Jon Dorenbos
Encyclopedia
Jonathan Paul "Jon" Dorenbos (ˈdɔrnbəs; born July 21, 1980) is an American football
long snapper
for the Philadelphia Eagles
of the National Football League
(NFL). He was signed by the Buffalo Bills
as an undrafted free agent in 2003. He played college football
at UTEP
.
Dorenbos has also played for the Tennessee Titans
.
, and on August 2, 1992, when Dorenbos was 12, his mother, Kathy, was killed by his father, Alan, a software specialist. His father was charged with and convicted of second-degree murder, and sentenced to 13 years and eight months in prison. Dorenbos was sent to a foster home. After an intense legal battle, Dorenbos was adopted by his aunt and uncle, Susan and Steve Hindman. To ease his mind, Dorenbos turned to magic. Dorenbos's sister, Kristina, works in the neurological department at St. Joseph's Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona. His brother, Randy, is an independent contractor. Randy also owns "RAD Remodeling" in Southern California and Cleveland, Ohio
. Dorenbos married Julie Lesicki on April 9, 2010.
, and was a letterman in football
, basketball, and baseball
. He earned all-league honors in football and baseball. He made Dean's list and was an honor roll student in high school.
. During his freshman year, one of his friends who was attending University of Texas at El Paso
, Paul Tessier, called him and asked him if he could be the long snapper for the Miners
who desperately needed one. However, Dorenbos was not the long snapper at Golden West at the time; he played linebacker
and fullback
. He ended up taking some video footage from high school, added footage of the Golden West long snapper, and sent it to the coaches at UTEP. He was eventually recruited and became the long snapper for UTEP in 23 games over three seasons. He averaged almost 10 tackles each year at UTEP on punt coverage.
special teams coach Bobby April
said of his workout, "Even on tape it's clear the guy is amazing. He's the best I've seen this year. And he might be the best in a lot of years, maybe among the top guys I've ever seen...But I'll tell you, Dorenbos is something else, he really is, man." Dorenbos was personally interviewed by only six teams.
by the Buffalo Bills
as an undrafted free agent following the 2003 NFL Draft
. He was one of only two undrafted free agents to make the team in 2003
. He played in his first NFL game on September 7, 2003 against the New England Patriots
. He played in all 16 games for the Bills in 2003. In 2004
, he led the league in tackles at his position. He played in the first 13 games of the 2004 season before damaging knee ligaments and being placed on the injured reserve
list, ending his season. After training camp in 2005
, Dorenbos was waived on September 6 during final roster cuts.
on October 26, 2005, the same day he worked out for the team. He played in the last nine games of the 2005 season. He was scheduled to become a restricted free agent in free agency in 2006, but the Titans decided not to offer him a tender. He became an unrestricted free agent on March 3. He was not signed for training camp in 2006, but was re-signed on October 13 by the Titans for an October 15 game against the Washington Redskins
. He was released on October 25.
on November 29, 2006 after Mike Bartrum
suffered a career-ending neck injury. He played in the last seven games of the 2006 season
, including two postseason games. He made two special team tackles in 2006. In 2007
, he played in all 16 games for the Eagles, and on December 29, 2007, he signed a five-year contract extension that will keep him under contract through the 2012 season. He made six total special team tackles in 2007. In 2008
, he played in all 16 games for the second-consecutive season. He made five special team tackles in 2008. Dorenbos arrived late to training camp in 2009
after he caught shingles and could not get on an airplane to fly to Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania
, where Eagles training camp is held every year. He played in all 16 games in 2009, and made four special team tackles.
On January 20, 2010, Dorenbos was named to the NFC's Pro Bowl team.
, and has performed in Las Vegas
and Hollywood. He collects the autographs of every famous person he performs for on playing cards, which he hangs up in his house in Huntington Beach. He had also performed for former Bills teammates Alex Van Pelt
and Jonas Jennings
. He earned a business degree from UTEP, with emphasis in economics, finance and marketing. In the offseason, he serves as a corporate motivational speaker and has spoken for companies such as the National FFA Organization
, Pioneer Investments
, Jackson Hewitt
and ING Group
. He is the executive producer of an album called "Stripped Down" with singer Steve Carlson, who is also Dorenbos's best friend. Dorenbos started his own business in Buffalo, New York
called DAC Framing. He works with several charities, including Brian Moorman
's "Punt Foundation," which helps out children with terminal diseases, and Garth Brooks
' "Teammates for Kids". He is the host of Inside the Eagles, which airs on Eagles Television Network. In 2009, he won a Mid Atlantic Emmy Award for his performances.
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 Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
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...
(NFL). He was signed by the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
as an undrafted free agent in 2003. 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 UTEP
UTEP Miners football
The UTEP Miners football program is a college football team that represents the University of Texas at El Paso . With a history dating back to 1914, UTEP currently competes in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of Conference USA . UTEP currently plays their home games at the Sun Bowl...
.
Dorenbos has also played for the Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
.
