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 on May 23, 1980, is a former professional football player. He was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). Gary played college football at Rutgers University. He joined the Indianapolis Colts in 2003. Brackett played his entire nine-year career with the Colts. He was a key part of their team that won Super Bowl XLI.
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Growing Up and High School
Gary Brackett grew up in Glassboro, New Jersey. He went to Glassboro High School. While there, he was a star football player. He was chosen as an All-South Jersey player twice. He also earned All-Group I and All-Tri-County Conference honors two times each.
College Football Journey
Gary Brackett started his college football career at Rutgers University. He joined the team as a "walk-on." This means he wasn't given a scholarship at first. By his final year, he became the captain of the defense. He also won the team's defensive MVP award. This showed how much he had improved and how important he was to the team.
Playing in the NFL
Joining the Indianapolis Colts
After college, Gary Brackett was not chosen in the 2003 NFL Draft. But on April 27, 2003, the Indianapolis Colts signed him. He joined the team as an undrafted free agent. This was his chance to prove himself in the NFL.
Early Years and Big Plays
During his first training camp in 2003, Gary worked hard. He wanted to earn a spot as a backup linebacker. He also played on special teams. Coaches were impressed by how well he covered kickoffs. He played his first NFL game against the Cleveland Browns. He made one tackle in that game. Later that season, he had a great game against the Houston Texans. He made six tackles. In another game, he got his first career sack. He tackled the Buffalo Bills' quarterback, Drew Bledsoe.
Becoming a Super Bowl Champion
In 2005, Gary had an amazing season. He made 127 tackles, which was a lot! He also had three interceptions and one sack. In 2006, the Colts named him their defensive captain. He made 120 tackles that year. Gary was a starting player when the Colts won Super Bowl XLI. They beat the Chicago Bears in that championship game.
Later Career and Retirement
In 2007, Gary continued to play well. He recorded 116 tackles and four interceptions. He had 99 tackles in both 2008 and 2009. He also started for the Colts in Super Bowl XLIV. However, they lost that game to the New Orleans Saints. After the 2011 season, the Colts released Gary on March 9, 2012. Soon after, he announced his retirement from professional football. During his career, Gary Brackett was named the AFC Defensive Player-of-the-Week twice.
Life After Football
After retiring from the NFL, Gary Brackett went back to school. He earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree. He then started a new career as a businessman. He opened several restaurants in Indianapolis. One of his well-known restaurants is CharBlue.
Personal Life and Giving Back
Gary Brackett faced some tough times early in his career. He lost his mother, father, and brother within a 17-month period starting in 2003.
Despite these challenges, Gary has always been dedicated to helping others. In 2009, he received the Arthur S. Arkush Humanitarian Award. This award is given to an NFL player who does outstanding work in their community. Gary won it for his work with the IMPACT Foundation. He started this charity in 2007.
In 2011, Gary Brackett wrote a book about his life. It's called Winning: From Walk-On to Captain, In Football and Life. The book shares his story, including his successes and struggles. Gary is married to Ragan, and they have three children: Gabrielle, Gary Jr., and Georgia Reese.
