Gene Mruczkowski

Infobox NFLretired
name=Gene Mruczkowski


width=
caption=
position=Guard / Center
number=63, 64
birthdate=birth date and age|1980|6|6
city-state|Cleveland|Ohio
deathdate=
debutyear=2003
finalyear=2007
undraftedyear=2003
college=Purdue
teams=
* New England Patriots (2003-2006)
* Miami Dolphins (2007)
* New England Patriots (2008)*:*Offseason member only
stat1label=Games played
stat1value=33
stat2label=Games started
stat2value=0
stat3label=Kick return yards
stat3value=9
nfl=MRU118654
highlights=
* 2x Honorable mention All-Big Ten (2000, 2002)
* Super Bowl champion (XXXIX)

Gene Vincent Mruczkowski (born June 6, 1980 in city-state|Cleveland|Ohio) is a former American football offensive lineman of the National Football League. He was signed by the Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2003. He played college football at Purdue.

Mruczkowski, who also played for the Miami Dolphins, earned a Super Bowl ring with the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXIX. He is the older brother of San Diego Chargers offensive lineman Scott Mruczkowski.

Early years

Mruczkowski was named second team Academic All-American as a senior and sophomore in high school, as well as second team all-state, first team all-district and team co-captain as a senior at Benedictine High School. He also played defensive tackle as his team finished with a 10-1 record and advanced to the state semifinal.

College career

Mruczkowski started attending Purdue University in 1998. That year, he was redshirted and did not play, but received the team’s Offensive Newcomer Award for the spring season. As a freshman, he started all 12 games at left guard and was selected second team Freshman All-American by "The Sporting News". He was selected honorable mention All-Big Ten by both the coaches and media as a sophomore after starting all 12 games at left guard, which was part of an offensive line that allowed Purdue quarterbacks to be sacked just 10 times in 528 pass attempts (one every 52.8 attempts). In 2001, he started all 12 games at center after moving from left guard during spring practice. He received the team’s Pit Bull award for exemplifying tenacity and intense play during the 2002 spring season. As a senior in 2002, he was named honorable mention All-Big Ten by the media after starting all 13 games at center and helped open holes for a Boilermaker rushing attack that amassed 2,861 yards and 26 touchdowns on the ground. He started all 49 games in his four-year stay at Purdue.

Professional career

First stint with Patriots

Mruczkowski was picked up as a free agent by the New England Patriots in 2003. He was placed on the Patriots reserve/non-football injury list with a leg injury before the beginning of the season. He was subsequently placed on injured reserve and did not play in his rookie season. He then played 17 games total for the 2004 and 2005 season. He was released by the Patriots on September 1, 2007.

Miami Dolphins

Mruczkowski was claimed off waivers by the Miami Dolphins the day after he release from the Patriots. He appeared in 15 games for the Dolphins in a reserve role during the 2007 season. He became a free agent at season's end.

econd stint with Patriots

On June 6, 2008, Mruczkowski was re-signed by the Patriots.

Retirement

On July 26, 2008, Mruczkowski retired from the football after five seasons.

External links

* [http://www.patriots.com/team/index.cfm?ac=playerbio&bio=23961 New England Patriots bio]
* [http://purduesports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/mruczkowski_gene00.html Purdue Boilermakers bio]