Pete Metzelaars

Last updated

Pete Metzelaars
No. 88, 89
Position: Tight end
Personal information
Born: (1960-05-24) May 24, 1960 (age 64)
Three Rivers, Michigan, U.S.
Height:6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Weight:254 lb (115 kg)
Career information
High school: Central
(Portage, Michigan)
College: Wabash
NFL draft: 1982  / Round: 3 / Pick: 75
Career history
As a player:
As a coach:
Career highlights and awards
As a player
As a coach
Career NFL statistics
Receptions:383
Receiving yards:3,686
Receiving touchdowns:29
Player stats at PFR

Peter Henry Metzelaars (born May 24, 1960) is an American former football tight end who played for 16 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the Seattle Seahawks, the Buffalo Bills, the Carolina Panthers and the Detroit Lions. He played college football for the Wabash Little Giants and was selected by the Seahawks in the third round of the 1982 NFL draft.

Contents

High school and college

Metzelaars played high school football at Portage Central High School in Portage, Michigan, [1] and played college football at Wabash College, graduating from Wabash in 1982. [1] While at Wabash, he played for an undefeated football team, while also leading the basketball team to the NCAA Division III national championship as a senior and being named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. During his senior year, he earned Academic All-American honors [2] In football, he was coached by Stan Parrish and in basketball coached by legendary basketball coach Mac Petty.

NFL career

Metzelaars was taken in the 3rd round with the 75th pick by Seattle in the 1982 NFL Draft. He played for three seasons in Seattle before being traded to the Bills in 1985. When Jim Kelly joined the Bills in 1986, Metzelaars became a productive part of the offense. He played with the Bills in their 4 Super Bowl losses from 1990 to 1993, and scored a touchdown in Super Bowl XXVI. Metzelaars' best season was in 1993, when he caught 68 passes for 609 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Metzelaars was not re-signed by the Bills after the 1994 season. He then signed a three-year, $2.4 million deal [3] with the Carolina Panthers. He caught the first touchdown pass in Carolina franchise history, [4] but only played one season for them. He finished his career by playing two seasons for the Detroit Lions, starting in 17 of the 31 games he appeared in while splitting time with David Sloan. The Lions offensive coordinator in 1996 was Tom Moore. Metzelaars would go on to work alongside Moore later in their careers.

Metzelaars finished his 16 NFL seasons with 383 receptions for 3,686 yards and 29 touchdowns in 235 games. At the time of his retirement, his 235 games were the most ever played by a tight end in NFL history.

Coaching career

After retiring, Metzelaars moved into the coaching ranks as the offensive coordinator at Charlotte Christian School from 1998 to 2002. In 2003, Metzelaars joined Wingate University as an assistant offensive coach but also coached in NFL Europe with Barcelona during the off-season. He also was an intern with the Indianapolis Colts during their 2003 training camp, assisting with the tight ends under offensive coordinator Tom Moore. In 2004, Metzelaars joined the Colts staff full-time as the offensive quality control coach. After reaching four Super Bowls with the Buffalo Bills as a player, he finally won a ring with the Colts' triumph in Super Bowl XLI. [4] In 2012, Metzelaars joined the Buffalo Bills staff full-time as the tight ends coach. He, along with the entire Bills coaching staff, was dismissed on December 31, 2012. On January 24, 2014, Metzelaars became tight ends coach for the San Diego Chargers, replacing Jason Michael who left to be offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans. He was reunited with former Buffalo Bills teammate Frank Reich, who was promoted to be the Chargers' new offensive coordinator. [5] [6] [7]

In 2018, Metzelaars became the offensive line coach for the Atlanta Legends of the newly formed Alliance of American Football. [8]

In 2023 he joined the Helvetic Guards of the European League of Football (ELF) as the special teams coordinator and tight ends coach. [9] However, On 4 April 2024, the team announced the end of operations. [10]

Personal life

Metzelaars and his wife, Barbara, have two sons: Anthony and Jonathan.

In 2011, Metzelaars was inducted into the Academic All-American Hall of Fame. [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank Reich</span> American football player and coach (born 1961)

Frank Michael Reich is an American former football player and coach in the National Football League (NFL). He played 14 seasons as a quarterback in the NFL. He became a coach afterwards, including head coaching stints with the Indianapolis Colts and Carolina Panthers.

