Ryan Grant
Encyclopedia
Ryan Brett Grant is a running back
for the Green Bay Packers
of the National Football League
(NFL). He was originally signed by the New York Giants
as an undrafted free agent in 2005 but was traded to the Packers shortly before the 2007 season in exchange for a future sixth-round draft pick. He played college football
at Notre Dame
, under head coaches Bob Davie and Tyrone Willingham
, where he rushed for over 2,000 yard
s and 18 touchdown
s.
Grant had a successful first season with the Packers, rushing
for almost 1,000 yards, including five 100+ yard games, in 10 starts. He set franchise records with 201 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns in the Packers' divisional playoff game win against the Seattle Seahawks
, a performance for which he was heavily praised, as they went on to reach the NFC Championship Game
.
, New York
, and attended Don Bosco Prep
in Ramsey
, New Jersey
. He then transferred to Clarkstown South High School
in West Nyack, New York
. One year later, he transferred back to Don Bosco Prep. In 2000, his senior year, USA Today
named him New Jersey Player of the Year. He rushed for nearly 1,000 yard
s and 6 touchdown
s in Don Bosco Prep's run to an 11–1 record and the state championship game. In the championship game, Don Bosco Prep lost to Holy Cross High School.
In high school, Grant also played basketball and competed in track and field
, where he was timed at 12.7 seconds in the 100 meter dash.
to play football for the Fighting Irish
while majoring in sociology
and computer applications. He made few appearances during his freshman year, playing in just five games under coach Bob Davie as the Fighting Irish finished 5–6 for the season. Davie was not retained, and Tyrone Willingham
was named head coach for Grant's sophomore season. Early on, Willingham praised Grant for his attitude:
In fellow running back Julius Jones' absence, Willingham gave Grant starts for all twelve games in 2002, and Grant rushed for over 1,000 yard
s with 9 touchdown
s, including four games with 100+ yards. Grant's best game during his time at Notre Dame came against Air Force
, as he gained 190 yards rushing and a touchdown in a 21–14 Fighting Irish win. The following week, the Fighting Irish defeated Florida State
and were ranked a season-high #4 on the AP Poll
. Notre Dame finished the season at 10–3 and ranked #17 on both the AP Poll and Coaches' Poll.
The 2003 season saw Grant split time with a returning Julius Jones. After starting the first five games, Grant only managed 242 rushing yards before being dropped. Indeed, Jones took over in the fifth game and ran for 262 yards and 2 touchdowns against Pitt
, a school record, in a 20–14 victory. Grant did not start any of the final seven games, and he rushed for 268 yards in that time, leaving him with 510 yards for his junior year.
For his senior year, Grant was named a team captain for the Fighting Irish, but he split time with a new running back, Darius Walker
. Playing in nine games, Grant only managed to pass 100 yards once, with 112 yards and 2 touchdowns in a 27–9 win over Navy
. After injuring his hamstring
, Grant's playing time was limited and Walker took over the starting job at running back. Grant finished the year with 515 yards and 5 touchdowns. In Grant's final year, Notre Dame finished 6–6 and were never ranked higher than 24th by the AP or Coaches' polls. For his collegiate career, Grant ran for a total of 2,220 yards and 18 touchdowns.
after his senior year and was invited to the 2005 NFL Scouting Combine, a week-long showcase for NFL hopefuls. Scouts did not credit Grant with exceptional speed, but he was clocked at 4.43 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the Combine.
(All results are from the 2005 NFL Combine)
, a tendon
and the ulnar nerve
in his left arm. Grant almost bled to death and doctors at the time told him he might not regain the use of his left hand, although he did recover with time.
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Grant was trade
d to the Packers on September 1, 2007 in exchange for a future sixth-round draft pick, and he played as the third-string running back behind Brandon Jackson and DeShawn Wynn
for the first six games of the season. During the Packers' eighth week match against the Denver Broncos
, Wynn suffered a shoulder injury that ruled him out for the game; Grant took over in the second quarter and ran for 104 yard
s in a 19–13 overtime
win. He scored his first rushing touchdown on November 11 in a 34–0 win against the Minnesota Vikings
. Grant started each of the last ten games for the Packers, and by the end of the season, he was averaging 5.1 yards per carry
and had five 100+ yard games and 8 rushing touchdown
s. His mark of 929 yards in the final ten games of the season was second in the National Football League for that time period to LaDanian Tomlinson, who had 944 yards. Grant was voted the FedEx Ground NFL Player of the Week for the games played on November 11–12. He ran for 119 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries, making him the first running back to pick up 100 yards against the Vikings' second-ranked rush defense all season. Grant won the award for a second time that season for games played between December 6–10, rushing for 156 yards, a career high, and a touchdown in a 38–17 win over the Oakland Raiders
.
