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 and Oakland Raiders. He also played in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the Montreal Alouettes. Before turning pro, he played college football for the Kent State Golden Flashes.

Early Life and Sports

O.J. Santiago grew up in Canada and has a background from Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. He went to St. Michael's College School in Toronto. There, he was an amazing athlete.

High School Football Star

In high school, O.J. was a top tight end in Canada. He played on both offense and defense. He even returned kickoffs and punts. His skills helped his school win two district championships. He was named to the All-star football teams by local newspapers.

Other Sports Achievements

Besides football, O.J. was also great at basketball. He helped his school win two district championships in that sport too. He also competed in track events. He was good at the shot put and discus throw.

College Football Journey

O.J. Santiago earned a football scholarship to Kent State University. He continued to show his talent on the field.

Becoming a Starter

In his junior year, O.J. became the starting tight end for Kent State. He caught 28 passes for 297 yards and scored 2 touchdowns. In his senior year, he had 26 catches for 339 yards and 2 more touchdowns.

Academic and Athletic Success

O.J. started 22 of 33 games during his college career. He was also a great student. He was named to the MAC All-Academic first-team for three years in a row. He finished college with 62 catches for 730 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Professional Football Career

O.J. Santiago was drafted into the NFL and played for several teams. He also played in the CFL.

Starting with the Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons picked O.J. in the third round of the 1997 NFL draft. He quickly became a starter for the team. In his first year, he started 11 games. He caught 17 passes for 217 yards and 2 touchdowns. Unfortunately, he broke his fibula (a bone in his leg) in his twelfth game.

Super Bowl Run and the "Dirty Bird"

In 1998, O.J. helped the Falcons reach Super Bowl XXXIII. He had a great season with 27 catches for 478 yards and 5 touchdowns. He became famous for a special touchdown celebration dance. He would flap his arms like wings and bounce side-to-side. This dance became known as the "Dirty Bird."

Moving to Other NFL Teams

After his time with the Falcons, O.J. played for other NFL teams.

• In 2000, he was traded to the Dallas Cowboys. He mainly played on special teams there.
• Later in 2000, he joined the Cleveland Browns. In 2001, he started 12 games for them. He caught 17 passes for 153 yards and 2 touchdowns.
• He also had short stints with the Minnesota Vikings (2002), Denver Broncos (2004), and New England Patriots (2006).

Time with the Oakland Raiders

O.J. Santiago signed with the Oakland Raiders in 2003. He played in 12 games, catching 5 passes for 69 yards. During this time, he reached a big milestone: over 1,000 receiving yards in his NFL career. He later signed with the Raiders again in 2006 and 2007, but injuries kept him from playing much.

Playing in the CFL

In 2010, after three years away from football, O.J. signed with the Montreal Alouettes in the Canadian Football League. He reunited with his former coach, Marc Trestman. However, a hamstring injury limited his time on the field.

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

Life After Playing

In 2016, O.J. Santiago returned to Kent State University. He started as a student assistant coach. The next year, he was promoted to coach the tight ends and help with special teams.