Branden Albert facts for kids
Albert with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2010
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| No. 76, 71 | |||||
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| Position: | Offensive tackle | ||||
| Personal information | |||||
| Born: | November 4, 1984 Rochester, New York, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | ||||
| Weight: | 314 lb (142 kg) | ||||
| Career information | |||||
| High school: | Glen Burnie (MD) | ||||
| College: | Virginia (2005–2007) | ||||
| NFL Draft: | 2008 / Round: 1 / Pick: 15 | ||||
| Career history | |||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||
Branden Albert (born November 4, 1984) is a former American football player. He played as an offensive tackle for nine seasons in the National Football League (NFL). An offensive tackle is a player whose main job is to block defenders and protect the quarterback. Albert played college football for the Virginia Cavaliers before being chosen by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2008 NFL draft. He also played for the Miami Dolphins and was briefly with the Jacksonville Jaguars before he retired in 2017.
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Early Life and Football Start
Branden Albert grew up in Rochester, New York. His mother, Susan Albert, sent him to Washington, D.C.. There, his older brother Ashley Sims, who played football for the Maryland Terrapins, worked as a probation officer.
Branden started playing football in high school. He was a junior at Glen Burnie High School when he first joined the team. He also played basketball and helped his team reach the state finals in his last two years.
At first, many colleges didn't notice Albert. He was considered a "two-star recruit" by Rivals.com. This meant he wasn't ranked among the top young players. He had only played football for one year. Also, he needed to improve his school grades. The University of Virginia was the only school to offer him a scholarship. They first helped him go to Hargrave Military Academy to improve his grades.
College Football Career
Branden Albert spent the 2004 season at Hargrave Military Academy. He played football there and worked hard on his studies. He was able to get good enough grades and test scores to go to college. Albert later said that Hargrave and his coach, Robert Prunty, were very important for his success.
Albert played in every game during his three years at Virginia. He started all 37 games. He mostly played as an offensive guard. This position helps block for the running backs and quarterback. He was one of the few freshmen at Virginia to start on the offensive line. In his junior year, Albert was named to the First-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference. This was a big honor for him.
Professional Football Career
Kansas City Chiefs
In 2008, Branden Albert was chosen by the Kansas City Chiefs. He was the 15th player picked in the first round of the 2008 NFL draft. This is a big event where NFL teams pick new players from college. Albert was the first guard picked that year. He was also the second player from Virginia chosen in the draft.
On July 24, 2008, Albert signed a five-year contract with the Chiefs. The team decided to move him to the offensive tackle position. Even though he missed some preseason games due to an injury, Albert started 15 games at left tackle. He played very well in his first year.
His second year, 2009, was a bit harder for Albert. He had more penalties and allowed more sacks. A sack is when a defensive player tackles the quarterback. He missed two games because of an ankle injury. But he finished the season stronger. His coach, Todd Haley, said it was an "adjustment period" for Albert.
In 2010 and 2011, Albert became a very important player for the Chiefs. He started almost every game at left tackle. He was a key part of their offensive line. In 2013, Albert had his best season. He helped the Chiefs' running back, Jamaal Charles, gain many yards. Albert was chosen to play in the Pro Bowl that year. The Pro Bowl is an all-star game for the best NFL players.
Miami Dolphins
On March 11, 2014, Albert signed a five-year contract with the Miami Dolphins. He continued to play well for the Dolphins. After the 2015 NFL season, Albert was again chosen for the Pro Bowl. This was his second time being selected for the all-star game.
Jacksonville Jaguars and Retirement
On March 9, 2017, Albert was traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars. However, on July 31, 2017, Albert announced that he was retiring from football. He had played for nine seasons in the NFL. He said he was thankful for all the opportunities football had given him. He also cherished the friendships he made during his time in the league.
