Brandon Magee facts for kids

Brandon Magee (born October 22, 1990) is a former American athlete. He played both professional football and baseball. In football, he was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the Dallas Cowboys, Cleveland Browns, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In baseball, he played for the Boston Red Sox in Major League Baseball (MLB). Before becoming a professional, he was a star in both sports at Arizona State University.

Early Life and High School Sports

Brandon Magee grew up in Corona, California. He went to Centennial High School. There, he was a key player on both the varsity baseball and football teams for four years.

During his senior year in football, Brandon made 86 tackles. He also led his team with 7.5 sacks. A sack is when a defensive player tackles the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage. He was the team leader in sacks during both his junior and senior years.

Throughout his high school football career, Brandon had 193 tackles and 11 sacks. He helped his team win League Titles four years in a row. They also won CIF Southern Section Titles in 2004 and 2007.

Experts like ESPN and Scout.com recognized Brandon as a top athlete. He was considered one of the best "weak side linebackers" in the country. A weak side linebacker usually plays on the side of the field with fewer offensive players.

After high school, Brandon chose to attend Arizona State University. He picked ASU over other big universities like Arizona and Tennessee.

College Career at Arizona State

Brandon Magee received a football scholarship to Arizona State University. He studied Education and Sociology there. He played football for five years, appearing in 44 games.

As a weakside linebacker, he made 231 tackles. He also had 10 sacks and 24.5 tackles for losses. He even caught three interceptions, returning one for a touchdown.

Brandon was also a talented baseball player at ASU. He played as an outfielder for the Sun Devil baseball team. His college baseball team won two Pac-12 titles. They also went to the College World Series twice.

Professional Football Career

Dallas Cowboys

After the 2013 NFL draft, the Dallas Cowboys signed Brandon Magee. He was an undrafted free agent, meaning no team picked him in the draft. The Cowboys gave him a good amount of guaranteed money. He played well in the team's practice games, making 16 tackles. However, he was released by the team before the regular season started on August 31, 2013.

Cleveland Browns

The very next day, on September 1, 2013, the Cleveland Browns picked up Brandon. He played in eight games for the Browns. He mostly contributed on special teams. Special teams are units that play during kickoffs, punts, and field goals. He was released by the Browns in July 2014.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

On July 24, 2014, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers claimed Brandon Magee. He was released by the Buccaneers in August but then signed to their practice squad. A practice squad allows teams to keep extra players who can be called up to the main team. He was moved to the active roster in September. However, he suffered a torn pectoral muscle in December and was placed on the injured reserve list. He was released by the Buccaneers in March 2015.

Professional Baseball Career

Brandon Magee was also a talented baseball player. The Boston Red Sox selected him in the 23rd round of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft. He signed with them in July 2012. He had been drafted twice before by other teams, but he chose to play college sports first.

Brandon attended spring training with the Red Sox in 2012, 2013, and 2014. This was while he was also playing in the NFL. Brandon Magee is known for being the only athlete in the 21st century to play professionally in both the NFL and MLB.

Philanthropy and Community Work

Brandon Magee has always been dedicated to helping his community. In high school, he volunteered in Corona, California. He and his friends hosted events for teenagers. They wanted to help keep their peers safe and involved in positive activities. They organized Halloween parties and talent shows. They also helped open two youth centers called Mountain Top.

During his time at Arizona State, Brandon visited over 30 elementary schools. He talked to kids about important topics. These included overcoming challenges, the value of education, and having a positive attitude. He also helped organize health fairs for children and their families. He visited hospitals, churches, and other youth groups in the Phoenix area. Brandon also spoke at Canyon State Academy about the benefits of doing well in school.