Eric Bjornson
San Francisco, California, U.S. | |||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||||
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| Weight: | 237 lb (108 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Oakland (CA) Bishop O'Dowd | ||||||||
| College: | Washington | ||||||||
| NFL draft: | 1995 / Round: 4 / Pick: 110 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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| Player stats at NFL.com · PFR | |||||||||
Eric Thomas Bjornson (born December 15, 1971) is a former
Early years
Bjornson attended Bishop O'Dowd High School, where he became a three-year starter at quarterback. As a sophomore, he had a game where he threw for 5 touchdowns.
As a senior, he helped his team earn a 10–1 record and the East Shore Athletic League championship. He received scholar-athlete awards from the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame and the Oakland Tribune. He finished his career with 583 completions for 4,074 yards and 36 touchdowns.
College career
Bjornson accepted a football scholarship to the University of Washington. As a redshirt freshman in 1991, he was the third-string quarterback behind Billy Joe Hobert and Mark Brunell, on the national championship team. He was converted into a wide receiver as a sophomore, making 14 receptions for 170 yards and 2 touchdowns. As a junior, he returned to quarterback, as the backup to Damon Huard, getting a chance to start the final 3 games of the 1993 season, registering a 2–1 record.
As a senior, he was moved back to wide receiver, leading the team with 49 receptions (at the time fifth highest total in school history), for 770 yards and 7 touchdowns.
Professional career
Dallas Cowboys
Bjornson was selected by the
He became a starter in 1996, after Pro Bowler Jay Novacek suffered a back injury, that eventually forced him to retire. He would go on to start 10 games and had career-highs with 48 receptions (second on the team) and 3 touchdowns, despite playing through two sprained ankles that limited his playing time over the final four games of the regular season and the playoffs.[4]
In
In 1998, he was re-signed by the Cowboys to a two-year contract. That year, he played in all 16 games mainly as a backup (four starts) to LaFleur and although he was used some times as the slot receiver in four-wide receiver sets, his production decreased when he wasn't the starter.
In
Bjornson had 127 receptions for 1,232 yards (9.7 avg.) and six touchdowns during his five seasons with the Cowboys.
New England Patriots
On February 29, 2000, he signed as a free agent with the New England Patriots, but was released on November 15.[5] He appeared in 8 games (6 starts), collecting 20 receptions for 152 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Oakland Raiders
On March 1, 2001, he signed as a free agent with the Oakland Raiders. He was released before the season started on August 28.[6]
References
- ^ "This Personnel Switch Well Received : Huskies: Bjornson goes from passing to catching, giving Huard a target who can sense trouble". Los Angeles Times. October 2, 1994. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
- ^ "1995 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
- ^ "Rookie shining at tight end". Retrieved May 4, 2023.
- ^ "Cowboys sign tight end Mitchell, who ends retirement". Retrieved May 4, 2023.
- ^ "Transactions". The New York Times. November 16, 2000. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
- ^ "Transactions". The New York Times. August 29, 2001. Retrieved May 4, 2023.