Anquan Boldin facts for kids
Anquan Kenmile Boldin Sr. (born October 3, 1980) is a former American professional football wide receiver. He played in the National Football League (NFL) for fourteen seasons. Boldin played college football for the Florida State Seminoles. He was then chosen by the Arizona Cardinals 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 picked for three Pro Bowls during his career. He won Super Bowl XLVII with the Baltimore Ravens. In 2015, he received the Walter Payton Man of the Year award for his amazing work helping communities. Many people think Boldin is one of the best wide receivers of his time.
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 | |||||||
Contents
Early Life and High School Sports
Anquan Boldin grew up in Pahokee, Florida. In high school, he was a talented athlete. He played football, basketball, and ran track at Pahokee High School. As a quarterback, he was so good that he was named Florida's "Mr. Football" in 1998.
During his senior year, his team had a perfect 10–0 record in the regular season. He was also chosen for the USA Today first-team and named "Florida Player of the Year." In track, he was a strong sprinter, jumper, and thrower. In 2007, he was honored as one of the top 33 players in Florida's high school football history.
College Career at Florida State
Boldin went to Florida State University from 1999 to 2002. He started as a quarterback but switched to wide receiver to get more playing time. This was a great move!
In 23 games as a wide receiver, he caught 118 passes for 1,790 yards. He also scored 21 touchdowns. He had some amazing games, including one with nine catches for 175 yards against Notre Dame.
Professional Football Journey
Starting with the Arizona Cardinals
Anquan Boldin was picked by the Arizona Cardinals in the second round of the 2003 NFL draft. He was the 54th player chosen overall.
| 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 | ||||||||||||
Rookie Year Success (2003)
Boldin had an incredible start to his NFL career. In his very first game, he set an NFL record for most receiving yards by a rookie. He caught 10 passes for 217 yards against the Detroit Lions. He also set a record for most catches in his first 26 games (157).
He finished his rookie season with 101 catches, 1,377 receiving yards, and eight touchdowns. Because of his amazing performance, he was the only rookie chosen for the 2004 Pro Bowl. He was also named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Continued Success with the Cardinals
After his rookie year, Boldin continued to be a top receiver for the Cardinals. In 2005, even though he missed some games due to injury, he still caught over 100 passes for more than 1,400 yards. That year, he and teammate Larry Fitzgerald became only the third duo in NFL history to each have over 100 catches and 1,400 yards in the same season.
In 2006, Boldin had 83 catches for 1,203 yards and four touchdowns, earning him his second Pro Bowl selection. In 2007, he became the fastest player in NFL history to reach 400 career receptions.
In 2008, Boldin had another strong season, making it to his third Pro Bowl. He also became the fastest player to reach 500 receptions. In the Super Bowl XLIII against the Pittsburgh Steelers, he caught eight passes for 84 yards.
Moving to the Baltimore Ravens
In 2010, Boldin was traded to the Baltimore Ravens. He quickly became a key player for them. 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, earning him the AFC Offensive Player of the Week award. He also became the fastest player to reach 600 receptions.
Super Bowl Champion (2012)
The 2012 season was a highlight for Boldin. He led the Ravens in receiving yards for the third year in a row. In the playoffs, he had some amazing games. In the Wild Card Round, he set a Ravens franchise record with 145 receiving yards in a playoff game.
The Ravens went all the way to Super Bowl XLVII. Boldin played a big part in their victory over the San Francisco 49ers. He had six catches for 104 yards and scored one touchdown in the Super Bowl. This was his first championship title!
Time with the San Francisco 49ers
In 2013, Boldin was traded to the San Francisco 49ers. In his first game with the 49ers, he had an incredible performance. He caught 13 passes for 208 yards and a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers. This made him the first wide receiver to gain over 100 yards in his debut game for three different teams.
He finished his first year with the 49ers with 85 catches, 1,179 yards, and seven touchdowns. In 2014, he continued to play well, with 83 catches for 1,062 yards. In 2015, he passed 13,000 career receiving yards. That year, he also won the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award for his great community work.
Final Seasons and Retirement
In 2016, Boldin signed with the Detroit Lions. He continued to break records, moving into the top 10 all-time for career receptions. He finished the season with 67 catches for 584 yards and eight touchdowns.
In 2017, Boldin briefly signed with the Buffalo Bills. However, he decided to retire shortly after, saying his life's purpose was bigger than football. He wanted to focus on humanitarian work. Anquan Boldin officially retired with the Baltimore Ravens in 2019.
NFL Records
- Most receiving yards in first career game: 217
- Most receptions in the first 26 games of an NFL career: 157
- Fastest to record 400 career receptions (in 67 games)
- Fastest to record 500 career receptions (in 80 games)
Personal Life and Community Work
Anquan Boldin is a Christian. While playing for the Baltimore Ravens, he often led Bible study sessions with his teammates.
He started the Anquan Boldin Foundation, also known as the Q81 Foundation, in 2004. This foundation helps underprivileged children by expanding their educational and life opportunities. The Q81 Foundation has programs in different cities, including Florida, Arizona, and Baltimore. They offer scholarships and dental programs for kids. They also reward young people for their achievements in school and the community.
In 2012, Boldin and his former teammate Larry Fitzgerald traveled to Ethiopia. They volunteered to help move rocks to create land that could be used for farming.
See also
In Spanish: Anquan Boldin para niños
