Eric Zeier
Encyclopedia
Eric Royce Zeier is a former American football
quarterback
. In his five years in the NFL, he played for the Cleveland Browns
(1995), Baltimore Ravens
(1996–1998), and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
(1999–2000). Zeier started his career at Heidelberg American High School in Heidelberg, Germany where he led them to a championship his sophomore year. In 1990, he transferred to Marietta High School
in Marietta, Georgia
, where his #15 jersey was retired.
Eric Zeier actually started his football career at Heidelberg American High School in the fall of 1988 leading the Heidelberg Lions to an undefeated European championship. He played point guard
for the varsity
basketball
team and third base
for the varsity baseball
team as well. His father coached the baseball team and was a colonel
in the Army
. The family made a strategic move to Marietta, Georgia to be sure that the talented Zeier would be able to cultivate his football career.
After graduating from Marietta, Zeier attended the University of Georgia
. Zeier was one of the first notable high school football
players to graduate ahead of his class so as to attend his college early and join the football team for spring practices, enrolling in January 1991. At Georgia, he compiled a 26-14-1 record as a starter
. He made his debut as a Bulldog
on October 5, 1991 against the Clemson Tigers
, a game Georgia won 27-12. Zeier went on to start the final seven games of his freshman season and started every game during his final three seasons at Georgia. His tenure included a 4-0 record against Georgia Tech
, a victory in the 1991 Independence Bowl
over Arkansas
, and a victory in the 1993 Citrus Bowl
over Ohio State
.
Zeier finished his college career with 67 school records and 18 Southeastern Conference
records. He became the SEC's all-time passing leader with 11,153 yards—a record which has been surpassed only by Peyton Manning
and UGA's own David Greene. In 1993, his junior season, Zeier threw for 544 yards against Southern Miss
, a school record. In 1994, Zeier was named the American Football Coaches Association
First-team All-American
quarterback. Over his four years at Georgia, Zeier completed 877 of 1461 attempts for 11,153 yards, 67 touchdowns, and 37 interceptions.
Zeier was selected by the Cleveland Browns
in the third round of the 1995 NFL Draft
.
Zeier has returned to the University of Georgia to take over the duty of color analyst on all away games. He, along with Scott Howard, is taking the place of long time Georgia announcer Larry Munson
. Eric made his first radio start on September 22, 2007 when Georgia played Alabama in which Georgia won in an overtime victory.
Eric also will be heard on the Tailgate Show and halftime during the home games with Loran Smith and Neil "Hondo" Willamson.
Zeier continues his affiliation with UGA by serving as the color analyst at away games for the University of Georgia Bulldogs radio network and during the Tailgate Show and half time during home games. He commutes to his Atlanta headquarters from his home in Nashville, Georgia where he resides with his wife Carrie and his two sons-Zeke and Ike.
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...
quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
. In his five years in the NFL, he played for the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
(1995), 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...
(1996–1998), and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
(1999–2000). Zeier started his career at Heidelberg American High School in Heidelberg, Germany where he led them to a championship his sophomore year. In 1990, he transferred to Marietta High School
Marietta High School (Georgia)
Marietta High School is a public high school in the Marietta City Schools system in Marietta, Georgia. The school colors are royal blue, silver, and white and its mascot is the Blue Devil. Marietta High School's main rival schools are Harrison High School and McEachern High School.Of the 21,786...
in Marietta, Georgia
Marietta, Georgia
Marietta is a city located in central Cobb County, Georgia, United States, and is its county seat.As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 56,579, making it one of metro Atlanta's largest suburbs...
, where his #15 jersey was retired.
Eric Zeier actually started his football career at Heidelberg American High School in the fall of 1988 leading the Heidelberg Lions to an undefeated European championship. He played point guard
Point guard
Point guard , also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that...
for the varsity
Varsity team
In the United States and Canada, varsity sports teams are the principal athletic teams representing a college, university, high school or other secondary school. Such teams compete against the principal athletic teams at other colleges/universities, or in the case of secondary schools, against...
basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
team and third base
Third Base
is a 1978 Japanese film directed by Yōichi Higashi.-External links:...
for the varsity baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
team as well. His father coached the baseball team and was a colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
in the Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. The family made a strategic move to Marietta, Georgia to be sure that the talented Zeier would be able to cultivate his football career.
After graduating from Marietta, Zeier attended the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
. Zeier was one of the first notable high school football
High 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....
players to graduate ahead of his class so as to attend his college early and join the football team for spring practices, enrolling in January 1991. At Georgia, he compiled a 26-14-1 record as a starter
Starting lineup
A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...
