Vonta Leach

Terzell Vonta Leach (/ˈvɒnteɪ ˈliːtʃ/ VON-tay LEETCH; born November 6, 1981) is a former American football fullback who played for ten seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He was signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2004. He played college football at East Carolina.

Vonta Leach
Leach with the Houston Texans
No. 48, 44
Position:Fullback
Personal information
Born: (1981-11-06) November 6, 1981
Lumberton, North Carolina
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:260 lb (118 kg)
Career information
High school:Rowland (NC) South Robeson
College:East Carolina
Undrafted:2004
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Receptions:123
Receiving yards:796
Total TDs:8
Games Played:146
Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR

Leach also played for the New Orleans Saints, Houston Texans, and Baltimore Ravens.

Early years

Leach attended East Carolina University, where he played for the East Carolina Pirates football team from 2000 to 2003. He became a member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity. Leach earned his degree in 2010 after completing his online classes.[1]

Professional career

Green Bay Packers

Leach spent the first three years of his career with the Green Bay Packers, and compiled 5 receptions for 19 yards. On October 9, 2005, he caught Aaron Rodgers' first completion. He was released by the Packers on September 13, 2006.

New Orleans Saints

The New Orleans Saints claimed Leach off waivers one day after the Packers released him, but he was eventually released by the team.

Houston Texans

The Houston Texans signed Leach on October 9, 2006.

On March 19, 2007, Leach signed a four-year, $8 million restricted free agent offer sheet with the New York Giants.[2] However, the Texans matched the Giants' offer and Leach returned to Houston. Leach scored the first touchdown of his NFL career on December 13, 2007 in a 31–13 win over the Detroit Lions. After helping pave the way for teammate Arian Foster's breakout 2010 campaign, Leach was voted into the 2011 Pro Bowl, his first Pro Bowl selection. On January 24, 2011, Leach was also selected to the Associated Press's NFL All-Pro Team.[3] Leach was announced as the 45th ranked player on the 2011 NFL Top 100, and was ranked higher than Peyton Manning, on the 2012 NFL Top 100.

Leach in 2011

Baltimore Ravens

Leach signed a three-year, $11 million contract with the Baltimore Ravens on July 31, 2011, making him the highest paid fullback in the NFL.[4] While paving the way for Ray Rice, Leach also amassed 12 carries for 35 yards, plus 15 receptions for 69 yards. This performance earned him another Pro Bowl appearance in 2011.

Leach was announced the fullback for the AFC in the 2013 Pro Bowl—his 3rd selection for the Pro Bowl—but was not able to play because the Ravens had qualified for Super Bowl XLVII with their victory over the New England Patriots in the 2012 AFC Championship. Leach earned his first NFL Championship in Super Bowl XLVII when the Ravens defeated the San Francisco 49ers 34–31.[5]

On June 10, 2013, Leach announced on Twitter that he may be cut or traded because he cannot reach a compromise on his reduced contract.[6]

On July 29, 2013, Leach re-signed with the Baltimore Ravens.[7]

On September 5, 2013, Leach scored the first touchdown of the 2013 NFL season in a game against the Denver Broncos. Leach gradually saw his playing time decrease as the 2013 season progressed and he was only used in a dozen snaps over the last three games of the year.

On February 27, 2014, the Ravens released Leach, making him an unrestricted free agent.[8]

On July 24, 2019, the Ravens announced that Leach would be signed to a one-day contract and retire as a Raven on July 26, 2019.

References
  1. "Texans' Leach graduates college, aims for Pro Bowl spot".
  2. Giants' 4-year offer sheet worth about $1.6M for Leach-ESPN Retrieved August 13, 2012.
  3. Brady, AFC players dominate selections on AP All-Pro Team-NFL.com Retrieved August 13, 2012.
  4. Vonta Leach chooses the Ravens-NBC Sports Retrieved August 13, 2012.
  5. "Super Bowl XLVII - San Francisco 49ers vs. Baltimore Ravens - February 3rd, 2013". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 8, 2017.
  6. "Vonta Leach: My time with Baltimore Ravens is up".
  7. Mink, Ryan (July 29, 2013). "Vonta Leach Re-Signs With Ravens". BaltimoreRavens.com. Retrieved July 30, 2013.
  8. Patra, Kevin (February 27, 2014). "Vonta Leach, Jameel McClain cut by Baltimore Ravens". NFL.com. Retrieved September 9, 2014.
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