Chris Ivory facts for kids
Ivory with the New York Jets in 2015
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| Position: | Running back | ||||||||||||
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| Born: | March 22, 1988 Longview, Texas, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 223 lb (101 kg) | ||||||||||||
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| High school: | Longview (Longview, Texas) | ||||||||||||
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| Undrafted: | 2010 | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||||
Christopher Lee Ivory (born March 22, 1988) is a former American football player. He was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Washington State Cougars and Tiffin Dragons.
Chris Ivory started his professional career with the New Orleans Saints in 2010. He was not chosen in the draft but signed as a free agent. Later, he joined the New York Jets in 2013. There, he became a main player and was even selected for the Pro Bowl in 2015. He also played for the Jacksonville Jaguars and Buffalo Bills.
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Early Life and High School Football
Chris Ivory grew up in Longview, Texas. He was a talented athlete in high school. He played both football and ran track at Longview High School. His football team had other future NFL players. These included Trent Williams, Malcolm Kelly, and Robert Henson.
College Football Career
Chris Ivory played college football for two different schools.
Washington State University
Ivory played for Washington State from 2006 to 2008. He faced some injuries during his time there. In 22 games, he rushed for 534 yards and scored four touchdowns. He also returned kickoffs. In 2009, he left the team due to breaking team rules.
Tiffin University
After leaving Washington State, Ivory moved to Tiffin University. This is a smaller school in Tiffin, Ohio. His former coach from Washington State was coaching there. In his last college year, he played five games. He rushed for 223 yards before a knee injury ended his season. Even with injuries, NFL scouts noticed his speed. They thought he might be the first player from Tiffin to be drafted.
Professional Football Journey
Getting Ready for the NFL
Chris Ivory was eligible for the 2010 NFL Draft. However, he did not get an invitation to the NFL Combine. This is where top college players show their skills. Still, he performed well at a special workout day for scouts. Experts thought he might not be drafted. But the New Orleans Saints were interested in him.
New Orleans Saints (2010–2012)
The Saints signed Ivory in 2010 as an undrafted free agent. He impressed coaches in training camp. Early injuries to other players gave him a chance to play. In Week 6, he had a huge game. He rushed for 158 yards against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This was a record for a Saints rookie. He earned "Rookie of the Week" and "Ground Player of the Week" awards.
He finished his first season leading the team in rushing yards. He had 716 yards and five touchdowns. However, he got injured often that year. A foot injury kept him out of the playoffs. He was named to the NFL All-Rookie Team. In 2011 and 2012, he continued to deal with injuries. He played fewer games but still showed his talent.
New York Jets (2013–2015)
In 2013, Ivory was traded to the New York Jets. He signed a three-year contract. He quickly became a key player for the Jets. In 2013, he rushed for 833 yards and three touchdowns.
In 2014, he had a 71-yard touchdown run. This was one of the longest in Jets history. He finished the year with 821 rushing yards and six touchdowns.
The 2015 season was his best. He rushed for 166 yards in a game in London. He set a new career high in rushing yards. He ended the year with 1,070 rushing yards. This made him the rushing leader in the AFC (American Football Conference). Because of his great season, he was chosen for the Pro Bowl. This is a special game for the best players.
Jacksonville Jaguars (2016–2017)
Ivory signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2016. He scored his first touchdown with the team in October. He finished the 2016 season with 439 rushing yards. In 2017, he was a backup player. He rushed for 382 yards and one touchdown. The Jaguars released him in 2018.
Buffalo Bills (2018)
In March 2018, Ivory signed with the Buffalo Bills. He played in 13 games for them. He rushed for 385 yards and one touchdown. He was released by the Bills in 2019.
Career Achievements
Chris Ivory had a successful NFL career. Here are some of his highlights:
