Wayne Gandy facts for kids

Wayne Lamar Gandy, born on February 10, 1971, is a former American professional football player. He played as an offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for 15 years. Wayne played college football at Auburn University, where he was recognized as one of the best college players. He was picked by the Los Angeles Rams in the first round of the 1994 NFL draft. He also played for the Pittsburgh Steelers, New Orleans Saints, and Atlanta Falcons.

Early Life and High School Football

Wayne Gandy was born in Haines City, Florida. He went to Haines City High School. There, he played for the school's football team, the Haines City Hornets.

College Football Career

Gandy attended Auburn University. He played for the Auburn Tigers football team from 1990 to 1993. His coaches were Pat Dye and Terry Bowden. In his final year, 1993, his team had a perfect season, winning all their games. Wayne was named an All-American, meaning he was one of the top college players in the country.

Professional Football Journey

Wayne Gandy had a long career in the NFL. He played for four different teams over 15 seasons.

Playing for the Los Angeles Rams

The Los Angeles Rams chose Wayne Gandy as the 15th player picked in the 1994 NFL draft. This meant he was a first-round draft pick. He played for the Rams for five seasons, from 1994 to 1998.

Time with the Pittsburgh Steelers

After his time with the Rams, Gandy moved to the Pittsburgh Steelers. He played for the Steelers for four seasons, from 1999 to 2002.

Joining the New Orleans Saints

On March 2, 2003, Wayne Gandy signed a contract with the New Orleans Saints. He played for the Saints for three seasons.

Playing for the Atlanta Falcons

In 2006, Gandy was traded to the Atlanta Falcons. He played for the Falcons until 2008. In 2007, his teammates chose him as one of the team captains. However, he got a serious knee injury during a game on October 7, 2007. This injury caused him to miss the rest of that season. The Falcons released him in February 2008. But they re-signed him later that year after another player got hurt. He did not play for the Falcons after the 2008 season.

Broadcasting Career

After his football career, Wayne Gandy started working in broadcasting. In 2001, he recorded some short ads for a radio station in Atlanta. People liked them, and he was encouraged to try a career in media.

The Sports Joc Show

Wayne Gandy started his own company and launched "The Sports Joc Show with Wayne Gandy." This show is three hours long and talks about both sports and entertainment. It broadcasts from Atlanta. You can find more information about the show online.

TV Analyst Role

From 2011 to 2012, Wayne Gandy hosted a weekly TV show for CBS-Atlanta Sports. Since 2013, he has been a Color Analyst for ESPN TV. This means he helps explain the game during live broadcasts.