Justin Peelle
{{Short description|American football player and coach (born 1979)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Justin Peelle
| image = Justin Peelle in 2008.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Peelle with the Atlanta Falcons in 2008
| current_team = Tampa Bay Buccaneers
| number =
| position = Tight ends coach
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1979|3|15}}
| birth_place = Fresno, California, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 4
| weight_lbs = 251
| high_school = Dublin (CA)
| college = Oregon (1997–2001)
| draftyear = 2002
| draftround = 4
| draftpick = 103
| pastteams =
- San Diego Chargers ({{NFL Year|2002}}–{{NFL Year|2005}})
- Miami Dolphins ({{NFL Year|2006}}–{{NFL Year|2007}})
- Atlanta Falcons ({{NFL Year|2008}}–{{NFL Year|2010}})
- San Francisco 49ers ({{NFL Year|2011}})
- Pittsburgh Steelers ({{NFL Year|2012}})*
| pastcoaching =
- Philadelphia Eagles ({{NFL Year|2013|2014}})
Assistant tight ends coach - Philadelphia Eagles ({{NFL Year|2015|2020}})
Tight ends coach - Atlanta Falcons ({{NFL Year|2021|2023}})
Tight ends coach - Tampa Bay Buccaneers ({{NFL Year|2024}}−present)
Tight ends coach
| highlights =
As player
- First-team All-Pac-10 (2001)
As coach
| statlabel1 = Receptions
| statvalue1 = 123
| statlabel2 = Receiving yards
| statvalue2 = 1,003
| statlabel3 = Receiving average
| statvalue3 = 8.2
| statlabel4 = Receiving touchdowns
| statvalue4 = 12
| pfr = PeelJu00
}}
Justin Morris Peelle (born March 15, 1979) is an American former professional football tight end and coach who is the tight ends coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL).
After playing college football for Oregon, he was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the fourth round of the 2002 NFL draft. He played for the Chargers for four seasons from 2002 to 2005, the Miami Dolphins from 2006 to 2007, the Atlanta Falcons from 2008 to 2010, and the San Francisco 49ers in 2011. He became an assistant tight ends coach for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2013 before he was promoted to tight ends coach in 2015.
Early life
College career
Peelle started 28 of the 42 games in which he played during his four seasons at the University of Oregon (1998–2001). During that time he played alongside the former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Joey Harrington. He was an honorable mention all-conference pick as a junior when he registered 24 receptions for 388 yards and five scores. He was a first-team All-Pac-10 selection as a senior when he caught 34 passes for 491 yards and nine touchdowns. The same year, he was also a semifinalist for the Mackey Award, given to the nation's top tight end.
In his collegiate career, he totaled 63 receptions for 944 yards and 14 touchdowns. He was also an All-Pac-10 Academic choice all four years.
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
|height ft = 6
|height in = 4 3/8
|weight = 255
|dash = 4.75
|ten split = 1.70
|twenty split = 2.74
|shuttle = 4.29
|cone drill = 7.34
|vertical = 29
|bench = 21
|broad ft = 9
|broad in = 2
|arm span = 32 3/4
|hand span = 10
|note = Values are from the NFL Scouting Combine.{{cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/draft/2002/profiles/peelle_justin.htm|title=Justin Peelle prospect profile|publisher=NFL|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020803230516/http://www.nfl.com/draft/2002/profiles/peelle_justin.htm|archive-date=August 3, 2002}}{{Cite web |title=2002 NFL Draft Scout Justin Peelle College Football Profile |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=86850&DraftYear=2002 |access-date=August 21, 2023 |website=DraftScout.com}}
}}
=San Diego Chargers=
Peelle began his professional career in 2002, when he was a fourth-round selection (103rd overall) by the San Diego Chargers and their general manager John Butler in the 2002 NFL draft.{{Cite web |title=2002 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2002/draft.htm |access-date=2023-03-10 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} He played in 15 games his rookie season, including two starts. On the year, he caught three passes for 15 yards. Peelle was also fifth on the squad with seven tackles on special teams. His first NFL reception came on a two-yard pass from quarterback Drew Brees against the San Francisco 49ers on November 17.
