Björn Werner facts for kids
Werner in 2022
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| Berlin Thunder (ELF) | |||||||||
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| Position: | Co-owner and sports director | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | August 30, 1990 Berlin, Germany |
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| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 255 lb (116 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Salisbury School (Salisbury, Connecticut) |
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| College: | Florida State (2010–2012) | ||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2013 / Round: 1 / Pick: 24 | ||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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Björn Werner (born August 30, 1990) is a former professional American football player from Germany. He played as a defensive end for the Indianapolis Colts in the National Football League (NFL).
Björn played college football for the Florida State Seminoles. He was recognized as an unanimous All-American in 2012. The Indianapolis Colts chose him in the first round of the 2013 NFL draft. Today, Björn is a co-owner and sports director for the Berlin Thunder. This team plays in the European League of Football (ELF).
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Björn Werner's Early Life
Björn Werner grew up in Berlin, Germany. He started playing football for the Berlin Adler team. In 2007, he went to Salisbury School in Salisbury, Connecticut, as an exchange student. This was part of a special program.
During his time there, he made 54 tackles and 12 sacks in just eight games. After that, he went back to Germany for a year. In 2008, he played for the U-19 German national team. They won their game against the Poland U-19 team with a score of 67–0.
In 2009, Björn returned to Salisbury School. In his senior year, he had 57 tackles, three sacks, and blocked two field goals. Even though he only played high school football for two years, he was a top player. Many colleges wanted him to play for them. He chose to play for Florida State University.
Playing College Football
Björn Werner went to Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida. He played for the Florida State Seminoles football team from 2010 to 2012.
As a new player in 2010, he played in all 14 games. He made 20 tackles and 3.5 sacks. In his second year, he became a starter. He made 37 tackles and 7 sacks. The Florida State defense was one of the best in the country.
In his third year, 2012, he had his best college season. He made 42 tackles and 13 sacks. He was named the 2012 Defensive Player of the Year.
Playing in the NFL
Getting Ready for the NFL Draft
Before the 2013 NFL draft, many experts thought Björn Werner would be chosen in the first round. By the middle of the college season, he was considered one of the top three players. On January 3, 2013, Björn announced he would enter the NFL draft.
| 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 | Bench press | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft 3+1⁄4 in (1.91 m) |
266 lb (121 kg) |
33+1⁄4 in (0.84 m) |
9+5⁄8 in (0.24 m) |
4.83 s | 1.69 s | 2.81 s | 4.40 s | 7.30 s | 31.0 in (0.79 m) |
9 ft 3 in (2.82 m) |
25 reps | |
| All values from NFL Combine | ||||||||||||
With the Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts picked Björn Werner in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He was the 24th player chosen overall.
On July 24, 2013, Björn signed a four-year contract with the Colts. His first NFL game was on September 8, 2013. He made his first tackle in a game against the Oakland Raiders. In week 15, he got his first NFL sack against the Houston Texans. During that season, Björn played in 13 games. He made 18 tackles and 2.5 sacks. He also played in the Colts' playoff games.
2014 Season
In 2014, Björn had 3 tackles in the first game against the Denver Broncos. He had his first game with two sacks against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 5. He continued to play for the Colts in their playoff games.
2015 Season
Björn played in 10 games during the 2015 season. He made 13 tackles. On March 8, 2016, the Colts released him from the team.
With the Jacksonville Jaguars
Björn Werner signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars on May 11, 2016. However, he was released by the Jaguars on August 30, 2016.
Retiring from Football
On January 15, 2017, Björn Werner announced he was retiring from professional football. He was working as a commentator for a German TV channel at the time. He said he had ongoing problems from injuries. Björn wanted to keep helping young European players. His goal was to help them become players in America and the NFL.
After the NFL: European Football
On September 21, 2021, it was announced that Björn Werner became a co-owner of the Berlin Thunder. This team is part of the European League of Football (ELF). He also works as the sports director for the team.
Being a Sports Commentator
Since he retired from playing football, Björn Werner has worked in television. He is a commentator and analyst for college (NCAA) and NFL games in Germany. He also co-hosts a podcast called Football Bromance.
