Jeff Hartings

Infobox NFLretired
name=Jeff Hartings
|width=
caption=
position=Guard / Center
number=64
birthdate=birth date and age|1972|9|9
St. Henry, Ohio
deathdate=
debutyear=1996
finalyear=2006
draftyear=1996
draftround=1
draftpick=23
college=Penn State
teams=
* Detroit Lions (1996-2000)
* Pittsburgh Steelers (2001-2006)
stat1label=Games played
stat1value=163
stat2label=Games started
stat2value=160
stat3label=Fumble recoveries
stat3value=5
highlights=
* 2x Pro Bowl selection (2004, 2005)
* 2x All-Pro selection (2001, 2004)
* Super Bowl champion (XL)
nfl=HAR712453

Jeffrey Alan Hartings (born September 9, 1972 in St. Henry, Ohio) is a former professional American football center who is best known for his six-season tenure with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

High School Years

Hartings attended St. Henry High School in St. Henry, Ohio, and was a letterwinner in football as a two-way starter and in track & field. In football, he was a two-time All-Conference selection, helped lead his team to the state championship as a senior, and finished his defensive career with 23 sacks and 200 tackles. After his senior season, he participated in the Ohio North-South Game.

College and Pro Career

Hartings (#64) attended Penn State University, where he was a two-time All-American in 1994 and 1995. There he earned a Bachelor of Science in marketing in 1995 and was twice named Academic All-American.

He was a first round draft (#23 overall) of the Detroit Lions in the 1996 NFL Draft. He signed with the Steelers as a free agent in 2001, where he moved from right guard to center. He has been selected to represent the AFC at the Pro Bowl twice (after the 2004 and 2005 seasons). In February, 2007, Hartings announced his retirement, making the 2006 season his last.

Personal

Hartings is a born-again Christian. He has performed missionary work in Nicaragua and is planning a new non-denominational church with former Detroit Lions teammate Luther Elliss. In the offseason, he and his wife Rebecca live in Salt Lake City, Utah with their seven children. [http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/penguins/s_486451.html]

Hartings is one of ten children. [http://www.realfootball365.com/nfl/articles/2007/02/steelers-jeff-hartings090207.html]

External links

* [http://media3.steelers.com/team/player/49219/ Pittsburgh Steelers Profile]
* [http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/3599 Jeff Hartings at NFL.com]
* [http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/penguins/s_486451.html "Steelers center Jeff Hartings maintains perspective, faith"] , "Pittsburgh Tribune-Review", December 31, 2006