Ross Tucker
| No. 65, 68, 69 | |||||||||
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| Position: | Guard / Center | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Date of birth: | March 2, 1979 | ||||||||
| Place of birth: | Wyomissing, Pennsylvania | ||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 310 lb (141 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| College: | Princeton | ||||||||
| Undrafted: | 2001 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||
Ross Finch Tucker (born March 2, 1979 in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania) is a former American football offensive lineman, and currently a media personality, entrepreneur, and motivational speaker.
Tucker is the host of the popular Ross Tucker Football Podcast as well as the Fantasy Feast: Eatin, Even Money, and The College Draft podcasts all available at RossTucker.com.
He is a studio television analyst for the NBC Sports Network's Fantasy Football Live. He is also a year-round host on Sirius XM NFL Radio, including his own show called The Morning Kickoff which airs 6am-7am EST Monday-Friday and The Opening Drive which airs from 7-11am EST.
During the fall, Tucker serves as a color commentator for NFL games on Westwood One as well as college games for NBC Sports Network. He also writes a weekly NFL column for Sports on Earth .
Outside of his media pursuits, Tucker is the co-founder and CEO of Go Big Recruiting, LLC, a service that allows high-school student-athletes to submit their videos to college coaches online and know when it has been reviewed. Tucker is also a very popular motivational speaker whose message focuses on each individual becoming their own personal best in order to live their life with no regrets.
Early years
Tucker attended Wyomissing Area High School in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, and won three varsity letters each in football and basketball. He was all-league at both offensive tackle and defensive end while earning all-county honors at offensive tackle. As a senior basketball player, he averaged 16.1 points and 9.8 rebounds while making 24 three point shots. Tucker was a team captain in both football and basketball and was an outstanding student as well, winning the school's US Army Reserve Scholar-Athlete award
College career
A graduate of Princeton University, Tucker was a four-year starter on the Tigers Ivy League football squad. He started against Colgate University as a freshman at defensive end and in the offseason was moved to right guard where he became a three-year starter.
Tucker was All-Ivy in 2000 and a two-time Academic All-American at Princeton.
Professional career
Washington Redskins
Tucker was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Washington Redskins after the 2001 NFL Draft. He surprised observers by making the team, even though he suffered a broken hand and a partially torn MCL.[1] The next year he started 7 games at right guard. He was waived on October 22, 2002.
Dallas Cowboys
On October 23, 2002, he was claimed off waivers by the Dallas Cowboys.[2] He started at left guard during the last 7 games of the season in place of an injured Larry Allen.[3] On June 5, 2003, he was released after minicamp.[4]
Buffalo Bills
On June 16, 2003, he was claimed off waivers by the Buffalo Bills and appeared in 12 games with 5 starts at right guard.[5] In 2004, he started 9 games at left guard and 4 at center.[6] After missing minicamps because of offseason back surgery and being limited with injuries, he was cut on September 3, 2005.
New England Patriots
On December 13, 2005, he was signed by the New England Patriots. He played in one game and was declared inactive in 3 contests. On August 8, 2006, he was traded the Cleveland Browns in exchange for a conditional 2007 draft choice (not exercised).[7]
Cleveland Browns
On August 8, 2006, he was acquired by the Cleveland Browns after LeCharles Bentley tore his patella tendon. He was released on September 2.[8]
Washington Redskins
On March 8, 2007, Tucker was signed as a free agent by the Washington Redskins. He suffered a career ending neck injury that bruised his spinal cord during the preseason. On August 28, he was placed on the injured reserve list.[9] He officially announced his retirement in March 2008.
Tucker played in 42 games in his 7-year NFL career, starting 24. In 2003, he was named to the USA Today All-Joe team.[10]
Journalism/broadcasting career
Toward the end of the 2007 season, Tucker joined Sports Illustrated, writing on the NFL beat for their website. He left Sports Illustrated and joined ESPN as an NFL columnist in September 2010. In July 2013, Tucker was named the lead NFL columnist for The Sporting News. He now writes for Sports on Earth.
Tucker is the host of the popular Ross Tucker Football Podcast available at RossTucker.com. In 2014, he also added the Fantasy Feast: Eatin and Even Money podcasts to his offerings at RossTucker.com. In 2015 The College Draft was added as well.
A fill-in and weekend host since 2007, starting with the beginning of the 2010 NFL season Tucker became the Host of The Morning Kickoff with Ross Tucker which aired Monday-Friday from 6am-7am EST. Beginning with the 2011 season, he joined Bob Papa on The Opening Drive from 7am-11am EST on SiriusXM NFL Radio, Channel 88.
Tucker can be seen on television Tuesday thru Thursday evenings most weeks at 6:30pm ET on Fantasy Football Live on the NBC Sports Network. He calls NFL games for Westwood One as well as NCAA games for NBC Sports Network. Tucker is also a fill-in host on the Dan Patrick Show.
References
- ↑ "Tucker Guardedly Optimistic". Retrieved February 19, 2016.
- ↑ "Tucker Finds Another Job With Cowboys". Retrieved February 19, 2016.
- ↑ "Ross Tucker Stays Realistic In Dream World". Retrieved February 19, 2016.
- ↑ "Ross Tucker Surprised By Release From Dallas". Retrieved February 19, 2016.
- ↑ "Tucker Gets Fresh Start in Buffalo". Retrieved February 19, 2016.
- ↑ "Tucker Playing Waiting Game". Retrieved February 19, 2016.
- ↑ "Tucker Traded To Browns". Retrieved February 19, 2016.
- ↑ "Tucker 'shocked after Browns let him go". Retrieved February 19, 2016.
- ↑ "Tucker on IR". Retrieved February 19, 2016.
- ↑ "Ross Tucker Earns Spot On All-Joe Team". Retrieved February 19, 2016.
