Dane Krager
Encyclopedia
Dane Krager is an arena football
Fullback
/ Linebacker
who is currently a free agent
in the Arena Football League. He played college football
at Angelo State.
In his career, Krager has played for the Minnesota Vikings
, Seattle Seahawks
, Austin Wranglers
, and Arizona Rattlers
. As well as owning his own fitness business in Austin, Texas.
, where he was an All-District and honorable mention All-State selection, setting a school record for the most tackles in a game (24).
where he ranked first in school history with 31 career sacks. He finished his college career ranking ninth on the school's career tackle list. In 1999, Krager set the Angelo State single-season record with 15 sacks. He was also chosen as a preseason All-American in 2000. In 2001, he was a First-team Daktronics, Little All-American and co-Defensive Player of the Year selection after finishing the season with 96 tackles and eight sacks. He was a First-team All-Lone Star Conference selection in 2001. He also threw the javelin
for their state track team.
in 2002
, as an undrafted free agent. However, he was released from the team in the final cuts. In 2003
, Krager signed as a free agent with the Seattle Seahawks
and was allocated to NFL Europe where he played for Rhein Fire
. He was released by the Seahawks after the following training camp.
he was signed by the Austin Wranglers
of the Arena Football League, where he rushed for over 20 yards in three games and ranked 10th in the AFL for rushing. In 2004
he led the team in rushing with 41 attempts for 152 yards and five touchdown
s. In 2005
, he rushed 31 times for 59 yards and five touchdowns and recorded seven receptions for 65 yards and a touchdown. He was named the US Army Ironman of the Game for a road game against the Las Vegas Gladiators
after recording a game changing interception and fumble recovery in his first game since knee surgery. He also earned ADT
defensive Player of the Game honors against the Orlando Predators
with two tackles, two passes defended and one fumble recovery for a touchdown. In 2006
, he was 2nd the league in rushing with 197 yards and set a Wranglers team-record with 12 rushing touchdowns. He started the entire regular season, playing both offense
and defense in 13 out of 15 games. For his work, he earned All-Ironman. Off the field, Krager’s work with the community earned him the Al Lucas
Hero Award, which recognizes the Arena Football League player who “makes the most significant contribution to both his community and the game of Arena Football.” Krager also earned US Army Ironman of the Game honors in three games; against the Gladitors, at the Arizona Rattlers
and against the Grand Rapids Rampage
. He was also named Offensive Player of the game at Orlando. In 2007
, 21 tackles, three sacks, and one interception. He also recorded 28 yards rushing and nine receiving yards, he was also named to the All-Ironman team.
In early 2008, Krager signed with the Arizona Rattlers. On February 11, 2008, he was placed on the Rattlers "Left squad" list. As a result, he did not play during the 2008
season. On September 19, he was released by the Rattlers.
, he played the stunt double
role of former Denver Bronco
Bill Romanowski
in the Adam Sandler
film The Longest Yard
. Dane Krager made acting debut as the character Willis in the television show, Friday Night Lights.
Arena football
Arena football is a variety of gridiron football played by the Arena Football League . It is a proprietary game, the rights to which are owned by Gridiron Enterprises, and is played indoors on a smaller field than American or Canadian outdoor football, resulting in a faster and higher-scoring game....
Fullback
Fullback (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...
/ 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...
who is currently a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
in the Arena Football League. 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...
at Angelo State.
In his career, Krager has played 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...
, Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
, Austin Wranglers
Austin Wranglers
The Austin Wranglers were an arena football team based in Austin, Texas. They played four seasons in the Arena Football League from 2004 to 2007 and spent one season in AF2, the AFL's developmental league, in 2008. They made playoff appearances in the AFL in 2006 and in AF2 in 2008...
, and Arizona Rattlers
Arizona Rattlers
The Arizona Rattlers are a professional arena football team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Conference in the Arena Football League . The Rattlers were founded in 1992 as an expansion team. They play their home games at US Airways Center...
. As well as owning his own fitness business in Austin, Texas.
High school career
Krager attended Leander High SchoolLeander High School
Leander is a secondary school in Leander, Texas and part of the Leander Independent School District. It was established in 1899.The school has a freshmen enrollment of 600 students and is accredited by the Texas Education Agency...
