O. J. Santiago facts for kids

Otis Jason Santiago (born April 4, 1974) is a Canadian former professional football player. He played as a tight end in the National Football League (NFL) for teams like the Atlanta Falcons, Dallas Cowboys, Oakland Raiders, and Cleveland Browns. He was also part of the Montreal Alouettes in the Canadian Football League (CFL). Before his professional career, Santiago played college football for the Kent State Golden Flashes.

Growing Up: O.J. Santiago's Early Life and Sports

O.J. Santiago grew up in Canada and has Puerto Rican and Dominican family roots. He went to St. Michael's College School in Toronto. There, he was an amazing athlete, earning a spot on the All-Canadian first-team as a tight end.

Santiago played both offense and defense for his school. He was also a starter on the defensive line. Plus, he returned kickoffs and punts, showing his all-around talent. He helped his school win two district championships in football. In his final year, he was named to the All-star football teams by the Toronto Sun and Toronto Star.

Beyond football, Santiago was also a star in basketball, helping his school win two district championships. He even competed in track events, throwing the shot put and discus throw.

College Years: Playing for Kent State

After high school, O.J. Santiago earned a football scholarship to Kent State University. During his junior year, he became the starting tight end. He caught 28 passes for 297 yards and scored 2 touchdowns.

In his senior year, he continued to play well, catching 26 passes for 339 yards and 2 touchdowns. Santiago started 22 out of 33 games during his college career. He was also a great student, earning a spot on the MAC All-Academic first-team for three years in a row. He finished his college career with 62 catches for 730 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Professional Football Career: NFL and CFL Highlights

O.J. Santiago was chosen by the Atlanta Falcons in the third round of the 1997 NFL draft. This meant he was the 70th player picked overall. He was also drafted by the Edmonton Eskimos in the 1997 CFL Draft, but he chose to play in the NFL.

Starting Strong with the Atlanta Falcons

As a rookie in 1997, Santiago quickly earned a starting position as a tight end. Unfortunately, he broke his fibula (a bone in his lower leg) in the twelfth game of the season. Even with the injury, he started 11 games, catching 17 passes for 217 yards and 2 touchdowns.

In 1998, Santiago played a big part in helping the Falcons reach Super Bowl XXXIII. He caught 27 passes for 478 yards and scored 5 touchdowns in 16 games. He became famous for a touchdown celebration dance called the "Dirty Bird." He would flap his arms like wings and bounce side-to-side, which fans loved!

In 1999, he started 14 games, catching 15 passes for 174 yards. In 2000, he was traded to the Dallas Cowboys.

Moving to Other NFL Teams

With the Dallas Cowboys in 2000, Santiago mainly played on special teams. He was later released by the team. The very next day, the Cleveland Browns picked him up. In 2001, he started 12 games for the Browns, catching 17 passes for 153 yards and 2 touchdowns.

After leaving the Browns, Santiago signed with the Minnesota Vikings in 2002. However, injuries to his foot and knee in training camp led to him being released.

In 2003, he joined the Oakland Raiders. He played in 12 games, catching 5 passes for 69 yards. During his time with the Raiders, he reached an important milestone: over 1,000 receiving yards in his NFL career!

Santiago later signed with the Denver Broncos in 2004 but was released before the season began. He returned to the Oakland Raiders briefly in 2006 and then signed with the New England Patriots, but injuries continued to affect his playing time. In 2007, he signed with the Raiders again but was released before the season started.

Overall, O.J. Santiago played in 68 NFL games. He gained a total of 1,041 receiving yards and scored 9 touchdowns.

Playing in the CFL

After being away from football for three years, Santiago signed with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League (CFL) in 2010. He reunited with his former offensive coordinator, Marc Trestman. However, a hamstring injury limited his play, and he was released later that year.

Life After Playing: Coaching Career

In 2016, O.J. Santiago returned to Kent State University, where he had played college football. He started as a student assistant coach. The next year, he was promoted to coach the tight ends and also became an assistant special teams coordinator.