Peelle started nine of the 15 games in which he appeared in 2003. He tallied a career-high 16 receptions for 133 yards on the season, and had one touchdown catch on the year. Peelle also contributed two tackles on special teams. He posted a career-high four catches, totaling 24 yards, against the Baltimore Ravens on September 21. His lone scoring catch of the year came on a seven-yard grab from Brees in the back of the end zone the following week at the Oakland Raiders, marking his first NFL touchdown reception. He was inactive for game at the Detroit Lions on December 7 with a concussion sustained the previous week against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Peelle started four of 16 contests in which he appeared in 2004. He totaled 10 receptions for 84 yards and a pair of scores on the season and recorded four stops on special teams. His first reception of season came on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Brees in 38–17 win over the Tennessee Titans on October 3. Peelle tallied his longest scoring reception of his NFL career in a 42–14 victory over the Raiders on October 31 with a 17-yard grab from Brees. Peelle had three receptions for a career-best 34 yards in first-round playoff game against the New York Jets on January 8, 2005.
Peelle played in all 16 games in 2005, including four starts in what would be his final season with the Chargers. He caught 11 passes for 38 yards and a touchdown on the year while collecting two special teams tackles. He had his most productive day of season at the Raiders on October 16 when he caught three passes for 20 yards, including a four-yard touchdown reception from running back LaDainian Tomlinson in the Chargers’ 27–14 victory.
=Miami Dolphins=
File:Turner and Peelle.png (left)]]
The Miami Dolphins signed Peelle as an unrestricted free agent on March 20, 2006. Peelle signed a three-year deal with the team which included base salaries of $600,000 (2006), $1.2 million (2007), and $1.3 million (2008).
Peelle appeared in 15 games for the Dolphins in 2006, including a career-high ten starts. This was due to the team's increased use of two-tight end sets, which created more time for Peelle and less for fullback Darian Barnes. He finished with 16 catches for 116 yards and one touchdown on the season, marking the fourth consecutive season he had at least one touchdown catch. He was inactive once (on October 15 at the New York Jets) with a knee injury, allowing tight end Jason Rader to make the first start of his career. On November 19 against the Minnesota Vikings, Peelle had three catches for 21 yards and one touchdown, coming on an 11-yard pass from former Oregon teammate Joey Harrington. It was his first touchdown catch as a member of the Dolphins.
On August 30, 2008, Peelle was released by the Dolphins during final cuts.
=Atlanta Falcons=
Peelle was signed by the Atlanta Falcons on September 1, 2008. The team released tight end Jason Rader to make room for Peelle on the roster. Peelle was named the starting tight end after Ben Hartsock was placed on injured reserve. Peelle has made a great impact on the Falcons as a great receiving tight end. He helped the Falcons clinch a playoff berth for the first time since 2004. The Falcons re-signed him on February 26, 2009.
On August 18, 2011, he was released with an injury settlement.
=San Francisco 49ers=
The San Francisco 49ers signed Peelle on September 13, 2011. During the 2011 season, he typically played in multiple-tight-end sets backing up Vernon Davis. On November 20, 2011, against the Arizona Cardinals, after injuries to other players, Peelle also played fullback.
=Pittsburgh Steelers=
The Pittsburgh Steelers signed Peelle on August 13, 2012, but he was released during final roster cuts on August 27, 2012.{{cite news |title=McFadden, Peelle among Steelers' cuts to 75 |url=https://www.mcall.com/2012/08/27/mcfadden-peelle-among-steelers-cuts-to-75/ |publisher=mcall.com |date=August 27, 2012 |access-date=January 26, 2015}}
NFL career statistics
| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! colspan="2"| Legend |
| Bold
| Career high |
= Regular season =
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | ||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Year
!rowspan="2"| Team !colspan="2"| Games !colspan="6"| Receiving | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Tgt | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | |
| 2002 | SDG
| 15 || 2 || 7 || 3 || 15 || 5.0 || 10 || 0 | |||||||
| 2003 | SDG
| 15 || 9 || 25 || 16 || 133 || 8.3 || 24 || 1 | |||||||
| 2004 | SDG
| 16 || 4 || 20 || 10 || 84 || 8.4 || 17 || 2 | |||||||
