Jeb Putzier
{{Short description|American football player (born 1979)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Jeb Putzier
| image =
| number = 88, 87, 80
| position = Tight end
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1979|1|20}}
| birth_place = Eagle, Idaho, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 4
| weight_lbs = 256
| high_school = Eagle (ID)
| college = Boise State
| draftyear = 2002
| draftround = 6
| draftpick = 191
| pastteams =
- Denver Broncos ({{NFL Year|2002}}–{{NFL Year|2005}})
- Houston Texans ({{NFL Year|2006}}–{{NFL Year|2007}})
- Seattle Seahawks ({{NFL Year|2008}})
- Denver Broncos ({{NFL Year|2008}})
- Hartford Colonials ({{UFL Year|2010}})*
- Omaha Nighthawks ({{UFL Year|2010}})
| highlights =
| statlabel1 = Receptions
| statvalue1 = 96
| statlabel2 = Receiving yards
| statvalue2 = 1,251
| statlabel3 = Receiving touchdowns
| statvalue3 = 3
| pfr = PutzJe00
}}
Jebediah Lee Putzier (pronounced PUTT-zeer) (born January 20, 1979) is an American former professional football tight end. He was selected by the Denver Broncos in the sixth round of the 2002 NFL draft. Putzier also played for the Houston Texans, Seattle Seahawks, and the UFL's Omaha Nighthawks.
Early life
Putzier attended Eagle High School in his hometown Eagle, Idaho. In addition to playing football, Putzier also garnered athletic letters in basketball, track and baseball.{{cite web |title=It's a whole new ballgame for Putzier |url=https://www.idahostatesman.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/article40682553.html |website=Idaho Statesman |accessdate=September 9, 2020 |date=January 14, 2006}}
College career
Putzier initially walked on to the Boise State Broncos football team. After playing wide receiver for the first three years of his career, Putzier switched to tight end.{{cite web |last1=Lee |first1=Kevan |title=The 5 greatest Boise State tight ends in the history of Boise State tight ends |url=https://www.obnug.com/2012/7/3/3084780/the-10-greatest-boise-state-tight-ends-in-the-history-of-boise-state |website=One Bronco Nation Under God |publisher=SBNation |accessdate=September 9, 2020 |date=July 3, 2012}} He led all college tight ends with twelve touchdown receptions his senior season, and garnered all-Western Athletic Conference honors. The season was highlighted by a three-touchdown effort against Tulsa.{{cite web |title=Boise St. 41, Tulsa 10 |url=https://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2001/10/14/Boise-St-41-Tulsa-10/18151003043849/ |website=UPI |accessdate=September 9, 2020 |date=October 14, 2001}}
Professional career
=Denver Broncos (first stint)=
Putzier was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the sixth round (191st overall) of the 2002 NFL draft.{{Cite web |title=2002 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2002/draft.htm |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} After only recording four receptions his first two years, he contributed to the Broncos in 2004 with 36 catches. His play earned him a 5-year $12.5 million offer sheet from the New York Jets which the Broncos matched.{{cite web |last1=Lammey |first1=Cecil |last2=Wood |first2=Jason |title=Spotlight: TE Jeb Putzier, Denver Broncos |url=https://www.footballguys.com/05spotlight-PutzJe00.htm |website=Football Guys |accessdate=September 9, 2020 |date=July 11, 2005 |archive-date=April 20, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130420141958/http://footballguys.com/05spotlight-PutzJe00.htm |url-status=dead }} Despite putting up 37 receptions in 2005 the Broncos released him in spring 2006 in what was considered to be a salary cap purge.{{cite web |title=Broncos waive Pryce, Anderson, Putzier |url=https://www.patriots.com/news/broncos-waive-pryce-anderson-putzier-94916 |website=New England Patriots |publisher=The Associated Press |accessdate=September 9, 2020 |date=March 1, 2006}}
=Houston Texans=
Putzier signed with the Houston Texans in 2006, coming back to former Broncos offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak.{{cite web |title=Texans sign tight end Putzier |url=https://www.houstontexans.com/news/texans-sign-tight-end-putzier-2670574 |website=Houston Texans |accessdate=September 9, 2020 |date=March 20, 2006}} After losing spots on the depth chart in 2007, the Texans released Putzier on February 20, 2008.{{cite web |title=Texans release four players |url=https://www.houstontexans.com/news/texans-release-four-players-2674636 |website=Houston Texans |accessdate=September 9, 2020 |date=February 20, 2008}}
=Seattle Seahawks=
