Anquan Boldin facts for kids
Boldin during the Ravens Super Bowl XLVII victory celebration
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| No. 81, 80 | |||||||
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| Position: | Wide receiver | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born: | October 3, 1980 Pahokee, Florida, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 220 lb (100 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school: | Pahokee | ||||||
| College: | Florida State (1999–2002) | ||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2003 / Round: 2 / Pick: 54 | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||
Anquan Boldin Sr. (born October 3, 1980) is a former American football player. He was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for 14 seasons. Boldin played college football for the Florida State Seminoles. The Arizona Cardinals chose him in the second round of the 2003 NFL draft. He also played for the Baltimore Ravens, San Francisco 49ers, and Detroit Lions.
Boldin was named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2003. He was chosen for three Pro Bowls and won Super Bowl XLVII with the Ravens. In 2015, he received the Walter Payton Man of the Year award for his amazing community work. Many people consider Boldin one of the best wide receivers of his time.
Contents
- Early Life and High School Sports
- College Football Career
- Professional Football Journey
- NFL Records and Achievements
- NFL Career Statistics
- Personal Life and Community Work
- See also
Early Life and High School Sports
Anquan Boldin grew up playing many sports. He played football, basketball, and ran track at Pahokee High School in Florida. In 1998, he was named Florida's Mr. Football because of his skills as a quarterback. During his senior year, his high school team had a perfect 10–0 record.
Boldin was also a great track athlete. He competed in sprinting, jumping, and throwing events. In 2007, he was honored by being named to the FHSAA's All-Century Team. This team included the top 33 high school football players in Florida's 100-year history.
College Football Career
Boldin attended Florida State University from 1999 to 2002. He started as a quarterback but switched to wide receiver to get more playing time. This change was a great move for him!
In 23 games as a wide receiver, he caught 118 passes. He gained 1,790 yards and scored 21 touchdowns. He averaged 15.2 yards for each catch.
Professional Football Journey
Getting Ready for the NFL Draft
Before the NFL Draft, scouts were a bit worried about Boldin's speed. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.7 seconds at the NFL Combine, which was considered slow for a wide receiver.
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand size | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft 0+5⁄8 in (1.84 m) |
216 lb (98 kg) |
30 in (0.76 m) |
9+7⁄8 in (0.25 m) |
4.71 s | 1.61 s | 2.77 s | 4.33 s | 7.35 s | 33+1⁄2 in (0.85 m) |
9 ft 6 in (2.90 m) |
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| All values from NFL Combine | ||||||||||||
Time with the Arizona Cardinals
Rookie Year: 2003 Season
The Arizona Cardinals picked Boldin in the second round of the 2003 NFL draft. He was the 54th player chosen overall.
Boldin made an amazing start to his NFL career. In his very first game, he set an NFL record for most receiving yards by a rookie. He caught ten passes for 217 yards against the Detroit Lions. He also holds the NFL record for most catches in his first 26 games (157). He was also the fastest player to reach 300 career receptions (in 47 games).
He finished his rookie season with 101 catches, 1,377 receiving yards, and eight touchdowns. Boldin was the only rookie chosen for the 2004 Pro Bowl. He was named the Offensive Rookie of the Year by several sports groups.
2004 Season: Overcoming Injury
Boldin hurt his right knee during training camp in 2004. This injury caused him to miss the first six games of the regular season. Despite the missed time, he still played in ten games. He finished with 56 catches for 623 yards and one touchdown.
2005 Season: A Dynamic Duo
In 2005, Boldin had a fantastic season, even though he missed some games due to injury. He caught over 100 passes for more than 1,400 yards. He led the league in receiving yards per game, averaging 100.1 yards.
That year, Boldin and his teammate Larry Fitzgerald made history. They became only the third pair of teammates in NFL history to each catch over 100 passes and gain more than 1,400 yards in the same season.
2006 Season: Another Pro Bowl
Boldin continued his strong performance in 2006. He had 83 catches for 1,203 receiving yards and four touchdowns. His great play earned him a spot in his second Pro Bowl.