In the Packers' divisional playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks
, Grant fumble
d twice in the first four minutes; both of the resulting drives led to touchdowns for the Seahawks. Grant made up for these early mistakes by going on to rush for 201 yards and 3 touchdowns, both of which set franchise records for Packers' post-season games, as the Packers were 42–20 winners. Several people in the Packers organization praised Grant for his performance in the Seattle game, including Packers' coach Mike McCarthy and quarterback Brett Favre
, who was quoted as saying of Grant, "[w]hen he got the opportunity, he made the most of it. It sure turned us from one-dimensional into something totally different."
The following week, Grant rushed for only 29 yards in a 23–20 overtime loss to the New York Giants in the NFC Championship game. He finished second overall for rushing yards in the 2007–08 playoffs with 230, behind Laurence Maroney
. At the end of the 2007 season, Grant became an exclusive rights free agent
, meaning the Packers have exclusive rights to sign him, but if they choose not to, he will be eligible to sign with any team.
June 1, in the Green Bay Press Gazette, it was announced that Grant is scheduled to get offered a contract to stay with the Packers. On August 4, 2008, it was announced that Grant signed a 4-year deal that could be worth up to $30 million.
After a somewhat disappointing season in 2008, where Grant rushed for only four touchdowns and 3.9 yards per carry (did eclipse 1,000 rushing yards), Grant had a bounce-back year in 2009, where he rushed for 1,253 yards, third in the NFC
, and 11 touchdowns, second in the NFC
. He also added 4.4 yards per carry.
For the 2010 Pro Bowl
, Grant was named a back-up alternate, along with teammates Chad Clifton
, A.J. Hawk, and Clay Matthews
.
During the 2010 season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles
on September 12, 2010, Grant suffered a season-ending ankle injury and was placed on injured reserve after rushing for just 45 yards on eight carries.
He underwent ankle surgery on September 21, 2010 and is expected to show up for the 2011 off-season conditioning.
Note: Preseason and Postseason not added to figures.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=9475
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
for the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
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...
(NFL). He was originally signed by the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
as an undrafted free agent in 2005 but was traded to the Packers shortly before the 2007 season in exchange for a future sixth-round draft pick. 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 Notre Dame
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...
, under head coaches Bob Davie and Tyrone Willingham
Tyrone Willingham
Lionel Tyrone "Ty" Willingham is a former American football player and coach. He was the head coach at Stanford University , the University of Notre Dame , and the University of Washington , compiling a career college football record of 76–88–1.-Early career:Willingham attended...
, where he rushed for over 2,000 yard
Yard
A yard is a unit of length in several different systems including English units, Imperial units and United States customary units. It is equal to 3 feet or 36 inches...
s and 18 touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s.
Grant had a successful first season with the Packers, rushing
Rush (American football)
Rushing has two different meanings in gridiron football .-Offense:The first is an action taken by the offensive team that means to advance the ball by running, as opposed to passing. A run is technically any play that does not involve a forward pass...
for almost 1,000 yards, including five 100+ yard games, in 10 starts. He set franchise records with 201 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns in the Packers' divisional playoff game win against the Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
, a performance for which he was heavily praised, as they went on to reach the NFC Championship Game
NFC Championship Game
The National Football Conference Championship Game is one of the two semi-final playoff matches of the National Football League, the largest professional American football league in the United States. The game is played on the penultimate Sunday in January and determines the champion of the...
.
High school career
Grant grew up in NyackNyack, New York
Nyack is a village in the towns of Orangetown and Clarkstown in Rockland County, New York, United States, located north of South Nyack; east of Central Nyack; south of Upper Nyack and west of the Hudson River, approximately 19 miles north of the Manhattan boundary, it is an inner suburb of New...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, and attended Don Bosco Prep
Don Bosco Preparatory High School
Don Bosco Preparatory High School is a private, Roman Catholic secondary school for young men, grades 9 through 12. Founded by the Salesians of Don Bosco, a religious order of priests and brothers, the school is situated on a campus in Ramsey, New Jersey, United States...
in Ramsey
Ramsey, New Jersey
Ramsey is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. It is a suburb of New York City, located northwest of Midtown Manhattan. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 14,473....
