Jonathan Ogden
Encyclopedia
Jonathan Phillip Ogden (born July 31, 1974) is a former American football
offensive tackle who played for the Baltimore Ravens
.
, excelling not only in football but also in track and field. An All-American in both sports, he decided on UCLA
instead of the University of Florida
because UCLA would let him participate in track and field. He ended up winning the 1996 NCAA indoor track title in the shot put.
Ogden had an outstanding football career with the UCLA Bruins, starting as left tackle for four years. In 23 games during his junior and senior years, he allowed just two sacks. In 1995, Ogden received the Outland Trophy
and the Morris Trophy, was the UPI Lineman of the Year, and was a unanimous first-team All-American. Ogden's father, an investment banker, told his son to accept UCLA's decision to move him from right to left tackle.
Ogden's jersey (#79) has been retired, making him only the eighth player in Bruins' history to receive that honor. He was inducted into the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame in 2006. He was a history major.
, Ogden was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round with the fourth overall choice, the first-ever draft pick made by the Ravens.
He was named a nine-time All-Pro and an eleven-time Pro Bowl
er at left tackle, earning trips to Hawaii
in every season except his rookie year. During his career, Ogden caught two passes — both for one yard and both for touchdowns. He also recovered 7 fumbles, and recorded 10 tackles. Ogden also won a reputation for smiling. "He's a laugher," joked former New York Giants DE Michael Strahan. "You see him, you think to yourself this guy is not mean enough to handle the mean guys out there in the NFL. Jonathan would rip your limbs off, and he'd smile...and wave your arm in front of you." Ogden also threw his helmet in frustration several times.
In 2001, Ogden won a Super Bowl ring with the Ravens when they defeated the New York Giants 34-7 in Super Bowl XXXV. Ogden announced his retirement on June 12, 2008 after a career that spanned 12 seasons, all with Baltimore. At 6' 9", Ogden was tied with fellow Raven Jared Gaither
as the tallest player in the NFL at the end of his playing career.
Ogden once attempted to win the WWF Hardcore Championship from Crash Holly on an episode of Monday Night Raw, but was unsuccessful. In Sept. 2009, Ogden was selected to Sporting News' Magazine's Team of the Decade (2000's). In 2010, he was placed 72nd on the list of NFL's top 100 players.
Ogden currently resides in the general Baltimore area. He often does commercials for "the Apple Ford used and new cars." He was present during the Raven's Super Bowl XXXV reunion in 2010.
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 tackle who played for 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...
.
College
He received his education at St. Albans SchoolSt. Albans School (Washington, D.C.)
St. Albans School is an independent college preparatory school for boys in grades 4–12, located in Washington, D.C. The school is named after Saint Alban, traditionally regarded as the first British martyr. Within the St...
, excelling not only in football but also in track and field. An All-American in both sports, he decided on UCLA
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
instead of the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
because UCLA would let him participate in track and field. He ended up winning the 1996 NCAA indoor track title in the shot put.
Ogden had an outstanding football career with the UCLA Bruins, starting as left tackle for four years. In 23 games during his junior and senior years, he allowed just two sacks. In 1995, Ogden received the Outland Trophy
Outland Trophy
The Outland Trophy is awarded to the best United States college football interior lineman by the Football Writers Association of America. It is named after John H. Outland. One of only a few players ever to be named All-America at two positions, Outland garnered consensus All-America honors in...
and the Morris Trophy, was the UPI Lineman of the Year, and was a unanimous first-team All-American. Ogden's father, an investment banker, told his son to accept UCLA's decision to move him from right to left tackle.
Ogden's jersey (#79) has been retired, making him only the eighth player in Bruins' history to receive that honor. He was inducted into the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame in 2006. He was a history major.
NFL Career
During the 1996 NFL Draft1996 NFL Draft
The 1996 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 20–21, 1996...
, Ogden was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round with the fourth overall choice, the first-ever draft pick made by the Ravens.
He was named a nine-time All-Pro and an eleven-time Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
er at left tackle, earning trips to Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
in every season except his rookie year. During his career, Ogden caught two passes — both for one yard and both for touchdowns. He also recovered 7 fumbles, and recorded 10 tackles. Ogden also won a reputation for smiling. "He's a laugher," joked former New York Giants DE Michael Strahan. "You see him, you think to yourself this guy is not mean enough to handle the mean guys out there in the NFL. Jonathan would rip your limbs off, and he'd smile...and wave your arm in front of you." Ogden also threw his helmet in frustration several times.
In 2001, Ogden won a Super Bowl ring with the Ravens when they defeated the New York Giants 34-7 in Super Bowl XXXV. Ogden announced his retirement on June 12, 2008 after a career that spanned 12 seasons, all with Baltimore. At 6' 9", Ogden was tied with fellow Raven Jared Gaither
Jared Gaither
Jared Gaither is an American football offensive tackle for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the fifth round of the 2007 Supplemental Draft...
as the tallest player in the NFL at the end of his playing career.
Personal life
Johnathan Ogden married Kema Francis in 2004. He established the Jonathan Ogden Foundation to benefit innercity schools and help student-athletes take responsibility for their futures through lessons learned on the playing field, in the classroom, and throughout their local communities.Ogden once attempted to win the WWF Hardcore Championship from Crash Holly on an episode of Monday Night Raw, but was unsuccessful. In Sept. 2009, Ogden was selected to Sporting News' Magazine's Team of the Decade (2000's). In 2010, he was placed 72nd on the list of NFL's top 100 players.
Ogden currently resides in the general Baltimore area. He often does commercials for "the Apple Ford used and new cars." He was present during the Raven's Super Bowl XXXV reunion in 2010.