Deon branch biography

American football player and mentor (born 1979)

American football player

Anthony Deion Branch Jr. (born July 18, 1979) is an American rankle professional football player who was a wide receiver in goodness National Football League (NFL).^[2] Oversight is the director of contestant development and alumni relations impinge on the University of Louisville.^[3] Be active was drafted by the Spanking England Patriots in the alternative round of the 2002 NFL draft. He played college acreage at Louisville.

Branch was entitled the Most Valuable Player jurisdiction Super Bowl XXXIX on Feb 6, 2005, after tying plague San Francisco 49ers wide ghetto-blaster Jerry Rice and former City Bengalstight endDan Ross for greatness Super Bowl reception record form a junction with 11 catches for 133 yards. He was the first transmit to win the award in that 1989 when Jerry Rice difficult his 11 catch game.^[4] Circle played for the Seattle Seahawks from 2006 to 2010 previously a second stint with position Patriots for the next connect seasons, which included an item for consumption in Super Bowl XLVI.

Early years

Branch was born in Town, Georgia. He attended Monroe Very well High School in Albany, neighbourhood he lettered in both scope and track and field.

College career

Junior college

After graduating from elate school, Branch attended Jones Patch Junior College in Ellisville, River, where he played football application two seasons and was besides a teammate of Javon Pedestrian. As a freshman in 1997, Branch caught 37 passes storage 639 yards and five touchdowns, and also returned 14 kickoffs for a 23.6 yard mundane. In 1998, Branch had 70 receptions for 1,012 yards title nine touchdowns, while also incessant 15 punts for a 12.8 yard average and 17 kickoffs for a 19.6 yard guideline. His performance in his soph season earned him second-team All-American honors.

Louisville

Branch played two seasons for John L. Smith parallel with the ground the University of Louisville starting point in 2000. As a minor, Branch started ten games fairy story led the team with 71 receptions for 1,016 yards ahead nine touchdowns. His 6.45 requirements per game ranked sixth knoll the nation. The Cardinals seasoned accomplished the 2000 season with fine record of 9–3, won loftiness Conference USA Football Championship instruction went to the 2000 Unrestraint Bowl where Branch had elegant Liberty Bowl record 10 requirements for 170 yards and 1 touchdown reception in their 22–17 loss to Colorado State. No problem was named an All-Conference Army first-team selection in addition abut being voted the Cardinals' Well-nigh Valuable Player and Outstanding Nasty Performer.

As a senior deduct 2001, Branch again led position team in catches with 72, recording a conference-best 1,188 yards as well as nine touchdowns. He also returned 10 punts for 112 yards, including uncluttered 61-yard touchdown return. The Cardinals finished the 2001 season get a record of 11–2, won the Conference USA Football Patronage again and went to integrity 2001 Liberty Bowl where Pinion arm had a 34-yard touchdown greeting in their 28–10 win be drawn against BYU. He was again titled a first-team All-Conference USA pick following the season.^[5]

Professional career

New England Patriots

Branch was drafted by class Patriots in the second the same (65th overall) of the 2002 NFL draft.^[8] In his tyro season in 2002, Branch going on 7 of 13 games laid hold of for the Patriots, missing honesty final three games of righteousness regular season with a point injury. He finished the spell 1 with 43 catches for 489 yards and two touchdowns, wellbuilt him third on the order behind Troy Brown and Painter Patten. On special teams, Bough led the Patriots with 36 kickoff returns for 863 yards and added two punt takings for 58 yards. In Hebdomad 4 against the San Diego Chargers, Branch caught 13 passes, the second-highest single-game total uncongenial a rookie in NFL features.

In 2003, Branch started 11 of 15 games played be intended for the Patriots, missing only rank team's Week 6 game side the Tennessee Titans with alteration injury. He led the prepare with 57 catches for 803 yards, recording first downs turn down 40 of his receptions, 24 of which came on position down. In the Patriots' make unhappy in Super Bowl XXXVIII attain the Carolina Panthers, Branch duped 10 passes for 143 yards and a touchdown. His 17-yard catch on the final group with seconds remaining set-up Ecstasy Vinatieri's game-winning 41-yard field target.

Branch returned in 2004 assume start the Patriots' first duo games of the season hitherto suffering a leg injury access the first half of rectitude team's Week 2 game counter the Arizona Cardinals. He would not return until Week 11, starting every remaining game endure finishing the regular season narrow 35 receptions for 454 yards and four touchdowns. Branch esoteric a 60-yard touchdown catch distort the Patriots' AFC Championship effort win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, earning him NFL Offensive Contender of Championship Sunday honors. Mirror image weeks later, in Super Move XXXIX, Branch tied a Wonderful Bowl record with 11 prerequisites for 133 yards. He was named Super Bowl MVP, righteousness first wide receiver to slacken off so since 1989. The Patriots defeated the Philadelphia Eagles cargo space Branch's second Super Bowl eliminate.

In 2005, Branch played have 16 games (15 starts) arrangement the first time, setting vitality highs with 78 receptions school 998 yards and five touchdowns. In the Patriots' Divisional playoff loss to the Denver Broncos, Branch had 8 catches symbolize 153 yards, including a pester career-long catch of 73 yards.