| 2005 | SDG
| 16 || 4 || 20 || 11 || 38 || 3.5 || 11 || 1 | |||||||
| 2006 | MIA
| 15 || 10 || 18 || 16 || 116 || 7.3 || 25 || 1 | |||||||
| 2007 | MIA
| 16 || 10 || 47 || 29 || 228 || 7.9 || 35 || 2 | |||||||
| 2008 | ATL
| 16 || 11 || 23 || 15 || 159 || 10.6 || 18 || 2 | |||||||
| 2009 | ATL
| 15 || 8 || 15 || 12 || 115 || 9.6 || 32 || 2 | |||||||
| 2010 | ATL
| 13 || 8 || 15 || 10 || 96 || 9.6 || 15 || 1 | |||||||
| 2011 | SFO
| 14 || 2 || 4 || 1 || 19 || 19.0 || 19 || 0 | |||||||
| colspan="2"| | 151 | 68 | 194 | 123 | 1,003 | 8.2 | 35 | 12 |
= Playoffs =
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | ||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Year
!rowspan="2"| Team !colspan="2"| Games !colspan="6"| Receiving | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Tgt | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | |
| 2004 | SDG
| 1 || 1 || 4 || 3 || 34 || 11.3 || 20 || 0 | |||||||
| 2008 | ATL
| 1 || 1 || 3 || 3 || 11 || 3.7 || 6 || 1 | |||||||
| 2010 | ATL
| 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||
| 2011 | SFO
| 2 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 4 || 4.0 || 4 || 0 | |||||||
| colspan="2"| | 5 | 3 | 8 | 7 | 49 | 7.0 | 20 | 1 |
Coaching career
On February 8, 2013, Peelle was hired by new coach Chip Kelly to serve as the Philadelphia Eagles' assistant tight ends coach.{{cite news|last=Frank|first=Martin|title=Kelly completes his coaching staff|url=http://www.courierpostonline.com/article/20130209/SPORTS02/302090039/Kelly-completes-his-coaching-staff|access-date=February 10, 2013|newspaper=Courier-Post|date=February 8, 2013|location=South Jersey}} On January 26, 2015, he was promoted to tight ends coach.{{cite news |author=Wilkening, Mike |title=Eagles hire Cory Undlin as DBs coach, tab Justin Peelle as TEs coach |url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/01/19/eagles-hire-cory-undlin-as-dbs-coach-tab-justin-peelle-as-tes-coach/ |publisher=profootballtalk.com |date=January 19, 2015 |access-date=January 26, 2015}} He was retained under new head coach Doug Pederson as tight ends coach on January 20, 2016.{{cite news |author=Berman, Zach |title=Eagles retain seven coaches, add seven new ones |url=http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/eagles/20160121_Eagles_retain_seven_coaches__add_seven_new_ones.html |newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=January 21, 2016 |access-date=January 20, 2016}} Peelle won his first Super Bowl ring when the Eagles defeated the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII 41–33.{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl LII - Philadelphia Eagles vs. New England Patriots - February 4th, 2018 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201802040nwe.htm |access-date=2023-02-20 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
On March 20, 2024, he was named tight ends coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.{{cite news |title=Justin Peelle Added to Bucs' Staff to Tutor Tight Ends |url=https://www.buccaneers.com/news/justin-peelle-hired-bucs-staff-tight-ends-2024 |date=March 20, 2024}}
Personal life
Justin has a wife named Sara and a son named Morris David. He graduated from the University of Oregon with a degree in political science.
Peelle maintained his offseason in San Diego during his playing career.{{cite web|url=http://blog.sfgate.com/49ers/2012/01/11/49ers-connection-to-drew-brees-and-darren-sproles/|title=49ers connection to Drew Brees and Darren Sproles|publisher=SFGate.com|date=January 11, 2012|access-date=January 11, 2012}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.steelers.com/team/roster/justin-peelle/a6c642fc-b068-4941-96e0-431809a6b2ce/ Pittsburgh Steelers bio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818202123/http://www.steelers.com/team/roster/justin-peelle/a6c642fc-b068-4941-96e0-431809a6b2ce/ |date=August 18, 2012 }}
- {{commonscatinline}}
{{NFL tight ends coach navbox}}
{{San Diego Chargers 2002 draft navbox}}
{{Super Bowl LII}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Peelle, Justin}}
Category:Players of American football from Fresno, California
Category:American football tight ends
Category:Oregon Ducks football players
Category:San Diego Chargers players
Category:Miami Dolphins players
Category:Atlanta Falcons players
Category:San Francisco 49ers players
Category:Philadelphia Eagles coaches
Category:Pittsburgh Steelers players
Category:People from Dublin, California
Category:Atlanta Falcons coaches
Category:Dublin High School (California) alumni
Category:Players of American football from Alameda County, California