Aaron Garcia

Infobox AFLactive
name=Aaron Garcia


width=
caption=
currentteam=New York Dragons
currentnumber=8
currentpositionplain=Quarterback
birthdate=birth date and age|1970|10|20
birthplace=Sacramento, California
heightft=6
heightin=1
weight=195
debutyear=1995
debutteam=Arizona Rattlers
highlights=
college=Sacramento State
pastteams=
* Arizona Rattlers (1995)
* Connecticut Coyotes (1996)
* New Jersey Red Dogs (1997-1998)
* Iowa Barstormers/New York Dragons (1998-Present)
status=Active
highlights=
* 2001 AFL Offensive P.O.Y.
statweek=17
statseason=2008
statlabel1=TD-INT
statvalue1=881-134
statlabel2=Passing yards
statvalue2=41,368
statlabel3=QB Rating
statvalue3=116.50
afl=95924&Q_SEASON=2008
pfr=
cbs=
espn=
si

Aaron Garcia (born October 20, 1970 in Sacramento, California) is a quarterback in the Arena Football League currently signed to the New York Dragons.

High school career

Garcia is a native of Sacramento, California, and he played high school football with his father as coach at Grant Union High Schooll in Sacramento, California, where he shattered John Elway’s California state high school passing, yardage and touchdown records with a two-year prep total of 5,800 yards and 57 touchdown passes.

College career

He went to Washington State University in 1989, and started as a redshirt freshman, contributing 1,591 yards and 11 TD passes, leading the Pac-10 in passing efficiency that year. During that year, quarterbacking duties also were shared by junior Brad Gossen, who threw for 1,372 yards and nine TDs in an injury shortened season, prior to Garcia being named the starter. In 1990, a mid-season quarterback controversy erupted when second-year coach Mike Price benched veterans Brad Gossen and Aaron Garcia in favor of true-freshman (and eventual NFL star) Drew Bledsoe.

After Drew Bledsoe's emergence at Washington State in 1990, Garcia transferred to Division I-AA Sacramento State and finished his college football career as the starter there, throwing for 1,798 yards and 13 touchdowns in his senior season.

Professional career

Following his college career, he turned to Arena Football. He played for the Arizona Rattlers in 1995, and then moved on to the Connecticut Coyotes in 1996. He'd change teams again in 1997, playing for the New Jersey Red Dogs. He played for the Red Dogs for a year and a half before joining the Iowa Barnstormers during the 1998 season. Garcia finally settled down in Iowa, and found his greatest success when the Barnstormers became the New York Dragons in 2001. In the 2001 season, Garcia threw a league record 104 touchdown passes, but this was passed by Clint Dolezel in 2006.

Garcia briefly left the AFL in 2002, when he was signed by the NFL's San Francisco 49ers. He was released in the summer, and returned to the Dragons, who finished 3-11 that year.

On February 26, 2006, Garcia suffered a fractured tibia and fibula, ending his season. He was replaced by Juston Wood and later Nick Browder. At the time of the injury, Garcia had thrown more touchdown passes than any pro quarterback, but Andy Kelly and Clint Dolezel moved ahead of him while he was sidelined.

On June 2, 2007, he became the fourth quarterback in AFL history to throw 800 touchdowns, joining Clint Dolezel, Sherdrick Bonner, and Andy Kelly.

Career Stats

External links

* [http://www.arenafan.com/players/?page=players&player=559 Stats at ArenaFan]