, where he was an All-District and honorable mention All-State selection, setting a school record for the most tackles in a game (24).
College career
Krager attended Angelo State UniversityAngelo State University
Angelo State University is a public, coeducational, doctoral level degree-granting university located in San Angelo, Texas, United States. It was founded in 1928 as San Angelo College. It gained University status and awarded its first baccalaureate degrees in 1967 and graduate degrees in 1969, the...
where he ranked first in school history with 31 career sacks. He finished his college career ranking ninth on the school's career tackle list. In 1999, Krager set the Angelo State single-season record with 15 sacks. He was also chosen as a preseason All-American in 2000. In 2001, he was a First-team Daktronics, Little All-American and co-Defensive Player of the Year selection after finishing the season with 96 tackles and eight sacks. He was a First-team All-Lone Star Conference selection in 2001. He also threw the javelin
Javelin throw
The javelin throw is a track and field athletics throwing event where the object to be thrown is the javelin, a spear approximately 2.5 metres in length. Javelin is an event of both the men's decathlon and the women's heptathlon...
for their state track team.
National Football League (2002 - 2003)
Krager originally signed with 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...
in 2002
2002 Minnesota Vikings season
2002 was the 42nd year of season play for the Minnesota Vikings and the 83rd regular season of the National Football League.On January 10, 2002, Mike Tice was named the sixth Head Coach in Vikings history. Tice was the third of the six Vikings head coaches to be promoted from within the team's...
, as an undrafted free agent. However, he was released from the team in the final cuts. In 2003
2003 Seattle Seahawks season
The 2003 Seattle Seahawks season was the team's 28th season with the National Football League.-2003 NFL Draft:-Regular season:-Playoffs:-External links:* *...
, Krager signed as a free agent with the Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
and was allocated to NFL Europe where he played for Rhein Fire
Rhein Fire
The Rhein Fire was a professional American football team in NFL Europe, formerly the World League of American Football. Established in Germany in 1995, the franchise resurrected the name of the former Birmingham Fire team which was active during the 1991-1992 WLAF seasons.-History:The team was...
. He was released by the Seahawks after the following training camp.
Arena Football League (2003 - 2006, 2008)
On December 23, 20032003 Arena Football League season
The 2003 Arena Football League season was the 17th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the Tampa Bay Storm, who defeated the Arizona Rattlers in ArenaBowl XVII. The AFL expanded its season to a 16-game schedule...
he was signed by the Austin Wranglers
Austin Wranglers
The Austin Wranglers were an arena football team based in Austin, Texas. They played four seasons in the Arena Football League from 2004 to 2007 and spent one season in AF2, the AFL's developmental league, in 2008. They made playoff appearances in the AFL in 2006 and in AF2 in 2008...
of the Arena Football League, where he rushed for over 20 yards in three games and ranked 10th in the AFL for rushing. In 2004
2004 Arena Football League season
The 2004 Arena Football League season was the 18th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the San Jose SaberCats, who defeated the Arizona Rattlers in ArenaBowl XVIII...
he led the team in rushing with 41 attempts for 152 yards and five touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s. In 2005
2005 Arena Football League season
The 2005 Arena Football League season was the 19th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the Colorado Crush, who defeated the Georgia Force in ArenaBowl XIX. The AFL changed its playoff format to allow the top four teams per conference to make the playoffs. Previously, the...
, he rushed 31 times for 59 yards and five touchdowns and recorded seven receptions for 65 yards and a touchdown. He was named the US Army Ironman of the Game for a road game against the Las Vegas Gladiators
Las Vegas Gladiators
The Cleveland Gladiators are an arena football franchise based in Cleveland, Ohio which plays in the Arena Football League. The team is part of the East division of the AFL's American Conference. The Gladiators play all of their home games at Quicken Loans Arena, which they share with the NBA's...
after recording a game changing interception and fumble recovery in his first game since knee surgery. He also earned ADT
ADT Security Services
ADT Security Services, originally American District Telegraph, now also known as simply ADT, is a division of Tyco International and a worldwide supplier of electronic security systems, fire alarm systems, communication systems, and integrated building management systems.-History:There were many...
defensive Player of the Game honors against the Orlando Predators
Orlando Predators
The Orlando Predators are an Arena Football League team based in Orlando, Florida that was founded in 1991. Their playoff streak is currently 19 seasons in a row, as of the season, becoming the ArenaBowl champions in 1998 and 2000...
with two tackles, two passes defended and one fumble recovery for a touchdown. In 2006
2006 Arena Football League season
The 2006 Arena Football League season was the 20th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the Chicago Rush, who defeated the Orlando Predators in ArenaBowl XX....
