Brent Celek
Encyclopedia
Brent Steven Celek is an American football
tight end
for the Philadelphia Eagles
of the National Football League
(NFL). He was drafted
by the Eagles in the fifth round of the 2007 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Cincinnati
.
at La Salle High School
in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was named first-team all-district as both a junior and senior. He set a school record after catching a pass for 89 yards.
. He won the UC Claude Rost Award (Most Valuable Player) and was a second-team All-Big East Conference selection.
in the 5th Round (162nd Overall) of the 2007 NFL Draft
. He signed a 4-year contract with the team on May 30, 2007.
, Celek set franchise records for yards in a game with 131 in week 9 and receptions in a playoff game with ten during the 2009 NFC Championship game. He caught two touchdowns in the NFC Championship game against the Arizona Cardinals
, and his 19 catches during the 2008-09 NFL playoffs were the third most in NFL history for a tight end.
for the Eagles after L. J. Smith departed via free agency to the Baltimore Ravens
in 2009.
After scoring a touchdown in a week 9 game at home against the Dallas Cowboys
, Celek was penalized for excessive celebration after teammate Jason Avant
lifted his leg in order to impersonate the mascot for Captain Morgan
rum. After the incident, the NFL quickly banned what turned out to be a covert ad campaign allegedly put on by the company, whereas any NFL player that is caught striking the "Captain Morgan" pose on camera during a regular season game would result in a donation of $10,000 to the Gridiron Greats, a non-profit which helps retired NFL players with various hardships after leaving the game. The league chose not to penalize Celek, but stated that any future incident will be punished.
Celek signed six-year contract extension on December 1, 2009, that keeps him under contract as an Eagle until after the 2016 season.
On December 27, 2009 in week 16 against the Denver Broncos
, Celek made four catches for 121 yards and a touchdown, his third 100-yard game of the season. His 47-yard touchdown catch was the longest of his career.
After having a breakout year with 76 catches (a team-high), 971 yards and eight touchdowns, Celek was named to the 2009 USA Today All-Joe Team
. His 76 catches are the most in team history for a tight end.
, Celek had been used primarily as a blocker at tight end.
under coach Mark Dantonio
, who coached Brent when he played for Cincinnati
. Celek is married to his college sweetheart, Susie Johnsen.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
tight end
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
for the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
(NFL). He was drafted
NFL Draft
The National Football League Draft is an annual event in which the National Football League teams select eligible college football players and it is their most common source of player recruitment. The basic design of the draft is each team is given a position in the drafting order in reverse order...
by the Eagles in the fifth round of the 2007 NFL Draft
2007 NFL Draft
The 2007 National Football League Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 28 and April 29, 2007. The draft was televised for the 28th consecutive year on ESPN and ESPN2. The NFL Network also broadcast coverage of the event, its second year doing so...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Cincinnati
Cincinnati Bearcats football
The Cincinnati Bearcats football program represents the University of Cincinnati in a college football. They compete at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level as members of the Big East Conference. The Bearcat football program is one of the nation's oldest, having fielded a team as...
.
Early years
Celek played high school footballHigh school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
at La Salle High School
La Salle High School (Cincinnati, Ohio)
La Salle High School is a Catholic, all-male, parochial high school in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.The school was opened September 6, 1960 and named in honor of Jean-Baptiste de la Salle, a French priest and educational reformer. The school was officially dedicated May 14, 1961...
in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was named first-team all-district as both a junior and senior. He set a school record after catching a pass for 89 yards.
College career
Celek played college football for the Cincinnati BearcatsCincinnati Bearcats football
The Cincinnati Bearcats football program represents the University of Cincinnati in a college football. They compete at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level as members of the Big East Conference. The Bearcat football program is one of the nation's oldest, having fielded a team as...
. He won the UC Claude Rost Award (Most Valuable Player) and was a second-team All-Big East Conference selection.