2007 Season: Setting More Records
Boldin was named the offensive captain for the Cardinals in 2007. During this season, he became the fastest player in NFL history to reach 400 career receptions. He finished the year with 71 catches, 853 yards, and nine touchdowns.
2008 Season: Toughness and Team Success
In 2008, Boldin showed his incredible toughness. He returned to play after a serious hit during a game. He helped his team reach the Super Bowl.
In December 2008, he became the fastest player in NFL history to reach 500 receptions. He was chosen for his third Pro Bowl for his performance that season. In the Super Bowl XLIII against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Boldin caught eight passes for 84 yards.
2009 Season: Final Year with Cardinals
Boldin continued to be a key player for the Cardinals in 2009. In a game against the Seattle Seahawks, he became the fifth-fastest NFL player to reach 7,000 receiving yards. He finished the season with 84 catches for 1,024 yards and four touchdowns.
Joining the Baltimore Ravens
2010 Season: A New Start
On March 5, 2010, Boldin was traded to the Baltimore Ravens. He signed a new contract with the Ravens. In his first game as a Raven, he caught seven passes for 110 yards. In Week 3, he had eight catches for 142 yards and three touchdowns. He also became the fastest player in NFL history to reach 600 receptions, doing it in just 98 games.
He finished his first season with the Ravens with 64 catches for 837 yards and seven touchdowns. In the playoffs, he helped the Ravens win their first game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
2011 Season: Leading the Receivers
Boldin continued to be the Ravens' top receiver in 2011. He had 57 catches for 887 yards. In the playoffs, he had four catches for 73 yards and a touchdown against the Houston Texans. The Ravens won and moved on to the AFC Championship game.
2012 Season: Super Bowl Champion!
Boldin had another strong season in 2012, leading the Ravens in receiving yards for the third year in a row. He caught 65 passes for 921 yards and four touchdowns.
In the playoffs, Boldin had some of his best games. He set a Ravens franchise record with 145 receiving yards in a playoff game against the Indianapolis Colts. He also scored two touchdowns in the AFC Championship game against the New England Patriots.
Boldin achieved his first championship title when the Ravens defeated the San Francisco 49ers 34–31 in Super Bowl XLVII. He had six catches for 104 yards and scored one touchdown in that big game.
Playing for the San Francisco 49ers
2013 Season: Instant Impact
On March 11, 2013, Boldin was traded to the San Francisco 49ers. In his very first game as a 49er, he had an amazing performance. He gained 208 yards and scored a touchdown on 13 catches against the Green Bay Packers. This made him the first wide receiver ever to gain over 100 yards for three different teams in his debut game!
Boldin finished his first year with the 49ers with 85 catches, 1,179 yards, and seven touchdowns. He also won the NFLPA Alan Page Community Award for his work off the field.
2014 Season: Consistent Performance
Boldin signed a new two-year contract with the 49ers in 2014. He continued to be a reliable receiver, finishing the season with 83 catches for 1,062 yards and five touchdowns.
2015 Season: Reaching Milestones
In 2015, Boldin reached a major career milestone. On December 6, 2015, he passed 13,000 career receiving yards in a game against the Chicago Bears. He finished the season with 69 catches for 789 yards and four touchdowns. That year, he also won the prestigious NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Award for his outstanding community service.
Brief Time with the Detroit Lions
On July 28, 2016, Boldin signed with the Detroit Lions. He chose to wear jersey number 80 as a sign of respect for the recently retired Lions legend, Calvin Johnson.
In his first game with the Lions, Boldin moved up to 16th place all-time in career receiving yards. He finished the season with 67 catches for 584 yards and eight touchdowns.
Buffalo Bills and Retirement
On August 7, 2017, Boldin signed a one-year contract with the Buffalo Bills. However, less than two weeks later, on August 20, he decided to retire from football. He stated that his "life's purpose is bigger than football" and that he wanted to focus on humanitarian work.
