Jeremy Staat

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Jeremy Staat
No. 92, 94, 95
Position:
Offensive lineman
Personal information
Born: (1976-10-10) October 10, 1976 (age 47)
Bakersfield, California, U.S.
Height:6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Weight:300 lb (136 kg)
Career information
High school:Bakersfield (CA)
College:Arizona State
NFL draft:1998 / Round: 2 / Pick: 41
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Tackles:20
Player stats at NFL.com

Jeremy Ray Staat (born October 10, 1976) is a former

offensive lineman who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1998 through 2000 and the St. Louis Rams for two games in 2003. He also played for the Los Angeles Avengers of the Arena Football League (AFL). After his football career, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and was deployed to Iraq
. On September 17, 2019, Staat, a registered Republican, announced his candidacy for Congress in California's 8th District.

Football career

Staat was a two-sport star in

University of Nebraska as a walk on, he was offered a full ride scholarship to Arizona State University as a defensive lineman.[citation needed
]

At ASU, Staat became friends with

Pac-10 Conference in 1997 and was named a FWAA First-team All-American.[1]

In the

September 11, 2001 attacks. However, Tillman, who had quit a lucrative career with the Arizona Cardinals to become a U.S. Army Ranger after the attacks, talked Staat into staying in the league for at least three more games to earn his NFL retirement benefits.[1][2]

In 2002, he signed with the

Arena Football League. During the season, he learned Tillman had been killed in action in Afghanistan, in what was later revealed to be a "friendly fire
" incident. The loss of his friend further reduced his interest in football. He would throw his helmet during the middle of practice and storm off the field, leaving the Avengers and professional football forever.

Post-football career

Immediately after football, one of Staat's friends got him a job working at a Walgreens drug store. Staat, like Tillman's family, was dismayed by the United States Army's handling of the story surrounding Tillman's death; himself noting that "The fog around his death was thickened by lies."[1] However, after spending time deciding on his own future, he opted to follow his deceased friend and teammate's example and join the military; but instead of the Army, he joined the United States Marine Corps.[1][3]

Staat joined the Marine Corps in 2006.[4] In March 2007, Lance Corporal Staat deployed with

1st Battalion 3rd Marines for a seven-month mission in Iraq.[5] He was an infantry machine gunner and drove around in seven-ton armored trucks used to transport soldiers.[1]

Staat's Iraq tour was fairly quiet, his unit suffered two injuries and no one was killed in action. His opinions changed: "It wasn't a blood fest, like some people make it out to be. It was pretty controlled. We had a pretty good sense of security. My eyes were opened up. They [the Iraqis] were just people. I expected to see guys running around with AK-47s, shouting about Allah and shooting into the sky."[1] After returning from his tour, he started to have back, hip and heart problems. He was put on light duty and began the process of seeking a medical discharge.[1]

Following his military career, Staat opted to return and finish his degree. He graduated from Arizona State University in 2009 with a master's degree, and returned to his hometown of Bakersfield, where he teaches welding at Bakersfield College.[1]

In 2019, Staat announced that he would be running for Congress in the 2020 Election on the Republican Party ticket for California's 8th congressional district. He lost in the March primary to Jay Obernolte.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Ted Miller, From ASU to the NFL to Iraq, Staat finally graduates, ESPN.com, May 14, 2009, Accessed May 14, 2009.
  2. ^ "1998 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  1. ^ "NFL Draft - Jeremy Staat - April 13, 1998". Sports Illustrated-CNN. Retrieved 2006-03-17.
  2. ^ NFL.com wire reports (March 23, 2007). "Tillman's college roommate deployed to Iraq". NFL.com. Archived from the original on 2007-03-29. Retrieved 2007-03-23.
  3. ^ Staat, Tillman's ASU teammate, joins Marines retrieved March 17, 2006
  4. ^ "Former Tillman teammate headed to Iraq". Fox Sports. Associated Press. March 21, 2006. Archived from the original on March 28, 2007. Retrieved 2007-03-21.

External links

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