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. He then transferred to Clarkstown South High School
Clarkstown High School South
Clarkstown High School South is a public high school located in West Nyack, New York. The school educates students in grades 9 through 12, and is one of two high schools in the Clarkstown Central School District...
in West Nyack, New York
West Nyack, New York
West Nyack is a hamlet in the Town of Clarkstown Rockland County, New York, United States located north of Central Nyack; east of Nanuet; south of Valley Cottage and west of Upper Nyack. It is approximately 18 miles north of New York City...
. One year later, he transferred back to Don Bosco Prep. In 2000, his senior year, USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
named him New Jersey Player of the Year. He rushed for nearly 1,000 yard
Yard
A yard is a unit of length in several different systems including English units, Imperial units and United States customary units. It is equal to 3 feet or 36 inches...
s and 6 touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s in Don Bosco Prep's run to an 11–1 record and the state championship game. In the championship game, Don Bosco Prep lost to Holy Cross High School.
In high school, Grant also played basketball and competed in track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
, where he was timed at 12.7 seconds in the 100 meter dash.
College career
In 2001, Grant went to the University of Notre DameUniversity of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
to play football for the Fighting Irish
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...
while majoring in sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
and computer applications. He made few appearances during his freshman year, playing in just five games under coach Bob Davie as the Fighting Irish finished 5–6 for the season. Davie was not retained, and Tyrone Willingham
Tyrone Willingham
Lionel Tyrone "Ty" Willingham is a former American football player and coach. He was the head coach at Stanford University , the University of Notre Dame , and the University of Washington , compiling a career college football record of 76–88–1.-Early career:Willingham attended...
was named head coach for Grant's sophomore season. Early on, Willingham praised Grant for his attitude:
In fellow running back Julius Jones' absence, Willingham gave Grant starts for all twelve games in 2002, and Grant rushed for over 1,000 yard
Yard
A yard is a unit of length in several different systems including English units, Imperial units and United States customary units. It is equal to 3 feet or 36 inches...
s with 9 touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s, including four games with 100+ yards. Grant's best game during his time at Notre Dame came against Air Force
Air Force Falcons football
The Air Force Falcons are a college football team from the United States Air Force Academy, located just outside of Colorado Springs, Colorado. The team competes in the Football Bowl Subdivision of the NCAA Division I and the Mountain West Conference.-Style:...
, as he gained 190 yards rushing and a touchdown in a 21–14 Fighting Irish win. The following week, the Fighting Irish defeated Florida State
Florida State Seminoles football
The Florida State Seminoles football team represents Florida State University in college football. The Florida State Seminoles compete in NCAA Division I-FBS and are members of the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
and were ranked a season-high #4 on the AP Poll
AP Poll
The Associated Press College Poll refers to weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in one of three Division I college sports: football, men's basketball and women's basketball. The rankings are compiled by polling sportswriters across the nation...
. Notre Dame finished the season at 10–3 and ranked #17 on both the AP Poll and Coaches' Poll.
The 2003 season saw Grant split time with a returning Julius Jones. After starting the first five games, Grant only managed 242 rushing yards before being dropped. Indeed, Jones took over in the fifth game and ran for 262 yards and 2 touchdowns against Pitt
Pittsburgh Panthers football
Pittsburgh Panthers football is the intercollegiate football team of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Traditionally the most popular sport at the university, Pitt football has played at the highest level of American college football...
, a school record, in a 20–14 victory. Grant did not start any of the final seven games, and he rushed for 268 yards in that time, leaving him with 510 yards for his junior year.
For his senior year, Grant was named a team captain for the Fighting Irish, but he split time with a new running back, Darius Walker
Darius Walker
Darius A'Dunte Walker is an American football running back who is a free agent in the National Football League. He was signed by the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football at Notre Dame.Walker has also been a member of the St...
. Playing in nine games, Grant only managed to pass 100 yards once, with 112 yards and 2 touchdowns in a 27–9 win over Navy
Navy Midshipmen football
The Navy Midshipmen football team represents the United States Naval Academy in NCAA Division I-A college football. They are a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision independent school and coached by Ken Niumatalolo since December 2007...
. After injuring his hamstring
Hamstring
In human anatomy, the hamstring refers to any one of the three posterior thigh muscles, or to the tendons that make up the borders of the space behind the knee. In modern anatomical contexts, however, they usually refer to the posterior thigh muscles, or the tendons of the semitendinosus, the...
