Joe Staley
Encyclopedia
Joe Staley is an American football
offensive lineman for the San Francisco 49ers
of the National Football League
. He was drafted in the 1st round (28th overall) of the 2007 NFL Draft
. The 49ers traded their first round pick in 2008 for Staley with the New England Patriots
. He was the second 49er taken in the draft to linebacker Patrick Willis
. He played college football
at Central Michigan
.
, he caught 24 passes for 559 yards and seven touchdowns as a prep senior. Staley was named Grand Rapids Press Dream Team member and was ranked No. 13 overall prospect by the Detroit Free Press
and No. 49 by the Detroit News, he set three school records in track in 200 m (21.9), 4×100 (42.5), and 4×200 (1:27) and was placed sixth in state in 200 m to earn all-state honors, the team was fourth in 4×100 m, fourth in 4×200 m, and sixth in 4×400 m.
. He added 80 pounds to his 6' 5" frame without sacrificing footspeed. He played in 11 games as a true freshman, catching 11 passes for 130 yards and one touchdown and posted a career-high two catches for 34 yards and a touchdown against Eastern Michigan University
.
and he was named a preseason All-MAC First Team selection by Athlon Sports and MAC Report Online. Staley was a dominant player at left tackle. Known for his size, Staley's speed was a rare exception. He ran a 4.70 seconds in the 40-yard dash at CMU’s junior pro day. Staley was part of an offensive front that has helped CMU boast a 1,000-yard rusher in each of the past three seasons. He was a key part of an offensive line that allowed Kent Smith to pass for at least 2,000 yards in 2004 and 2005. Staley played alongside former Cincinnati Bengals
lineman Adam Kieft
, who was also his high school teammate at Rockford High School
.
. The Niners gave their 2008 1st Round Pick and a 4th Round pick in 2007. The Patriots subsequently traded the fourth round pick (110 overall) to the Oakland Raiders
for wide receiver Randy Moss
.
Staley wears the number 74 for the San Francisco 49ers.
He was named the starting right tackle over Kwame Harris
on August 28, 2007. He finished the season with all 16 starts and allowed 8 sacks.
In the 2008 NFL season, Staley was moved to left tackle starting every game but allowing just 8.5 sacks.
Prior to the 2009 season, Staley signed a 6-year contract extension that will keep him with San Francisco until 2017. Staley missed 7 games of the season with a sprained knee, but managed to start all the other 9 games allowing just 3 sacks and having no penalties called against him.
On October 30, 2011, Staley, from a tackle eligible formation, caught a pass for a key first down in the 49ers 20-10 victory over the Cleveland Browns
.
He hosts a locker room show, interviewing teammates about life on and off the field.
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...
offensive lineman for the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
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...
. He was drafted in the 1st round (28th 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...
. The 49ers traded their first round pick in 2008 for Staley with the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
. He was the second 49er taken in the draft to linebacker Patrick Willis
Patrick Willis
Patrick L. Willis is an American football player who plays inside linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League. He was selected by the San Francisco 49ers 11th overall in the 2007 NFL Draft...
. 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 Central Michigan
Central Michigan
Central Michigan, often called Mid Michigan, is a region in the Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. Southern Michigan can be considered as a subregion of Central Michigan. As its name implies, it is the central area of the Lower Peninsula. Lower Michigan is said to resemble a mitten, and...
.
High school career
Staley earned two letters in football and two in track at Rockford High SchoolRockford High School
Rockford High School in Rockford, Michigan services grades 9-12 for the Rockford Public Schools. The main campus is composed of two buildings, including a Freshman Center for all ninth graders and the Senior High School for grades 10-12, complete with an array of athletic, fine arts, and...
