Jon Jansen
Encyclopedia
Jonathan Ward Jansen is an American football
offensive tackle who is currently a free agent. He previously played for the Detroit Lions
and Washington Redskins
of the National Football League
. He was drafted by the Washington Redskins
in the second round of the 1999 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Michigan
.
at Clawson High (Mich.). As a senior, he made a school-record 31 catches for 420 yards. He posted 68 career catches and made 202 tackles, four sacks and four interceptions at linebacker
to earn Oakland County
Defensive MVP honors. He lettered in football, basketball and baseball.
selection at Michigan. He set a school record with 50 straight starts, all at Right Tackle, earning the nickname "Rock." As a senior in 1998, he was named a First-Team All-American by the Burger King American Football Coaches Association. He paced Michigan's down lineman with 106 knockdowns on an offense that gained 4,955 yards. He helped Michigan to a 45-31 victory over Arkansas
in the Citrus Bowl
. He was Michigan's co-captain as a senior and junior and fortified an offense that posted 4,652 yards en route to the National Championship. As a redshirt freshman, he helped propel an offense that amassed 5,140 yards.
(37th overall). Jon was a valuable addition to a Redskins offensive line that allowed 31 sacks compared with a franchise record 61 in 1998. He started all 16 regular-season games and both playoff games. He made a huge impact in mini-camp, training camp and the preseason, impressing coaches with his ability to grasp the Redskins system. He was part of an offensive line that earned game balls for allowing no sacks in a 50-21 win over the Giants
in Week 2.
On an offensive line decimated with injuries, Jansen did not miss a snap in 2000. He was one of four players on offense to start each game and has now started every game in his career (34), including two playoff contests. His blocking helped Stephen Davis
rush for 1,318 yards.
Jansen started all 16 games for the third straight season in 2001. He has started every game in his career (50, including two playoff games). He earned the game ball, along with the rest of the offensive line, for making way for the offense to rush for a season-high 226 yards in Redskins 27-14 win over Seattle (11/4). He and the unit earned another game ball for their outstanding play in Week 16 after the Redskins beat the Saints
40-10. Jansen's blocking helped running back Stephen Davis eclipse the team record with 1,432 yards rushing, third in the NFL and first in the NFC.
Jansen was voted by his teammates as the 'Unsung Hero' of the Redskins for 2002. He regarded as one of the best tackles in the NFL and part of the best bookend tandem of tackles when paired with Pro Bowler Chris Samuels
. A relentless worker, Jansen helped the Redskins offense rush for 1,889 yards.
Jansen started all 16 games in 2003 at right tackle for the fourth straight season, living up to his nickname: "The Rock". He had started 82 straight contests (including 2 playoff games) as a pro after starting 50 straight games in his college career at Michigan. Jansen continued to be a solid performer at right tackle, teaming with new right guard Randy Thomas
to open up holes and protect Redskin quarterbacks. In Week 1 vs. New York Jets
, he helped open holes for the Redskins to rush for 160 yards. In Week 2 at Atlanta
, he helped the Redskins total 435 yards and 125 rushing yards. In Week 3 vs. New York Giants, he helped the Redskins total 456 yards and 124 rushing yards. He continued his rivalry with Pro Bowl
defensive end
Michael Strahan
by limiting him to two tackles and no sacks. In a Week 10 game against Seattle
, he helped the Redskins offense compile 379 total yards and 137 rushing yards. In Week 13 game against the New Orleans Saints
, he helped the Redskins to 392 total yards and 161 rushing yards, opening holes for Trung Canidate
who logged 115 rushing yards.
Jansen suffered a ruptured left Achilles tendon
injury in the Redskins' preseason opener on Aug. 9, 2004 against the Denver Broncos
. He was placed on the team's injured reserve list shortly after having surgery to repair the injury.
Jansen returned from the Achilles injury in 2004 to start all 16 games and two playoff games in 2005. He joined with right guard Randy Thomas to develop a dominant right side of the offensive line. He also helped running back Clinton Portis
rush for a single-season team record 1,516 yards. In Week 1 vs. Chicago, he helped the Redskins' offense rush for 164 yards, led by Clinton Portis's 121 rushing yards on 21 carries. In Week 7 vs. San Francisco, he helped the Redskins' offense rush for 204 yards, led by Clinton Portis's 101 rushing yards and Ladell Betts' 92 yards. In Week 13 at St. Louis, he was part of an offensive line that compiled a season-high 257 rushing yards. Clinton Portis had 136 rushing yards and two TDs, while Rock Cartwright
had 118 rushing yards on nine carries.
Jansen was given a new contract on February 7, 2007 at the conclusion of the 2006 season.
During the season opener against Miami
in 2007, Jansen suffered a season-ending broken and dislocated ankle. He was placed on the injured reserve
. Reche Caldwell
, a wide receiver, was signed for the roster spot vacated by Jansen.
On May 29, 2009, the Washington Redskins cut Jansen. Jansen was released after a meeting with Redskins owner Daniel Snyder, and head coach Jim Zorn
among others.
