Miles Austin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Miles Austin

Austin with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2015
No. 14, 19
Position:	Wide receiver
Personal information
Born:	(1984-06-30) June 30, 1984 (age 40) Summit, New Jersey, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:	215 lb (98 kg)
Career information
High school:	Garfield (NJ)
College:	Monmouth (2002–2005)
Undrafted:	2006
Career history
As player:
Dallas Cowboys (2006–2013) Cleveland Browns (2014) Philadelphia Eagles (2015)
As coach:
San Francisco 49ers (2019) Offensive quality control coach New York Jets (2021–2022) Wide receivers coach
As executive:
Dallas Cowboys (2017–2018) Pro & college scouting intern
Career highlights and awards
2× Pro Bowl (2009, 2010)
Career NFL statistics
Receptions: 361 Receiving yards: 5,273 Receiving touchdowns: 37
Player stats at PFR

Miles Jonathon Austin III (born June 30, 1984) is a former American football player and coach. He was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for 10 years. He played most of his career with the Dallas Cowboys.

Miles played college football for the Monmouth Hawks. He set a school record for receiving yards there. The Cowboys signed him in 2006 even though he wasn't drafted. He played eight seasons with them and was chosen for two Pro Bowls.

His best season was in 2009. He led the National Football Conference (NFC) in receiving yards. He also set a Cowboys record for most receiving yards in one game. Later in his career, Austin played for the Cleveland Browns and Philadelphia Eagles. After retiring, he became a coach. He worked with the San Francisco 49ers and New York Jets.

Early Life and Sports

Miles Austin was born in Summit, New Jersey. He grew up in Garfield, New Jersey. He went to Garfield High School. Miles was a star athlete in high school. He played football, basketball, and ran track.

In football, he played wide receiver and defensive back. As a senior, he earned honors for his skills. He was also a top player in basketball. On the track team, Miles was great at sprinting, jumping, and throwing. He had one of the longest javelin throws in his county's history. He also did well in the triple jump and long jump events.

College Football Career

Miles Austin played college football for the Monmouth Hawks football team. He caught 150 passes during his college career. He gained 2,867 yards and scored 33 touchdowns. He left Monmouth as the school's record holder for receiving yards. Another player, Reggie White Jr., later broke this record.

In 2003, Miles set a new Monmouth record. He caught 12 touchdown passes in one season. At the 2006 NFL combine, he showed his speed. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.47 seconds. He also jumped 40.5 inches in the vertical leap. In 2016, Miles was honored for his achievements. He was inducted into the Monmouth University Athletics Hall of Fame.

Professional Football Journey

Dallas Cowboys Years

Miles Austin joined the Dallas Cowboys in 2006. He was signed as an undrafted free agent. This made him the first player from Monmouth University to play in the NFL. He earned a spot on the team because of his potential.

Starting as a Special Teams Player

In his first year, Miles mostly played on special teams. He returned 29 kickoffs for 753 yards. He also made 5 tackles. His biggest moment was in a playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks. He returned a kickoff for a 93-yard touchdown. This was the first kickoff return touchdown in Cowboys playoff history.

In 2007, Miles became the team's main kickoff returner. He ranked third in the NFC for his average return distance. He also caught his first career pass against the New York Jets.

Earning a Starting Spot

In 2008, Miles worked hard in training camp. He was competing for a starting wide receiver spot. He had a great game against the Green Bay Packers. He gained 115 yards on two catches and scored his first touchdown. This was his first game with over 100 receiving yards.

The 2009 season was a turning point for Miles. He started as the Cowboys' third receiver. On October 11, 2009, he got his first NFL start. He replaced an injured teammate against the Kansas City Chiefs. Miles had an amazing game. He caught 10 passes for 250 yards and 2 touchdowns. This set a new Cowboys record for receiving yards in a single game. He even caught the game-winning touchdown in overtime.

Miles continued to play well. He quickly became a starting receiver. By December 2009, he was chosen for his first Pro Bowl. He led the NFC with 1,320 receiving yards that season. He also tied for first in the NFC with 11 receiving touchdowns.

Continued Success and Challenges

In 2010, Miles signed a six-year contract extension. He continued to be a key player for the Cowboys. He caught 69 passes for 1,041 yards and 7 touchdowns. He made his second straight Pro Bowl appearance. His fellow players ranked him among the top 100 players in the NFL.

The 2011 season started strong for Miles. He had a career-best game with 3 touchdowns. He also caught 9 passes for 143 yards against the San Francisco 49ers. However, he dealt with hamstring injuries that year. These injuries caused him to miss 6 games.

In 2012, Miles had a productive year despite injuries. He caught 66 passes for 943 yards and 6 touchdowns. He scored a key touchdown in a win against the New York Giants. He also had a 100-yard receiving game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The 2013 season was tough for Miles. He struggled with another hamstring injury. He missed five games because of it. His performance was not as explosive as before. With a new rookie receiver playing well, his future with the Cowboys was uncertain. In March 2014, the Cowboys released Miles Austin.

Cleveland Browns Experience

The Cleveland Browns signed Miles Austin in May 2014. They needed more depth at wide receiver. Miles asked to wear number 19, which was a special number for the Browns. He became a leader for the younger receivers. He played 12 games before a kidney injury ended his season.

Philadelphia Eagles Season

On March 31, 2015, Miles Austin joined the Philadelphia Eagles. He signed a one-year deal. He was expected to have a big role with the team. However, he only caught 13 passes for 224 yards and 1 touchdown in 11 games. He was released by the Eagles in December 2015.

NFL Career Statistics

Regular Season

Postseason

Coaching Career

After his playing career, Miles Austin became a coach.

Dallas Cowboys Coaching Role

In 2017, the Dallas Cowboys hired Miles as a scouting intern. He helped evaluate players for the team. In 2018, he was considered for the wide receivers coach position.

San Francisco 49ers Coaching Role

Miles joined the San Francisco 49ers in 2019. He worked as an offensive quality control coach. He was part of the coaching staff when the team reached Super Bowl LIV. After the Super Bowl, he left the 49ers in 2020.

New York Jets Coaching Role

In 2021, Miles Austin became the wide receivers coach for the New York Jets. This reunited him with head coach Robert Saleh. Saleh had been the 49ers' defensive coordinator when Miles was there. Near the end of the 2022 season, Miles was suspended. This was due to a violation of NFL rules.

Personal Life and Education

Miles Austin married Stacy Sydlo in 2014. They met while he was at Monmouth University. They have three children together.

In 2018, Miles went back to Monmouth University. He wanted to finish his college degree. He graduated the next year with a degree in political science. In 2020, he was chosen to be on Monmouth's board of trustees. Miles also started a non-profit group called "The Austin Family Foundation Inc." This foundation helps student athletes reach their full potential.

Images for kids

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  Austin (#19), running away from Mike Vrabel (#50) and Mike Brown (#30), against the Kansas City Chiefs in 2009.

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  Austin (bottom) and Tony Romo.