Gary Brackett facts for kids
Brackett in 2007
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| Position: | Linebacker | ||||||||||||||
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| Born: | May 23, 1980 Glassboro, New Jersey, U.S. |
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| Height: | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 235 lb (107 kg) | ||||||||||||||
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| High school: | Glassboro | ||||||||||||||
| College: | Rutgers | ||||||||||||||
| Undrafted: | 2003 | ||||||||||||||
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Gary Lawrence Brackett (born May 23, 1980) is a former American football player. He was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Rutgers University. Later, he joined the Indianapolis Colts in 2003. Gary played his entire 9-year career with the Colts. He was a key player on the team that won Super Bowl XLI.
Contents
Who is Gary Brackett?
Gary Brackett was a talented football player known for his strong defense. He played as a linebacker, which is a position that helps stop the other team from scoring. He was a very important part of the Indianapolis Colts team for many years.
Growing Up and College
Gary's journey to the NFL started when he was young. He worked hard in high school and college to become the player he was.
High School Days
Gary went to Glassboro High School in Glassboro, New Jersey. He was a top player there. He was chosen as an "All-South Jersey" player twice. This means he was one of the best players in his area. He was also picked for the "All-Group I" and "All-Tri-County Conference" teams two times each.
College Football Journey
After high school, Gary went to Rutgers University. He joined the football team as a "walk-on." This means he wasn't given a scholarship right away. He had to prove himself to earn a spot. By his last year, he became the captain of the defense. He also won the team's "Most Valuable Player" award for defense. This shows how much he improved and how important he was to the team.
Playing in the NFL
Gary Brackett played professional football for nine seasons. He spent his entire career with one team, the Indianapolis Colts.
Starting His Pro Career
In 2003, the Indianapolis Colts signed Gary. He wasn't chosen in the NFL Draft, but the Colts saw his talent. He worked hard in training camp to earn a spot on the team. He was good at covering kickoffs, which impressed the coaches.
Gary played his first professional game against the Cleveland Browns. He made his first tackle in that game. Later that season, he had his best game with six tackles against the Houston Texans. He also got his first "sack" against the Buffalo Bills. A sack is when a defensive player tackles the opposing team's quarterback.
Super Bowl Wins and More!
In 2005, Gary had a fantastic year with 127 tackles. He also made three interceptions and one sack. In 2006, he became the defensive captain for the Colts. He had 120 tackles that year. He led the Colts to win Super Bowl XLI against the Chicago Bears. This was a huge achievement for Gary and his team!
In 2007, Gary continued to play well, making 116 tackles and four interceptions. He had 99 tackles in both 2008 and 2009. He also played in Super Bowl XLIV in 2010, though the Colts lost that game to the New Orleans Saints. After the 2011 season, Gary retired from the NFL. During his career, he was named the AFC Defensive Player-of-the-Week twice. This award goes to the best defensive player in the AFC conference for that week.
Life After Football
After retiring from the NFL, Gary Brackett didn't stop being busy. He focused on his education and business.
Business and Helping Others
Gary went back to school and earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree. This degree helps people learn how to run businesses. After getting his MBA, he opened several restaurants in Indianapolis. One of them is called CharBlue.
Gary also cares a lot about helping his community. In 2009, he received the Arthur S. Arkush Humanitarian Award. This award is given to NFL players who do great work for charity. Gary won it for his work with the IMPACT Foundation, a charity he started in 2007.
Family Life
In 2011, Gary wrote a book called Winning: From Walk-On to Captain, In Football and Life. It tells his life story, including his challenges and successes in football and life. Gary is married to Ragan, and they have three children: Gabrielle, Gary Jr., and Georgia Reese.
