Chris Rainey
No. 2, 3, 26, 22, 25 | |
Born: | Lakeland, Florida,U.S. | March 2, 1988
---|---|
Career information | |
CFL status | American |
Position(s) | Running back Kick returner |
Height | 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) |
Weight | 180 lb (82 kg) |
College | Florida |
High school | Lakeland(Lakeland, Florida) |
Career history | |
As player | |
2012 | Pittsburgh Steelers |
2013 | Indianapolis Colts |
2014 | Arizona Cardinals* |
2014 | Montreal Alouettes |
2015–2018 | BC Lions |
2019 | Toronto Argonauts |
2020–2021 | BC Lions |
*Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |
Career highlights and awards | |
| |
CFL All-Star | 2016 |
CFL West All-Star | 2016,2018 |
Career stats | |
Rushing yards | 1,038 |
Receiving yards | 1,293 |
Return yards | 10,413 |
Total touchdowns | 19 |
|
Christopher Rainey(born March 2, 1988) is an American former professionalfootballrunning backandkick returnerwho played in theNational Football League(NFL) andCanadian Football League(CFL). He playedcollege footballfor theUniversity of Florida,and was a member of Florida'sBCS National Championshipteam in 2009. ThePittsburgh Steelersselected him in the fifth round of the2012 NFL draft.He also played for theIndianapolis Coltsof the NFL and theMontreal Alouettes,BC LionsandToronto Argonautsof the CFL.
Early life
[edit]Rainey was born inLakeland, Floridawas raised by his grandmother.[1]He attendedLakeland High School,where he became a standout running back for the Lakeland Dreadnaughts high school football team.[2]During his high school years, he lived with the family of twin brothersMaurkice PounceyandMike Pouncey,and all three were standout members of the Dreadnaughts football team.[1]As a senior in 2006, he led his team with 2,478 yards rushing for thirty-two touchdowns—including fifteen touchdown runs of fifty yards or more—and helped lead the Lakeland Dreadnaughts to their third consecutive Florida Class 5A state championship and second straightUSA Todaynational championship.[2]Following his senior season, he was a U.S. Army high school All-American and an all-state selection by the Florida Sports Writers Association, and finished his prep career with more than 7,000 all-purpose yards and ninety touchdowns.[2]
Rainey and the Pouncey brothers all committed to play college football for the University of Florida. All three players would later be drafted by NFL teams.
College career
[edit]Rainey accepted an athletic scholarship to attend theUniversity of FloridainGainesville, Florida,where he played for coachUrban Meyerand coachWill Muschamp'sFlorida Gators footballteams from2007to2011.[3]After injuring his shoulder as a true freshman in 2007, he was redshirted.[2]He was a member of the Gators'2008team that won the2008 SEC Championship Gameand the2009 BCS National Championship Game.[2]During his career as a Gator, he played in fifty-two games, compiled 2,464 yards and thirteen touchdowns on 396 rushing attempts, 795 yards and six touchdowns on sixty-nine receptions, and 454 return yards on eighteen kickoffs.[2]On special teams, he holds the team career record for blocked kicks (4).[3]Following his senior season in 2011, his fellow Gators recognized him as the team's most valuable player. He was suspended only four games in 2010 after he was charged with aggravated stalking for allegedly texting his girlfriend, "Time to die, b----."
As a freshman, he also ran the 100-meter dash for theFlorida Gators track and fieldteam, and received All-American honors as a member of the Gators men's third-place 4x100-meter relay team at the 2008 NCAA national outdoor track and field championships.[4]
Rainey did not participate in track as a sophomore. As a junior in 2010, the Gators men's 4x100-meter relay team, including Rainey, Jeremy Hall,Terrell Wilks,andJeff Demps,won theNCAA championshipin the event with a winning time of 39.04 seconds.[5]The quartet received All-American honors for their first-place finish.
