Roberto Garza
{{Short description|American football player (born 1979)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| image = Roberto Garza.jpg
| caption = Garza with the Chicago Bears in 2008
| current_team =
| number = 63
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1979|3|26|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Rio Hondo, Texas, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 2
| weight_lbs = 310
| high_school = Rio Hondo (TX)
| college = Texas A&M–Kingsville (1997–2000)
| draftyear = 2001
| draftround = 4
| draftpick = 99
| pastteams =
- Atlanta Falcons ({{NFL Year|2001}}–{{NFL Year|2004}})
- Chicago Bears ({{NFL Year|2005}}–{{NFL Year|2014}})
| status =
| highlights =
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 206
| statlabel2 = Games started
| statvalue2 = 176
| statlabel3 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue3 = 3
| pfr = GarzRo20
}}
Roberto Garza (born March 26, 1979) is an American former professional football center. He was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth round (99th overall) of the 2001 NFL draft, and in 2005, joined the Chicago Bears, spending ten seasons with the team. Despite being an offensive lineman, a position not typically glorified in football, Garza was a fan favorite among Hispanic Americans across the United States.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/garza-represents-growing-impact-of-nfl-on-hispanic-community-09000d5d80b4d376|title=Garza represents the growing impact of NFL on Hispanic community|website=NFL.com }}
Early life
Garza attended Rio Hondo High School in Rio Hondo, Texas and was a letterman in football and track and field. He was also a member of the school's National Honor Society.
College career
The son of Roberto Garza Sr., and Ofelia Garza from Mexico, Garza was encouraged to join the Marines after high school. A Marine recruiter interested in Garza ridiculed his desire to play professional football, allegedly stating that "Mexicans do not play in the NFL". Roberto was not discouraged. He kept on working. He ended up playing for the Texas A&M University-Kingsville Javelinas as a "walk-on". In addition to playing football, Roberto worked to pay for school. Garza's hometown of Rio Hondo, Texas established December 2 as "Roberto Garza, Jr. Day", and subsequently named a street after him. He is fluent in Spanish.
Professional career
Garza was originally selected by the Atlanta Falcons with the 99th overall pick of 2001 NFL draft from Texas A&M University-Kingsville.{{Cite web |title=2001 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2001/draft.htm |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} He played with the Falcons up until the 2004 season, when his contract expired. Garza signed a one-year contract with the Chicago Bears in 2005, after also visiting the Baltimore Ravens,{{Cite web|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/garza-represents-growing-impact-of-nfl-on-hispanic-community-09000d5d80b4d376|title=Garza represents growing impact of NFL on Hispanic community|website=NFL.com }} and he signed a six-year contract extension in 2006. In that season, the Bears reached a 39–14 victory over the New Orleans Saints, which allowed them to claim the NFC Championship and advance to Super Bowl XLI.{{cite web|title=GameCenter: Recap — Superbowl.com|work=Superbowl.com|url=http://www.superbowl.com/gamecenter/recap/NFL_20070121_NO@CHI|access-date=January 21, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070125134400/http://www.superbowl.com/gamecenter/recap/NFL_20070121_NO%40CHI|archive-date=January 25, 2007|url-status=dead}} However, they fell short of the championship, losing 29–17 to the Indianapolis Colts. Among the almost 1,700 National Football League players in the 2006 season, Garza was one of only 19 Hispanics.[http://www.latimes.com/sports/columnists/la-sp-plaschke4feb04,0,5449141,full.column Perfection punched senseless - Los Angeles Times] {{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Garza became a free agent after the 2013 season, but was re-signed to a one-year contract on February 27, 2014.{{cite web|last=Smith|first=Michael David|url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/02/27/bears-sign-roberto-garza-to-one-year-contract/|title=Bears sign Roberto Garza to one-year contract|publisher=Profootballtalk.com|date=February 27, 2014|access-date=February 27, 2014}}
On April 2, 2015, Garza was released by the Bears, ending a ten-year tenure.{{cite web|last=Mayer|first=Larry|url=http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1/Bears-release-Garza-sign-Montgomery/71ca7735-ebb7-4e92-8b1b-4971e13b9853|title=Bears release Garza, sign Montgomery|publisher=Chicago Bears|date=April 2, 2015|access-date=April 7, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150406235150/http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1/Bears-release-Garza-sign-Montgomery/71ca7735-ebb7-4e92-8b1b-4971e13b9853|archive-date=April 6, 2015|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}
In the media
Garza was chosen to be the cover athlete of the Spanish version of Madden 09 En Español.{{cite web|url=http://www.pastapadre.com/2871/random-topics-for-today-8 |title=Random Topics for Today |publisher=pastapadre.com |date=August 4, 2008 |access-date=August 4, 2012}}
In 2012, Garza, along with teammate and defensive end Henry Melton were named to the USA Today 2012 All-Joe Team.{{cite web |url=http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1/Garza-Melton-voted-to-USA-Todays-All-Joe-team/904FF782-DC4D-4F66-91D5-7FBA4BC7C860 |title=Garza, Melton land on "All-Joe" team |publisher=Chicago Bears |date=February 9, 2012 |access-date=October 16, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130403074841/http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1/Garza-Melton-voted-to-USA-Todays-All-Joe-team/904FF782-DC4D-4F66-91D5-7FBA4BC7C860 |archive-date=April 3, 2013 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}
Garza also served as sideline reporter for Fox Deportes' broadcast of Super Bowl XLVIII.{{cite web|last=Mayer|first=Larry|url=http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1/Garza-to-be-part-of-historic-broadcast/fa3495fa-bca4-4515-9ec8-64ec6f5ee9c3|title=Garza to be part of historic broadcast|publisher=Chicago Bears|date=February 1, 2014|access-date=February 1, 2014|archive-date=February 19, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219083311/http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1/Garza-to-be-part-of-historic-broadcast/fa3495fa-bca4-4515-9ec8-64ec6f5ee9c3|url-status=dead}} Garza later served as a commentator for ESPN Deportes' broadcast of Super Bowl 50.{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1/Gould-celebrates-his-brother%E2%80%99s-title-win/04e2efea-29d9-4fc3-b798-1c277533dcc8|title=Gould celebrates his brother's title win|publisher=Chicago Bears|date=February 8, 2016|access-date=February 9, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160209093707/http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1/Gould-celebrates-his-brother%E2%80%99s-title-win/04e2efea-29d9-4fc3-b798-1c277533dcc8|archive-date=February 9, 2016|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}
Garza was also featured in a Modelo Beer commercial alongside fellow former Hispanic football players Tony Gonzalez and Anthony Muñoz.
Charitable work
Garza is a supporter and member of the United Way, a group of charitable organizations dedicated to helping less fortunate children and the elderly. In 2006, Garza was named the Chicago Bears' nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. He has previously worked with the Empty Stocking Fund, the Atlanta Falcons' Feed The Homeless Campaign, and the Hall County Boys & Girls Club. He also supports Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago.
References
External links
{{footballstats|pfr=G/GarzRo20}}
- {{commonscatinline}}
{{Atlanta Falcons 2001 draft navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Garza, Roberto}}
Category:Atlanta Falcons players
Category:Chicago Bears players
Category:Texas A&M–Kingsville Javelinas football players
Category:American football offensive guards
Category:American football centers
Category:American sportspeople of Mexican descent
Category:Players of American football from Cameron County, Texas
Category:Hispanic and Latino American players of American football