Chris Leak facts for kids
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| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 3, 1985 Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Florida |
| Playing career | |
| 1999–2002 | Independence HS (NC) |
| 2003–2006 | Florida |
| 2007 | Chicago Bears* |
| 2008 | Hamilton Tiger-Cats |
| 2008–2010 | Montreal Alouettes |
| 2011 | Saskatchewan Roughriders |
| 2012 | Jacksonville Sharks |
| 2012 | Orlando Predators |
| Position(s) | Quarterback |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 2013 | Florida (GA) |
| 2014 | Florida (WR) |
| 2016 | Edgewater HS (FL) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Awards | |
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Christopher Patrick Leak (born May 3, 1985) is an American football coach and former quarterback. A quarterback is like the team's leader on the field, throwing the ball to teammates. Chris Leak played college football for the University of Florida. He led the Florida Gators to win the national championship in 2007. He also played professionally for teams like the Chicago Bears in the NFL, and teams in the Canadian Football League (CFL) and Arena Football League (AFL).
Contents
Early Life and High School Success
Chris Leak was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 1985. Even when he was in 8th grade, a college coach offered him a scholarship to play football! This showed how talented he was from a young age.
He went to Independence High School in Charlotte. There, he was the starting quarterback for the Independence Patriots football team for four years. Chris led his team to win three state championships in a row! He set amazing records for North Carolina, like the most passing yards and most touchdown passes in a career. Many people thought he was one of the best high school quarterbacks ever. He was even named Parade magazine's Player of the Year in 2003.
College Football Journey
Chris Leak earned a scholarship to the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. He played for the Florida Gators football team from 2003 to 2006. Chris was known for being a quiet leader, and his teammates chose him as a team captain twice.
Starting Strong as a Freshman
Chris started playing for the Gators as a freshman in 2003. He quickly became the main starting quarterback. In his first year, he set a record for freshmen in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), which is a big group of college sports teams. He helped his team win against strong opponents, including the LSU Tigers, who later became national champions that year. Chris was recognized as one of the best freshmen players.
Growing as a Quarterback
In 2004, Chris continued to improve his skills. He started all of Florida's games. He even tied a school record by throwing six touchdowns in one game! After some changes with the coaching staff, Urban Meyer became the new head coach in 2004. Chris had to learn a new offensive style, which was his third different one in three years.
Leading the Gators to a Championship
Before his senior year in 2006, some wondered if Chris would still be the starting quarterback because of a talented freshman named Tim Tebow. But Coach Meyer said Chris would definitely be the starter. The 2006 season was a huge success for Chris. He led the Gators to win their first SEC Championship since 2000. This earned them a spot in the national championship game against the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Chris also broke many of the Gators' passing records that were held by Heisman Trophy-winner Danny Wuerffel. He broke the record for career passing yards during the 2006 SEC championship game.
On January 8, 2007, Chris led the Florida Gators to win their second national championship! They beat the Ohio State Buckeyes 41–14. Chris was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) for his great performance in that game. He completed 25 of 36 passes for 213 yards and one touchdown.
Academics and Community Work
Chris was also a great student. He was on the SEC Academic Honor Roll every year he was at Florida. He graduated from the University of Florida with honors in sociology in December 2006. He even gave a speech at his graduation ceremony.
Chris also spent time helping kids through the Goodwill Gators Program. He encouraged them to focus on school and make good choices. In his hometown, he worked with the Boys and Girls Club and spoke at middle schools to inspire students to reach their goals.
College Statistics
| Year | Team | Passing | Rushing | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Y/A | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | ||
| 2003 | Florida | 190 | 320 | 59.4 | 2,435 | 7.6 | 16 | 11 | 132.9 | 68 | –53 | –0.8 | 2 |
| 2004 | Florida | 238 | 399 | 59.6 | 3,197 | 8.0 | 29 | 12 | 144.9 | 61 | 79 | 1.3 | 2 |
| 2005 | Florida | 235 | 374 | 62.8 | 2,639 | 7.1 | 20 | 6 | 136.5 | 105 | 81 | 0.8 | 6 |
| 2006 | Florida | 232 | 365 | 63.6 | 2,942 | 8.1 | 23 | 13 | 144.9 | 77 | 30 | 0.4 | 3 |
| Career | 895 | 1,458 | 61.4 | 11,213 | 7.7 | 88 | 42 | 140.1 | 311 | 137 | 0.4 | 13 | |
Professional Football Career
After college, Chris Leak played for several professional football teams.
NFL Experience
Chris was not chosen in the 2007 NFL draft, but the Chicago Bears signed him right after. He trained with the team but only played in one preseason game. He was later released from the team.
Playing in Canada
In 2008, Chris signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the Canadian Football League (CFL). Soon after, he joined the Montreal Alouettes. In 2009, he threw his first CFL touchdown pass! The Montreal Alouettes went on to win the Grey Cup championship that year.
In 2010, Chris helped the Alouettes win another game when their starting quarterback was injured. He later made his first start as a CFL quarterback. The Montreal Alouettes won the Grey Cup again in 2010, making Chris a two-time Grey Cup champion! In 2011, he briefly played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Arena Football League
In 2011, Chris signed with the Jacksonville Sharks in the Arena Football League (AFL). He played one game, throwing five touchdowns. In 2012, he became the starting quarterback for the Orlando Predators. During his time with Orlando, he threw for 2,793 yards and 55 touchdowns.
Life After Playing Football
After his playing career, Chris Leak continued to be involved in football.
Coaching and Development
In 2013, Chris joined the Florida Gators coaching staff as a quality control coach, helping with the team's offense. In 2014, he was promoted to coach the wide receivers.
In 2015, Chris worked for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, helping with football development and youth outreach. In 2016, he became the head coach for the football team at Edgewater High School in Orlando, Florida.
Current Activities
In 2017, Chris Leak started his own program called Air Strike Passing Academy. This program helps young quarterbacks develop their skills. He lives in Orlando, Florida.
See also
- List of Chicago Bears players
- List of University of Florida alumni
