Wikipedia

Gary Brackett

Gary Lawrence Brackett(born May 23, 1980) is a formerAmerican footballlinebackerin theNational Football League(NFL). He playedcollege footballatRutgers,and signed with theIndianapolis Coltsas anundrafted free agentin 2003. Brackett played for the Colts for his entire 9-year career, and wonSuper Bowl XLIover theChicago Bears.

Gary Brackett
refer to caption
Brackett in 2007
No. 58
Position:Linebacker
Personal information
Born:(1980-05-23)May 23, 1980(age 44)
Glassboro, New Jersey,U.S.
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:235 lb (107 kg)
Career information
High school:Glassboro
College:Rutgers
Undrafted:2003
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles:712
Sacks:4.0
Forced fumbles:5
Fumble recoveries:3
Pass deflections:29
Interceptions:12
Defensive touchdowns:1
StatsatPro Football Reference

Early life

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Brackett attendedGlassboro High SchoolinGlassboro, New Jersey.He was a two-time All-South Jersey selection, a two-time All-Group I choice, and a two-time All-Tri-County Conferencechoice.

College career

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Brackett was a walk-on to theRutgers Universityfootball team.[1]By his senior year, he was captain of the defensive team and won the team's defensiveMVPhonors.

Professional career

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On April 27, 2003, theIndianapolis Coltssigned Brackett as anundrafted free agentafter he was not selected in the2003 NFL draft.[2]

Brackett competed for a roster spot as a backup linebacker and special teams player during training camp in 2003. He impressed the coaching staff with his ability covering kickoffs.[3]He made his professional regular season debut during the Indianapolis Colts' season-opener at theCleveland Browns.He finished their 9–6 win with one solo tackle. On October 26, 2003, Brackett collected a season-high six combined tackles (five solo) during a 30–21 victory against theHouston Texansin Week 8. In Week 12, Brackett made three solo tackles and made his first career sack as the Colts defeated theBuffalo Bills17–14. He sacked Bills' quarterbackDrew Bledsoefor a nine-yard loss during the second quarter.[4]

That year, he had 127 tackles, threeinterceptionsand a sack. In 2006, he was named defensive captain of the Colts and had 120 tackles.[1]He started for the Colts in theirSuper Bowl XLIwin over theChicago Bears.In 2007 Brackett recorded 116 tackles and four interceptions. He recorded 99 tackles in both 2008 and 2009. He started for the Colts in theirSuper Bowl XLIVloss to theNew Orleans Saints.He was released following the 2011 season on March 9, 2012. And after the Colts released Brackett, he quickly announced his retirement from the NFL.

During his career, Brackett was twice named AFC Defensive Player-of-the-Week.[1]

NFL career statistics

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Legend
Led the league
Bold Career high

Regular season

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Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GP GS Cmb Solo Ast Sck TFL Int Yds TD Lng PD FF FR Yds TD
2003 IND 16 0 31 27 4 1.0 3 1 31 1 31 1 0 0 0 0
2004 IND 15 1 37 25 12 0.0 1 2 2 0 2 3 0 0 0 0
2005 IND 16 16 127 92 35 1.0 0 3 50 0 31 6 0 0 0 0
2006 IND 14 14 122 87 35 0.0 4 0 0 0 0 2 3 0 0 0
2007 IND 16 16 116 86 30 0.5 2 4 128 0 49 7 1 1 0 1
2008 IND 12 12 100 71 29 0.0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 68 1
2009 IND 14 14 99 80 19 1.0 4 1 8 0 8 5 0 1 0 0
2010 IND 12 12 74 53 21 0.5 6 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0
2011 IND 1 1 6 5 1 0.0 0 1 27 0 27 1 0 0 0 0
116 86 712 526 186 4.0 21 12 246 1 49 29 5 3 68 2

Playoffs

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Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GP GS Cmb Solo Ast Sck TFL Int Yds TD Lng PD FF FR Yds TD
2003 IND 3 0 16 7 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2004 IND 2 1 16 13 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
2005 IND 1 1 10 8 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
2006 IND 4 4 23 17 6 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0
2007 IND 1 1 4 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2009 IND 3 3 18 14 4 1 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0
2010 IND 1 1 7 3 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
15 11 94 64 30 1 4 0 0 0 0 5 1 1 0 0

Life after the NFL

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Brackett earned aMaster of Business Administrationdegree after retirement and opened a series of restaurants in Indianapolis, including CharBlue downtown.[5][6]

Personal

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During a 17-month span, starting in 2003, Brackett lost his mother, father, and brother.[7]

In 2009 Brackett was the 11th annual recipient of the Arthur S. Arkush Humanitarian Award, presented to an NFL player "whose contributions to the community and charitable organizations are especially outstanding." He won the award for his work with the IMPACT Foundation, a charity he founded in the spring of 2007.

In 2011, Brackett publishedWinning: From Walk-On to Captain, In Football and Life,a memoir about his life, including his accomplishments and struggles with family, college, and the NFL.

Gary and his wife Ragan have three children: Gabrielle, Gary Jr., and, Georgia Reese

References

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  1. ^abcGary Brackett player profileArchived2016-03-04 at theWayback Machine,Indianapolis Colts.
  2. ^"Brackett signs free agent contract with Colts".scarletknights.April 27, 2003.RetrievedMay 1,2020.
  3. ^Fleming, David (November 7, 2005)."Quiet Riot".ESPN.RetrievedMay 1,2020.
  4. ^"Indianapolis Colts at Buffalo Bills - November 23rd, 2003".pro-football-reference.RetrievedMay 1,2020.
  5. ^Biro, Liz (September 2, 2014)."Georgia Reese's kicks off Gary Brackett's new career today".Indianapolis Star.RetrievedSeptember 2,2014.
  6. ^"About CharBlue".Archived fromthe originalon February 15, 2019.RetrievedFebruary 14,2019.
  7. ^Mosley, Matt (February 3, 2007)."Talking about his loss helps Brackett get through pain".espn.RetrievedApril 1,2017.
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