, he caught 24 passes for 559 yards and seven touchdowns as a prep senior. Staley was named Grand Rapids Press Dream Team member and was ranked No. 13 overall prospect by the Detroit Free Press
Detroit Free Press
The Detroit Free Press is the largest daily newspaper in Detroit, Michigan, USA. The Sunday edition is entitled the Sunday Free Press. It is sometimes informally referred to as the "Freep"...
and No. 49 by the Detroit News, he set three school records in track in 200 m (21.9), 4×100 (42.5), and 4×200 (1:27) and was placed sixth in state in 200 m to earn all-state honors, the team was fourth in 4×100 m, fourth in 4×200 m, and sixth in 4×400 m.
Freshman Year
Staley began career as a 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...
. He added 80 pounds to his 6' 5" frame without sacrificing footspeed. He played in 11 games as a true freshman, catching 11 passes for 130 yards and one touchdown and posted a career-high two catches for 34 yards and a touchdown against Eastern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University is a comprehensive, co-educational public university located in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Ypsilanti is west of Detroit and eight miles east of Ann Arbor. The university was founded in 1849 as Michigan State Normal School...
.
Sophomore Year
Due to his size, Staley was moved to the offensive line during his sophomore season. He started all 11 games at right tackle.Junior Year
He started all 11 games at left tackle and did not allow a single sack. He recorded 53 knockdown blocks and was part of an offensive line that helped CMU average 418.8 yards of offense per game. He also blocked for CMU's single-season total yardage record holder, Kent Smith. Staley helped pave the way for true freshman Ontario Sneed to run for 1,065 yards and earn Freshman All-America honors.Senior Year
Staley was invited to play in the 2007 East-West Shrine GameEast-West Shrine Game
The East–West Shrine Game is an annual post-season college football all-star game played each January since 1925. The game is sponsored by the fraternal group Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and the net proceeds are earmarked to some of the Shrine's charitable works, most notably the Shriners...
and he was named a preseason All-MAC First Team selection by Athlon Sports and MAC Report Online. Staley was a dominant player at left tackle. Known for his size, Staley's speed was a rare exception. He ran a 4.70 seconds in the 40-yard dash at CMU’s junior pro day. Staley was part of an offensive front that has helped CMU boast a 1,000-yard rusher in each of the past three seasons. He was a key part of an offensive line that allowed Kent Smith to pass for at least 2,000 yards in 2004 and 2005. Staley played alongside former Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
lineman Adam Kieft
Adam Kieft
Adam Kieft is a former American football offensive lineman for the Cincinnati Bengals of the NFL. Kieft attended Rockford High School in Rockford, Michigan. He was selected with the 17th pick of the fifth round of the 2005 NFL Draft out of Central Michigan University...
, who was also his high school teammate at Rockford High School
Rockford High School
Rockford High School in Rockford, Michigan services grades 9-12 for the Rockford Public Schools. The main campus is composed of two buildings, including a Freshman Center for all ninth graders and the Senior High School for grades 10-12, complete with an array of athletic, fine arts, and...
.
Pro career
The 49ers acquired Staley after trading into the first round with the New England PatriotsNew England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
. The Niners gave their 2008 1st Round Pick and a 4th Round pick in 2007. The Patriots subsequently traded the fourth round pick (110 overall) to the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
for wide receiver Randy Moss
Randy Moss
Randy Gene Moss is a former American football wide receiver. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 1998 NFL Draft...
.
Staley wears the number 74 for the San Francisco 49ers.
He was named the starting right tackle over Kwame Harris
Kwame Harris
Kwame Harris is an American football offensive tackle who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers 26th overall in the 2003 NFL Draft. He played college football at Stanford....
on August 28, 2007. He finished the season with all 16 starts and allowed 8 sacks.
In the 2008 NFL season, Staley was moved to left tackle starting every game but allowing just 8.5 sacks.
Prior to the 2009 season, Staley signed a 6-year contract extension that will keep him with San Francisco until 2017. Staley missed 7 games of the season with a sprained knee, but managed to start all the other 9 games allowing just 3 sacks and having no penalties called against him.
On October 30, 2011, Staley, from a tackle eligible formation, caught a pass for a key first down in the 49ers 20-10 victory over 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...
.
He hosts a locker room show, interviewing teammates about life on and off the field.