Ryan Longwell

Infobox NFLactive


currentteam=Minnesota Vikings
currentnumber=8
currentposition=Placekicker
birthdate=birth date and age|1974|8|16
birthplace=Seattle, Washington
heightft=6
heightin=0
weight=200
debutyear=1997
debutteam=Green Bay Packers
college=California
high school=Oregon
undraftedyear=1997
pastteams=
* Green Bay Packers (1997-2005)
* Minnesota Vikings (2006-present)
statweek=17
statseason=2007
statlabel1=Field Goals Made
statvalue1=267
statlabel2=Field Goals Attempted
statvalue2=326
statlabel3=Field Goals %
statvalue3=81.9
nfl=LON819356

Ryan Walker Longwell (born August 16, 1974 [http://www.nflplayers.com/players/player.aspx?id=25410 Ryan Longwell #8: Bio.] NFL Players.com. Retrieved December 2 2007.] ) is an American football placekicker for the Minnesota Vikings in the National Football League. After playing college football for the California Golden Bears, he started his professional football career with the San Francisco 49ers, but never played a game for that franchise. He then played for the Green Bay Packers from 1997 to 2005.

Early years

Ryan Longwell attended high school in Bend, Oregon, where he played football for Bend High School's Lava Bears. A three-year letter winner in football as a kicker, he also was the team's back-up quarterback. Longwell also played baseball as a third baseman, earning three letters in that sport. He earned all-conference honors in both sports.

In 1993, he started college at the University of California, Berkeley where he played football and earned four varsity letters. At California he served as both a punter and placekicker for the team, earning all conference honors in the Pacific 10 Conference his senior year as a punter and second team honors as a kicker. Longwell graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in English from the school.

Professional football

Longwell was acquired by the Green Bay Packers off waivers from the San Francisco 49ers in 1997. With the Packers, Longwell played in Super Bowl XXXII, where he kicked one field goal and three extra points in their 31-24 loss to the Denver Broncos. He then signed a free agent contract with the Vikings in the 2006 offseason.

In his second game with the Vikings, Longwell had one of the best performances of his career. He was responsible for all 16 of the Vikings points in a 16-13 win over the Carolina Panthers, kicking three field goals (including the game winning field goal in overtime) and throwing a 16-yard touchdown pass on a fake field goal play in the fourth quarter.

Records

* All time leading scorer in Packers history with 1054 points.
* Has the most field goals in Packers history with 226.
* Kicked longest field goal in Packers history (54 yards - Tied with Chris Jacke and Dave Rayner)
* He is the fifth-most accurate field goal kicker in NFL history, having converted 81% of his attempts.

Family

Longwell is the cousin of 1992 and 1996 Olympic athlete Michael Orr. Ryan married Sarah Longwell, and they have two children, Shaye and Reece. The family lives in both Bend and Green Bay, Wisconsin.

References

External links

* [http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/1727 Ryan Longwell at NFL.com]