, Grant's playing time was limited and Walker took over the starting job at running back. Grant finished the year with 515 yards and 5 touchdowns. In Grant's final year, Notre Dame finished 6–6 and were never ranked higher than 24th by the AP or Coaches' polls. For his collegiate career, Grant ran for a total of 2,220 yards and 18 touchdowns.
Professional career
Grant applied for the 2005 NFL Draft2005 NFL Draft
The 2005 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 23–24, 2005. The league also held an supplemental draft that year, which was held after...
after his senior year and was invited to the 2005 NFL Scouting Combine, a week-long showcase for NFL hopefuls. Scouts did not credit Grant with exceptional speed, but he was clocked at 4.43 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the Combine.
| Pre-draft measureables | ||||||
| Wt | 40y | 20ss 20 yard shuttle The 20-yard shuttle, also simply called the short shuttle, is a test performed by American football athletes at the NFL combine. It is primarily run to evaluate the quickness and change-of-direction ability of players by scouts, particularly for the NFL Draft but also for collegiate recruiting... |
3-cone 3 cone drill The 3 cone drill, or three cone drill, is a test performed by American football athletes at the NFL combine. It is primarily run to evaluate the agility, quickness and fluidity of movement of players by scouts, particularly for the NFL Draft but also for collegiate recruiting... |
Vert Vertical jump A vertical jump or vertical leap is the act of raising one's center of gravity higher in the vertical plane solely with the use of one's own muscles; it is a measure of how high an individual or athlete can elevate off the ground from a standstill.-Types of vertical jump:The vertical jump is... |
BP Bench press The bench press is an exercise of the upper body. For bodybuilding purposes, it is used to stimulate the pectorals, deltoids, and triceps. While on his or her back, the person performing the bench press lowers a weight to the level of the chest, then pushes it back up until the arm is straight... |
Wonderlic Wonderlic Test The Wonderlic Cognitive Ability Test is a twelve-minute, fifty-question test used to assess the aptitude of prospective employees for learning and problem-solving in a range of occupations. The test was developed by industrial psychologist Eldon F. Wonderlic... |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 222 lb | 4.43s | 4.14s | 7.10s | 33.5" | 17 | 26* |
New York Giants
Signing as an undrafted free agent, Grant spent 2005 on the New York Giants practice squad. He missed the entire 2006 season, however, after a non-football related injury threatened his career. Grant was at a nightclub when someone bumped into him; when he went to brace himself, his left arm went through several champagne glasses, severing an arteryArtery
Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart. This blood is normally oxygenated, exceptions made for the pulmonary and umbilical arteries....
, a tendon
Tendon
A tendon is a tough band of fibrous connective tissue that usually connects muscle to bone and is capable of withstanding tension. Tendons are similar to ligaments and fasciae as they are all made of collagen except that ligaments join one bone to another bone, and fasciae connect muscles to other...
and the ulnar nerve
Ulnar nerve
In human anatomy, the ulnar nerve is a nerve which runs near the ulna bone. The ulnar collateral ligament of elbow joint is in relation with the ulnar nerve. The nerve is the largest unprotected nerve in the human body , so injury is common...
in his left arm. Grant almost bled to death and doctors at the time told him he might not regain the use of his left hand, although he did recover with time.
Green Bay Packers
Trade
Trade is the transfer of ownership of goods and services from one person or entity to another. Trade is sometimes loosely called commerce or financial transaction or barter. A network that allows trade is called a market. The original form of trade was barter, the direct exchange of goods and...
d to the Packers on September 1, 2007 in exchange for a future sixth-round draft pick, and he played as the third-string running back behind Brandon Jackson and DeShawn Wynn
DeShawn Wynn
DeShawn Wynn is an American professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League. Wynnn played college football for the University of Florida. He was drafted by the NFL's Green Bay Packers in the seventh round of the 2007 NFL Draft, and has also played for the New...
for the first six games of the season. During the Packers' eighth week match against 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...
