Chris Pressley
Encyclopedia
Chris Pressley is an American professional football
player who is currently on the Cincinnati Bengals
. He went undrafted in the 2009 NFL Draft
after playing for five years for the University of Wisconsin–Madison
Badgers
. Pressley's maximum back squat
weight is 670 pounds (303 kg), and he has been videotaped squatting 605 pounds nine times in a row with no assistive equipment.
, was born and raised in Woodbury
, New Jersey
, just outside of Philadelphia. He was selected as All-County, All-South Jersey
and All-State during his senior year in 2003–04 while playing for Woodbury High School
. His high school football coach was former Pittsburgh Steelers
linebacker
Zack Valentine
, who won Super Bowl XIV
as a member of the famous "Steel Curtain
" defense.
under head coaches Barry Alvarez
(2004–05) and Bret Bielema
(2005–09). A broken ankle just before the start of the 2005 season
sidelined him for the year, so he used his redshirt
eligibility and stayed for one extra season. Pressley’s collegiate statistics were not outstanding, but his hard work ethic and willingness to sacrifice his body landed him on an NFL roster after going undrafted in 2009.
series
Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Cincinnati Bengals.
On November 22, 2009, Pressley made his NFL regular season debut for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
in a 38–7 loss to the New Orleans Saints
. He had been on the Bengals' practice squad before being traded. Pressley's first career carry came two weeks later on December 6 in a game against the Carolina Panthers
. After starting the 2010 season
with the Buccaneers and playing in three games, he was waived on October 23. Cincinnati then re-signed him, and on December 10 was promoted to their roster after cornerback Rico Murray
sustained an ankle injury.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player who is currently on the Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
. He went undrafted in the 2009 NFL Draft
2009 NFL Draft
The 2009 NFL Draft was the seventy-fourth annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. The draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 25 and 26, 2009. The draft consisted of two rounds on the first day starting at 4:00...
after playing for five years for the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
Badgers
Wisconsin Badgers football
The Wisconsin Badgers are a college football program that represents the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. They play their home games at Camp Randall Stadium, the fourth-oldest stadium in college football...
. Pressley's maximum back squat
Squat (exercise)
In strength training, the squat is a compound, full body exercise that trains primarily the muscles of the thighs, hips and buttocks, quads , hamstrings, as well as strengthening the bones, ligaments and insertion of the tendons throughout the lower body...
weight is 670 pounds (303 kg), and he has been videotaped squatting 605 pounds nine times in a row with no assistive equipment.
Early years
Pressley, a 5'11", 260-pound fullbackFullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
, was born and raised in Woodbury
Woodbury, New Jersey
Woodbury is a city in Gloucester County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, 10,307 residents were counted. Woodbury is the county seat of Gloucester County....
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, just outside of Philadelphia. He was selected as All-County, All-South Jersey
South Jersey
South Jersey comprises the southern portions of the U.S. state of New Jersey between the lower Delaware River and the Atlantic Ocean. The designation is a colloquial one, reflecting not only geographical but perceived cultural differences from the northern part of the state, with no official...
and All-State during his senior year in 2003–04 while playing for Woodbury High School
Woodbury Junior-Senior High School
Woodbury Junior-Senior High School is a comprehensive community middle school and public high school that serves students in sixth through twelfth grades from Woodbury, in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States, as part of the Woodbury Public Schools system.As of the 2008-09 school year, the...
. His high school football coach was former Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
Zack Valentine
Zack Valentine
Zack Valentine is a former professional American football player who played linebacker for four seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles. As a rookie, he won a Super Bowl ring with the Steelers in Super Bowl XIV. Valentine played his prep years at John A...
, who won Super Bowl XIV
Super Bowl XIV
Super Bowl XIV was an American football game played on January 20, 1980 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 1979 regular season...
as a member of the famous "Steel Curtain
Steel Curtain
The Steel Curtain was the nickname given to the front four of the famous defensive line of the American football team Pittsburgh Steelers during their 1970s dynasty years. This defense was the backbone of the Steelers dynasty, which won 4 Super Bowls...
" defense.
College
From 2004 to 2009, Pressley played for the BadgersWisconsin Badgers
The Wisconsin Badgers are the collegiate athletic teams from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. This NCAA Division I athletic program has teams in football, basketball, ice hockey, volleyball, soccer, cross country, tennis, swimming, wrestling, track and field, rowing, golf, and softball...
under head coaches Barry Alvarez
Barry Alvarez
Barry Alvarez is a former American football player and coach and currently the Director of Athletics at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He served as the head football coach at Wisconsin for 16 seasons from 1990 to 2005, compiling a career college football record of 118–73–4...
(2004–05) and Bret Bielema
Bret Bielema
-Personal life:Bielema announced on April 1, 2011 that he was engaged to his girlfriend, Jen. The wedding is scheduled for spring 2012.-External links:* *...
(2005–09). A broken ankle just before the start of the 2005 season
2005 Wisconsin Badgers football team
The 2005 Wisconsin Badgers football team represented the University of Wisconsin–Madison during the 2005 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by Barry Alvarez, the Badgers completed the season with a 10-3 record, including a 5-3 mark in the Big Ten Conference, good for a third-place tie with...
sidelined him for the year, so he used his redshirt
Redshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
eligibility and stayed for one extra season. Pressley’s collegiate statistics were not outstanding, but his hard work ethic and willingness to sacrifice his body landed him on an NFL roster after going undrafted in 2009.
NFL
In 2009, Pressley was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Cincinnati Bengals. His attempt to make the Bengals' roster was chronicled on the HBOHome Box Office
HBO, short for Home Box Office, is an American premium cable television network, owned by Time Warner. , HBO's programming reaches 28.2 million subscribers in the United States, making it the second largest premium network in America . In addition to its U.S...
series
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Cincinnati Bengals.
On November 22, 2009, Pressley made his NFL regular season debut for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
in a 38–7 loss to the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
. He had been on the Bengals' practice squad before being traded. Pressley's first career carry came two weeks later on December 6 in a game against the Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
. After starting the 2010 season
2010 NFL season
The 2010 NFL season was the 91st regular season of the National Football League.The regular season began with the NFL Kickoff game on NBC on Thursday, September 9, at the Louisiana Superdome as the New Orleans Saints, Super Bowl XLIV champions, defeated the Minnesota Vikings 14–9.Tom Brady,...
with the Buccaneers and playing in three games, he was waived on October 23. Cincinnati then re-signed him, and on December 10 was promoted to their roster after cornerback Rico Murray
Rico Murray
Rico Murray is an American football cornerback who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He played college football at Kent State.-Professional career:...
sustained an ankle injury.