Joe O'Brien (American football)

{{Short description|American football player (born 1972)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Joe O'Brien

| image =

| caption =

| current_team =

| position =

| number =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1972|11|6}}

| birth_place = Pittsburg, California, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 2

| weight_lb = 275

| afldraftyear =

| afldraftround =

| afldraftpick =

| draftyear =

| draftround =

| draftpick =

| undraftedyear = 1995

| high_school = Pittsburg (CA)

| college = Boise State (1991–1994)

| pastteams =

| pastcoaching =

| statlabel1 = Games played – started

| statvalue1 =

| statlabel2 = Interceptions

| statvalue2 =

| statlabel3 = Fumble recoveries

| statvalue3 =

| pfr =

| cfl =

| afl =

| highlights =

  • 1994 Big Sky Conf. Defensive Player of the Year
  • 1996 World Bowl Champion (WLAF)

| HOF =

| CollegeHOF =

}}

Joe O'Brien (born November 6, 1972) is an American football coach and former lineman. He also played in the WLAF, AFL, and the NFL from 1995 to 1998. He later went on to coach at the collegiate level.{{Cite web |date=2009-06-06 |title=Football field of comeback dreams |url=https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2009/06/06/football-field-of-comeback-dreams/ |access-date=2022-04-09 |website=East Bay Times |language=en-US}}

College career

O'Brien played college football at Boise State University in Idaho from 1991 to 1994. He lettered in his final two years{{Cite web|url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/playero/obri01910.html|title=Joe O'Brien NFL Stats - Pro Football Archives|website=www.profootballarchives.com}} and in 1994 was named Big Sky Conference defensive player of the year.{{Cite web|url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1995/apr/28/sports-people/|title=Sports People | The Spokesman-Review|website=www.spokesman.com}}

Professional career

Joe O'Brien was signed to a two-year contract as an undrafted rookie free agent by the Minnesota Vikings after the 1995 NFL draft but was cut before the 1995 regular season began. He was then signed by the San Jose Sabercats of the Arena Football League in 1996. He played only 2 games for San Jose before being chosen in the 19th round of the World League of American Football draft by the Scottish Claymores, where he played 10 games, starting 6 of them. The Claymores defeated the Frankfort Galaxy on June 23, 1996, to become the 1996 World Bowl champions.{{Cite web|url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/1996wlafsco.html|title=1996 Scottish Claymores (WLAF) - Pro Football Archives|website=www.profootballarchives.com}} The following year, he was signed as a free agent by the New Orleans Saints during the offseason but again was cut before the 1997 regular season began.{{Cite web |title=MADE OF IRON: RECORD & FACT BOOK |url=https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/saints/wpit2olo88lskavlxkho.pdf}} In 1998, he returned to the AFL and the San Jose Sabrecats, playing 11 games on both the offensive and defensive lines.{{Cite web|url=https://www.statscrew.com/football/roster/t-ARENASJS/y-1998|title=1998 San Jose SaberCats football Roster on StatsCrew.com|website=www.statscrew.com}}

References

{{reflist}}