Josh Gaines
Encyclopedia
Joshua Lamar "Josh" Gaines (born September 27, 1985) is a professional gridiron football
defensive end
who is currently a free agent
of the Arena Football League
. He was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles
as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He played college football
at Penn State
.
Gaines has also been a member of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
.
at Penn State
. After redshirting
his freshman year in 2004, he made appearances in every game in 2005
, backing up future Kansas City Chief
Tamba Hali
. He would finish the season with 9 tackles
and was named Academic All-Big Ten
.
By the 2006
season, Gaines had moved into the starting rotation and remained the starter for the remainder of his time with the Nittany Lions. In 2007
Gaines helped lead the defense to a number two ranking in quarterback sacks and a seventh ranking in total defense. He was named a team captain
for the Nittany Lions as a senior, and finished his career at Penn State with 105 tackles, 8.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries.
He earned a Bachelor of Science
in Human Development and Family Studies from Penn State in 2008.
.
on April 27, 2009, as an undrafted free agent
following the 2009 NFL Draft
. Gaines was a 2008 team captain
at Penn State His interception
return for a touchdown was the final play of the inaugural Flight Night, a live preseason inter-squad scrimmage
held at Lincoln Financial Field
on August 8, 2009. He was waived on September 5, 2009.
on October 8, 2009. He was signed to the Tiger-Cats' active roster on May 27, 2010.
of the Arena Football League
. He was placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list on March 5, 2011. He was then placed on Injured Reserve on March 9, 2011, where he stayed for the rest of the 2011 season.
six children from an underprivileged home in their hometown of Fort Wayne, Indiana
. In addition to James' biological daughter, LaShonda, and Wilma's two other biological children, Ebony and LaToya, the Holders also cared for a cousin, Kevin, who is autistic
. Gaines credits his large family for his team-oriented approach to football and his strong leadership qualities.
Gridiron football
Gridiron football , sometimes known as North American football, is an umbrella term for related codes of football primarily played in the United States and Canada. The predominant forms of gridiron football are American football and Canadian football...
defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
who is currently a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
of the Arena Football League
Arena Football League
The Arena Football League is the highest level of professional indoor American football in the United States. It is currently the second longest running professional football league in the United States, after the National Football League. It was founded in 1987 by Jim Foster...
. He was signed by 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...
as an undrafted free agent in 2009. 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 Penn State
Penn State Nittany Lions football
The Penn State Nittany Lions football team represents the Pennsylvania State University in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big Ten Conference. It is one of the most tradition-rich and storied college football programs in the...
.
Gaines has also been a member of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium...
.
College career
Gaines played college footballCollege 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 Penn State
Penn State Nittany Lions football
The Penn State Nittany Lions football team represents the Pennsylvania State University in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big Ten Conference. It is one of the most tradition-rich and storied college football programs in the...
. After redshirting
Redshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
his freshman year in 2004, he made appearances in every game in 2005
2005 Penn State Nittany Lions football team
The 2005 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University in the 2005–2006 college football season. The team's head coach was Joe Paterno...
, backing up future Kansas City Chief
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
Tamba Hali
Tamba Hali
Tamba Boimah Hali is an American football outside linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs in the National Football League. He was the 20th overall pick out of Penn State in the 2006 NFL Draft...
. He would finish the season with 9 tackles
Tackle (football move)
Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball, to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend....
and was named Academic All-Big Ten
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
.
By the 2006
2006 Penn State Nittany Lions football team
The 2006 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University in the 2006–2007 college football season. The team's head coach was Joe Paterno. It played its home games at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania....
season, Gaines had moved into the starting rotation and remained the starter for the remainder of his time with the Nittany Lions. In 2007
2007 Penn State Nittany Lions football team
The 2007 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University in the 2007 college football season. The team was coached by Joe Paterno and played its home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania....
Gaines helped lead the defense to a number two ranking in quarterback sacks and a seventh ranking in total defense. He was named a team captain
Captain (sports)
In team sports, a captain is a title given to a member of the team. The title is frequently honorary, but in some cases the captain may have significant responsibility for strategy and teamwork while the game is in progress on the field...
for the Nittany Lions as a senior, and finished his career at Penn State with 105 tackles, 8.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries.
He earned a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in Human Development and Family Studies from Penn State in 2008.
Pre-draft
Gaines trained for the NFL Scouting Combine at Power Train Sports Performance in Millersville, PennsylvaniaMillersville, Pennsylvania
Millersville is a borough in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 7,774.-Geography:Millersville is located at ....
.
Philadelphia Eagles
Gaines was signed 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...
on April 27, 2009, as an undrafted free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
following the 2009 NFL Draft
2009 NFL Draft
The 2009 NFL Draft was the seventy-fourth annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. The draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 25 and 26, 2009. The draft consisted of two rounds on the first day starting at 4:00...
. Gaines was a 2008 team captain
Captain (sports)
In team sports, a captain is a title given to a member of the team. The title is frequently honorary, but in some cases the captain may have significant responsibility for strategy and teamwork while the game is in progress on the field...
at Penn State His interception
Interception (football)
An interception, intercept or pick is a move in many forms of football, including Canadian and American football, as well as rugby league, rugby union, Australian rules football and Gaelic football, which involves a pass, either by foot or hand, being caught by an opposition player, who usually...
return for a touchdown was the final play of the inaugural Flight Night, a live preseason inter-squad scrimmage
Exhibition game
An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition...
held at Lincoln Financial Field
Lincoln Financial Field
Lincoln Financial Field is the home stadium of the National Football League's Philadelphia Eagles. It has a seating capacity of 68,532 . It is located in South Philadelphia on Pattison Avenue between 11th and 10th streets, also aside I-95 as part of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex...
on August 8, 2009. He was waived on September 5, 2009.
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Gaines signed a practice roster agreement with the Hamilton Tiger-CatsHamilton Tiger-Cats
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium...
on October 8, 2009. He was signed to the Tiger-Cats' active roster on May 27, 2010.
Pittsburgh Power
On October 19, 2010, Gaines signed with the Pittsburgh PowerPittsburgh Power
The Pittsburgh Power is an Arena Football League team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that began play in March of 2011. The team plays its home games at the new Consol Energy Center, which they share with the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League...
of the Arena Football League
Arena Football League
The Arena Football League is the highest level of professional indoor American football in the United States. It is currently the second longest running professional football league in the United States, after the National Football League. It was founded in 1987 by Jim Foster...
. He was placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list on March 5, 2011. He was then placed on Injured Reserve on March 9, 2011, where he stayed for the rest of the 2011 season.
Personal
Gaines is one of 11 children: when he was six years old his mother, Wilma, and stepfather, James, adoptedAdoption
Adoption is a process whereby a person assumes the parenting for another and, in so doing, permanently transfers all rights and responsibilities from the original parent or parents...
six children from an underprivileged home in their hometown of Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne is a city in the US state of Indiana and the county seat of Allen County. The population was 253,691 at the 2010 Census making it the 74th largest city in the United States and the second largest in Indiana...
. In addition to James' biological daughter, LaShonda, and Wilma's two other biological children, Ebony and LaToya, the Holders also cared for a cousin, Kevin, who is autistic
Autism
Autism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. These signs all begin before a child is three years old. Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their...
. Gaines credits his large family for his team-oriented approach to football and his strong leadership qualities.
External links
- Philadelphia Eagles bio
- Josh Gaines hopeful about a future with the Eagles Williamsport Sun-Gazette - May 8, 2009