Jermaine Gresham
No. 84 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Position: | Tight end | ||||
Personal information | |||||
Born: | Ardmore, Oklahoma, U.S. | June 16, 1988||||
Height: | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | ||||
Weight: | 260 lb (118 kg) | ||||
Career information | |||||
High school: | Ardmore | ||||
College: | Oklahoma (2006–2009) | ||||
NFL draft: | 2010 / Round: 1 / Pick: 21 | ||||
Career history | |||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||
Career NFL statistics | |||||
| |||||
Player stats at NFL.com |
Jermaine Gresham (born June 16, 1988) is an American former professional football player who was a tight end in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Oklahoma Sooners, earning first-team All-American honors in 2008. He was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the first round of the 2010 NFL draft.
High school career
Football
Gresham was a high school standout at wide receiver from Ardmore High School in Ardmore, Oklahoma.
During his sophomore year Gresham helped the Tigers go 10–2, and had the game clinching 29-yard
His senior year, he had 70 catches for 1,175 yards and 24 touchdowns and was named to the Parade All-American team.[6] Helped the Tigers go 12–0 before losing in the 5A state semifinals to Bixby. In the quarter-final win over Coweta, he tore the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee.[7]
Gresham had 148 career catches and was ranked as the No. 34 overall prospect in 2005 by rivals.com.[8]
Basketball
Gresham was also an outstanding basketball player before giving it up after the ACL knee injury, and to pursue his career in football as an Oklahoma Sooner.
Gresham started on the Ardmore basketball team as a 6′4″ freshman
The Ardmore Tigers returned to the Class 5A boys basketball final game for 2004, but lost to the
As a junior, Gresham helped lead his team to the 2005 Class 5A state tournament semifinals with a 17.3 PPG season average, losing to
Gresham did not play his final year; at the end of the football season (after tearing his ACL in the next to last game against Coweta, but playing hurt in the final game against Bixby), and start of the basketball season, he underwent surgery December 9, 2005, that ended his senior basketball season.[7]
College career
As the top rated tight end and the number 34 overall prospect by
Gresham really liked the tradition of tight ends at Miami (
Gresham has been called "the most dynamic tight end at Oklahoma since Keith Jackson."[31]
College statistics
Oklahoma Sooners | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | Receiving | |||||||||
Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | ||||||
2006 | 8 | 161 | 20.1 | 41 | 1 | |||||
2007 | 37 | 518 | 14.0 | 43 | 11 | |||||
2008 | 66 | 950 | 14.4 | 73 | 14 | |||||
Career | 111 | 1,629 | 14.7 | 73 | 26 |
Professional career
2010 NFL Draft
Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle |
Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 ft 5+1⁄4 in (1.96 m) |
261 lb (118 kg) |
34+3⁄4 in (0.88 m) |
9+5⁄8 in (0.24 m) |
4.66 s | 1.58 s | 2.69 s | 4.53 s | 7.07 s | 35 in (0.89 m) |
9 ft 5 in (2.87 m) |
20 reps | |
All values from the NFL Combine[32]
|
The Cincinnati Bengals drafted Gresham in the first round with the 21st overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft.[33] Gresham was still drafted in the first round despite missing all of his last college season with a knee injury. He signed a five-year, $15.85 million deal - with $9.6 million guaranteed - on August 3, 2010.[34]
Cincinnati Bengals
Gresham was the Bengals starting tight end for the first 15 games of his rookie season, and finished with 52 receptions for 471 yards and four touchdowns. His 52 receptions set a franchise record for catches by a rookie tight end, and ranked him third on the team (tied with Jordan Shipley).
Gresham missed two games of his second season with injuries, but still made an improvement in every statistical category, catching 56 passes for 596 yards and six touchdowns. His 56 receptions and six touchdown catches ranked second on the team, while his 596 yards ranked third. The season resulted in Gresham being named to his first Pro Bowl, replacing the Super Bowl-bound Rob Gronkowski and first alternate Aaron Hernandez.
In his third season, Gresham continued to improve, catching 64 passes for 737 yards and 5 touchdowns, ranking him second on the team in each category.
Gresham was named to his second consecutive Pro Bowl and joins Mike Ditka and fellow Sooner Keith Jackson as the only tight ends in NFL history to have over 50 receptions in the first three years of their career.
Gresham's production was reduced in 2013 as he found himself sharing the starting spot with rookie tight end Tyler Eifert, but he still had a solid year, catching 46 passes for 461 yards and 4 touchdowns in 15 games.
Arizona Cardinals
On July 24, 2015, Gresham agreed on a one-year deal with the Arizona Cardinals, reuniting with former Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer.[35] In a limited role in his first season with the Cardinals, Gresham recorded 18 receptions for 223 yards and one touchdown.[36]
On March 13, 2016, Gresham turned down four-year offers from both the New York Jets and Chicago Bears to stay with the Cardinals on a one-year deal.[37]
On March 7, 2017, Gresham signed a four-year contract extension with the Cardinals.[38][39]
In 2018, Gresham played in 13 games with 11 starts, recording a career-low nine receptions for 94 yards and no touchdowns.
