Brentson Buckner

Infobox NFLretired
position=Defensive Tackle
number=96, 99
birthdate=birth date and age|1971|9|30
Columbus, Georgia
debutyear=1994
finalyear=2005
draftyear=1994
draftround=2
draftpick=50
college=Clemson
teams=
* Pittsburgh Steelers (1994-1996)
* Cincinnati Bengals (1997)
* San Francisco 49ers (1998-2000)
* Carolina Panthers (2001-2005)
stat1label=Tackles
stat1value=425
stat2label=Sacks
stat2value=31
stat3label=Interceptions
stat3value=2
nfl=BUC764969

Brentson André Buckner (born September 30, 1971 in Columbus, Georgia) is a former American football defensive tackle in the National Football League.

College career

Buckner played college football at Clemson University, and was a first-team All-ACC selection in his senior year. In addition to ranking fourth all-time in school history with 46 tackles for a loss, he also set a school record with a 1,220 pound lift on a leg sled.

Pro career

Buckner was selected in the second round (50th overall) of the 1994 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. After missing the first three games of the season, he played in the last 13, and started both playoff games. During one game against the Buffalo Bills, he blocked a field goal. The following season, he was a regular starter for the Steelers, and was an integral part of the defense that led them to Super Bowl XXX against the Dallas Cowboys. After one more year with Pittsburgh, he was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs during the offseason. He was picked up by the Cincinnati Bengals before the 1997 NFL season. He missed two games that season with an injury suffered against the Steelers, his former team. He signed with the San Francisco 49ers before the next season. He notched his third career blocked field goal against the team he would later play for, the Carolina Panthers. He played with the Niners for three seasons before joining the Carolina Panthers as an unrestricted free agent before the 2001 NFL season. Buckner joined with Julius Peppers, Mike Rucker and Kris Jenkins to form what many experts called the most dominating front four defensive line in football. The four led the Panthers defense to Super Bowl XXXVIII against the New England Patriots. The following season, Buckner was forced to anchor a Panthers defense riddled with injuries, and helped the team to a 7-9 record despite 14 starters on injured reserve. On March 1, 2006, Buckner was released by the Panthers. He signed with the Philadelphia Eagles on March 7th, 2006. He did not however, make the team and was released as a training camp roster cut. He is now retired and has been seen on the ESPN2 show "Cold Pizza" as an NFL analyst.