Justin Tuck facts for kids
Tuck signing a football in 2015
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| Position: | Defensive end | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born: | March 29, 1983 Kellyton, Alabama, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 265 lb (120 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | Central Coosa County (Rockford, Alabama) | ||||||||||||
| College: | Notre Dame (2001–2004) | ||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2005 / Round: 3 / Pick: 74 | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||||
Justin Lee Tuck (born March 29, 1983) is a former American football player. He was a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Notre Dame. The New York Giants chose him in the 2005 NFL draft. He won two Super Bowl titles with the Giants. He also played for the Oakland Raiders. After retiring from football, Tuck earned a business degree. He now works for Goldman Sachs, a big financial company.
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Early Life and High School Sports
Justin Tuck grew up in Alabama. His favorite sport was basketball. He even won two state championships with his high school basketball team!
He started playing football in seventh grade. But he only began to take it seriously in high school. He first played as a quarterback. Then he switched to tight end and defensive end.
As a senior in 2000, he was named Alabama Class 4A Player of the Year. During his high school career, Tuck made 492 tackles. He also had 37 sacks and 17 touchdowns as a tight end.
College Football Career
Justin Tuck received a scholarship to play football at the University of Notre Dame. He played for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team from 2001 to 2004.
In his first year (2001), he was "redshirted." This means he practiced with the team but didn't play in games. This allowed him to gain experience without using up a year of his college eligibility.
He played more in his later years. In 2003, he had 13.5 sacks. A sack is when a defensive player tackles the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage.
His teammates called him The Freak because he was so athletic. Tuck holds several defensive records at Notre Dame. He finished his college career with 24.5 sacks. This was a new school record!
He also set records for tackles for loss in a career and sacks in a single season. He earned a degree in management from Notre Dame in 2005.
Professional Football Career
Before the 2005 NFL draft, experts thought Justin Tuck was a great athlete. They noted his speed and strength. However, a knee injury from college made some teams hesitant.
Every defensive end who is going to be picked in the first round is going to be a good pick for whoever they're chosen by, but if I had to tell you what sets me apart, that would be my desire and determination to get better. I know what I need to work on, I know my weaknesses, but I have that work ethic to improve every day. I have that want to be the best player at my position, and I have the belief in myself that one day that will come true.
Playing for the New York Giants
The New York Giants picked Justin Tuck in the third round of the 2005 NFL draft. He signed a four-year contract with the team.
Rookie Season (2005)
As a rookie, Tuck was a backup player. He played on special teams and sometimes filled in at defensive end. He got his first career sack against the Dallas Cowboys. He finished his first season with 33 tackles and one sack.
Injuries and Comeback (2006-2007)
In 2006, Tuck played in only six games because of a foot injury. He had surgery to fix it.
In 2007, he had a great season, even though he only started two games. He recorded 65 tackles and 10 sacks. He helped the Giants' defense put a lot of pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
Super Bowl XLII Champion (2008)
Justin Tuck played a huge role in Super Bowl XLII. The Giants faced the New England Patriots, who were undefeated. Tuck played incredibly well in the game. He had two sacks and a forced fumble. Many people thought he deserved the Super Bowl MVP award. But quarterback Eli Manning won it.
After this amazing season, Tuck was chosen for the Pro Bowl. This is an all-star game for the best players in the NFL. He was also named All-Pro for the first time.
Later Giants Years (2009-2013)
Tuck continued to be a key player for the Giants. In 2009, he injured his shoulder but still played well. He had 60 tackles and six sacks.
In 2010, he had a career-high 76 tackles and 11.5 sacks. He was again named to the Pro Bowl.
Super Bowl XLVI Champion (2011)
In 2011, Tuck dealt with injuries during the regular season. But he was healthy for the playoffs. He played a big part in the Giants' second Super Bowl win in five years. They again beat the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI. Tuck had 3.5 sacks in the playoffs, with two of them coming in the Super Bowl! He joked that Eli Manning "stole my MVP again."
He played two more seasons with the Giants. In 2013, he had another strong year with 11 sacks.
Playing for the Oakland Raiders
In 2014, Justin Tuck signed a two-year contract with the Oakland Raiders. He played in 15 games and recorded five sacks.
In 2015, he suffered a chest injury. He was placed on injured reserve, which ended his season early.
Retirement from Football
Justin Tuck announced his retirement from professional football on February 1, 2016. He played for 11 seasons. On May 6, 2016, he signed a special one-day contract with the New York Giants. This allowed him to officially retire as a Giant.
NFL Career Statistics Summary
Justin Tuck had a very successful NFL career. Here are some of his career totals:
- Total tackles: 510
- Sacks: 66.5
- Forced fumbles: 22
- Fumble recoveries: 6
- Interceptions: 3
- Defensive touchdowns: 1
Personal Life
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Justin Tuck's parents are Jimmy Lee and Elaine Tuck. His father built their family home by hand.
Justin is married to Lauran Williamson. She also went to Notre Dame. They started dating when Justin was in his junior year of college.
When he was a child, Justin was nicknamed "He-Man" because he was so big. He would run around his house yelling famous lines from the Masters of the Universe cartoon!
Justin is cousins with other NFL players, including Seattle Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner.
After winning Super Bowl XLII, Justin became a big celebrity in his home state of Alabama. People were very proud of him.
Justin Tuck also cares about helping others. He has supported different charities. He teamed up with Nike to design sneakers, and all the money went to a campaign called "Let Me Play." He also hosted a billiards event to raise money for his charity, "Tuck's Rush for Literacy."
In May 2018, Justin Tuck earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the University of Pennsylvania.
Images for kids
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Tuck signing a football in 2015
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Justin Tuck at the Giants' Super Bowl XLII champions rally
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Tuck with the Giants in 2012
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Tuck with the Oakland Raiders in 2014
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Justin Tuck at the New York Knicks basketball game against the Miami Heat (May 2012)
See also
In Spanish: Justin Tuck para niños
