former professional football player who was a guard in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the North Texas Mean Green and was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 1999. He played most of his career for the Kansas City Chiefs, and also played for the New England Patriots. He earned six Pro Bowl selections during his career.

Early life

Waters was born in Waxahachie, Texas,{{cite web|title=Waxahachie, Texas|url=http://www.city-data.com/city/Waxahachie-Texas.html|publisher=City-Data.com|access-date=June 5, 2014}} and attended Waxahachie High School. He lettered in football. As a senior, he was an All-District honoree as both a tight end and defensive end. He made 16 receptions for 380 yards on offense, and made five sacks and 66 tackles on defense.

College career

Waters attended the University of North Texas where he played for the North Texas Mean Green football team. He started his first three years at tight end, while recording 86 receptions for 975 yards and nine touchdowns. As a senior, he was moved to defensive end, but also played as a backup fullback and tight end. On defense, he had 45 tackles (32 solo) and 5 sacks.{{Cite web |url=http://www.kcchiefs.com/team/roster/Brian-Waters/c1374292-da72-46e2-b8b7-aa2c373e6a05 |title=Kansas City Chiefs: Brian Waters |access-date=May 8, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110905075451/http://www.kcchiefs.com/team/roster/brian-waters/c1374292-da72-46e2-b8b7-aa2c373e6a05/ |archive-date=September 5, 2011 |url-status=dead }}

Professional career

=Dallas Cowboys (first stint)=

The Dallas Cowboys signed him as an undrafted free agent after the 1999 NFL draft to play tight end and fullback. He was released during training camp.

=Kansas City Chiefs=

The Kansas City Chiefs signed him as a free agent during the 2000 offseason and sent him to play with the Berlin Thunder in NFL Europe, with the plan of converting him to center.

Waters was named an All-Pro twice and was selected to the Pro Bowl five times in his 11-year career with the Kansas City Chiefs.{{cite news |title=Report: Patriots Sign Guard Brian Waters |url=http://boston.cbslocal.com/2011/09/04/report-patriots-sign-guard-brian-waters/ |publisher=CBS |date=September 4, 2011 |access-date=February 5, 2012}} In 2003, he was a part of a 13-3 Chiefs team.{{cite news |author=Forsberg, Chris |title=Waters wants taste of postseason success |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/boston/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4714540/waters-wants-taste-of-postseason-success |work=ESPN.com |date=January 11, 2012 |access-date=February 5, 2012}} During the 2004 season, Waters was selected as the AFC Offensive Player of the Week for his play during a game against the Atlanta Falcons on October 24, 2004.{{cite news |title=Patriots - Chiefs: Weekend Scout Report |url=http://nwe.scout.com/2/321851.html |publisher=Scout.com |date=November 22, 2004 |access-date=February 5, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120513210959/http://nwe.scout.com/2/321851.html |archive-date=May 13, 2012 |url-status=dead }} The Chiefs scored an NFL-record eight rushing touchdowns during that game. Waters is the only offensive lineman in the AFC to have received the award,{{cite news |title=Chiefs Look to Boss Colts |url=http://www.sportinglife.com/nfl/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=international_feed/04/10/28/GRIDIRON_USA-Kansas_City_Preview.html |publisher=sportinglife.com |date=October 28, 2004 |access-date=February 5, 2012 }}{{Dead link|date=October 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} and the only lineman in the NFL to win since 1992.{{cite news |author=Cluff, Chris |title=Notebook: Chargers' Chatman has people talking |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2002077627_nflnotes31.html |work=Seattle Times |date=October 31, 2004 |access-date=February 5, 2012}} Waters was recognized as the recipient of the 2009 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award which honors a player's contribution on the field as well as off.{{cite web |url=http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Wilson-Brian-Waters-named-NFL-Man-of-the-Year.html |title=Wilson: Brian Waters named NFL Man of the Year |publisher=National Football Post |access-date=October 22, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721125508/http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Wilson-Brian-Waters-named-NFL-Man-of-the-Year.html |archive-date=July 21, 2011 }} He was ranked 67th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2011.{{Cite web |title=2011 NFL Top 100 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/awards/2011-nfl-top-100.htm |access-date=2024-07-24 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}

After 11 seasons in Kansas City, he was released on July 28, 2011.{{cite web|last=Rosenthal|first=Gregg|title=Release Tracker|url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/07/28/release-tracker/|work=Pro Football Talk|access-date=July 29, 2011|date=July 28, 2011}}

=New England Patriots=

On September 4, 2011, Waters signed with the New England Patriots.{{cite web | title=Patriots agree to terms with veteran Pro Bowl G Waters | website=NFL.com | date=2011-09-04 | url=https://www.nfl.com/news/patriots-agree-to-terms-with-veteran-pro-bowl-g-waters-09000d5d821f4869 | access-date=2024-11-22}} Waters, who started every game at right guard for the Patriots, was voted a starter for the Pro Bowl. After never having won a playoff game before the 2011 season, Waters played for the Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI.{{Cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201202050nwe.htm |title=Super Bowl XLVI - New York Giants vs. New England Patriots - February 5th, 2012 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en |access-date=December 6, 2017}} Prior to the start of the 2012 season, Waters refused to report to the Patriots. Waters said that if he were to play in 2012, it would be for a team close to his family in Texas. The Patriots finally released Waters from his contract on April 30, 2013.{{cite web|last=Rosenthal|first=Gregg|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/brian-waters-released-by-new-england-patriots-0ap1000000165578|title=Brian Waters released by New England Patriots|publisher=National Football League|date=April 30, 2013|access-date=April 30, 2013}}

=Dallas Cowboys (second stint)=

The Dallas Cowboys signed Waters to a one-year contract worth $3 million on September 3, 2013.

=Retirement=

Waters announced his retirement on September 2, 2014.{{cite web|last=Rosenthal|first=Gregg|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/brian-waters-retires-after-13-seasons-in-nfl-0ap3000000387291|title=Brian Waters retires after 13 seasons in NFL|publisher=National Football League|date=September 2, 2014|access-date=September 2, 2014}}