On March 4, 2008, Putzier was signed by the Seattle Seahawks.{{cite web |title=Seahawks Sign TE Putzier |url=https://www.seahawks.com/news/seahawks-sign-te-putzier-72641 |website=Seattle Seahawks |accessdate=September 9, 2020 |date=March 4, 2008}} After appearing in seven games for the team, he was released on November 25.{{cite web |title=Seahawks add Kyle Williams, release Jeb Putzier |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/seahawks/seahawks-add-kyle-williams-release-jeb-putzier/ |website=Seattle Times |accessdate=September 9, 2020 |date=November 26, 2008}}
=Denver Broncos (second stint)=
Late in the 2008 season, Putzier signed with the Broncos.{{cite web |last1=Siddiqi |first1=DJ |title=10 Underrated Denver Broncos Forgotten over the Past 10 Years |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/895337-10-underrated-broncos-forgotten-over-the-past-10-years |website=Bleacher Report |accessdate=September 9, 2020 |date=October 15, 2011}} He was resigned on March 16, 2009, but was cut late in 2009 training camp.{{Cite web |date=March 16, 2009 |title=Broncos re-sign tight end Jeb Putzier |url=http://www.espn.com/espn/wire/_/section/nfl/id/3987960 |access-date=September 9, 2020 |website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press}}{{cite web |title=Jeb Putzier's Parting Shot |url=http://broncotalk.net/2009/09/8726/broncos-blog/jeb-putziers-parting-shot/ |website=BroncosTalk |accessdate=September 9, 2020 |date=September 1, 2009}}
=Hartford Colonials=
After not playing for any professional team in 2009, Putzier signed to play in the United Football League. He was released by the Hartford Colonials on June 16, 2010.{{cite web |title=Hartford Colonials juggle roster |url=https://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Hartford-Colonials-juggle-roster-526715.php |website=CTPost |accessdate=September 9, 2020 |date=June 16, 2010}}
=Omaha Nighthwaks=
Putzier played in the 2010 UFL season with the Omaha Nighthawks. On October 2, Putzier caught a game-winning touchdown from Jeff Garcia to defeat the Sacramento Mountain Lions.{{cite web |title=Sacramento Mountain Lions drop game against Omaha Nighthawks |url=https://statehornet.com/2010/10/sacramento-mountain-lions-drop-game-against-omaha-nighthawks/ |website=State Hornet |accessdate=September 9, 2020 |date=October 2, 2010}} Putzier tied for the league lead in receiving touchdowns in 2010, scoring three on the year.{{cite web |title=2010 United Football League Leaders |url=https://www.statscrew.com/football/leaders/l-UFL/y-2010 |website=Statscrew |accessdate=September 15, 2020}}
Personal life
Putzier also played basketball at Boise State and majored in English.{{cite web |last1=Stewart |first1=Dave |title=Bronco athlete is a true full-time student |url=https://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2150&context=student_newspapers |website=Boise State Arbiter |publisher=Boise State SchoalrWorks |accessdate=September 9, 2020 |date=February 16, 2000}}
Putzier is married, divorced and remarried.{{cite web |last1=Collins |first1=Holly |title=Jeb Putzier Tackled Wedding Dance |url=https://www.adventuresindance.com/2018/08/jeb-putzier-tackled-wedding-dance/ |website=Adventures in Dance |accessdate=September 9, 2020 |date=August 1, 2018}} Due to concussions and cortisone shots, he had to quit his job for a medical equipment company.{{cite web |title=NFL Aftermath: Life a medical struggle for Jeb Putzier |url=https://www.9news.com/article/sports/nfl-aftermath-life-a-medical-struggle-for-jeb-putzier/73-130235598 |website=KUSA |accessdate=September 9, 2020 |date=July 6, 2015}} After a suicide attempt, Putzier was later diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome.{{cite web |last1=Jhabvala |first1=Nicki |title=Why former Bronco Jeb Putzier has turned to an array of therapies to ease his post-football pain |url=https://extras.denverpost.com/game-of-pain/part2.html |website=Denver Post |accessdate=September 9, 2020 |date=June 17, 2016}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=498&contentID=780 Denver Broncos bio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060529222231/http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=498&contentID=780 |date=May 29, 2006 }}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20080105141006/http://www.houstontexans.com/team/player.asp?player_id=195 Houston Texans bio]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20110612081430/http://www.seahawks.com/team/roster/jeb-putzier/961c45aa-0206-4abb-9760-1ca38769828c/ Seattle Seahawks bio]
{{Broncos2002DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Putzier, Jeb}}
Category:American football wide receivers
Category:American football tight ends
Category:Boise State Broncos men's basketball players
Category:Boise State Broncos football players
Category:Denver Broncos players
Category:Houston Texans players
Category:21st-century American sportsmen
Category:Seattle Seahawks players
Category:Hartford Colonials players
Category:Omaha Nighthawks players