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 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||
Björn Werner (born August 30, 1990) is a German former professional American football player. He played as a defensive end for the Indianapolis Colts in the National Football League (NFL). A defensive end is a player who tries to stop the other team's offense.
Werner played college football for the Florida State Seminoles. He was recognized as an unanimous All-American in 2012, which means he was considered one of the best college players. The Indianapolis Colts chose him in the first round of the 2013 NFL draft. Today, he is a co-owner and sports director for the Berlin Thunder in the European League of Football (ELF).
Contents
Early Life and Football Start
Björn Werner grew up in Berlin, Germany. He first played football for a local team called the Berlin Adler. In 2007, he went to Salisbury School in Salisbury, Connecticut, as an exchange student. This was part of a special program to help young athletes.
High School Football Success
During his first year at Salisbury, Werner played only eight games. Even so, he made 54 tackles, including 12 sacks. A sack is when a defensive player tackles the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage. He also recovered two fumbles. After this, he returned to Germany for a year.
In 2008, he played for the U-19 German national team. They won a game against Poland with a score of 67–0. Werner went back to Salisbury in 2009 for his senior year. He continued to play well, making 57 tackles and three sacks in seven games.
Choosing a College Team
Even though he only played high school football for two years, experts thought Werner was a very promising player. He was ranked as one of the top prospects in Connecticut. Werner decided to play for Florida State University. He chose them over other big schools like Oregon and Miami.
College Football Career
Werner joined the Florida State University football team in Tallahassee, Florida, in 2010. He played for coach Jimbo Fisher's Florida State Seminoles football team until 2012.
Freshman and Sophomore Years
As a new player (a "true freshman"), he played in all 14 games. He made 20 tackles and 3.5 sacks. In his second year (sophomore season), he became a starting player. He made 37 tackles and 7 sacks. The Florida State defense was one of the best in the country that year.
Junior Year and Awards
His junior year was his best in college. He made 42 tackles and an impressive 13 sacks. Because of his great performance, he was named the 2012 Defensive Player of the Year. This showed he was one of the top defensive players in college football.
Professional Football Journey
After his successful college career, Björn Werner decided to enter the 2013 NFL draft. This is where professional teams choose new players.
Getting Ready for the NFL Draft
Before the draft, experts predicted Werner would be chosen in the first round. He was even considered a top-3 player at one point. On January 3, 2013, he officially announced he would enter the draft. He then worked with an agent to help him prepare.
| 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 | ||||||||||||
Playing for 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.
First Season (2013)
On July 24, 2013, Werner 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. Later that season, he got his first NFL sack against the Houston Texans. In total, he played in 13 games, making 18 tackles and 2.5 sacks. He also played in the Colts' playoff games.
Second Season (2014)
In 2014, Werner had 3 tackles in the first game against the Denver Broncos. He had his best game that season against the Baltimore Ravens, where he made two sacks. He continued to play for the Colts throughout the season and was active for some of their playoff games.
Third Season (2015)
Werner played in 10 games during the 2015 season. He made 13 tackles. On March 8, 2016, the Colts decided to release him from their team.
Time with the Jacksonville Jaguars
After leaving the Colts, Werner signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars on May 11, 2016. However, he was released by the Jaguars later that year, on August 30, 2016.
Retirement from Playing
On January 15, 2017, Björn Werner announced he was retiring from playing professional football. He explained that ongoing injuries made it difficult for him to continue. Even after retiring, Werner wanted to keep helping young European players. He aims to support them in becoming players in America and the NFL.
European League of Football Involvement
On September 21, 2021, it was announced that Björn Werner became a co-owner of the Berlin Thunder. This team plays in the European League of Football (ELF). In this role, he helps manage the team and its sports operations.
Broadcasting Career
Since he stopped playing football, Werner has become a commentator and analyst. He talks about college (NCAA) and NFL games on German television. He also co-hosts a podcast called Football Bromance, where he discusses football topics.
