Joe Shield
{{Short description|American football player (born 1962)}}
{{good article}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Joe Shield
| number = 18
| position = Quarterback
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1962|6|26}}
| birth_place = Brattleboro, Vermont, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 1
| weight_lb = 185
| high_school = Brattleboro Union (VT)
| college = {{Ubl|Worcester Academy|Trinity College}}
| draftyear = 1985
| draftround = 11
| draftpick = 294
| pastteams =
- Green Bay Packers ({{NFL Year|1985|86}})
- New England Patriots (1986)*
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 3
| pfr = ShieJo20
}}
Joe Shield (born June 26, 1962) is an American former professional football player in the National Football League (NFL). Shield attended Brattleboro Union High School before a brief stint at Worcester Academy. He participated in athletics at both schools, excelling in baseball and football. Shield attended Trinity College, where he played college football. After an injury to the team's starting quarterback in his first game, Shield took over the position and did not relinquish it for the rest of his college career. He left Trinity holding almost every team passing record. Shield was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the 1985 NFL draft; he played in three games over two seasons for the Packers before leaving football.
Early life
Joe Shield was born on June 26, 1962, in Brattleboro, Vermont, where he attended Brattleboro Union High School. During his time there, Shield played both baseball, basketball and football. In football, he was named the All-Southern Vermont League quarterback for his junior and senior years (1978 and 1979); in 1978 he helped lead the team to the state championship and in 1979 he was captain and named the team's most valuable player. In baseball, he had a career .400 batting average and helped lead the team to two consecutive appearances in the state championship game, winning in 1978. Shield won numerous awards for his athletic performance in high school. He then continued his education and participation in baseball and football at Worcester Academy in Massachusetts.
College career
Shield attended Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, where he played quarterback for their football team. During his first college football game at Trinity, the team's starting quarterback was injured and Shield replaced him. He ended up retaining the position for the rest of his college career. Shield accumulated over 6,500 passing yards, completing over 56 percent of his passes and throwing 52 touchdowns as the team's starter for three seasons.{{Cite news | url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-packer-draft-pro/135040352/ | title = Packer draft profiles | date = May 2, 1985 | access-date = November 12, 2023 | newspaper = Wisconsin State Journal | type = clipping | via = Newspapers.com | page = 5 (Section 2) | archive-date = November 12, 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231112170748/https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-packer-draft-pro/135040352/ | url-status = live }} The Hartford Courant noted that Shields held "nearly every record for a quarterback at Trinity" when he left.{{Cite news | url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/hartford-courant-fit-to-be-tried-c1/144312534/ | title = Fit To Be Tried: Part 1 | last = Apple | first = Ginny | date = August 19, 1985 | access-date = March 28, 2024 | newspaper = Hartford Courant | type = clipping | via = Newspapers.com | page = C1 | archive-date = March 28, 2024 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240328194744/https://www.newspapers.com/article/hartford-courant-fit-to-be-tried-c1/144312534/ | url-status = live }}{{Cite news | url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/hartford-courant-fit-to-be-tried-c8/144312597/ | title = Fit To Be Tried: Part 2 | last = Apple | first = Ginny | date = August 19, 1985 | access-date = March 28, 2024 | newspaper = Hartford Courant | type = clipping | via = Newspapers.com | page = C8 | archive-date = March 28, 2024 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240328195001/https://www.newspapers.com/article/hartford-courant-fit-to-be-tried-c8/144312597/ | url-status = live }}
Professional career
Shield was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the eleventh round of the 1985 NFL draft with the 294th overall pick. During the 1985 preseason, he battled Scott Brunner and Randy Wright for the back-up quarterback position behind Lynn Dickey. After Brunner was traded, Shield made the team as the third-string quarterback and suited up, but did not play, in the Packers' season opener against the New England Patriots.{{Cite news | url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brattleboro-reformer-joe-shield-nfl/144312313/ | title = Joe Shield: NFL dreams becoming reality | last = Harrington | first = Gary | date = September 10, 1985 | access-date = March 28, 2024 | newspaper = Brattleboro Reformer | type = clipping | via = Newspapers.com | page = 11 | archive-date = March 28, 2024 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240328194947/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brattleboro-reformer-joe-shield-nfl/144312313/ | url-status = live }} Over 100 people, including his family and friends, attended the game to support Shield.{{Cite news | url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brattleboro-reformer-it-was-like-a/144312343/ | title = It was like a 'Joe Shield Day' Sunday at Foxboro | last = Harrington | first = Gary | date = September 10, 1985 | access-date = March 28, 2024 | newspaper = Brattleboro Reformer | type = clipping | via = Newspapers.com | page = 11 | archive-date = March 28, 2024 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240328194736/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brattleboro-reformer-it-was-like-a/144312343/ | url-status = live }} He was released by the Packers after the third game of the season when the team signed Jim Zorn. After his release, he had interest from the Patriots and a try-out for the Toronto Argonauts.{{Cite news | url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brattleboro-reformer-wimbledon-of-t/144312842/ | title = 'Wimbledon of the Woods' comes to Stratton | last = Harrington | first = Gary | date = December 26, 1985 | access-date = March 28, 2024 | newspaper = Brattleboro Reformer | type = clipping | via = Newspapers.com | page = 18 | archive-date = March 28, 2024 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240328194752/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brattleboro-reformer-wimbledon-of-t/144312842/ | url-status = live }} He possibly was on the Argonauts for the rest of the year.
