Steve DeOssie

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Steve DeOssie
No. 55, 99, 50
Position:Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1962-11-22) November 22, 1962 (age 61)
Tacoma, Washington
Career information
College:Boston College
NFL draft:1984 / Round: 4 / Pick: 110
Career history
*Inactive and/or offseason member only
Roster status:Retired
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played:26
Games started:20
Fumble recoveries:0
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR


Steven Leonard DeOssie (born November 22, 1962 in Tacoma, Washington) is a former American football linebacker and long snapper. DeOssie played college football at Boston College, and went on to play in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys, the New York Giants, the New York Jets and the New England Patriots.

Early years

DeOssie played high school football at the now defunct Don Bosco Technical High School in Boston, Massachusetts for head coach Bob Currier. He accepted a scholarship to play at Boston College where he was a four-year starter at linebacker and the team's long snapper.

He helped the Eagles reach its first bowl game in 41 years (Tangerine Bowl), earned All-East honors in his last two seasons and also finished with a team record of more than 400 career tackles.[1] In 1997, he was inducted into the Boston College Varsity Club Athletic Hall of Fame.[2]

Professional career

Dallas Cowboys

DeOssie was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the 4th round (110th overall) of the 1984 NFL Draft, because he dropped after being selected by the New Jersey Generals in the first round (15th overall) of the 1984 USFL Draft.[3]

As a rookie he had a chance to earn the starting middle linebacker job, but was passed over by fellow rookie Eugene Lockhart. He would remain as a backup linebacker who was used most often on short-yardage situations.

His contributions came mainly on special teams as the unit long snapper and covering kickoffs. In 1988, he finished third on the team in special teams tackles (20).

As described by Bill Belichick in an August 30, 2011 press conference, DeOssie's ability to snap the ball and block in the same play, was exploited by the Cowboys to spread the punt formations and use less blockers, revolutionizing the punt game.[4]

In 1989, he clashed with the new coaching staff that was brought by Jimmy Johnson,[5] before being traded to the New York Giants, in exchange for their sixth round draft choice in the 1990 NFL Draft. He is considered to be one of the best special teams players in Cowboys history.

New York Giants

In 1989, DeOssie became one of the starting inside linebackers in the team's 3-4 defense, playing mainly as a run defender. After the third game of the season against the Phoenix Cardinals, he suffered a left toe injury that required surgery and caused him to miss seven games.[6]

In 1990, he was named the starter again after Gary Reasons missed the first three weeks of training camp in a contract dispute. He started 13 games with Reasons replacing him in passing situations and helped the Giants win Super Bowl XXV.

On December 6, 1992, he was placed on the injured reserve list. On November 10, 1993, new head coach Dan Reeves waived him from the team.[7]

New York Jets

On November 15, 1993, he was signed by the New York Jets to help on special teams.[8]

New England Patriots

In 1994, he signed with the New England Patriots reuniting with his former head coach Bill Parcells. He played for two seasons before being waived on August 25, 1996.[9]

Personal life

DeOssie hosts The New England Tailgate Show, which airs on Comcast Sports Net New England. He also works as the Patriots and NFL analyst for the Fox25 Morning Show in Boston and the Boston Channel 7 WHDH TV.

Along with friend and colleague Fred Smerlas, he opened the award winning Fred & Steve's Steakhouse at the Twin River Casino in Lincoln, Rhode Island in March 2007.[10]

DeOssie's son, Zak, played linebacker for Brown University and was a draft pick of the Giants in 2007. Like his father was, Zak is the team's long snapper and the DeOssies are the only father-son combination to win Super Bowls with the same team.[11]

References

  1. ^ http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2519&dat=19831213&id=DK5dAAAAIBAJ&sjid=hF0NAAAAIBAJ&pg=3213,2287117
  2. ^ http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=799&dat=19890603&id=VXpPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=m1EDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2302,6375169
  3. ^ http://www.nytimes.com/1984/01/05/sports/generals-pick-deossie.html
  4. ^ http://www.patriots.com/news/article-1/Bill-Belichick-Press-Conference-Transcript/4f60f2f3-5186-46fa-bad1-4751639430a9
  5. ^ http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1917&dat=19891214&id=CHchAAAAIBAJ&sjid=W4kFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2385,3395255
  6. ^ http://www.nytimes.com/1989/11/18/sports/pro-football-deossie-is-anxious-to-return-to-lineup.html
  7. ^ http://www.nytimes.com/1993/11/11/sports/pro-football-2-roster-cuts-send-a-message-to-giants.html
  8. ^ http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2002&dat=19931116&id=MbsiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=U7UFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5026,3654516
  9. ^ http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1290&dat=19960826&id=LSlUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=K44DAAAAIBAJ&pg=2982,3064915
  10. ^ "Worcester Telegram & Gazette Bill Doyle". Telegram.com. Retrieved 2010-02-09.
  11. ^ "Steve DeOssie shows pride for his son and former team". nj.com. 2010-01-28. Retrieved 2010-02-09.

External links

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