, Wynn suffered a shoulder injury that ruled him out for the game; Grant took over in the second quarter and ran for 104 yard
Yard
A yard is a unit of length in several different systems including English units, Imperial units and United States customary units. It is equal to 3 feet or 36 inches...
s in a 19–13 overtime
Overtime (sports)
Overtime or extra time is an additional period of play specified under the rules of a sport to bring a game to a decision and avoid declaring the match a tie or draw. In most sports, this extra period is only played if the game is required to have a clear winner, as in single-elimination...
win. He scored his first rushing touchdown on November 11 in a 34–0 win against the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
. Grant started each of the last ten games for the Packers, and by the end of the season, he was averaging 5.1 yards per carry
Carry (American football)
In American football, a carry is a statistical term equivalent to a single rushing play. The term is typically used in reference to "yards per carry," meaning yards per attempt rushing the ball. Any offensive player who performs a carry is known as a ballcarrier, regardless of position....
and had five 100+ yard games and 8 rushing touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s. His mark of 929 yards in the final ten games of the season was second in the National Football League for that time period to LaDanian Tomlinson, who had 944 yards. Grant was voted the FedEx Ground NFL Player of the Week for the games played on November 11–12. He ran for 119 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries, making him the first running back to pick up 100 yards against the Vikings' second-ranked rush defense all season. Grant won the award for a second time that season for games played between December 6–10, rushing for 156 yards, a career high, and a touchdown in a 38–17 win over 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...
.
In the Packers' divisional playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
, Grant fumble
Fumble
A fumble in American and Canadian football occurs when a player, who has possession and control of the ball loses it before being downed or scoring. By rule, it is any act other than passing, kicking or successful handing that results in loss of player possession...
d twice in the first four minutes; both of the resulting drives led to touchdowns for the Seahawks. Grant made up for these early mistakes by going on to rush for 201 yards and 3 touchdowns, both of which set franchise records for Packers' post-season games, as the Packers were 42–20 winners. Several people in the Packers organization praised Grant for his performance in the Seattle game, including Packers' coach Mike McCarthy and quarterback Brett Favre
Brett Favre
Brett Lorenzo Favre is a former American football quarterback who spent the majority of his career with the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League . He was a 20-year veteran of the NFL, having played quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons , Green Bay Packers , New York Jets and Minnesota...
, who was quoted as saying of Grant, "[w]hen he got the opportunity, he made the most of it. It sure turned us from one-dimensional into something totally different."
The following week, Grant rushed for only 29 yards in a 23–20 overtime loss to the New York Giants in the NFC Championship game. He finished second overall for rushing yards in the 2007–08 playoffs with 230, behind Laurence Maroney
Laurence Maroney
Laurence Maroney is an American football running back who is currently a free agent in the National Football League. He was drafted by the New England Patriots 21st overall in the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football at Minnesota.-Early years:Maroney attended Normandy Senior High School in St...
. At the end of the 2007 season, Grant became an exclusive rights 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....
, meaning the Packers have exclusive rights to sign him, but if they choose not to, he will be eligible to sign with any team.
June 1, in the Green Bay Press Gazette, it was announced that Grant is scheduled to get offered a contract to stay with the Packers. On August 4, 2008, it was announced that Grant signed a 4-year deal that could be worth up to $30 million.
After a somewhat disappointing season in 2008, where Grant rushed for only four touchdowns and 3.9 yards per carry (did eclipse 1,000 rushing yards), Grant had a bounce-back year in 2009, where he rushed for 1,253 yards, third in the NFC
National Football Conference
The National Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League . This conference and its counterpart, the American Football Conference , currently contain 16 teams each, making up the 32 teams of the NFL.-Current teams:Since 2002, the NFC has comprised 16 teams,...
, and 11 touchdowns, second in the NFC
National Football Conference
The National Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League . This conference and its counterpart, the American Football Conference , currently contain 16 teams each, making up the 32 teams of the NFL.-Current teams:Since 2002, the NFC has comprised 16 teams,...
. He also added 4.4 yards per carry.
For the 2010 Pro Bowl
2010 Pro Bowl
The 2010 AFC–NFC Pro Bowl was the NFL's all-star game for the 2009 season. It took place at 8:00 PM EST on Sunday, January 31, 2010, at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, the home stadium of the Miami Dolphins and host site of Super Bowl XLIV...
, Grant was named a back-up alternate, along with teammates Chad Clifton
Chad Clifton
Jeffrey Chad Clifton is an American football offensive tackle for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Packers in the second round of the 2000 NFL Draft. He played college football at Tennessee....
, A.J. Hawk, and Clay Matthews
Clay Matthews III
William Clay Matthews III is an American football linebacker for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Packers 26th overall in the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Southern California.-Early years:Matthews was born in the Los...
.
