- Chris Draft
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Chris Draft No. -- Free Agent Linebacker Personal information Date of birth: February 26, 1976 Place of birth: Anaheim, California Height: 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) Weight: 236 lb (107 kg) Career information College: Stanford NFL Draft: 1998 / Round: 6 / Pick: 157 Debuted in 1998 for the Chicago Bears Career history Roster status: Unrestricted Free Agent Career highlights and awards - N/A
Stats at NFL.com Christopher Michael Draft (born February 26, 1976 in Anaheim, California) is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent. He previously played for the Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, St. Louis Rams, and Buffalo Bills. Draft played college football at Stanford University.
Contents
High School/Middle School History
Draft was an All-American in football and baseball at Kraemer Middle School and Valencia High School in Placentia, California. He played running back and linebacker during his prep career. He was an honors student and a member of the school's ASB Leadership organization.
College career
He was a four-year letter winner and a three-year starter at inside linebacker for Stanford. He started his Stanford career as a true freshman playing strong safety. As a two-time Second-team All-Pacific Ten Conference selection, he totaled 316 career tackles, six sacks and two interceptions. As a senior in 1997, he earned Second-team All-Pac 10 honors and led the Cardinal with 81 tackles and contributed two sacks and two interceptions. He graduated from Stanford with a degree in economics.
NFL career
Chicago Bears
Draft was drafted in the sixth round (157th overall) of the 1998 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears and appeared in one game, was inactive for three contests and spent 12 games on the Bears practice squad, He was waived by Chicago prior to the start of the regular season 8/30/1998 and signed to practice squad by the Bears 9/1/1998 before being promoted to the active roster 12/2.
San Francisco 49ers
In 1999 Draft was signed to practice squad by the 49ers 9/29/1999, where he spent six contests before being signed to the active roster on 11/20/1999. He saw action in seven games, mainly on special teams, for the San Francisco 49ers and notched seven special teams stops.
Atlanta Falcons
Claimed off waivers by the Atlanta Falcons on 2/11/2000 after being waved by San Francisco 2/10/2000. He played in 13 games with eight starts with the Falcons and registered 67 tackles, one sack and one special teams tackle. In 2001 Draft played in 13 games with 10 starts at weakside linebacker and made 73 tackles, one pass deflection and three special teams stops. The next season, 2002, he played 15 games with five starts and had 66 tackles and a then career-high 3.5 sacks. In 2003 he started all 16 games for the first time of career and established a career-high in tackles with 124. In 2004 Draft moved to middle linebacker from weakside linebacker as Atlanta switched to a 4-3 defense from a 3-4. He played in 14 games with 13 starts and posted 56 tackles, one forced fumble, one interception and three passes deflected.
Carolina Panthers
Draft was signed by Carolina in early 2005. Played in all 16 games in first season in Carolina, also seeing action in all three postseason contests. In 2006 he started all 16 games for the second time of his career and he made 107 tackles and had 5.5 sacks.
St. Louis Rams
On March 19, 2007 he signed a three-year contract with the Rams. He played in all 16 games with six starts in his first season with the Rams and registered 50 tackles (40 solo) including 1.0 sack. His 14 special teams tackles ranked fourth on team. Seven of his starts came in place of an injured Pisa Tinoisamoa. In 2008 he made 38 tackles and 2 pass deflections. He was released from the Rams on September 10, 2009.
Buffalo Bills
On October 13, 2009, the day that the Buffalo Bills placed starting linebacker Kawika Mitchell on the IR with a knee injury, Buffalo signed Draft to a one-year contract. With Buffalo, the linebacker played in 11 games with three starts. He registered 43 tackles and 1 interception on defense and added 5 stops on special teams. He was a free agent after that season.
Washington Redskins
On May 7, 2010, the Washington Redskins signed Draft to a one-year contract. On August 23, 2010, Draft was released.
Career highlights
2008 Byron “Whizzer” White Award Finalist
2007 NFL Alumni "Spirit Award" 2006 Man of the Year – Carolina Panthers
2004 Byron “Whizzer” White Award Finalist
Career best 178 tackles (110 solo) in 2003
Host of his own Atlanta Metro Area television show "The Draft Report"
2002 Ed Block Courage Award
2001 Rankin Smith Award
National Service Projects
2007 Spokesperson: Climb California
2006 spokesperson: American Lung Association – Southeast region
2004 Hosted youth clinic for 50 children in Germany
2004 Visit with war veterans in Palo Alto, CA
Stanford University Athletic Department mentor
Orangewood (CA) Children’s Home Black History Awareness
Sun Coast Big Brothers Big Sisters Annual Fundraiser participant
Community Sports Activities
2004 Boys and Girls Club football clinic
2004 Host of Project Fit America
2004 Prison Ministries of Atlanta football camp
2005/04 Flacons Fitness Challenge
2003/04 Co-host of Falcons “Thank the Fans” event
2003/04 Falcons Draft Day Fan Fest
Community Service Projects
2006 American Lung Association Asthma Walk and Camp Breathe Easy
2006 Founder of The Christ Draft Family Foundation
2005 Sponsor of the Zap Asthma summer camp
2004 Center for Disease Control “Steps for a Healthier U.S. Initiative”
2004 Atlanta Business Women’s dinner
2004 Falcons Football Academy
2004 Atlanta Braves Ball Boy Mentoring Program
2004 NFL Yet Center Extra Yard partnership
2003/04 NFL Yet Center spokespersonReferences
External links
Chicago Bears 1998 NFL Draft selections Curtis Enis • Tony Parrish • Olin Kreutz • Alonzo Mayes • Chris Draft • Patrick Mannelly • Chad Overhauser • Moses MorenoCategories:- 1976 births
- American football linebackers
- Chicago Bears players
- Atlanta Falcons players
- Buffalo Bills players
- Carolina Panthers players
- Ed Block Courage Award recipients
- Living people
- People from Orange County, California
- San Francisco 49ers players
- Stanford Cardinal football players
- St. Louis Rams players
- Washington Redskins players
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