, he was 2nd the league in rushing with 197 yards and set a Wranglers team-record with 12 rushing touchdowns. He started the entire regular season, playing both offense
Offense (sports)
In sports, offense or offence , also known as attack, is the action of attacking or engaging an opposing team with the objective of scoring points or goals...
and defense in 13 out of 15 games. For his work, he earned All-Ironman. Off the field, Krager’s work with the community earned him the Al Lucas
Al Lucas
Albert Lucas was an American football player in the National Football League and Arena Football League who died during a game while playing for the Los Angeles Avengers.-Early life and college career:...
Hero Award, which recognizes the Arena Football League player who “makes the most significant contribution to both his community and the game of Arena Football.” Krager also earned US Army Ironman of the Game honors in three games; against the Gladitors, at the Arizona Rattlers
Arizona Rattlers
The Arizona Rattlers are a professional arena football team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Conference in the Arena Football League . The Rattlers were founded in 1992 as an expansion team. They play their home games at US Airways Center...
and against the Grand Rapids Rampage
Grand Rapids Rampage
The Grand Rapids Rampage was an Arena Football League team that began playing as a 1998 expansion team. They were coached by Steve Thonn.-History:...
. He was also named Offensive Player of the game at Orlando. In 2007
2007 Austin Wranglers season
The 2007 Austin Wranglers season was the 4th season for the franchise. The team finished eighth in the conference and did not make the playoffs.- Schedule :-Coaching:...
, 21 tackles, three sacks, and one interception. He also recorded 28 yards rushing and nine receiving yards, he was also named to the All-Ironman team.
In early 2008, Krager signed with the Arizona Rattlers. On February 11, 2008, he was placed on the Rattlers "Left squad" list. As a result, he did not play during the 2008
2008 Arizona Rattlers season
The 2008 Arizona Rattlers season is the 17th season for the franchise. The Rattlers finished the regular season 8-8, and made the playoffs as the 3rd seed in the American Conference. They were eliminated from the playoffs in the Wild Card round, losing to the Grand Rapids Rampage, 41-48.-Regular...
season. On September 19, he was released by the Rattlers.
Outside football
Krager owns his own fitness business/studio, Dane's Body Shop - Fitness Synergy, in Austin (www.danesbodyshop.com). In 20052005 in film
- Highest-grossing films :Please note that following the tradition of the English-language film industry, these are the top-grossing films that were first released in the United States in 2005...
, he played the stunt double
Stunt double
A stunt double is a type of body double, specifically a skilled replacement used for dangerous film or video sequences, in movies and television , and for other sophisticated stunts...
role of former Denver Bronco
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
Bill Romanowski
Bill Romanowski
William Thomas "Bill" Romanowski is a former American football player. He was born in Vernon, Connecticut. A linebacker, he graduated from Rockville High School in 1984, Boston College in 1988 , and then went on to a 16-year career in the NFL, playing for the San Francisco 49ers , Philadelphia...
in the Adam Sandler
Adam Sandler
Adam Richard Sandler is an American actor, comedian, screenwriter, musician, and film producer.After becoming a Saturday Night Live cast member, Sandler went on to star in several Hollywood feature films that grossed over $100 million at the box office...
film The Longest Yard
The Longest Yard (2005 film)
The Longest Yard is a 2005 American sports comedy film remake of the 1974 film of the same name. Adam Sandler plays the protagonist, Paul Crewe, a disgraced former professional football quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL, who is coerced to form a team from the prison inmates to play...
. Dane Krager made acting debut as the character Willis in the television show, Friday Night Lights.