Cullen Loeffler
Encyclopedia
Cullen Crawford Loeffler (born January 27, 1981) is an American football
long snapper
for the Minnesota Vikings
of the National Football League
. He was signed by the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2004. He played college football
for the Texas Longhorns
.
in Ingram, Texas
. He earned four varsity letters each in football and basketball. He also played in the UIL State Championship in doubles for tennis, winning the bronze in his junior year.
. He was red-shirted
his first year at Texas, and saw limited action his second year as a back up tight end
. He also took part in special teams that year. The next year he started long snapping and found his niche with the Longhorn football team.
as an undrafted free agent in 2004. The Vikings signed Loeffler to a three-year contract extension on October 7, 2011, ensuring that the league’s longest-tenured kicking trio will remain intact. , Loeffler, punter Chris Kluwe
and kicker Ryan Longwell
played in Minnesota together since 2006, which is longer than any other active trio in the league. Loeffler suffered a bone fracture in his lower back during a week 12 loss to the Atlanta Falcons
and was placed on injured reserve
on November 29, 2011, ending his season.
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...
long snapper
Long snapper
In American football and Canadian football, the term long snapper refers to a player who is a specialized center during punts, field goals, and extra point attempts. His job is to snap the ball as quickly and accurately as possible....
for the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was signed by the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2004. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
for the Texas Longhorns
Texas Longhorns football
The Texas Longhorns football program is the intercollegiate football team representing The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas. The team currently competes in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big 12 Conference which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National...
.
Early years
Loeffler attended Ingram Tom Moore High SchoolIngram Tom Moore High School
Ingram Tom Moore High School is a small public high school in Ingram, Texas, USA serving grades 9-12. It is the only high school in the Ingram Independent School District, and is attended by students from west Kerr County...
in Ingram, Texas
Ingram, Texas
Ingram is a city in Kerr County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,740 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Ingram is located at , on the Guadalupe River in the Texas Hill Country...
. He earned four varsity letters each in football and basketball. He also played in the UIL State Championship in doubles for tennis, winning the bronze in his junior year.
College career
Loeffler turned down several scholarship opportunities to enroll and walk-on at the University of TexasTexas Longhorns football
The Texas Longhorns football program is the intercollegiate football team representing The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas. The team currently competes in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big 12 Conference which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National...
. He was red-shirted
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...
his first year at Texas, and saw limited action his second year as a back up tight end
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
. He also took part in special teams that year. The next year he started long snapping and found his niche with the Longhorn football team.
Professional career
Loeffler was signed by the Minnesota VikingsMinnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
as an undrafted free agent in 2004. The Vikings signed Loeffler to a three-year contract extension on October 7, 2011, ensuring that the league’s longest-tenured kicking trio will remain intact. , Loeffler, punter Chris Kluwe
Chris Kluwe
Christopher James "Chris" Kluwe is a punter for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the Seattle Seahawks, as an undrafted free agent in 2005...
and kicker Ryan Longwell
Ryan Longwell
Ryan Walker Longwell is an American football placekicker for the Minnesota Vikings in the National Football League. After playing college football for the California Golden Bears, he started his professional football career with the San Francisco 49ers, but never played a game for the franchise...
played in Minnesota together since 2006, which is longer than any other active trio in the league. Loeffler suffered a bone fracture in his lower back during a week 12 loss to the Atlanta Falcons
2011 Atlanta Falcons season
The 2011 Atlanta Falcons season will be the franchise's 46th season in the National Football League and the fourth under head coach Mike Smith. After a disappointing loss to the Green Bay Packers in the divisional round of the playoffs, the Falcons will attempt to defend its NFC South division...
and was placed on injured reserve
Injured reserve
The injured reserve list is a list of reserved players who are injured and unable to play for a period of time, used most prominently in the National Hockey League and National Football League . It is used because these leagues have a maximum number of players on the team roster, so placing a...
on November 29, 2011, ending his season.