During the 2010 season opener against 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...
on September 12, 2010, Grant suffered a season-ending ankle injury and was placed on injured reserve after rushing for just 45 yards on eight carries.
He underwent ankle surgery on September 21, 2010 and is expected to show up for the 2011 off-season conditioning.
College statistics
| Rushing | Receiving | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD |
| 2001 | 29 | 110 | 3.8 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 3.5 | 0 |
| 2002 | 261 | 1085 | 4.2 | 9 | 9 | 22 | 2.4 | 0 |
| 2003 2003 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team The 2003 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team was the college football team that represented the University of Notre Dame in the 2003 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Tyrone Willingham and played its home games at Notre Dame Stadium in Notre Dame, Indiana. The Irish... |
143 | 510 | 3.6 | 3 | 9 | 64 | 7.1 | 0 |
| 2004 2004 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team The 2004 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team was the college football team that represented the University of Notre Dame in the 2004 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Tyrone Willingham, and played its home games at Notre Dame Stadium in Notre Dame, Indiana.- Season... |
127 | 515 | 4.1 | 5 | 6 | 51 | 8.5 | 0 |
| Totals | 560 | 2220 | 4.0 | 18 | 26 | 144 | 5.5 | 0 |
| Source: SI.com | ||||||||
Professional statistics
| Rushing | Receiving | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | G | GS | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Lg | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | Lg |
| 2006 2006 NFL season The 2006 NFL season was the 87th regular season of the National Football League.Regular season play was held from September 7 to December 31, 2006... |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2007 2007 NFL season The 2007 NFL season was the 88th regular season of the National Football League.Regular-season play was held from September 6 to December 30.... |
15 | 7 | 188 | 956 | 5.1 | 8 | 66 | 30 | 145 | 4.8 | 0 | 21 |
| 2008 2008 NFL season The 2008 NFL season was the 89th regular season of the National Football League, themed with the slogan "Believe in Now."Super Bowl XLIII, the league's championship game, was at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on February 1, 2009, with the Pittsburgh Steelers coming out victorious over the... |
16 | 14 | 312 | 1,203 | 3.9 | 4 | 57 | 18 | 116 | 6.4 | 1 | 17 |
| 2009 2009 NFL season The 2009 NFL season was the 90th regular season of the National Football League.The preseason started with the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on August 9, 2009, and the regular season began September 10. The season ended with Super Bowl XLIV, the league's championship game, on February 7, 2010 at... |
16 | 16 | 282 | 1,253 | 4.4 | 11 | 62 | 25 | 197 | 7.9 | 0 | 27 |
| 2010 2010 NFL season The 2010 NFL season was the 91st regular season of the National Football League.The regular season began with the NFL Kickoff game on NBC on Thursday, September 9, at the Louisiana Superdome as the New Orleans Saints, Super Bowl XLIV champions, defeated the Minnesota Vikings 14–9.Tom Brady,... |
1 | 1 | 8 | 45 | 5.6 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 48 | 38 | 790 | 3,457 | 4.4 | 23 | 66 | 73 | 458 | 6.3 | 1 | 27 |
| Source: NFL.com | ||||||||||||
Note: Preseason and Postseason not added to figures.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=9475
Achievements and awards
- Longest touchdown run (career): 66 yards (vs. Chicago BearsChicago BearsThe Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, December 23, 2007) - Most rushing yards (game): 201 yards (vs. Seattle Seahawks, January 12, 2008, Divisional playoff round)
- Packers franchise record for most rushing touchdowns (3) in a playoff game (vs. Seattle Seahawks, January 12, 2008)
- Packers franchise record for most rushing yards (201) in a playoff game (vs. Seattle Seahawks, January 12, 2008)
- Seventh player in NFL history to rush for 200 yards or more in a post-season game. (vs. Seattle Seahawks, January 12, 2008)
- Voted the FedEx Ground NFL Player of the Week for games played on November 11–12, 2007 and games played between December 6–10, 2007
- 3rd undrafted player to rush for 1,200 yards in a season (Priest HolmesPriest HolmesPriest Anthony Holmes is a former American football running back of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 1997. He played college football at Texas.Holmes earned a Super Bowl ring with the Ravens in Super Bowl XXXV...
, Willie ParkerWillie Parker"Fast" Willie Everette Parker Jr. is an American football running back for the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League. He was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2004. He played college football at North Carolina...
)
External links
- Ryan Grant at NFL.com
- Ryan Grant at ESPN
- Green Bay Packers bio
- Notre Dame Fighting Irish bio