Jamie Dukes facts for kids

Jamie Donnell Dukes, born on June 14, 1964, is a former American professional football player. He played as a center in the National Football League (NFL) for 10 seasons. Dukes played for the Atlanta Falcons, Green Bay Packers, and Arizona Cardinals. Before joining the NFL, he played college football for the Florida State Seminoles. In 1985, he was recognized as an All-American.

Early Life and High School

Jamie Dukes was born in Schenectady, New York. He grew up and went to Evans High School in Orlando, Florida.

College Football Career

Dukes played as an offensive guard at Florida State. He was a very important player for the team. In 1985, he became one of the few players in Florida State history to be named an All-American.

He started every single game from 1982 to 1985, playing in 48 games in total. His strong leadership helped his team during those four years. In 1991, Jamie Dukes was honored by being inducted into the FSU Hall of Fame.

Professional Football Career

Even though Jamie Dukes had a great college career, he was not chosen by any team in the 1986 NFL Draft. However, he signed with the Atlanta Falcons as a free agent. He played for the Falcons for eight seasons, from 1986 until the end of the 1993 season. During his time in Atlanta, he played in 110 games.

After leaving the Falcons, he signed a one-year contract with the Green Bay Packers in 1994. He started 6 games for them that season. In 1995, Dukes signed another one-year contract, this time with the Arizona Cardinals. He started 8 games for the Cardinals. After the 1995 season, Jamie Dukes retired from professional football. He finished his career having played in 124 games and starting 62 of them.

Life After Football

After retiring from playing, Jamie Dukes continued to be involved with football and other activities.

Television and Radio Work

In 2006, Dukes joined NFL Network as an analyst. He appeared on shows like NFL Total Access and NFL GameDay Scoreboard. He also contributed to NFL.com. Dukes helped cover important events like the 2008 NFL draft and the 2009 Pro-Bowl.

He was also a popular host on a radio station in Atlanta, WZGC 92.9 FM The Game. In January 2016, Dukes started a podcast called "Ochocinco and Dukes Podcast" with fellow former NFL player Chad Ochocinco.

Jamie Dukes has also been a national spokesman for important health campaigns. These include the NFL's Healthy Heart Campaign and the Fitness Integrated with Teaching (FIT) Kids Act.

Health and Charity

In 2008, Jamie Dukes had a gastric band procedure to help him manage his weight. In 2009, he and his wife, Angela Dukes, started the "Put Up Your Dukes Foundation." This foundation works to help people with their health.

In 2010, Dukes led a large weight-loss program called the "Billion Pound Blitz Initiative." He also works as a Senior VP of Community Relations for Hydro One, a company that makes healthy drinks.

Jamie Dukes has also been involved in charity work. He helped create a workout program for men called "Chachersize for Men." In 2011, he and his wife helped organize the Runway Red Celebrity Kids Fashion Show. This event raised money for children affected by HIV/AIDS.

Author

Jamie Dukes wrote a book called "Frenemals". This book talks about family, friends, and the thoughts we have inside our heads. It aims to help young people understand themselves better.