Natrone Jermaine Means is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the San Diego Chargers, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Carolina Panthers from 1993 to 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Norv Turner</span> American football coach (born 1952)

Norval Turner is a former American football coach in the National Football League (NFL). An offensive assistant for the majority of his coaching career, Turner was the Dallas Cowboys' offensive coordinator during their consecutive Super Bowl victories in Super Bowl XXVII and Super Bowl XXVIII.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marty Schottenheimer</span> American football player and coach (1943–2021)

Martin Edward Schottenheimer was an American football linebacker and coach who served as a head coach in the National Football League (NFL) for 21 seasons. He was the head coach of the Cleveland Browns from 1984 to 1988, the Kansas City Chiefs from 1989 to 1998, the Washington Redskins in 2001, and the San Diego Chargers from 2003 to 2006. Eighth in career wins at 205 and seventh in regular season wins at 200, Schottenheimer has the most wins among the league's head coaches to not win an NFL championship. After coaching in the NFL, he won a 2011 championship in his one season with the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League (UFL). He was inducted to the Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ken Dorsey</span> American football player and coach (born 1981)

Kenneth Simon Dorsey is an American football coach and former quarterback who is the offensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Miami Hurricanes, where he won the national championship and the Maxwell Award in 2001. He was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the seventh round of the 2003 NFL Draft, later playing for the Cleveland Browns and the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL), before retiring in 2010.

The 1990 NFL season was the 71st regular season of the National Football League (NFL). To increase revenue, the league, for the first time since 1966, reinstated bye weeks, so that all NFL teams would play their 16-game schedule over a 17-week period. Furthermore, the playoff format was expanded from 10 teams to 12 teams by adding another wild card from each conference, thus adding two more contests to the postseason schedule; this format was modified with realignment in 2002 before the playoffs expanded to 14 teams in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1978 NFL season</span> 1978 National Football League season

The 1978 NFL season was the 59th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded the regular season from a 14-game schedule to 16 games, which it remained in place until 2021 when it was increased to 17 games. Furthermore, the playoff format was expanded from 8 teams to 10 teams by adding another wild card from each conference. The wild card teams played each other, with the winner advancing to the playoff round of eight teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Gilbride</span> American football coach (born 1951)

Kevin Bernard Gilbride is an American football head coach. He was a coach for twenty years in the NFL, spending seven of them as the offensive coordinator for the New York Giants, with whom he earned two Super Bowl rings. From 1997 to 1998, he was the head coach for the San Diego Chargers. Most recently, Gilbride served as the head coach for the New York Guardians of the XFL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ken Whisenhunt</span> American football player and coach (born 1962)

Kenneth Moore Whisenhunt is an American football coach and former tight end who is currently a special assistant to the head coach for Alabama. He played college football at Georgia Tech and was drafted in the twelfth round of the 1985 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons, with whom he played for four years. He subsequently played two more years with the Washington Redskins and another two with the New York Jets.

Rick Steven Dennison is an American football coach and former linebacker who is currently the senior offensive assistant for the New Orleans Saints. He was the offensive line coach and run game coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL) from 2019-2020. An assistant in the NFL since 1995, he served as offensive coordinator for the Denver Broncos, Houston Texans (2010–2013), and Buffalo Bills (2017), and served as quarterbacks coach for the Baltimore Ravens in 2014. He was the special teams coach for the Super Bowl Champion Broncos in 1997 and 1998. A linebacker who spent his entire NFL playing career in Denver from 1982 to 1990, he appeared in Super Bowls XXI, XXII, and XXIV.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cam Cameron</span> American football player and coach (born 1961)

Malcolm "Cam" Cameron is an American football coach. He is the former offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach of the LSU Tigers football program. Cameron attended Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana and played quarterback for the school. Cameron began his coaching career in the NCAA with the Michigan Wolverines. After that he switched to the National Football League (NFL), where he was offensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens and the San Diego Chargers and head coach for the Miami Dolphins, coaching them to a 1–15 record in his only season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rob Chudzinski</span> American football player and coach (born 1968)

Robert Matthew Chudzinski is an American football coach who is currently the associate head coach on offense for the Boston College Eagles. Chudzinski was the offensive coordinator for several National Football League (NFL) teams and was the head coach of the Cleveland Browns during the 2013 NFL season.

