Trey Junkin
Encyclopedia
Abner Kirk "Trey" Junkin III (born January 23, 1961 in Conway
, Arkansas
) is a former American football
linebacker
, tight end
, and long snapper
in the National Football League
. Junkin played college football
at Louisiana Tech University
.
(1983–1984), Washington Redskins
(1984), Los Angeles Raiders
(1985–1989), Seattle Seahawks
(1990–1995), Oakland Raiders
(1996), Arizona Cardinals
(1996–2001), plus a single game with the New York Giants
in 2002. Primarily a long snapper and special-teams player throughout his career, Junkin started out as a linebacker and later moved to tight end.
It was his one game with the Giants for which Junkin is most remembered. The Giants coaxed the very recently retired veteran back on to the playing field to replace an injured Dan O'Leary
. It would be a decision that Junkin would come to regret and which would cast a dark cloud over an otherwise faultless 19-year NFL career. In a 2002 wild card playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers
, Junkin botched a snap on a field goal attempt that could have won the game for the Giants, who had squandered a 38-14 lead. There was also an uncalled pass interference penalty on the last play, which would have led to another field goal attempt had it been called correctly, which served to somewhat allay the blame from Junkin. However, Junkin took full responsibility and said that the Giants lost this game because of him.
After the 2002 NFL season, Trey went on to coach in the Canadian Football League
for the Calgary Stampeders
. After a short stint with the Stampeders, Junkin rejoined his family in Winnfield, Louisiana
. Junkin is now the defensive coordinator for his son Connor's high school football team, the Winnfield Senior High Tigers.
Junkin is the older brother of former NFL linebacker
Mike Junkin
.
Conway, Arkansas
Conway is the county seat of Faulkner County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 58,908 at the 2010 census, making Conway the seventh most populous city in Arkansas. It is a principal city of the Little Rock–North Little Rock–Conway Metropolitan Statistical Area which had...
, Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
) is a former American football
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...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
, tight end
Tight 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...
, and long snapper
Long snapper
In American football and Canadian football, the term long snapper refers to a player who is a specialized center during punts, field goals, and extra point attempts. His job is to snap the ball as quickly and accurately as possible....
in 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...
. Junkin 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 Louisiana Tech University
Louisiana Tech University
Louisiana Tech University, often referred to as Louisiana Tech, LA Tech, or Tech, is a coeducational public research university located in Ruston, Louisiana. Louisiana Tech is designated as a Tier 1 school in the national universities category by the 2012 U.S. News & World Report college rankings...
.
High School Years
Junkin attended Northeast High School in North Little Rock, Arkansas and was a student and a football star.NFL career
Junkin played 19 seasons in the NFL for six different teams: Buffalo BillsBuffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
(1983–1984), Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
(1984), Los Angeles 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...
(1985–1989), 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...
(1990–1995), 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...
(1996), Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
(1996–2001), plus a single game with 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...
in 2002. Primarily a long snapper and special-teams player throughout his career, Junkin started out as a linebacker and later moved to tight end.
It was his one game with the Giants for which Junkin is most remembered. The Giants coaxed the very recently retired veteran back on to the playing field to replace an injured Dan O'Leary
Dan O'Leary (American football)
Daniel Edward O'Leary is a former American football tight end and long snapper in the National Football League for the Buffalo Bills, the New York Giants, and the Pittsburgh Steelers. He played college football at the University of Notre Dame and was drafted in the sixth round of the 2001 NFL...
. It would be a decision that Junkin would come to regret and which would cast a dark cloud over an otherwise faultless 19-year NFL career. In a 2002 wild card playoff game against 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...
, Junkin botched a snap on a field goal attempt that could have won the game for the Giants, who had squandered a 38-14 lead. There was also an uncalled pass interference penalty on the last play, which would have led to another field goal attempt had it been called correctly, which served to somewhat allay the blame from Junkin. However, Junkin took full responsibility and said that the Giants lost this game because of him.
After the 2002 NFL season, Trey went on to coach in the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
for the Calgary Stampeders
Calgary Stampeders
The Calgary Stampeders are a Canadian Football League team based in Calgary, Alberta and named in reference to the Calgary Stampede. The Stampeders play their home games at McMahon Stadium...
. After a short stint with the Stampeders, Junkin rejoined his family in Winnfield, Louisiana
Winnfield, Louisiana
Winnfield is a city in and the parish seat of Winn Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 5,749 at the 2000 census. It has long been associated with the Long faction of the Louisiana Democratic Party and was home to three governors of Louisiana.-Geography:Winnfield is located at ...
. Junkin is now the defensive coordinator for his son Connor's high school football team, the Winnfield Senior High Tigers.
Junkin is the older brother of former NFL linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
Mike Junkin
Mike Junkin
Michael Wayne Junkin is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League....
.