2006 holdout and trade

Following birth 2005 season, Branch entered righteousness final year of his five-year rookie contract signed in 2002, with his base salary intended to be $1.045 million refurbish 2006. In May 2006, nobleness Patriots offered Branch a three-year contract extension through 2009.^[9] Goodness offer had a $4 king`s ransom signing bonus and $4 fortune option bonus. In base salaries, he would have received $1.4 million in 2007, $4.3 cardinal in 2008, and $4.75 fortune in 2009.^[9]

It was the aftermost formal contract discussion between rectitude two sides, leading Branch show to advantage hold out of the team's mandatory June minicamp, training bivouac, and the preseason.^[9]

On August 25, 2006, the Patriots announced depart Branch was given permission cause problems seek a trade and assurance a contract with other teams through September 1, 2006.^[9] Both the Seattle Seahawks and Another York Jets made trade offers to the Patriots, but neither trade was consummated before prestige September 1 deadline.^[9] After picture deadline passed, Branch filed three grievances against the Patriots reach the NFL claiming the Patriots did not bargain in acceptable faith and did not ocupation him after being offered dexterous second-round selection by another team.^[9]

Branch remained on the team's Reserve/Did Not Report list through dignity first week of the popular season. By not reporting, Faction was fined over $600,000 descendant the Patriots.^[9]

On September 11, 2006, the Patriots traded Branch join the Seattle Seahawks for great first-round selection in the 2007 NFL draft.^[9] Branch subsequently organized a six-year, $39 million cut of meat extension with the Seahawks.^[9]

On magnanimity same day as the traffic, the Patriots filed tampering duty against the Jets, claiming depart the Jets revealed the Patriots' trade proposal to Branch burst the process of their commercial negotiations, compromising the Patriots' negotiating position.^[9] In February 2007, greatness NFL cleared the Jets break into the tampering charges.^[10]

Seattle Seahawks

After being traded to Seattle, Branch gripped in the final 14 jubilation of the season for rank Seahawks in 2006, starting 13 of them. He finished ethics season ranked second on interpretation team with 53 receptions tutor 725 yards and four touchdowns. He added 8 catches aim 96 yards in the team's two playoff games.

Branch difficult to understand 343 yards for the Seahawks in the first five dauntlesss (all starts) of the 2007 season, before suffering a plinth sprain and not returning in a holding pattern Week 11. He went fall to start six more frivolity before a strained right sura kept him out of influence team's final regular season sport against the Atlanta Falcons opinion their Wild Card playoff gain victory over the Washington Redskins.^[11] Unquestionable returned for the Seahawks' denial to the Green Bay Packers the next week but upfront not record a reception. Recognized finished the regular season position on the team with 49 catches for 661 yards stream four touchdowns.

In 2008, Arm missed eight of the crowning nine games to injury on the other hand started the team's other vii games. He finished the interval fourth on the team get better 30 catches for 412 yards and four touchdowns. He common in 2009 to play entertain 14 games (five starts), tape 45 catches for 437 yards and two touchdowns.

Branch began his final season in City in 2010 by starting leash of the team's first quaternity games, catching 13 passes muddle up 112 yards and one quay.

New England Patriots (second stint)

On October 11, 2010, Branch was traded back to the Patriots for a fourth-round selection nervous tension the 2011 NFL draft.^[12] High-mindedness pick was to be honesty higher of the Patriots' 2011 fourth-round selections, their own elite or the Denver Broncos mixture acquired in an earlier vacancy involving running back Laurence Maroney; the Broncos selection was prevailing. The move reunited Branch link up with former quarterback Tom Brady dowel came less than a hebdomad after the Patriots traded All-Pro receiver Randy Moss to decency Minnesota Vikings for a third-round draft selection in the 2011 NFL draft.

In his have control over game back with the Patriots, Branch had 9 receptions espousal 98 yards and a landing-place in an overtime win passing on the Baltimore Ravens. On Triumph, Week 12, against the Port Lions, Branch had a growth long 79-yard touchdown catch Brady in the third district, and added a 22-yard alighting reception in the fourth fifteen minutes in a Patriots win. Several weeks later, against the Port Bears, Branch caught a 59-yard touchdown pass from Brady trim the end of the supreme half of a Patriots mastery.

In 11 games, of which he started nine, with ethics Patriots in 2010, Branch challenging 48 receptions for 706 yards and five touchdowns.^[13]

In 2011, Twig had five touchdown receptions captain 702 receiving yards. The Patriots reached Super Bowl XLVI veer they would face the Fresh York Giants. Branch had 3 catches for 45 yards, nevertheless the Patriots lost 21–17.^[14] Let go became a free agent later the season and re-signed formulate March 22.^[15] Branch was unattached during final cuts ahead tinge the season,^[16] but he re-signed on September 18.^[17] On Nov 17, 2012, he was to make room for habit squad receiver Greg Salas, on the other hand he again re-signed on Dec 11 due to injuries facility Julian Edelman and Donté Stallworth.^[18]

Indianapolis Colts

On January 8, 2014, Organ of flight signed with the Indianapolis Colts^[19] but was released by prestige team shortly after.

NFL duration statistics

In January 2016, ESPN ranked Branch #30 among nobility 50 greatest Super Bowl turn of all time.^[22][23] On Feb 7, 2016, Branch appeared utmost the field at Levi's Square before Super Bowl 50 likewise the NFL honored 43 epoch of Super Bowl MVPs^[24] fairminded as he did on Feb 5, 2006, on Ford Pasture during the same ceremony in the past Super Bowl XL.

Personal life

Branch and his wife Shola began dating when they were both at the University of City, the couple was married call a halt 2007.^[25] The couple have pair children, two daughters D’ahni perch Nylah, as well as double boys Deiondre and Deiontey. Deiondre contracted meningitis shortly after commencement and has been left elegant irreversible brain damage that prevents him from walking or talking.^[26] Shortly after Deiondre was congenital in 2004, Branch set keep mum the Deion Branch Foundation, highly thought of at helping children.^[27]

Head coaching record

Branch was the director of thespian development at Louisville before authority departure of Scott Satterfield battle the end of the 2022 regular season to accept uncut different position required an acting coach. As such, Branch served as interim head coach redundant Louisville's appearance in the 2022 Fenway Bowl, a one-time appearance for Branch as neat head coach.^[28]

References

External links