Robert Gallery

{{Short description|American football player (born 1980)}}

{{Use American English|date=April 2024}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Robert Gallery

| image = Robert Gallery.JPG

| alt =

| caption = Gallery with the Oakland Raiders in 2010

| number = 76, 72

| position = Guard

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1980|7|26|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Manchester, Iowa, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 7

| weight_lbs = 325

| high_school = Winthrop (IA) East Buchanan

| college = Iowa (1999–2003)

| draftyear = 2004

| draftround = 1

| draftpick = 2

| pastteams = * Oakland Raiders ({{NFL Year|2004}}–{{NFL Year|2010}})

| highlights = * PFWA All-Rookie Team (2004)

| statlabel1 = Games played

| statvalue1 = 104

| statlabel2 = Games started

| statvalue2 = 103

| statlabel3 = Fumble recoveries

| statvalue3 = 4

| pfr = GallRo20

| CollegeHOF = 2506

}}

Robert J. Gallery (born July 26, 1980) is an American former professional football player who was an offensive guard for eight seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Iowa and received unanimous All-American recognition. He was selected with the second overall pick by the Oakland Raiders in the 2004 NFL draft. He also played for the Seattle Seahawks.

Early life

Gallery was born in Manchester, Iowa. He attended East Buchanan High School in Winthrop, Iowa and starred in football, basketball and track. In football, he played tight end and linebacker and also handled punting and kickoff duties. He was an all-conference honorable mention selection as a sophomore before being named first-team all-conference as a junior and senior. Gallery helped his high-school team to a three-year record of 24–8, including a 19–2 record in district play. He was a Des Moines Register Class 1A first-team all-state selection as a senior. In addition to his athletic accomplishments, Gallery earned the rank of Eagle Scout.

College career

Gallery attended the University of Iowa and played for the Hawkeyes football team from 1999 to 2003. His older brother Nick had been an All-Big Ten punter for the Hawkeyes, and his younger brother John later became a punter for the team. After redshirting in 1999, Gallery had three catches for 52 yards as a starting tight end as a freshman before moving to the tackle position. He started six games at the right tackle position as a freshman.

As a sophomore, Gallery started every game at left tackle and made vast improvements throughout the year. He helped Iowa lead the Big Ten Conference in scoring in 2001 as Iowa qualified for its first bowl game in four years. As a junior in 2002, Gallery started all 13 games at left tackle and was a first-team All-Big Ten selection. He helped lead Iowa to its first Big Ten title in 12 years and its first undefeated conference season in 80 years. He also won the team's Hustle Award.

In 2003, Gallery led Iowa to another 10-win season and was voted as Iowa's co-captain and co-MVP for the season. He was a first-team All-Big Ten selection for the second straight year and named the Big Ten offensive lineman of the year. He was recognized as a unanimous first-team All-American as a senior in 2003. He was awarded the 2003 Outland Trophy, making him the third lineman from Iowa to win the award (along with Alex Karras and Cal Jones). He was also a three-time academic All-Big Ten selection at Iowa.

Gallery graduated with a bachelor's degree in education. As part of his pre-professional training, he taught at two local elementary schools.

On January 9, 2023, the College Football Hall of Fame selected Gallery for induction into the 2023 Class.{{cite web | url=https://footballfoundation.org/news/2023/1/9/general-nff-announces-star-studded-2023-college-football-hall-of-fame-class.aspx | title=NFF Announces Star-Studded 2023 College Football Hall of Fame Class }}

Professional career

{{nfl predraft

| height ft = 6

| height in = 7 1/8

| weight = 323

| dash = 4.98

| ten split = 1.70

| twenty split = 2.92

| shuttle = 4.39

| cone drill = 7.43

| vertical = 30.0

| broad ft = 8

| broad in = 9

| bench = 24

| wonderlic =

| arm span = 32 1/4

| hand span = 9 1/4

| note = All values from NFL Combine{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=58760&DraftYear=2004 |title=Robert Gallery, Iowa, OT, 2004 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football |website=draftscout.com |access-date=January 24, 2011}}

}}

=Oakland Raiders=

Gallery was selected with the second overall pick in the 2004 NFL draft by the Oakland Raiders.{{Cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2004/draft.htm |title=2004 NFL Draft Listing |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en |access-date=2023-05-06}} He was regarded as "the best lineman to come out of college in years",{{Citation |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1031881/index.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091201195045/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1031881/index.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 1, 2009 |title=In A League Of His Own |date=April 26, 2004 |last=King |first=Peter |magazine=Sports Illustrated }} with a perfect 9.0 prospect rating, the highest for any offensive lineman.{{cite web|url=http://www.raiders.com/team/teamRosterDetails.jsp?id=11658|publisher=The Official Site of the Oakland Raiders|title=Robert Gallery|access-date=September 3, 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060819010422/http://www.raiders.com/team/teamRosterDetails.jsp?id=11658 |archive-date = August 19, 2006}}

In 2004, Gallery started 15 games at right tackle and surrendered three sacks. In 2005, he started all 16 games at right tackle and allowed 3.5 sacks. The Raiders moved him to left tackle at the beginning of the 2006 preseason. In the Raiders' first game of the 2006 regular season, Gallery was part of an offensive line that surrendered nine sacks (at least three of which were charged to him) to the San Diego Chargers. He played in 13 games during the season and allowed 10.5 sacks, placing him fourth in the league despite missing three games. In 2007, Oakland moved Gallery to left guard.

Although Gallery had generally been considered a bust at the left tackle position for which he was selected and had limited success at the right tackle position, his performance improved as a left guard.{{cite web|url=http://boston.cbslocal.com/2012/03/19/report-patriots-sign-ol-robert-gallery/|publisher=WBZ website|title=Report: Patriots Sign OL Robert Gallery|date=March 19, 2012|access-date=April 4, 2014}}

=Seattle Seahawks=

On July 27, 2011, Gallery agreed to join the Seattle Seahawks on a three-year deal{{Cite web|url=http://blog.seattlepi.com/football/2011/07/27/reports-robert-gallery-will-sign-with-seahawks/|title = Home}} worth a reported $15 million.{{Cite web|url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/03/14/seahawks-cut-cord-on-guard-robert-gallery/|title = Seahawks cut cord on guard Robert Gallery|date = March 15, 2012}} He was released after one season.{{Cite web|url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/03/14/seahawks-cut-cord-on-guard-robert-gallery/|title = Seahawks cut cord on guard Robert Gallery|date = March 15, 2012}}

=New England Patriots=

On March 19, 2012, Gallery signed with the New England Patriots on a one-year deal.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/boston/nfl/story/_/id/8234599/robert-gallery-former-no-2-overall-pick-retires/|title=Former No. 2 pick Gallery, 32, retires with Pats|date=August 4, 2012}} Gallery announced his retirement from professional football on August 4, 2012.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/boston/nfl/story/_/id/8234599/robert-gallery-former-no-2-overall-pick-retires/|title=Former No. 2 pick Gallery, 32, retires with Pats|date=August 4, 2012}}

References

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