Jeff Saturday facts for kids
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Saturday in 2022
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| No. 63 | |||||||
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| Position: | Center | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born: | June 18, 1975 Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 295 lb (134 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school: | Shamrock (Tucker, Georgia) | ||||||
| College: | North Carolina (1993–1997) | ||||||
| Undrafted: | 1998 | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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| Head coaching record | |||||||
| Regular season: | NFL: 1–7 (.125) High school: 24–23 (.511) |
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| Career: | 25–30 (.455) | ||||||
| Player stats at PFR | |||||||
Jeffrey Bryant Saturday (born June 18, 1975) is a former American football player and coach. He played as a center in the National Football League (NFL). A center is a player who snaps the ball to the quarterback and blocks for the offense.
Jeff Saturday spent most of his career with the Indianapolis Colts. He was chosen for the Pro Bowl six times, which means he was one of the best players at his position. He also won a Super Bowl with the Colts. After playing, he became a sports analyst for ESPN. In 2022, he was the interim head coach for the Colts for part of the season.
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Growing Up and High School Football
Jeff Saturday was born in Atlanta, Georgia. He went to Shamrock High School in Decatur, Georgia. His high school coach, Ron Gartrell, said that Jeff was a very important player. "Eighty percent of our offense was behind Jeff," Gartrell explained. This means most of their plays relied on him.
Even though he was a great player, some college coaches thought he was too short. But he still got a scholarship to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. This happened partly because his high school coach was friends with the college's defensive coordinator.
College Career Highlights
Jeff Saturday played college football for the North Carolina Tar Heels from 1994 to 1997. He was a four-year letterman, meaning he played well enough to earn a special award each year.
He was a team captain in his junior and senior years. He was also chosen as a first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) player in 1996 and 1997. This means he was one of the best centers in his college conference.
Playing in the NFL
Jeff Saturday was not chosen in the 1998 NFL draft. This means no team picked him right away. He was seen as a hard worker but sometimes too small to play against very strong defensive players.
Starting with the Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens signed Jeff Saturday in 1998. But they let him go before he played any games for them. After this, he went back home and worked at an electrical supply store.
Becoming a Star with the Indianapolis Colts
Jeff Saturday got another chance with the Indianapolis Colts in 1999. A former college teammate told the Colts about him. The Colts decided to give him a tryout.
He joined the Colts and soon became their starting center. He started 85 games in a row before getting injured in 2004. For 12 seasons, he was the main center for the Colts. He helped protect the quarterback, Peyton Manning. The Colts' offensive line was known for giving up very few quarterback sacks.
In 2006, Jeff Saturday helped the Colts win the AFC Championship Game. He even scored a touchdown by recovering a teammate's fumble! He also made a key block that helped the Colts score the winning touchdown. Two weeks later, he helped the Colts win Super Bowl XLI against the Chicago Bears.
He played 13 seasons with the Colts, starting 188 games. He was a very important part of their team.
Finishing with the Green Bay Packers
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In 2012, Jeff Saturday signed with the Green Bay Packers. He played one season there. Even though he was benched for a short time, he was still chosen for his sixth Pro Bowl. In that Pro Bowl game, he shared a special moment with his old teammate, Peyton Manning. They took one last snap together, even though they were on different teams.
Retirement from Football
Jeff Saturday announced his retirement from football on January 25, 2013. He signed a special one-day contract with the Colts. This allowed him to officially retire as a player for the team where he spent most of his career.
Awards and Honors
Jeff Saturday was chosen for the Pro Bowl six times. He was also named to the NFL All-Pro First-team twice, in 2005 and 2007. This means he was considered one of the best players in the entire NFL.
In 2015, the Indianapolis Colts Ring of Honor added him to their special list of great players. He was also inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 2017.
Coaching Career
High School Coaching
In 2017, Jeff Saturday became the head coach at Hebron Christian Academy in Georgia. He coached there for three years, leading his team to the playoffs every season. He won three playoff games during his time there.
NFL Interim Head Coach
On November 7, 2022, the Indianapolis Colts named Jeff Saturday their interim head coach. This means he was a temporary coach after the team's previous coach was let go. This was a big surprise because he had only coached high school football before.
Many people were surprised by this choice. But the Colts' owner, Jim Irsay, said he believed in Saturday. Jeff Saturday won his first game as an NFL head coach against the Las Vegas Raiders. He finished the 2022 season as the interim coach. In February 2023, the Colts hired a new head coach, and Saturday returned to his role at ESPN.
Personal Life
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Jeff Saturday is part of the executive committee for the NFL Players' Association. This group helps represent NFL players. He was important in making a big agreement between the NFL and its players in 2011.
Since 2013, he has worked for ESPN. You might see him on shows like NFL Live or SportsCenter. His oldest son, Jeffrey, also played football for the North Carolina Tar Heels in college.
