No. 66 – Buffalo Bills | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Position: | Guard | ||||
Personal information | |||||
Born: | Larksville, Pennsylvania, U.S. | November 3, 1997||||
Height: | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | ||||
Weight: | 318 lb (144 kg) | ||||
Career information | |||||
High school: | Lake-Lehman (PA) | ||||
College: | Penn State (2016–2018) | ||||
NFL draft: | 2019 / Round: 3 / Pick: 90 | ||||
Career history | |||||
| |||||
Roster status: | Active | ||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||
| |||||
Career NFL statistics as of 2023 | |||||
| |||||
Player stats at PFR |
Connor James McGovern (born November 3, 1997) is an American football guard for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He played college football at Penn State.
McGovern attended Lake-Lehman High School. He received Wyoming Valley Football Conference first-team All-League honors in 2013, 2014 and 2015. He was named the Wyoming Valley Football Conference Most Valuable Player and first-team All-state as a senior.
Also practiced basketball and track. He received All-conference honors in basketball as a junior. He was the District 2 shot put champion as a senior in 2015. He also set school strength records in bench press, power clean, squat and deadlift.
McGovern accepted a football scholarship from Penn State University. As a true freshman, he started nine out of 13 games playing at right guard. He was named the Big Ten Freshman of the week during week 10 of his freshman season, and became the first offensive lineman to receive the honor. He also became the third Big Ten offensive lineman to receive any player of the week award since Penn State joined the conference, after Korey Stringer of Ohio State and Sean Poole of Michigan State. [1]
As a sophomore, McGovern was moved from guard to the center position, starting all 13 games. [2] As a junior, he started 12 games at right guard and one at center.
On January 2, 2019, McGovern announced that he would forgo his final year of eligibility and declare for the 2019 NFL Draft. [3]
Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Broad jump | Bench press | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 ft 5+3⁄8 in (1.97 m) | 308 lb (140 kg) | 34+1⁄8 in (0.87 m) | 9+7⁄8 in (0.25 m) | 4.57 s | 7.66 s | 9 ft 4 in (2.84 m) | 28 reps | |||||
All values from NFL Combine [4] [5] |
McGovern was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the third round (90th overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft. [6] He missed all of the preseason with a torn pectoral muscle. He was placed on the injured reserve list on September 1. [7]
In 2020, he began the season as a backup guard behind Zack Martin and Connor Williams. In the sixth game against the Arizona Cardinals, Martin left the game with a concussion after a handful of snaps, and McGovern replaced him at right offensive guard. He would make his first career start in the next game against the Washington Football Team, while Martin recovered. Martin was later moved to right tackle in the tenth game against the Minnesota Vikings to help stabilize the offensive line performance, and McGovern was named the starter at right guard. He would remain in that role for the rest of the season, after Martin suffered a calf injury in the eleventh game against the Washington Football Team. He got his first start at fullback in the regular-season finale against the Philadelphia Eagles, he also played some snaps at guard and on special teams.
In 2021, he started the season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at right guard in place of Martin, who was placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. To get him more involved on game day, although he is a natural guard, he lined up as a fullback and blocking tight end under certain packages from offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. [8] In Week 11 against the Kansas City Chiefs, he was named the starting left guard over Connor Williams, who at the time was leading the league in penalties. He struggled in that game against defensive tackle Chris Jones, who registered 3.5 sacks. Williams regained his starting position in Week 15 against the New York Giants. In the five games that McGovern started at guard (four at left guard and one at right guard), the Cowboys had a 2-3 record.
In 2022, he split time with rookie Tyler Smith, working at left guard with the first-team offense in organized team activities and training camp. He started at center in the third preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks. He was named the starter at left guard for the season opener, after left tackle Tyron Smith was placed on the injured reserve list and the offensive line had to adjust to the loss. He suffered a high ankle sprain seven plays into the game and was replaced with Matt Farniok. He missed the following two games with the injury. In Week 17 against the Tennessee Titans, he started at center in the absence of Tyler Biadasz. He started 15 games, mostly at left guard, while surrendering just two sacks and one penalty.
On March 16, 2023, McGovern signed a three-year contract with the Buffalo Bills. [9]
Jason Raynard Peters is an American football offensive tackle who is a free agent. He played college football at Arkansas and signed with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent in 2004, originally as a tight end. He was later traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2009 and spent the next twelve seasons playing for them before joining the Chicago Bears in 2021, the Dallas Cowboys in 2022, and the Seattle Seahawks in 2023. He is currently the oldest active NFL player.
Marco Anthony Rivera is an American former professional football player who was a guard in the National Football League (NFL) for the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys. He played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions.
Derrick Dewayne Dockery is a former professional American football guard in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins, Buffalo Bills and Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at the University of Texas.
John Christian Gesek Jr. is an American former professional football player who was an offensive lineman in the National Football League (NFL) for the Los Angeles Raiders, Dallas Cowboys, and Washington Redskins. He played college football for the Sacramento State Hornets and was selected in the 10th round of the 1987 NFL Draft. Gesek won two Super Bowls with the Cowboys over the Buffalo Bills as a starting offensive lineman.
David Harold Widell, Jr. is a former American football guard and tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Atlanta Falcons. He played college football at Boston College.
Sean Patrick Lee is an American former professional football linebacker. He played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions, and was selected by the Cowboys in the second round of the 2010 NFL draft. He made two Pro Bowls and the 2016 All-Pro Team.
Tyron Jerrar Smith is an American football offensive tackle for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the USC Trojans where he won the Morris Trophy, recognizing the best offensive and defensive linemen on the West Coast, in 2010. Smith was selected by the Dallas Cowboys with the ninth overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft. In 13 seasons with the Cowboys, Smith was an eight-time Pro Bowler, a five-time All-Pro, and was named to the 2010s All-Decade Team.
La'el Collins is an offensive tackle for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at LSU, where he won the Jacobs Blocking Trophy, recognizing the Southeastern Conference's (SEC) top offensive lineman, in 2014. Collins signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2015.
Jonathan Javell Cooper is an American former professional football player who was a guard in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Arizona Cardinals seventh overall in the 2013 NFL draft. He played college football for the North Carolina Tar Heels, where he earned All-American honors. He also spent time with the New England Patriots, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers, Washington Redskins, and Oakland Raiders.
Xavier Filoitumua Suʻa-Filo is a former American football guard. He was drafted by the Houston Texans in the second round of the 2014 NFL draft. He played college football at UCLA.
Zachary Edward Martin is an American football guard for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and was selected by the Cowboys in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft. Named to the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team, Martin has made nine Pro Bowl and nine All-Pro teams.
Ronald Leary is a former American football guard. He played college football at Memphis and signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2012. He also played for the Denver Broncos.
Marcus Martin is a former American football guard. He was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the third round of the 2014 NFL draft. He played college football at USC.
Cameron Jarrod Fleming is an American football offensive tackle who is a free agent. He was selected by the New England Patriots in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL draft. He played college football at Stanford. Fleming has also had stints with the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, and Denver Broncos.
Vadal Alexander is an American football guard for the St. Louis Battlehawks of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football at LSU. Alexander was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the seventh round of the 2016 NFL Draft.
Connor Williams is an American football center who is a free agent. He played college football at Texas.
Chuma Edoga is an American football offensive guard for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at USC and was drafted by the New York Jets in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
Matt Farniok is an American football center for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the seventh round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He played college football at Nebraska.
Brock Hoffman is an American football center for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Coastal Carolina and Virginia Tech.
Travis "T. J." Bass is an American football offensive guard for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Butte before transferring to Oregon and was signed by the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent after the 2023 NFL draft.