Cole Mazza
{{Short description|American football player (born 1995)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Cole Mazza
| image =
| caption =
| current_team =
| number =
| position = Long snapper
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1995|2|14|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Bakersfield, California, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 1
| weight_lbs = 247
| high_school = Liberty (Bakersfield)
| college = Alabama
| undraftedyear = 2017
| pastteams =
- Birmingham Iron ({{AAF Year|2019}})
- Los Angeles Chargers ({{NFL Year|2019}}–{{NFL Year|2020}})
- Houston Gamblers ({{USFL Year|2023}})*
| status =
| highlights =
| statweek =
| statseason =
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 32
| statlabel2 = Total tackles
| statvalue2 = 5
| pfr = M/MazzCo01
}}
Cole Joseph Frank Mazza (born February 14, 1995) is an American professional football long snapper. He played college football at Alabama.
College career
Mazza was served as the starting long snapper Alabama Crimson Tide for four seasons, including the team's 2015 National Championship year. He missed only two games in four years due to injury and finished his collegiate career without a single botched snap in 583 attempts.{{cite web|url=https://www.boltsfromtheblue.com/2019/4/9/18303939/chargers-alabama-and-birmingham-iron-long-snapper-cole-mazza|title=Chargers sign former Alabama and Birmingham Iron long snapper Cole Mazza|first=Michael|last=Peterson|website=BoltsFromTheBlue.com|publisher=SB Nation|date=April 9, 2019|access-date=September 5, 2019}} Following his senior season Mazza was invited to participate in the 2017 Senior Bowl.{{cite web|url=https://247sports.com/college/alabama/Article/Alabama-Crimson-Tide-Football-long-snapper-Cole-Mazza-jumped-at-chance-to-compete-in-Senior-Bowl-50838778/|title=Cole Mazza jumped at chance to compete in Senior Bowl|first=Charlie|last=Potter|website=AlabamaOnLine.com|date=January 26, 2017|access-date=September 5, 2019}}
Professional career
Mazza garnered little NFL interest after graduating and worked for two years as a fitness coach until earning a tryout from the Alliance of American Football.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/chargers/story/2019-09-06/chargers-confident-trent-scott-can-tackle-job-of-protecting-philip-rivers-blind-side|title=Chargers confident Trent Scott can tackle job of protecting Philip Rivers' blind side|first=Jeff|last=Miller|work=Los Angeles Times|date=September 6, 2019|access-date=October 5, 2019}}
=Birmingham Iron=
Mazza was signed by the Birmingham Iron of the Alliance of American Football. He served as the long snapper in all eight of the team's games before the league folded.{{cite web|url=https://chargerswire.usatoday.com/2019/04/09/chargers-sign-former-aaf-long-snapper/|title=Chargers sign former AAF long snapper|first=Gavino|last=Borquez|website=Chargers Wire|publisher=USA Today|date=April 9, 2019|access-date=September 5, 2019}}
=Los Angeles Chargers=
Mazza was signed by the Los Angeles Chargers on April 8, 2019.{{cite news|last=Inabinett|first=Mark|url=https://www.al.com/sports/2019/04/cole-mazza-joins-iron-to-nfl-connection.html|title=Cole Mazza joins Iron-to-NFL connection|newspaper=AL.com|date=April 8, 2019|access-date=September 5, 2019}} Mazza beat out nine year incumbent Mike Windt to become the Chargers' long snapper for the 2019 season.{{cite news|last=Inabinett|first=Mark|url=https://www.al.com/sports/2019/08/cole-mazza-secures-los-angeles-chargers-long-snapper-spot.html|title=Cole Mazza secures Los Angeles Chargers' long-snapper spot|newspaper=AL.com|date=August 20, 2019|access-date=September 5, 2019}} Mazza made his NFL debut on September 8, 2019 against the Indianapolis Colts.{{cite news|last=Inabinett|first=Mark|url=https://www.al.com/sports/2019/09/alabama-nfl-roundup-mark-ingram-starts-fast-with-ravens.html|title=Alabama NFL roundup: Mark Ingram starts fast with Ravens|newspaper=AL.com|date=September 8, 2019|access-date=September 9, 2019}} Mazza served as the Chargers' long snapper for all 16 games in his first NFL season.{{cite web|url=https://www.al.com/sports/2020/02/alabama-roots-154-nfl-players-in-the-2019-season.html|title=Alabama Roots: 154 NFL players in the 2019 season|first=Mark|last=Inabinett|website=AL.com|date=February 18, 2020|access-date=February 21, 2020}}
On August 30, 2021, Mazza was waived/injured by the Chargers and placed on injured reserve.{{cite web|title=Chargers Begin Cutting Roster Down to 53|url=https://www.chargers.com/news/2021-nfl-chargers-roster-cuts-begin|website=Chargers.com|date=August 30, 2021}} He was released on September 8, 2021.
=Houston Gamblers=
On January 19, 2023, Mazza signed with the Houston Gamblers of the United States Football League (USFL).{{cite tweet |user=USFLGamblers |title=Free Agent Signings |number=1616303058904059904 |date=January 19, 2023 |access-date=January 19, 2023}} On April 10, 2023, Mazza was released by the Gamblers.{{cite tweet |user=USFLGamblers |title=Released |number=1645456605620883457 |date=April 10, 2023 |access-date=April 10, 2023}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://rolltide.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=3136 Alabama Crimson Tide bio]
{{2015 Alabama Crimson Tide football navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mazza, Cole}}
Category:American football long snappers
Category:Los Angeles Chargers players
Category:Players of American football from Bakersfield, California
Category:Alabama Crimson Tide football players
Category:Birmingham Iron players
Category:Houston Gamblers (2022) players
Category:Liberty High School (Bakersfield, California) alumni