Shield entered the preseason on the Patriots, fighting for the third-string quarterback spot.{{Cite news | url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brattleboro-reformer-joe-shield-like/144312396/ | title = Joe Shield likes chances of making Patriots | last = Campbell | first = Ken | date = August 1, 1986 | access-date = March 28, 2024 | newspaper = Brattleboro Reformer | type = clipping | via = Newspapers.com | page = 13 }} During a preseason game, he suffered a leg injury and was placed on injured reserve.{{Cite news | url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brattleboro-reformer-joe-shield-hang/144312446/ | title = Joe Shield hanging tough in bid to make it in the NFL | last = Harrington | first = Gary | date = August 20, 1986 | access-date = March 28, 2024 | newspaper = Brattleboro Reformer | type = clipping | via = Newspapers.com | page = 14 | archive-date = March 28, 2024 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240328194735/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brattleboro-reformer-joe-shield-hang/144312446/ | url-status = live }} After being released by the Patriots in September, the Packers signed Shield a few months later.{{Cite news | url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brattleboro-reformer-green-bay-packe/144317483/ | title = Green Bay Packers recall Joe Shield | last = Campbell | first = Ken | date = November 18, 1986 | access-date = March 28, 2024 | newspaper = Brattleboro Reformer | type = clipping | via = Newspapers.com | page = 10 | archive-date = March 28, 2024 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240328204503/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brattleboro-reformer-green-bay-packe/144317483/ | url-status = live }} He played three games for the Packers during the 1986 NFL season, although he recorded no statistics.{{cite web | url = https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/ShieJo20.htm | title = Joe Shield Stats | website = Pro-Football-Reference.com | access-date = March 20, 2024 | archive-date = May 26, 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230526234323/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/ShieJo20.htm | url-status = live }} He was released during the offseason after the Packers acquired a few rookie quarterbacks.{{Cite web | url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brattleboro-reformer-joe-shield-rele/144317865/ | title = Joe Shield released by Packers | last = Harrington | first = Garry | date = July 7, 1987 | access-date = March 28, 2024 | newspaper = Brattleboro Reformer | type = clipping | via = Newspapers.com | page = 11}} On September 17, 1987, Packers' Director of Football Operations Tom Braatz announced the team's intention of reaching out to Shield prior to the 1987 NFL season to inquire on his availability to play for the team in the event that NFL players went on strike.{{cite news |date=September 17, 1987 |title=Pack's Braatz paints bleak picture |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kAJlAAAAIBAJ&dq=%22joe+shield%22+braatz&pg=PA9&article_id=1559,3481961 |agency=UPI |via=Google Books |newspaper=Telegraph Herald |page=B3 |access-date=April 1, 2024 |archive-date=April 1, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240401161831/https://books.google.com/books?id=kAJlAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA9&dq=%22joe+shield%22+braatz&article_id=1559,3481961&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiV_aSDsKGFAxUQEGIAHfrFCCAQ6AF6BAgHEAI#v=onepage&q=%22joe%20shield%22%20braatz&f=false |url-status=live }} Six days later, Braatz stated that Shield declined, preferring the stability of working elsewhere.{{Cite web | url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/hartford-courant-joe-shield-turns-down-p/144317822/ | title = Joe Shield turns down Packers' offer | last = Yantz | first = Tom | date = September 23, 1987 | access-date = March 28, 2024 | newspaper = Hartford Courant | type = clipping | via = Newspapers.com | page = F2 | archive-date = March 28, 2024 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240328204506/https://www.newspapers.com/article/hartford-courant-joe-shield-turns-down-p/144317822/ | url-status = live }} According to the Brattleboro Reformer, Shield was the first person from Vermont to be drafted into the NFL and then make a team's roster.
Personal life
Since at least 1993, he has been working in the health informatics industry.{{cite web |url=https://www.reformer.com/sports/former-brattleboro-athlete-to-be-inducted-into-vpa-hall-of-fame/article_a09f90be-b7b0-11ed-83dc-775c55c8264e.html |title=Former Brattleboro athlete to be inducted into VPA Hall of Fame |last=Canevari |first=Brandon |date=February 28, 2023 |newspaper=Brattleboro Reformer |access-date=April 1, 2024 |archive-date=April 1, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240401180628/https://www.reformer.com/sports/former-brattleboro-athlete-to-be-inducted-into-vpa-hall-of-fame/article_a09f90be-b7b0-11ed-83dc-775c55c8264e.html |url-status=live }} He has been inducted into various halls of fame: Worcester Academy Athletic Hall of Fame in 2017; Trinity College's Athletic Hall of Fame in 2019; Brattleboro Union High School's Athletic Hall of Fame in 2020; and the Vermont Principals' Association Hall of Fame in 2023.{{Cite news | url = https://www.reformer.com/community-news/local-history-joe-shield---brattleboro-is-the-foundation/article_51548bee-eed4-11ed-ab57-b7ad7af69ffe.html | author = Brattleboro Historical Society | date = May 11, 2023 | access-date = April 4, 2024 | title = Local History: Joe Shield - Brattleboro is the foundation | newspaper = Brattleboro Reformer }}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Green Bay Packers 1985 NFL draft picks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shield, Joe}}
Category:American football quarterbacks
Category:Green Bay Packers players
Category:Trinity Bantams football players