Charlie Garner facts for kids

Charlie Garner III (born February 13, 1972) is a former American professional football player. He was a talented running back in the National Football League (NFL). Charlie played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers. He was chosen by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1994 NFL draft. He also played for the San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Raiders, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Early Life and High School Football

Charlie Garner grew up in Falls Church, Virginia. He went to J.E.B. Stuart High School, which is now called Justice High School. In his final year of high school, Charlie was an amazing player. He was named Virginia's player of the year. He ran for over 2,000 yards and scored 38 touchdowns.

On October 16, 2009, his high school jersey number 30 was officially retired. This means no other player at his old high school will wear that number again. It was a special ceremony held during halftime of a game.

College Football Career

Before joining a major university, Charlie Garner played at Scottsdale Community College in Arizona in 1991. There, he set new records for rushing yards. He gained 430 yards in one game and 765 yards in two games in a row.

After that, Charlie transferred to the University of Tennessee. He studied business and earned his degree there. He was a key player for the Tennessee Volunteers football team. He even started ahead of another future NFL running back, James Stewart.

Here are his stats from his time at Tennessee:

• 1992: He carried the ball 154 times for 928 yards and scored 2 touchdowns. He also caught 5 passes for 25 yards.
• 1993: He carried the ball 159 times for 1,161 yards and scored 8 touchdowns. He caught 12 passes for 81 yards.

Professional NFL Career

Charlie Garner was picked by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round of the 1994 NFL draft. He was the 42nd player chosen overall.

He was known as a very versatile running back. This means he was great at both running with the ball and catching passes. In 1995, he had an incredible game against Washington, rushing for 120 yards and scoring three touchdowns.

One of his best seasons was in 2002–03 with the Oakland Raiders. He was the team's top rusher with 962 yards and seven touchdowns. He also led all NFL running backs in catching passes, with 91 receptions for 941 yards and four more touchdowns. His 91 catches and 941 receiving yards were among the highest ever for a running back in NFL history.

Charlie Garner was nicknamed "IO," which stood for "Instant Offense." This was because he was so good at both running and receiving, making him a threat to score at any moment.

In August 2005, Charlie was released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This happened after he had a knee injury the season before. Over his entire career, he rushed for 7,097 yards and scored 39 touchdowns. He also caught 419 passes for 3,711 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Life After Football

After his football career, Charlie Garner faced some health challenges. In 2017, doctors believed he might have a condition called chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). This condition affects the brain and is often found in former athletes who have had many head impacts. CTE can only be officially diagnosed after a person has passed away.

Charlie has spoken openly about his struggles. He mentioned having trouble remembering things, like where his car is parked. He also said he sometimes forgets conversations he just had. Bright lights can bother him, and he doesn't always feel quite right.

NFL Career Statistics