Personal
Dorenbos grew up in Woodinville, WashingtonWoodinville, Washington
Woodinville is a city in King County, Washington, United States. The population was 10,938 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Seattle metropolitan area. There is also a much larger population with Woodinville mailing addresses in adjacent unincorporated areas of King and Snohomish counties...
, and on August 2, 1992, when Dorenbos was 12, his mother, Kathy, was killed by his father, Alan, a software specialist. His father was charged with and convicted of second-degree murder, and sentenced to 13 years and eight months in prison. Dorenbos was sent to a foster home. After an intense legal battle, Dorenbos was adopted by his aunt and uncle, Susan and Steve Hindman. To ease his mind, Dorenbos turned to magic. Dorenbos's sister, Kristina, works in the neurological department at St. Joseph's Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona. His brother, Randy, is an independent contractor. Randy also owns "RAD Remodeling" in Southern California and Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
. Dorenbos married Julie Lesicki on April 9, 2010.
Early years
Dorenbos attended Pacifica High School in Garden Grove, CaliforniaGarden Grove, California
Garden Grove is a city located in northern Orange County, California. The population was 170,883 at the 2010 census. State Route 22, also known as the Garden Grove Freeway, passes through the city running east-west. The city is known outside the Southern California area for being the home of Robert H...
, and was a letterman in football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
, basketball, and baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
. He earned all-league honors in football and baseball. He made Dean's list and was an honor roll student in high school.
College career
Dorenbos originally attended Golden West Junior College in Huntington Beach, CaliforniaHuntington Beach, California
Huntington Beach is a seaside city in Orange County in Southern California. According to the 2010 census, the city population was 189,992; making it the largest beach city in Orange County in terms of population...
. During his freshman year, one of his friends who was attending University of Texas at El Paso
University of Texas at El Paso
The University of Texas at El Paso is a four-year state university, and is a component institution of the University of Texas System. Its campus is located on the bank of the Rio Grande in El Paso, Texas. The school was founded in 1914 as The Texas State School of Mines and Metallurgy,...
, Paul Tessier, called him and asked him if he could be the long snapper for the Miners
UTEP Miners football
The UTEP Miners football program is a college football team that represents the University of Texas at El Paso . With a history dating back to 1914, UTEP currently competes in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of Conference USA . UTEP currently plays their home games at the Sun Bowl...
who desperately needed one. However, Dorenbos was not the long snapper at Golden West at the time; he played 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...
and 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...
. He ended up taking some video footage from high school, added footage of the Golden West long snapper, and sent it to the coaches at UTEP. He was eventually recruited and became the long snapper for UTEP in 23 games over three seasons. He averaged almost 10 tackles each year at UTEP on punt coverage.
Pre-draft
At UTEP's Pro Day workout, in which six teams attended, Dorenbos averaged 0.62 seconds in snapping the ball to the punter. One snap was timed at 0.59 seconds. A good time in the NFL is considered between 0.70 seconds and 0.75 seconds. Then-St. Louis RamsSt. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
special teams coach Bobby April
Bobby April
Robert "Bobby" April, Jr. is an American football special teams coach for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League...
said of his workout, "Even on tape it's clear the guy is amazing. He's the best I've seen this year. And he might be the best in a lot of years, maybe among the top guys I've ever seen...But I'll tell you, Dorenbos is something else, he really is, man." Dorenbos was personally interviewed by only six teams.
Buffalo Bills
After college, Dorenbos was signed as a long snapperLong 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....
by the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
as an undrafted free agent following the 2003 NFL Draft
2003 NFL Draft
The 2003 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. The draft is known officially as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting" and has been conducted annually since 1936. The draft was held April 26–27, 2003 at the Theatre at...
. He was one of only two undrafted free agents to make the team in 2003
2003 NFL season
-Milestones:The following teams and players set all-time NFL records during the season:-Team:-Individual:-Awards:-External Links:**-References:*NFL Record and Fact Book *...
. He played in his first NFL game on September 7, 2003 against the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
. He played in all 16 games for the Bills in 2003. In 2004
2004 NFL season
The 2004 NFL season was the 85th regular season of the National Football League.With the New England Patriots as the defending league champions, regular season play was held from September 9, 2004 to January 2, 2005...
, he led the league in tackles at his position. He played in the first 13 games of the 2004 season before damaging knee ligaments and being placed on the 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...
list, ending his season. After training camp in 2005
2005 NFL season
The 2005 NFL season was the 86th regular season of the National Football League.With the New England Patriots as the defending league champions, regular season play was held from September 8, 2005 to January 1, 2006...
, Dorenbos was waived on September 6 during final roster cuts.
Tennessee Titans
Dorenbos was signed by the Tennessee TitansTennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
on October 26, 2005, the same day he worked out for the team. He played in the last nine games of the 2005 season. He was scheduled to become a restricted free agent in free agency in 2006, but the Titans decided not to offer him a tender. He became an unrestricted free agent on March 3. He was not signed for training camp in 2006, but was re-signed on October 13 by the Titans for an October 15 game against the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
. He was released on October 25.
