Paul Zukauskas
Encyclopedia
Paul Malcolm Zukauskas is a former American football
player. He played college football
at Boston College
. He was drafted in the 7th round by the Cleveland Browns
in 2001 NFL Draft
and played for the Browns from 2001-2004.
He earned all-state and all-conference honors as a senior tackle at Boston College
. He earned All-America honors from Prep Star and USA Today. He made 40 tackles as a senior and served as team captain. He played in the 1997 Massachusetts Shriners Football Classic. Donates his time to various non-profit organizations, including building a home for Habitat For Humanity, building a playground for the United Way’s Hometown Huddle program, visiting children at the Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital, Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital and distributing turkeys to Cleveland residents during the holidays.
and injured his back during the second week of training camp. He then was released at the end of camp. He did not play the rest of season due to injury.
and took on a backup role after week 5 Pittsburgh Steelers
. He played considerable time later in the season vs. New York Jets
and vs. the Houston Texans
.
. He moved into the starting lineup beginning Week 4 vs. the Cincinnati Bengals
on Sept. 28, as Zukauskas started at RG and O’Hara moved over to left guard. Then he started eight consecutive weeks at right guard before missing two weeks due to the death of his mother, Anne Marie. Moved back into the starting lineup at right guard vs. the Denver Broncos
on Dec. 14, and vs. the Baltimore Ravens
on Dec. 21. Inactive the final week of the season due to a knee injury.
broke his hand and the starting right guard, Shaun O'Hara
moved to center. He made his first career start vs. the Cincinnati Bengals
on Sept. 15. He appeared on special teams and also lined up as tackle eligible in goal line running situations in the AFC Wild Card Game vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers
on Jan. 5.
on December 30.
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...
player. 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 Boston College
Boston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
. He was drafted in the 7th round 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 2001 NFL Draft
2001 NFL Draft
The 2001 NFL Draft took place on April 21–22, 2001 at the theater at Madison Square Garden, in New York City. This was the 66th National Football League draft in league history. The draft was broadcast on ESPN both days and eventually moved to ESPN2. No teams elected to claim any players in the...
and played for the Browns from 2001-2004.
Early life and charity work
Born Paul Malcolm Zukauskas, the son of Anne Marie and Thomas Zukauskas on July 12, 1979.He earned all-state and all-conference honors as a senior tackle at Boston College
Boston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
. He earned All-America honors from Prep Star and USA Today. He made 40 tackles as a senior and served as team captain. He played in the 1997 Massachusetts Shriners Football Classic. Donates his time to various non-profit organizations, including building a home for Habitat For Humanity, building a playground for the United Way’s Hometown Huddle program, visiting children at the Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital, Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital and distributing turkeys to Cleveland residents during the holidays.
College career
Three-year starter who became the first freshman in over 20 years to start on the offensive line. As a junior, he was named All-Big East Conference second-team selection. As a senior, he was named All-Big East Conference first-team selection and first-team All-America selection. He was a member of The Sporting News’ All-Underrated team. Credited with 49 key blocks in helping the offense gain 4,527 yards, the sixth-best total in school history. He appeared in seven games as a true freshman. He earned his only start vs. Virginia Tech, lining up at right tackle.2005
He signed with the San Francisco 49ersSan 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...
and injured his back during the second week of training camp. He then was released at the end of camp. He did not play the rest of season due to injury.
2004
He appeared in 14 games and 5 of the games were starts at left guard. He started the season as the starting left guard. He was injured in Week 2 vs. the Dallas CowboysDallas 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...
and took on a backup role after week 5 Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
. He played considerable time later in the season vs. New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and vs. the Houston Texans
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
2003
He was in 12 games, 10 of the games were starts at right guard. In the beginning of the season he was the backup right guard to starter Shaun O'HaraShaun O'Hara
Shaun O'Hara is an American football center in the National Football League who is currently a free agent. He played college football at Rutgers University, and has been in the NFL since 2000, having begun his pro career as a free agent with the Cleveland Browns...
. He moved into the starting lineup beginning Week 4 vs. the 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...
on Sept. 28, as Zukauskas started at RG and O’Hara moved over to left guard. Then he started eight consecutive weeks at right guard before missing two weeks due to the death of his mother, Anne Marie. Moved back into the starting lineup at right guard vs. 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...
on Dec. 14, and vs. 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...
on Dec. 21. Inactive the final week of the season due to a knee injury.
2002
He was in all 16 regular season games as the Browns backup right offensive guard and also played on special teams. Made three starting assignments at right guard early in the season as starting center Dave WohlabaughDave Wohlabaugh
David Vincent Wohlabaugh is a former American football center who played 9 seasons for three National Football League teams. He started in Super Bowl XXXI for the New England Patriots....
broke his hand and the starting right guard, Shaun O'Hara
Shaun O'Hara
Shaun O'Hara is an American football center in the National Football League who is currently a free agent. He played college football at Rutgers University, and has been in the NFL since 2000, having begun his pro career as a free agent with the Cleveland Browns...
moved to center. He made his first career start vs. the 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...
on Sept. 15. He appeared on special teams and also lined up as tackle eligible in goal line running situations in the AFC Wild Card Game vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
on Jan. 5.
2001
As a rookie with Browns, he was on the practice squad for the first 9 weeks. He was then signed to the active roster on November 21, and appeared in one game. Made his NFL debut by playing on special teams against the Tennessee TitansTennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
on December 30.