Russ Purnell is an American football coach. He has served for 26 seasons as an assistant coach in the NFL, mainly coordinating the special teams units. He is one of only 21 NFL assistant coaches who have won at least one Super Bowl championship with two different teams. He was also the special teams coordinator for the Omaha Nighthawks of the United Football League (UFL).

Sherman Smith is an American former professional football player who was a running back for eight seasons with the Seattle Seahawks and San Diego Chargers between 1976 and 1983. He was also the running backs coach for the Seahawks, as well as the former offensive coordinator for the Washington Redskins. After his playing days were over, he embarked upon a second career as a football coach, starting at Redmond Jr. high school, then college, and finally back in the National Football League (NFL) with the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans, the Redskins, and the Seahawks.

The Carolina Panthers' history formally dates back to 1993, when the NFL awarded the franchise to Charlotte, North Carolina. The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, began play in the 1995 NFL season as expansion teams. They have played in Charlotte since 1996, winning six division titles and two NFC Championships. The Panthers were the first NFL franchise based in the Carolinas and the second professional sports team based in Charlotte, the first being the NBA's Charlotte Hornets.

William T. Brooks Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for 11 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). Brooks was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the fourth round of the 1986 NFL Draft. He played in the NFL from 1986 to 1996 for the Colts, Buffalo Bills, and Washington Redskins. Brooks played college football for Boston University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian Daboll</span> Canadian-born American football coach (born 1975)

Brian Michael Daboll is a Canadian-born American football coach who is the head coach for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as the offensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns, Miami Dolphins, Kansas City Chiefs, Alabama Crimson Tide, and Buffalo Bills. Daboll has also served in various capacities as an assistant coach for the New England Patriots from 2000 to 2006 and again from 2013 to 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tyke Tolbert</span> American football player and coach (born 1967)

Tyke Tolbert is an American football coach and former player who is the wide receivers coach for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). Tolbert previously served as wide receivers coach for the Arizona Cardinals, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos and New York Giants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kurt Anderson (American football)</span> American football coach and player (born 1978)

Kurt Kristoffer Anderson is an American football coach and former player. His most recent job was offensive line coach with the Northwestern Wildcats, where he has coached two first round draft picks in Rashawn Slater, number thirteen overall in 2021 to the Los Angeles Chargers and Peter Skoronski number eleven overall in 2023 to the Tennessee Titans. He was dismissed by head coach David Braun after the 2023 season. He is the former offensive line coach at the University of Arkansas where he coached Frank Ragnow the number twenty overall pick in 2018 to the Detroit Lions. Anderson played college football at the University of Michigan. After his playing career, Anderson became a professional football coach. He served as the assistant offensive line coach for the Buffalo Bills in the National Football League (NFL). In the 2015 season, Anderson took over head offensive line coaching duties for training camp and the first six weeks of the regular season for the suspended Aaron Kromer.

Dave Canales is an American football coach who is the head coach for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as the offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2023.

References

  1. 1 2 "Profile for Pete Metzelaars" . Retrieved July 31, 2007.
  2. 1 2 "Peter Metzelaars". Capital One Academic All-America Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on February 27, 2015. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
  3. ↑ "SPORTS PEOPLE: FOOTBALL; Two More for Panthers". The New York Times. March 9, 1995. Retrieved January 2, 2007.
  4. 1 2 "PETE METZELAARS '82 FINALLY GETS HIS SUPER BOWL RING". wabash.edu. February 6, 2007.
  5. ↑ Gaughan, Mark (December 31, 2012). "Bills make it official: Gailey is fired". The Buffalo News . Archived from the original on January 2, 2013. Retrieved December 31, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Chargers hire Pete Metzelaars". U-T San Diego. January 24, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Chargers Hire Metzelaars as Tight Ends Coach". chargers.com. January 24, 2014.
  8. ↑ Alper, Josh (October 9, 2018). "AAF teams continue building coaching staffs". Profootballtalk.com . Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Helvetic Guards announce changes in the coaching staff with Super Bowl champions". europeanleague.football. February 12, 2023. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  10. ↑ "DIE HELVETIC GUARDS STELLEN DEN BETRIEB EIN – ERSATZTEAM STEHT IN DEN STARTLÖCHERN" [The Helvetic Guards cancel operations – Replacement team is in the starting holes]. endzone.ch (in German). April 4, 2024. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.