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Jeff Zgonina

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Jeff Zgonina
No. 90, 74, 92
Position:Defensive tackle
Personal information
Born: (1970-05-24) May 24, 1970 (age 54)
Chicago, Illinois
Career information
College:Purdue
NFL draft:1993 / round: 7 / pick: 185
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2009
Tackles:448
Sacks:26.0
Fumbles recovered:13
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Jeff Zgonina (born May 24, 1970) is a former American football defensive tackle who played for seventeen seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He is currently an assistant defensive line coach for the New York Giants. He played college football at Purdue University and was a seventh round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1993 NFL Draft. He earned a Super Bowl ring as a member of the St. Louis Rams in 2000, and also played for the Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons, Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, and Houston Texans.

In his final season he was the second oldest non-kicker in the NFL.

In 2013, Houston Texans hired Zgonina to become an assistant coach for the defensive line. As an assistant coach for the Texans, he worked closely with defensive line coach/assistant head coach Bill Kollar who was his coach at Purdue University in 1989.[1]

In 2016 he became the assistant defensive line coach of the New York Giants under defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and defensive line coach Patrick Graham.

High school years

Jeffrey Marc Zgonina was born in Chicago. He attended Carmel High School in nearby Mundelein and was a letterman in football, basketball, hockey, and track & field. In football, he won All-East Suburban Catholic Conference honors, All-Area honors, All-County honors, and All-State honors.

College career

Zgonina attended Purdue University from 1989–1992, starting his entire career. He twice led the Boilermakers in sacks and tackles for loss, he led the team in total tackles one season. He had a fumble return of 67 yards, a record for Purdue defensive linemen. He currently holds Purdue records for 'tackles for loss' for a single game (7.0), a season (28.0) and a career (72.0). He is currently #6 in total tackles (382) and solo tackles (266); and #3 in sacks (29.0). His senior season was outstanding as he had 28 tackles for loss and 13 sacks; was selected as a 1st Team All-Big Ten and the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. Following his senior year, he participated in the 1993 East-West Shrine Game, Hula Bowl and Japan Bowl.

Professional career

Zgonina played 17 seasons in the NFL and spent more time with the St. Louis Rams than with any other team, which included a Super Bowl title in the 2000 season (XXXIV). His best season, however, came with the Miami Dolphins in 2004, when he recorded 63 tackles and five sacks.

He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the seventh round of the 1993 NFL Draft. He spent two seasons with the Steelers, recording 27 tackles in 21 game appearances before being waived after the 1994 season. He was claimed off waivers by the Carolina Panthers on August 29, 1995,[2] and he recorded two tackles in two game appearance for the Panthers in 1995. He signed with the Atlanta Falcons in 1996,[3] and made one sack, one fumble recovery, and 12 tackles in the eight games he played. Zgonina signed a two-year contract with the St. Louis Rams on March 12, 1997.[4] He played in 15 games in 1997, producing two sacks and 21 tackles. He was released by the Rams on August 21, 1998.[5] Zgonina was signed by the Oakland Raiders on October 14, 1998,[6] but was released six days later.[7] before playing in a game for the Raiders. He signed with the Indianapolis Colts later in the season and played in two games.

Zgonina re-signed with the Rams on March 27, 1999.[8] He spent four seasons with the Rams, becoming their starting defensive tackle during the 2000 season. He earned a Super Bowl ring in 2000 after St. Louis beat the Tennessee Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV. He was also a member of the 2001 NFC Champion Rams, starting 13 games and playing in Super Bowl XXXVI. He recorded 144 tackles, 10.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and six fumble recoveries in his second tenure with the Rams. Zgonina signed a four-year contract with the Miami Dolphins on April 1, 2003.[9] In his four-year career with the Dolphins, he made 178 tackles, 10 sacks, an interception, and two fumble recoveries in 62 games (22 starts). He signed with the Houston Texans on March 14, 2007,[10] He had 64 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and two fumble recoveries in his three-year tenure, including playing in all 48 games with five starts.

References

  1. ^ Zgonina profile at sportsillustrated.cnn.com
  2. ^ "Release a 'Shock Waive', Runner Foster Let Go". The State. August 29, 1995. Retrieved 2012-07-19. (subscription required)
  3. ^ "Eagles awaiting George waiver". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. October 10, 1996. Retrieved 2012-07-19. (subscription required)
  4. ^ Thomas, Jim (March 12, 1997). "Rams Add Depth to Special Teams". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved 2012-07-19. (subscription required)
  5. ^ "Transactions". The New York Times. August 31, 1998. Retrieved 2012-07-19.
  6. ^ Williams, Dave (October 14, 1998). "Gruden Booked on DUI Charge". The Press Democrat. Retrieved 2012-07-19. (subscription required)
  7. ^ "Transactions". The Salt Lake Tribune. October 20, 1998. Retrieved 2012-07-19. (subscription required)
  8. ^ "Transactions". The New York Times. March 27, 1999. Retrieved 2012-07-19.
  9. ^ "Gash back in Buffalo to open holes". The Daily Gazette. April 1, 2003. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
  10. ^ Pasquarelli, Len (March 14, 2007). "Veteran DT Zgonina signs with Texans". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
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