Evan Pilgrim
{{Short description|American football player (born 1972)}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Evan Pilgrim
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| number = 61, 63, 65
| position = Guard
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1972|8|14|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Pittsburg, California, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 4
| weight_lbs = 304
| high_school = Antioch (Antioch, California)
| college = BYU
| draftyear = 1995
| draftround = 3
| draftpick = 87
| pastteams =
- Chicago Bears ({{NFL Year|1995}}–{{NFL Year|1997}})
- Tennessee Oilers ({{NFL Year|1998}})
- Denver Broncos (1999)
- Atlanta Falcons ({{NFL Year|1999}}–{{NFL Year|2000}})
- Detroit Fury ({{AFL Year|2002}}){{cite web |title=Evan Pilgram |url=https://www.statscrew.com/football/stats/p-pilgreva001 |website=StatsCrew |access-date=29 December 2024}}
- Tampa Bay Storm ({{AFL Year|2004}})
| highlights =
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 96
| statlabel2 = Games started
| statvalue2 = 24
| statlabel3 =
| statvalue3 =
| statlabel4 =
| statvalue4 =
}}
Evan Boyd Pilgrim (born August 14, 1972) is an American former professional football player who was an offensive guard in the National Football League (NFL). He played professionally for the Chicago Bears, Tennessee Oilers, Denver Broncos, and Atlanta Falcons.
Early life
Pilgrim was born in Pittsburg, California, son of Emma (Donakey) and Ralph Pilgrim.{{cite web|title=Evan Pilgrim|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/players/3307/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000818231356/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/players/3307/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 18, 2000|publisher=Time Inc. A Time Warner Company|accessdate=17 November 2013}}{{cite web| url = https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VGM3-CZX| title = FamilySearch.org| website = FamilySearch}} He attended Antioch High School, in Antioch, was named to the Contra Costa County all-star team. He was team captain and lettered in football, basketball and track.{{cite web|title=Evan Pilgrim|url=http://byucougars.com/athlete/m-football/evan-pilgrim|publisher=Brigham Young University|accessdate=17 November 2013}}
College career
Attending Brigham Young University (BYU) in Utah on a full scholarship, Pilgrim was an All-Conference lineman with the nickname “Pancake Maker” for his blocking prowess. He was team captain during his senior year, and made the Kodak All-America Team. He held the bench press record of 510 pounds at BYU. Inducted into BYU's Hall of Fame in 2005, he was also named to its All-Time LaVell Edwards BYU Team.{{cite web |title=Evan Pilgrim |url=http://www.antiochsportslegends.com/inductees/class-of-2016/evan-pilgrim/ |publisher=Antioch Historical Society |accessdate=29 June 2020 |archive-date=30 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200630234623/http://www.antiochsportslegends.com/inductees/class-of-2016/evan-pilgrim/ |url-status=dead }}
NFL career
Pilgrim was selected into the NFL by the Chicago Bears in the third round (87th pick overall) of the 1995 NFL draft.{{Cite web |title=1995 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1995/draft.htm |access-date=2023-03-31|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}{{cite web|title=Evan Pilgrim|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/P/PilgEv20.htm|publisher=Pro-Football Reference.com|accessdate=17 November 2013}} He played for the Bears from 1995-1997. Pilgrim played for the Tennessee Oilers for part of 1998, and for the Denver Broncos for a short time in 1999. Traded to the Atlanta Falcons,{{cite web|title=Evan Pilgrim|url=http://www.nfl.com/player/evanpilgrim/2502485/profile|publisher=NFL Enterprises LLC|accessdate=17 November 2013}} he finished his six-season career, playing in 32 games (10 with the Falcons). He played for the Falcons in 1999 in Super Bowl XXXIII.{{cite web|url= http://www.milehighreport.com/2011/6/15/2221078/denver-broncos-greats-by-the-numbers-74-ryan-harris|title=Denver Broncos Greats... By The Numbers: #74|date=15 June 2011|publisher= SB Nation|accessdate= November 17, 2013}}
Life after the NFL
Pilgrim retired from the NFL in 2001. He suited up as a player again to appear as a “prison guard” defensive lineman in the 2005 film “The Longest Yard,” starring Adam Sandler. He was the onfield coordinator for the film.{{cite web|url= https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/547064/the-longest-yard|title=The Longest Yard|publisher= Turner Classic Movies|access-date= November 17, 2013}}{{cite web|url= http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3061256|title=Storm players set to begin shooting The Longest Yard remake|date=14 July 2004|publisher= Our Sports Central|accessdate= November 17, 2013}}
Pilgrim married Andrea Terry in July 1992. Children (Ciel Pilgrim,1995. Ian Pilgrim 1997. Sophie Pilgrim 2003.) Remarried to Christi Bollenbacher in July 2009. Children (Grace Pilgrim, 2010. Gavin Pilgrim, 2011){{cite web|url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=336&dat=19950314&id=ih1OAAAAIBAJ&sjid=6uwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1652,7294461|title=Spotlight shines, but Provo woman stays out of view
|publisher= The Deseret News|accessdate= November 17, 2013}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20131101172344/http://www.antiochsportslegends.com/evan-pilgrim Antiock Historical Society]
{{Bears1995DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pilgrim, Evan}}
Category:Sportspeople from Pittsburg, California
Category:Players of American football from Contra Costa County, California
Category:American football offensive guards
Category:BYU Cougars football players
Category:Chicago Bears players
Category:Tennessee Oilers players
Category:Denver Broncos players