- Personal bests
Event | Time (seconds) | Venue | Date |
---|---|---|---|
60 meters | 6.70 | Blacksburg, Virginia | February 5, 2010 |
100 meters | 10.60 | Gainesville, Florida | April 16, 2011 |
200 meters | 21.50 | Winter Park, Florida | May 4, 2007 |
Professional career
[edit]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 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5 ft8+3⁄8in (1.74 m) |
180 lb (82 kg) |
30+3⁄4in (0.78 m) |
9+1⁄2in (0.24 m) |
4.23 s | 1.50 s | 2.58 s | 3.93 s | 6.50 s | 36.5 in (0.93 m) |
10 ft 0 in (3.05 m) |
16 reps | |
All values fromNFL Combine,except 40 time from Central FloridaPro Day[6][7] |
Pittsburgh Steelers
[edit]ThePittsburgh Steelersselected Rainey in the fifth round, 159th overall pick, of the2012 NFL draft.[8]The team announced he had signed a four-year contract on May 6, 2012.[9][10]He debuted for the Steelers against the Denver Broncos on September 9, 2012 and scored his first NFL touchdown against theCincinnati Bengalson October 21, 2012.
The Steelers waived Rainey on January 10, 2013, after he was arrested on a battery charge for attacking a young woman in a cellphone dispute.[11]
Indianapolis Colts
[edit]Rainey signed with theIndianapolis Coltson November 20, 2013.[12]He spent three weeks with Indianapolis. His first week, given limited practice time with the team, he was inactive. Rainey would, however, appear in the next two contests for the Colts; Weeks 13 & 14. Immediately following their Week 14 match-up, a losing effort to theCincinnati Bengals,Indianapolis announced Monday December 9, that Rainey had been placed on season-ending Injured Reserve. In his two games with the Colts Rainey returned six kickoffs and four punts for a total of 160 all-purpose yards. Despite being used in a few third-down packages, Rainey failed to make any offensive contributions in his very limited time with Indianapolis.[13]On July 28, 2014 Colts coachChuck Paganoannounced Chris Rainey had been released from the team citing, "It's unfortunate and [a] violation of team rules. It was an in-house deal, that's all I'm going to say about that."[14][15]
Arizona Cardinals
[edit]Rainey signed with theArizona Cardinalspractice squad on September 9, 2014. He was released by the team on September 18, 2014.
Montreal Alouettes
[edit]Rainey signed with theMontreal Alouettespractice roster on September 28, 2014. He was promoted to the active roster on October 20, 2014.[16]Rainey played in 5 games for the Alouettes during the 2014 season, receiving 22 touches on offense and 15 as a return specialist. Rainey was cut by the team on June 15, 2015.
BC Lions (first stint)
[edit]Rainey signed with theBC Lionson August 28, 2015. After signing midway through the season, Rainey played in the final nine games of the regular season, primarily on punt and kick return. In the2016 seasonRainey led the CFL in combined yards with 2,945 last year, and finished third in both kick and punt return yards with 1,359 and 942 respectively. On December 5, 2016, Rainey and the Lions agreed to a two-year contract extension, keeping him with the club through the2018 CFL season.[17]
Toronto Argonauts
[edit]Upon entering free agency, Rainey signed with theToronto Argonautson February 12, 2019.[18]In week 4 against his former team, the BC Lions, Rainey returned a punt for a touchdown, but stepped out of bounds as time expired following a missed field goal, awarding BC arouge,breaking a tie game and awarding BC the win.[19]Rainey passed 10,000 career return yards during the season, and was named Toronto's Most Outstanding Special Teams Player.[20]Rainey was appreciative of the nomination, but stated that teammateFrank Beltrewho led the league in special teams tackles was more deserving.[21]As a pending free agent in 2020, he was released during the free agency negotiation window on February 7, 2020.[22]
BC Lions (second stint)
[edit]On February 11, 2020, it was announced that Rainey had signed a one-year contract to return to the Lions.[23]However, the2020 CFL seasonwas cancelled, so Rainey signed again with the Lions on February 9, 2021.[24]Rainey was not offered a contract by the Lions and became a free agent on February 8, 2022.
Personal life
[edit]Chris and his wife, Jenn, have three children Makari, Makynli, and Makailynn.
Rainey's older brother is former CFL,XFLand NFL running back and kick returner “He Hate Me”Rod Smart.[25]
See also
[edit]- 2008 Florida Gators football team
- List of Florida Gators in the NFL draft
- List of Pittsburgh Steelers players
References
[edit]- ^abEd Bouchette, "Ex-Gator Chris Rainey joins 'brother' in PittsburghArchivedMay 7, 2012, at theWayback Machine,"The Republic(May 2, 2012), Retrieved May 6, 2012.