Philadelphia Eagles
Dorenbos was signed to a two-year contract by the Philadelphia EaglesPhiladelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
on November 29, 2006 after Mike Bartrum
Mike Bartrum
Mike Weldon Bartrum is a former American football long snapper and tight end in the National Football League who spent the last seven years of his career with the Philadelphia Eagles. He was considered one of the best long snappers while he was playing...
suffered a career-ending neck injury. He played in the last seven games of the 2006 season
2006 NFL season
The 2006 NFL season was the 87th regular season of the National Football League.Regular season play was held from September 7 to December 31, 2006...
, including two postseason games. He made two special team tackles in 2006. In 2007
2007 NFL season
The 2007 NFL season was the 88th regular season of the National Football League.Regular-season play was held from September 6 to December 30....
, he played in all 16 games for the Eagles, and on December 29, 2007, he signed a five-year contract extension that will keep him under contract through the 2012 season. He made six total special team tackles in 2007. In 2008
2008 NFL season
The 2008 NFL season was the 89th regular season of the National Football League, themed with the slogan "Believe in Now."Super Bowl XLIII, the league's championship game, was at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on February 1, 2009, with the Pittsburgh Steelers coming out victorious over the...
, he played in all 16 games for the second-consecutive season. He made five special team tackles in 2008. Dorenbos arrived late to training camp in 2009
2009 NFL season
The 2009 NFL season was the 90th regular season of the National Football League.The preseason started with the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on August 9, 2009, and the regular season began September 10. The season ended with Super Bowl XLIV, the league's championship game, on February 7, 2010 at...
after he caught shingles and could not get on an airplane to fly to Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania
Lehigh Valley
The Lehigh Valley, known officially by the United States Census Bureau as the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metropolitan area and referred to locally as The Valley and A-B-E, is a metropolitan region consisting of Lehigh, Northampton, Berks, and Carbon counties in eastern Pennsylvania and...
, where Eagles training camp is held every year. He played in all 16 games in 2009, and made four special team tackles.
On January 20, 2010, Dorenbos was named to the NFC's Pro Bowl team.
Other ventures
Dorenbos is a professional magicianMagic (illusion)
Magic is a performing art that entertains audiences by staging tricks or creating illusions of seemingly impossible or supernatural feats using natural means...
, and has performed in Las Vegas
Las Vegas metropolitan area
The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...
and Hollywood. He collects the autographs of every famous person he performs for on playing cards, which he hangs up in his house in Huntington Beach. He had also performed for former Bills teammates Alex Van Pelt
Alex Van Pelt
Alexander "Alex" Van Pelt is an American football coach and former quarterback. He is currently the quarterbacks coach for the Tampa Bay Buccanneers of the National Football League.-College:...
and Jonas Jennings
Jonas Jennings
Jonas D. Jennings is an American football offensive tackle who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the third round of the 2001 NFL Draft...
. He earned a business degree from UTEP, with emphasis in economics, finance and marketing. In the offseason, he serves as a corporate motivational speaker and has spoken for companies such as the National FFA Organization
National FFA Organization
The National FFA Organization is an American youth organization known as a Career and Technical Student Organization, based on middle and high school classes that promote and support agricultural education...
, Pioneer Investments
Pioneer Investments
Pioneer Investments is an investment company based in Boston, MA specializing in mutual funds. In 1928, Philip L. Carret founded the Pioneer Fund , now the third oldest mutual fund in the United States. The Pioneer Fund is often cited as the first mutual fund based on ethical values...
, Jackson Hewitt
Jackson Hewitt
Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc. is the second largest tax preparation service in the United States; responsible for preparing over 2.2 million computerized federal, state, and local individual income tax returns each year. Based in Parsippany, New Jersey, the company currently operates more than...
and ING Group
ING Group
The ING Group is a global financial institution offering retail banking, direct banking, commercial banking, investment banking, asset management, and insurance services. ING is the Dutch member of the Inter-Alpha Group of Banks, a cooperative consortium of 11 prominent European banks...
. He is the executive producer of an album called "Stripped Down" with singer Steve Carlson, who is also Dorenbos's best friend. Dorenbos started his own business in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
called DAC Framing. He works with several charities, including Brian Moorman
Brian Moorman
Brian Donald Moorman is an American football punter who currently plays for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 1999. He played collegiately at Pittsburg State.Moorman is a two-time Pro Bowl selection for...
's "Punt Foundation," which helps out children with terminal diseases, and Garth Brooks
Garth Brooks
Troyal Garth Brooks , best known as Garth Brooks, is an American country music artist who helped make country music a worldwide phenomenon. His eponymous first album was released in 1989 and peaked at number 2 in the US country album chart while climbing to number 13 on the Billboard 200 album chart...
' "Teammates for Kids". He is the host of Inside the Eagles, which airs on Eagles Television Network. In 2009, he won a Mid Atlantic Emmy Award for his performances.