. He made his debut as a Bulldog
Georgia Bulldogs football
The Georgia Bulldogs football team represents the University of Georgia in football. The Bulldogs are a member of the Southeastern Conference and are frequently a top-25 team. The University of Georgia has had a football team since 1892 and has an all-time record of 738–398–54...
on October 5, 1991 against the Clemson Tigers
Clemson Tigers
The Clemson Tigers are any team that represents Clemson University as a member of the NCAA's Division I or in the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference....
, a game Georgia won 27-12. Zeier went on to start the final seven games of his freshman season and started every game during his final three seasons at Georgia. His tenure included a 4-0 record against Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
The Yellow Jackets is the name used for all of the intercollegiate athletic teams that play for the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia. The teams have also been nicknamed the Ramblin' Wreck, Engineers, Blacksmiths, and Golden Tornado. There are 8 men's and 7 women's teams that...
, a victory in the 1991 Independence Bowl
Independence Bowl
The Independence Bowl is a post-season NCAA-sanctioned Division I college football bowl game that is played annually at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana, so named because it was inaugurated in the United States bicentennial year, 1976....
over Arkansas
Arkansas Razorbacks
The Razorbacks, also known as the Hogs, are the names of college sports teams at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The term Arkansas Razorbacks properly applies to any of the sports teams at the university. The Razorbacks take their name from the feral pig of the same name...
, and a victory in the 1993 Citrus Bowl
Citrus Bowl
The Florida Citrus Bowl is a stadium in Orlando, Florida, USA, built for football, which currently seats around 70,000 people....
over Ohio State
Ohio State Buckeyes football
The Ohio State Buckeyes football team is an intercollegiate varsity sports team of The Ohio State University. The team is a member of the Big Ten Conference of the NCAA, playing at the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, formerly Division I-A, level. The team nickname is derived from the state...
.
Zeier finished his college career with 67 school records and 18 Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
records. He became the SEC's all-time passing leader with 11,153 yards—a record which has been surpassed only by Peyton Manning
Peyton Manning
Peyton Williams Manning is an American football quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League . Manning holds the record for most NFL MVP awards with four. He was drafted by the Colts as the first overall pick in 1998 after a standout college football career with the...
and UGA's own David Greene. In 1993, his junior season, Zeier threw for 544 yards against Southern Miss
Southern Miss Golden Eagles
The Southern Miss Golden Eagles represent The University of Southern Mississippi in Division I athletics. The teams compete in Conference USA....
, a school record. In 1994, Zeier was named the American Football Coaches Association
American Football Coaches Association
The American Football Coaches Association is an association of over 11,000 football coaches and staff on all levels. According to its constitution, some of the main goals of the American Football Coaches Association are to "maintain the highest possible standards in football and the profession of...
First-team All-American
1994 College Football All-America Team
The 1994 College Football All-America Team is composed of the following All-American Teams: Associated Press, United Press International, Football Writers Association of America, American Football Coaches Association, Walter Camp Foundation, Scripps-Howard, The Sporting News and Football News.The...
quarterback. Over his four years at Georgia, Zeier completed 877 of 1461 attempts for 11,153 yards, 67 touchdowns, and 37 interceptions.
Zeier was selected by the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the third round of the 1995 NFL Draft
1995 NFL Draft
The 1995 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 22–23, 1995 at the Paramount Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City...
.
Zeier has returned to the University of Georgia to take over the duty of color analyst on all away games. He, along with Scott Howard, is taking the place of long time Georgia announcer Larry Munson
Larry Munson
Lawrence Harry "Larry" Munson was a sports announcer and talk-show host based out of the U.S. city of Atlanta. He was best known for handling radio play-by-play of University of Georgia Bulldogs football games from 1966 to 2008...
. Eric made his first radio start on September 22, 2007 when Georgia played Alabama in which Georgia won in an overtime victory.
Eric also will be heard on the Tailgate Show and halftime during the home games with Loran Smith and Neil "Hondo" Willamson.
Career history
Eric Zeier is a former record setting quarterback and Heisman Trophy Candidate at the University of Georgia where he set 67 school records and 18 S.E.C. records. In 1994, he became the most prolific passer in the history of the Southeastern Conference as well as only the third quarterback in NCAA Division I history to throw for more than 11,000 yards in his career. He earned All-Academic S.E.C. honors in 1992 and 1993 and was named UGA Team Captain in 1993 and 1994. Zeier began his professional career in 1995 when he was drafted by the Cleveland Browns. Over the next six years he went from Cleveland to the Baltimore Ravens to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and finally back home to the Atlanta Falcons.Zeier continues his affiliation with UGA by serving as the color analyst at away games for the University of Georgia Bulldogs radio network and during the Tailgate Show and half time during home games. He commutes to his Atlanta headquarters from his home in Nashville, Georgia where he resides with his wife Carrie and his two sons-Zeke and Ike.