- ^abcdefGatorZone.com, Football History, 2011 Roster,Chris RaineyArchivedMay 1, 2012, at theWayback Machine.Retrieved April 29, 2012.
- ^ab2011 Florida Gators Football Media GuideArchivedApril 2, 2012, at theWayback Machine,University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, pp. 46–47, 57, 58, 59, 63–64, 69–74, 127, 138–140, 148–149, 154, 172–173, 185 (2011). Retrieved April 29, 2012.
- ^GatorZone.com, Track & Field History, 2008 Roster,Chris Rainey.Retrieved April 29, 2012.
- ^"UF men's track finishes 2nd at NCAA OutdoorsArchivedFebruary 2, 2017, at theWayback Machine,"The Gainesville Sun(June 12, 2010). Retrieved July 3, 2012.
- ^"Chris Rainey Draft and Combine Prospect Profile".NFL.com.RetrievedFebruary 25,2022.
- ^"Chris Rainey, Florida, RB, 2012 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football".draftscout.com.RetrievedJuly 9,2013.
- ^"2012 NFL Draft Listing".Pro-Football-Reference.com.RetrievedMay 14,2023.
- ^"Steelers Sign Fifth-Round Pick Chris RaineyArchivedSeptember 4, 2012, at theWayback Machine,"Steelers.com (May 6, 2012). Retrieved May 6, 2012.
- ^Ed Bouchette, "Steelers sign two rookie draft picks,"Pittsburgh Post-Gazette(May 6, 2012). Retrieved May 6, 2012.
- ^Gregg Rosenthal, "Chris Rainey arrested, waived by Pittsburgh Steelers,"NFL.com (January 10, 2013). Retrieved January 10, 2013.
- ^"Chris Rainey signs with Indianapolis Colts".November 20, 2013.
- ^"Colts sign Tashard Choice, put Chris Rainey on IR".
- ^"Indianapolis Colts release Chris Rainey for rules violation".July 28, 2014.
- ^"Quốc sản thành nhân á châu vô mạ tông hợp thanh thảo, thu hà ngọ dạ lý luận lý luận phúc lợi vô mã, cửu cửu tinh phẩm quốc sản á châu av ma đậu, quốc sản âu mỹ va thiên đường tại tuyến quan khán thị tần".
- ^"Transactions".cfl.ca. Archived fromthe originalon July 30, 2015.RetrievedNovember 20,2014.
- ^"Lions sign KR/RB Rainey to extension – Article – TSN".TSN.December 5, 2016.RetrievedDecember 5,2016.
- ^"Argos sign Rainey, Fogg, and Timmis".February 12, 2019.
- ^"Argos blow it with out-of-bounds misstep | Toronto Sun".
- ^"CFL announces 2019 team award winners - CFL.ca".October 30, 2019.
- ^"Veteran Rainey would have voted for Beltre as Argonauts' top special teamer".
- ^"Argos release 12 players".Toronto Argonauts.February 7, 2020.
- ^"Rain man returns".BC Lions.February 11, 2020.
- ^"Rain man returns".BC Lions.February 9, 2021.
- ^Rachel George, "UF's Chris Rainey moving on after running his mouth finally brought consequences, change,"Orlando Sentinel(September 30, 2011). Retrieved March 29, 2013.
External links
[edit]- BC Lions profile
- Chris Rainey – Florida Gators player profile
- Chris Rainey – Pittsburgh Steelers player profile
- Chris Rainey – Montreal Alouettes player profileat theWayback Machine(archived May 25, 2015)
- Career statistics and player information fromNFL.com·Pro Football Reference
- Canadian Football League profile
- CFL profile (old link)at theWayback Machine(archived September 23, 2015)
- 1988 births
- Living people
- American football running backs
- Arizona Cardinals players
- BC Lions players
- Canadian football running backs
- Florida Gators football players
- Florida Gators men's track and field athletes
- Indianapolis Colts players
- Lakeland High School (Lakeland, Florida) alumni
- Montreal Alouettes players
- Pittsburgh Steelers players
- American male sprinters
- Track and field athletes from Florida
- Players of American football from Lakeland, Florida
- Toronto Argonauts players
- Canadian football return specialists
- American football return specialists
- 21st-century African-American sportsmen
- 20th-century African-American sportsmen
- NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships winners
- Players of Canadian football from Florida