On March 11, 2019, Gresham was released by the Cardinals.[40]
NFL career statistics
Year | Team | Games | Receiving | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | ||
2010 | CIN | 15 | 10 | 52 | 471 | 9.1 | 27 | 4 |
2011 | CIN | 14 | 13 | 56 | 596 | 10.6 | 31 | 6 |
2012 | CIN | 16 | 15 | 64 | 737 | 11.5 | 55 | 5 |
2013 | CIN | 14 | 14 | 46 | 458 | 9.9 | 30 | 4 |
2014 | CIN | 15 | 15 | 62 | 460 | 7.4 | 23 | 5 |
2015 | ARI | 15 | 12 | 18 | 223 | 12.4 | 22 | 1 |
2016 | ARI | 16 | 14 | 37 | 391 | 10.6 | 34 | 2 |
2017 | ARI | 14 | 14 | 33 | 322 | 9.8 | 21 | 2 |
2018 | ARI | 13 | 11 | 9 | 94 | 10.4 | 26 | 0 |
Career | 132 | 118 | 377 | 3,752 | 10.0 | 55 | 29 |
Random acts of kindness
Gresham has appeared in the news and in social media several times for his random acts of kindness. For example, in May 2018, he paid $50 to assist Delilah Cassidy, a law student at Arizona State University, with a baggage fee, so that she did not miss her flight.[41][42][43]
References
- ^ Ward, Josh (September 6, 2003), "Backup QB lifts Ardmore", Daily Oklahoman
- ^ Ojeda, Francisco (October 11, 2003), "McAdoo, Roberts lead Ardmore attack", Daily Oklahoman
- ^ "Game Snapshot - Shawnee 23 - Ardmore 16", Daily Oklahoman, November 30, 2003
- ^ "Class 5A district previews", Daily Oklahoman, August 29, 2004
- ^ Gilman, Andrew (December 9, 2003), "Time to hand out awards", Daily Oklahoman
- ^ Ojeda, Francisco (December 29, 2005), "Prep pair earns Parade honors", Daily Oklahoman
- ^ a b Ojeda, Francisco (December 13, 2005), "Out of action Ardmore 's Gresham tears ACL", Daily Oklahoman
- ^ a b "Football All-State 2005: First Team Offense", Tulsa World, December 25, 2005
- ^ Strain, Mike (March 13, 2003), "Class 5A Boys - Finals at Lloyd Noble Center", Daily Oklahoman
- ^ Carlson, Jenni (March 16, 2003), "John Marshall tandem deserves golden moment", Daily Oklahoman
- ^ Strain, Mike (March 15, 2003), "Bears beat No. 1 Southeast - Giddens looks forward to final with Ardmore", Daily Oklahoman
- ^ Doyle, Matt (March 11, 2004), "5A/6A Boys: Trust: A two-way street", Tulsa World
- ^ Gilman, Andrew (March 14, 2004), "High School Basketball State Championship Saturday - Southeast rallies for 5A title", Daily Oklahoman
- ^ Doyle, Matt (March 14, 2004), "5A Boys: Spartans take gold", Tulsa World
- ^ Gilman, Andrew (March 15, 2004), "All-Tournament Teams", Daily Oklahoman
- ^ Gilman, Andrew (March 15, 2004), "Putnam City has best fans; Stewart steps up for Union", Daily Oklahoman
- ^ "Risinger, Bush make all conference team", Altus Times, March 26, 2004
- ^ Seeley, David (March 13, 2005), "Tulsa Washington ends Ardmore boys' season", Daily Ardmoreite
- ^ "Boys All-Tournament", Tulsa World, March 14, 2005
- ^ Moguin, Mike (March 16, 2005), "Basketball season over, but had strong finishes", Daily Ardmoreite
- ^ "All-State boys second team", Tulsa World, April 10, 2005
- ^ "Boys All-State Roster", Daily Oklahoman, April 10, 2005
- ^ Seeley, David (April 14, 2005), "Ardmore boys center SC Player of the Year", Daily Ardmoreite
- ^ Gilman, Andrew; Chatmon, Brandon (June 9, 2005), "The Buzz", Daily Oklahoman
- ^ "College Recruiting", Daily Oklahoman, June 26, 2005
- ^ Carlson, Jenni (December 27, 2007), "Growing up Ardmore - How one town became the perfect home for Jermaine Gresham", The Oklahoman
- ^ Hoover, John E. (January 8, 2006), "Sooners among Gresham's final four", Tulsa World
- ^ Glenn, Mark (January 29, 2006), "Spotlighting Sports", Altus Times
- ^ Wright, Scott (September 6, 2007), "OU vs. Miami: Tight end Jermaine Gresham decided to play for Sooners - Family key to Gresham choosing OU", The Oklahoman
- ^ Hoover, John E. (February 2, 2006), "Signed & delivered", Tulsa World
- ^ Cooney, Frank (May 11, 2009). "Who's next? Looking ahead to the best of the 2010 draft class". USA Today.
- ^ Jermaine Gresham Combine Profile at NFL.com, retrieved April 26, 2010
- ^ "2010 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
- ^ Bengals, Jermaine Gresham ink deal
- ^ "Cardinals sign free-agent tight end Jermaine Gresham". USA TODAY. July 24, 2015. Retrieved July 25, 2015.
- ^ "NFL #84 Jermaine Gresham - ESPN". ESPN. Retrieved July 17, 2017.
- ^ "Source: TE Gresham to re-sign with Cardinals". ESPN.com. March 13, 2016. Retrieved March 14, 2016.
- ^ Urban, Darren (March 7, 2017). "Cardinals Keep Jermaine Gresham". AZCardinals.com. Archived from the original on November 3, 2017.
- ^ Patra, Kevin (March 7, 2017). "Cards agree to four-year deal with Jermaine Gresham". NFL.com.
- ^ "Cardinals will reportedly release TE Jermaine Gresham". ArizonaSports.com. March 11, 2019.
- ^ "The story behind Jermaine Gresham's random acts of kindness". ESPN. July 21, 2018. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
- ^ "End run: Cardinals' Jermaine Gresham pays American Airlines' passenger's bag fee". azcentral.com. June 5, 2018. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
- ^ "Woman tweets about man's act of kindness, turns out he was NFL player Jermaine Gresham". CBS NEWS. June 5, 2018. Retrieved August 7, 2022.