2007 season
After not being invited to the 2007 NFL Scouting Combine, Celek was drafted by the Philadelphia EaglesPhiladelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the 5th Round (162nd Overall) of the 2007 NFL Draft
2007 NFL Draft
The 2007 National Football League Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 28 and April 29, 2007. The draft was televised for the 28th consecutive year on ESPN and ESPN2. The NFL Network also broadcast coverage of the event, its second year doing so...
. He signed a 4-year contract with the team on May 30, 2007.
2008 season
In 20082008 NFL season
The 2008 NFL season was the 89th regular season of the National Football League, themed with the slogan "Believe in Now."Super Bowl XLIII, the league's championship game, was at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on February 1, 2009, with the Pittsburgh Steelers coming out victorious over the...
, Celek set franchise records for yards in a game with 131 in week 9 and receptions in a playoff game with ten during the 2009 NFC Championship game. He caught two touchdowns in the NFC Championship game against the Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, and his 19 catches during the 2008-09 NFL playoffs were the third most in NFL history for a tight end.
2009 season
Celek became the starting tight endTight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
for the Eagles after L. J. Smith departed via free agency to the Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
in 2009.
After scoring a touchdown in a week 9 game at home against the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
, Celek was penalized for excessive celebration after teammate Jason Avant
Jason Avant
Jason Raye Avant is an American football wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League . He was drafted by the Eagles in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football at Michigan....
lifted his leg in order to impersonate the mascot for Captain Morgan
Captain Morgan
Captain Morgan is a brand of rum produced by alcohol conglomerate Diageo. It is named after the 17th-century, Welsh privateer of the Caribbean, Sir Henry Morgan...
rum. After the incident, the NFL quickly banned what turned out to be a covert ad campaign allegedly put on by the company, whereas any NFL player that is caught striking the "Captain Morgan" pose on camera during a regular season game would result in a donation of $10,000 to the Gridiron Greats, a non-profit which helps retired NFL players with various hardships after leaving the game. The league chose not to penalize Celek, but stated that any future incident will be punished.
Celek signed six-year contract extension on December 1, 2009, that keeps him under contract as an Eagle until after the 2016 season.
On December 27, 2009 in week 16 against the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Celek made four catches for 121 yards and a touchdown, his third 100-yard game of the season. His 47-yard touchdown catch was the longest of his career.
After having a breakout year with 76 catches (a team-high), 971 yards and eight touchdowns, Celek was named to the 2009 USA Today All-Joe Team
2009 USA Today All-Joe Team
The 2009 USA Today All-Joe team is the 18th annual selection of the USA Today All-Joe team, which honors National Football League players and coaches deemed hard workers and over-achievers that may be overlooked by the traditional media...
. His 76 catches are the most in team history for a tight end.
2010 season
Through week 12 of the 2010 season2010 NFL season
The 2010 NFL season was the 91st regular season of the National Football League.The regular season began with the NFL Kickoff game on NBC on Thursday, September 9, at the Louisiana Superdome as the New Orleans Saints, Super Bowl XLIV champions, defeated the Minnesota Vikings 14–9.Tom Brady,...
, Celek had been used primarily as a blocker at tight end.
Personal
Brent's brother, Garrett, plays tight end for Michigan StateMichigan State Spartans football
The Michigan State Spartans football program represents Michigan State University in college football as members of the Big Ten Conference at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level...
under coach Mark Dantonio
Mark Dantonio
Mark Dantonio is the current head football coach at Michigan State University. He was hired on November 27, 2006 and became the 24th head coach at Michigan State. He is credited for winning the 2010 Big Ten Championship and his 4 game win streak over arch-rival Michigan...
, who coached Brent when he played for Cincinnati
Cincinnati Bearcats football
The Cincinnati Bearcats football program represents the University of Cincinnati in a college football. They compete at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level as members of the Big East Conference. The Bearcat football program is one of the nation's oldest, having fielded a team as...
. Celek is married to his college sweetheart, Susie Johnsen.