T. J. Houshmandzadeh facts for kids
Houshmandzadeh with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2006
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| Position: | Wide receiver | ||||||
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| Born: | September 26, 1977 Barstow, California, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 203 lb (92 kg) | ||||||
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| High school: | Barstow | ||||||
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| NFL Draft: | 2001 / Round: 7 / Pick: 204 | ||||||
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T. J. Houshmandzadeh (born September 26, 1977) is a former American football player. He was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Oregon State Beavers. The Cincinnati Bengals picked him in the 2001 NFL draft. T. J. also played for the Seattle Seahawks, Baltimore Ravens, and Oakland Raiders. After his playing career, he became a football coach at Long Beach Polytechnic High School. He also works as a football analyst on FS1.
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College Football Career
T. J. Houshmandzadeh played college football at two different schools. He started at Cerritos College before moving to Oregon State University.
Playing at Cerritos College
Houshmandzadeh first went to Cerritos College in California. He played for the Cerritos College Falcons in 1998 and 1999. He was chosen as a top wide receiver and kickoff returner twice. He wanted to be a running back at first. But he decided to play wide receiver because he felt he was too tall for a running back. He finished his time at Cerritos College with 1,152 receiving yards. He also had some very long kickoff and punt returns.
Playing at Oregon State University
Because he played so well at Cerritos College, T. J. got a scholarship to Oregon State University. He played for the Oregon State Beavers. In his only season as a starter in 2000, he caught 42 passes for 656 yards. He also scored six touchdowns. He helped his team win the 2001 Fiesta Bowl against Notre Dame. T. J. scored a touchdown in that game, helping his team win 41–9. At Oregon State, he played with Chad Johnson. Chad later became his teammate on the Cincinnati Bengals.
Professional NFL Career
T. J. Houshmandzadeh was a wide receiver in the NFL for many years. He was known for his strong catches and teamwork.
Cincinnati Bengals Years
The Cincinnati Bengals chose Houshmandzadeh in the seventh round of the 2001 NFL draft. He was the 204th player picked overall.
He played his first NFL game in 2001 against the San Diego Chargers. As a new player, he caught 21 passes for 228 yards. He also returned punts and kickoffs. In one game against the Cleveland Browns, he set a team record. He had 126 punt return yards in that game.
In 2002, T. J. scored his first NFL touchdown. It was a four-yard catch against the Baltimore Ravens. That season, he had 41 catches for 492 yards and one touchdown.
Houshmandzadeh missed the 2003 season because of a serious leg injury. In 2004, he was the third wide receiver for the team. But when another player got hurt, T. J. became a starter with Chad Johnson.
In 2004, he had a great game against the Baltimore Ravens. He caught ten passes for 171 yards and a touchdown. He also had two touchdowns against the Cleveland Browns. That season, he caught 73 passes for 978 yards and four touchdowns. Former Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer said T. J. was a "physical guy" and a "physical blocker."
In 2005, T. J. became a full-time starter. He and Chad Johnson became known as one of the NFL's most exciting receiving pairs. The Bengals gave T. J. a new four-year contract. In 2005, he had 78 catches for 956 yards and seven touchdowns. He also scored a touchdown in a playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
In 2006, T. J. had a minor foot injury but still played well. He caught nine passes for 94 yards and two touchdowns against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was even named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week for that game. He finished the 2006 season with 90 catches for 1,081 yards and nine touchdowns. These were his best numbers yet. He and Chad Johnson were the first Bengals teammates to each get over 1,000 receiving yards in the same season.
The 2007 season was T. J.'s best. He started the season by scoring a touchdown in eight straight games. He caught 12 passes for 141 yards and a touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks. He also had 12 catches for 100 yards and a touchdown against the New England Patriots. By the end of the year, he set a Bengals record with 112 catches. He also had 1,143 yards and 12 touchdowns. His 112 catches tied him for the most in the entire NFL that year. Because of his amazing season, he was chosen for the Pro Bowl for the first time.
In 2008, T. J. continued to play well. He had 12 catches for 142 yards and a touchdown against the New York Giants. He finished the 2008 season with 92 catches for 904 yards and four touchdowns. He did this even though his quarterback, Carson Palmer, was injured for most of the year.
Seattle Seahawks Season
On March 2, 2009, T. J. Houshmandzadeh signed a five-year contract with the Seattle Seahawks. He said he wanted to "win some games for once." However, the Seahawks finished with a 5–11 record that year. T. J. still had a good season with 79 catches for 911 yards and three touchdowns. The Seahawks released him in September 2010.
Baltimore Ravens Season
Houshmandzadeh then signed a one-year deal with the Baltimore Ravens on September 6, 2010. During his time in Baltimore, he caught 30 passes for 398 yards. He scored three touchdowns, including one that won a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. In a playoff game against the Steelers, he dropped a pass that could have changed the game. He was not re-signed by the Ravens.
Oakland Raiders Season
The Oakland Raiders signed T. J. Houshmandzadeh on November 1, 2011. This brought him back together with his former Bengals quarterback, Carson Palmer. It also reunited him with coach Hue Jackson, who used to be an assistant coach for the Bengals.
On December 4, 2011, he caught his only touchdown for the Raiders. It was a 40-yard pass from Carson Palmer against the Miami Dolphins. He finished the 2011 season with 11 catches for 146 yards and one touchdown. This was his last season in the NFL before he retired.
Career Records
- Set a team record for most punt return yards in a game (126) against Cleveland in 2001.
- Tied for the NFL lead in most receptions in a season (112) in 2007.
Personal Background
T. J. Houshmandzadeh's father is Iranian American, and his mother is African American. His last name was often shortened to "Housh" or "Hoosh" by fans.
In the Madden NFL video games, his last name was first shortened to "Houshmandz." Later, the game changed to allow his full name to be shown. T. J. also appeared in a funny TV commercial for fantasy football in 2006. In the commercial, people had trouble saying his last name. His former teammate, Chad Johnson, even joked and called him "T. J. Who's-your-momma" on TV.
Images for kids
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Houshmandzadeh with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2006
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Houshmandzadeh (84) with the Bengals in 2006.
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Houshmandzadeh with the Bengals playing against the New York Giants in 2008.
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Houshmandzadeh before a home game in 2007.