Anquan Boldin had an official retirement ceremony with the Baltimore Ravens on October 14, 2019.
NFL Records and Achievements
Anquan Boldin holds several impressive NFL records:
- Most receiving yards in his first career game: 217 yards.
- Most receptions in the first 26 games of an NFL career: 157 catches.
- Fastest player to reach 400 career receptions (in 67 games).
- Fastest player to reach 500 career receptions (in 80 games) – this record was later tied by Julio Jones.
Arizona Cardinals Team Records
- Most receiving yards per game average in a season: 100.1 (2005).
- Most receptions per game average in a season: 7.4 (2008).
- Most receptions per game average (career): 6.2.
- Most receiving touchdowns by a rookie (tied with Larry Fitzgerald and Marvin Harrison Jr.): 8.
Baltimore Ravens Team Records
- Most post-season receiving yards in a single game: 145 yards.
NFL Career Statistics
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Won the Super Bowl | |
| Bold | Career high |
Regular season
| Year | Team | Games | Receiving | Rushing | Fumbles | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2003 | ARI | 16 | 16 | 101 | 1,377 | 13.6 | 71 | 8 | 5 | 40 | 8.0 | 23 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| 2004 | ARI | 10 | 9 | 56 | 623 | 11.1 | 31 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3.0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 2005 | ARI | 14 | 14 | 102 | 1,402 | 13.7 | 54 | 7 | 12 | 45 | 3.8 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 2006 | ARI | 16 | 16 | 83 | 1,203 | 14.5 | 64 | 4 | 5 | 28 | 5.6 | 18 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2007 | ARI | 12 | 11 | 71 | 853 | 12.0 | 44 | 9 | 1 | 14 | 14.0 | 14 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 2008 | ARI | 12 | 11 | 89 | 1,038 | 11.7 | 79 | 11 | 9 | 67 | 7.4 | 30 | 0 | 4 | 3 |
| 2009 | ARI | 15 | 15 | 84 | 1,024 | 12.2 | 44 | 4 | 3 | 12 | 4.0 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| 2010 | BAL | 16 | 16 | 64 | 837 | 13.1 | 61 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 1.0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 2011 | BAL | 14 | 14 | 57 | 887 | 15.6 | 56 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2012 | BAL | 15 | 15 | 65 | 921 | 14.2 | 43 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 3.0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2013 | SF | 16 | 16 | 85 | 1,179 | 13.9 | 63 | 7 | 2 | 11 | 5.5 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | SF | 16 | 16 | 83 | 1,062 | 12.8 | 76 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 4.0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2015 | SF | 14 | 13 | 69 | 789 | 11.4 | 51 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 |
| 2016 | DET | 16 | 16 | 67 | 584 | 8.7 | 35 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 202 | 198 | 1,076 | 13,779 | 12.8 | 79 | 82 | 42 | 229 | 5.5 | 30 | 1 | 18 | 13 | |
Personal Life and Community Work
Anquan Boldin has a brother, DJ Boldin, who is a wide receivers coach. One of his cousins is Joe Milton, a quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys.
Boldin is a Christian. When he played for the Baltimore Ravens, he often led Bible study sessions in the locker room.
In 2004, Boldin started the Anquan Boldin Foundation, also known as the Q81 Foundation. This foundation helps underprivileged children by providing them with more chances for education and life skills. The Q81 Foundation has programs in Arizona, Baltimore, and Florida. These programs include the annual Q-Festival Weekend, Holiday Turkey Drive, and Shopping Spree. They also have the Q81 Summer Enrichment Program, which partners with Florida Crystals. The Foundation also offers scholarships and dental programs for children. It celebrates young people who achieve great things in school and their communities.
In March 2012, Boldin and his former Cardinals teammate Larry Fitzgerald traveled to Ethiopia. There, they volunteered to help move rocks to create arable land, which is land suitable for growing crops.
See also
In Spanish: Anquan Boldin para niños
