Larry Donnell facts for kids

Larry Donnell, born on November 1, 1988, is a former American football player. He played as a tight end in the NFL. He played college football at Grambling State University. Later, he joined the New York Giants in 2012.

Early Life and Sports

Larry Donnell grew up in Ozark, Alabama. He went to Carroll High School in his hometown. There, he was a talented athlete. He played football, basketball, and baseball for his school teams.

College Football Career

Larry played football for four seasons at Grambling State University. When he first started, he played as a quarterback. However, during his first year, he switched to playing tight end. This position change helped him succeed.

By the end of his college career, Larry had caught 38 passes. These catches gained him 432 yards. He also scored 11 touchdowns. After college, he was not invited to the NFL Scouting Combine. This meant he had to work harder to get noticed by professional teams.

Playing in the NFL

Larry Donnell was not chosen in the 2011 NFL draft. This meant he was an undrafted free agent. He did not play during the 2011 NFL season. However, he kept working towards his dream.

Joining the New York Giants

On March 13, 2012, Larry signed with the New York Giants. He was first part of their practice squad. This is a group of players who train with the team but are not on the main roster.

In 2013, he signed a new contract with the Giants. He played on special teams for the whole season. He also started one game as a tight end. He caught 3 passes for 31 yards that year.

Big Moments with the Giants

On September 25, 2014, Larry had a fantastic game. It was a nationally televised game on Thursday Night Football. He scored 3 touchdowns in that game. He also caught 7 passes for 54 yards. This was a special achievement. He was the first Giants tight end to score three touchdowns in one game since 1962.

In 2015, Larry was on a plane that had a crash landing. This happened on Delta Air Lines Flight 1086. Luckily, he was not hurt. He even shared pictures and videos of the event on his social media.

Later that year, on October 11, 2015, Larry caught a game-winning touchdown pass. This was a 12-yard catch from quarterback Eli Manning. It helped the Giants win against the San Francisco 49ers.

Dealing with Injuries

On December 8, 2015, Larry had to stop playing for the rest of the season. He had a neck injury. This injury happened during a game on November 1. He tried to do a somersault over a defender. He missed four games before being placed on injured reserve.

After the 2015 season, Larry became a restricted free agent. This meant the Giants could still sign him. He signed a one-year contract on April 19, 2016. He got clearance from team doctors to play again. On February 13, 2017, it was reported that the Giants would not re-sign him.

Time with the Baltimore Ravens

On July 30, 2017, Larry signed with the Baltimore Ravens. However, his time with the Ravens was short. On September 1, 2017, he was released by the team. This happened during their final roster cuts before the season started.