Robert Meachem facts for kids
Meachem with the Saints in 2009
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| No. 12, 17 | |||||||
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| Position: | Wide receiver | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born: | September 28, 1984 Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 215 lb (98 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school: | Booker T. Washington (Tulsa) | ||||||
| College: | Tennessee (2003–2006) | ||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2007 / Round: 1 / Pick: 27 | ||||||
| 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 | |||||||
Robert Emery Meachem, born on September 28, 1984, is a former professional football player. He was a wide receiver, mostly known for playing with the New Orleans Saints in the National Football League (NFL). Before joining the NFL, he played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers. In 2006, he was recognized as a top college player, earning first-team All-American honors. The Saints picked him in the first round of the 2007 NFL draft. He also played for the San Diego Chargers for one season.
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Early Life and Sports
Robert Meachem grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He started playing football in elementary school with a team called the "Mabee Babies." When he was in eighth grade, his AAU basketball team, the Tulsa Jammers, won a national championship.
He went to Booker T. Washington High School. There, he played alongside future NFL players Felix Jones and Mark Anderson. He was named a high school All-American by Parade and SuperPrep. Robert was also a point guard on his high school basketball team. They won state titles two years in a row, in 2001 and 2002.
College Football Career
Robert Meachem attended the University of Tennessee in 2003. He was part of a strong group of new players. However, he had a knee injury before the season started. Because of this, he "redshirted" the 2003 season. This means he practiced with the team but did not play in games, saving a year of eligibility.
First Seasons at Tennessee
In 2004, as a redshirt freshman, Robert caught 25 passes for 459 yards. He played in all 13 games and led his team in receiving yards. His very first catch in college was a 35-yard touchdown against UNLV. In 2005, he played in all 11 games and again led the team in receiving yards with 383 yards on 29 catches.
Breakout Year in 2006
The year 2006 was a huge success for Robert. With David Cutcliffe returning as the offensive coordinator, Robert and his teammates had amazing seasons. In a game against Kentucky on November 25, Robert gained 116 receiving yards. This pushed his total to a new school record of 1,265 yards in one season. He also scored 11 touchdowns, which was his best.
He had six games where he gained over 100 receiving yards that season. He was one of the top receivers in the nation, averaging almost 100 yards per game. He led the SEC with 71 catches for a school record of 1,298 yards. He also had 11 touchdowns. In his 37 games at Tennessee, Robert started 15 times. He caught 125 passes and became only the sixth player in school history to gain more than 2,000 receiving yards. His great performance earned him All-SEC and All-American honors. After this successful year, Robert decided to enter the 2007 NFL draft instead of playing his final year of college.
Professional Football Career
Robert Meachem was chosen by the New Orleans Saints as the 27th pick in the first round of the 2007 NFL draft. He signed a five-year contract with the team. Unfortunately, he needed knee surgery and could not play during his first year in the NFL.
New Orleans Saints (First Time)
In 2008, Robert played his first NFL game. On September 14, 2008, he caught his first NFL pass, a 19-yard touchdown, against the Washington Redskins. In Week 4, when the Saints' top receiver was injured, Robert got more playing time. He made two big catches, including a 47-yard touchdown. He finished the 2008 season with 12 catches for 289 yards and 3 touchdowns.
On December 6, 2009, Robert made an amazing play. After an opponent intercepted a pass, Robert pulled the ball away and ran it for a touchdown! In the same game, he caught a 53-yard touchdown pass with little time left, tying the game. The Saints won in overtime and improved their record to 12–0. Robert had a career-high 142 receiving yards in that game. The 2009 Saints team went on to win Super Bowl XLIV, which is the biggest championship in American football.
In the 2010 season, Robert had 44 catches for 638 yards and five touchdowns. He stayed with the Saints through the 2011 season. During his five years with the team, he had 141 catches for 2,269 yards and 23 touchdowns in regular season games. He also played in six playoff games.
San Diego Chargers
In March 2012, Robert signed a contract with the San Diego Chargers. He was expected to be a key player for them. He caught two touchdowns in a game against his old team, the Saints. However, his time with the Chargers was challenging, and he did not meet the high expectations. On September 1, 2013, the Chargers released him from the team.
New Orleans Saints (Second Time)
A few days later, on September 3, 2013, Robert signed a one-year contract to return to the Saints. In the 2013 season, he had 16 catches for 324 yards and two touchdowns. The Saints signed him again for another year in April 2014. He played in 11 games during the 2014 season, making seven catches for 114 yards. His contract ended after the 2014 season.
In June 2016, he tried out for the Saints again at a training camp. However, the tryout was put on hold because he had a foot injury.
Richmond Roughriders
In 2018, Robert Meachem signed with the Richmond Roughriders, a team in the American Arena League.
Life After Football
Robert Meachem was a contestant on NBC's Minute to Win It in an online episode. He played to win money for the Boys and Girls Club of Greater New Orleans.
He also started the Robert Emery Meachem Follow Your Dreams Foundation. This foundation aims to help young people in America. Its first goal was to provide books to children aged 4 to 17 in north Tulsa.
In 2018, Robert was a player in Your Call Football. This is an interactive game where people can call plays live for former professional football players.