In Detroit, Jansen served as a backup to Gosder Cherilus
. On October 11, 2009, Jansen made his first start for the Lions in a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers
. He was re-signed to a one year, $860,000 deal, the NFL minimum, on March 6, 2010. On September 4, 2010, however, Jansen was released by the Lions as they cut their roster to the NFL-mandated 53 player limit.
he stated that in his estimation between 15-20% of the league used illegal performance enhancing drugs. Jansen stated that the use of illegal substances was on the rise because the use of human growth hormone injections which are not tested for by the NFL.
He later recanted this estimation, saying that he felt 15-to-20 percent was a low amount and not realizing the significant numbers of players that a 15-to-20 percent figure would represent.
coverage of the playoff game between Philadelphia Eagles
and Minnesota Vikings
on January 4, 2009, he interviewed Eagles runningback Brian Westbrook
. Jansen now does post game shows for the Detroit Lions
on 97.1 The Ticket WXYT-FM on Lions Game day. The Big Ten Network has hired Jon for a variety of roles.
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...
offensive tackle who is currently a free agent. He previously played for the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
and 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,...
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 drafted by 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,...
in the second round of the 1999 NFL Draft
1999 NFL Draft
The 1999 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 17-18, 1999...
. 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 Michigan
Michigan Wolverines football
The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history...
.
Early years
Jansen earned Prep Football Report All-Midwest and Detroit News Blue Chip honors as a tight endTight 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...
at Clawson High (Mich.). As a senior, he made a school-record 31 catches for 420 yards. He posted 68 career catches and made 202 tackles, four sacks and four interceptions at 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...
to earn Oakland County
Oakland County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the 2010 Census, there were 1,202,362 people, 471,115 households, and 315,175 families residing in the county. The population density as of the 2000 census was 1,369 people per square mile . There were 492,006 housing units at an average density of 564 per square mile...
Defensive MVP honors. He lettered in football, basketball and baseball.
College career
Jansen was a two-time First-Team All-Big TenBig Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
selection at Michigan. He set a school record with 50 straight starts, all at Right Tackle, earning the nickname "Rock." As a senior in 1998, he was named a First-Team All-American by the Burger King American Football Coaches Association. He paced Michigan's down lineman with 106 knockdowns on an offense that gained 4,955 yards. He helped Michigan to a 45-31 victory over Arkansas
University of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in...
in the Citrus Bowl
Citrus Bowl
The Florida Citrus Bowl is a stadium in Orlando, Florida, USA, built for football, which currently seats around 70,000 people....
. He was Michigan's co-captain as a senior and junior and fortified an offense that posted 4,652 yards en route to the National Championship. As a redshirt freshman, he helped propel an offense that amassed 5,140 yards.
Washington Redskins
Jansen was drafted by Washington in the second-round of 1999 NFL Draft1999 NFL Draft
The 1999 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 17-18, 1999...
(37th overall). Jon was a valuable addition to a Redskins offensive line that allowed 31 sacks compared with a franchise record 61 in 1998. He started all 16 regular-season games and both playoff games. He made a huge impact in mini-camp, training camp and the preseason, impressing coaches with his ability to grasp the Redskins system. He was part of an offensive line that earned game balls for allowing no sacks in a 50-21 win over the Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in Week 2.
On an offensive line decimated with injuries, Jansen did not miss a snap in 2000. He was one of four players on offense to start each game and has now started every game in his career (34), including two playoff contests. His blocking helped Stephen Davis
Stephen Davis (American football)
Stephen Lamont Davis is a former American football running back in the National Football League. Davis will be the Carolina Panthers' minority coaching intern for the 2010-11 season.-College career:...
rush for 1,318 yards.
Jansen started all 16 games for the third straight season in 2001. He has started every game in his career (50, including two playoff games). He earned the game ball, along with the rest of the offensive line, for making way for the offense to rush for a season-high 226 yards in Redskins 27-14 win over Seattle (11/4). He and the unit earned another game ball for their outstanding play in Week 16 after the Redskins beat the 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 ....
40-10. Jansen's blocking helped running back Stephen Davis eclipse the team record with 1,432 yards rushing, third in the NFL and first in the NFC.
Jansen was voted by his teammates as the 'Unsung Hero' of the Redskins for 2002. He regarded as one of the best tackles in the NFL and part of the best bookend tandem of tackles when paired with Pro Bowler Chris Samuels
Chris Samuels
-Washington Redskins:Samuels immediately became the starting left tackle for the Redskins and has since been selected to six Pro Bowls. In 2000, Samuels was one of only four players on offense to start every game, joining Jon Jansen, Mark Fischer and Stephen Alexander. Samuels won co-Offensive...
. A relentless worker, Jansen helped the Redskins offense rush for 1,889 yards.
Jansen started all 16 games in 2003 at right tackle for the fourth straight season, living up to his nickname: "The Rock". He had started 82 straight contests (including 2 playoff games) as a pro after starting 50 straight games in his college career at Michigan. Jansen continued to be a solid performer at right tackle, teaming with new right guard Randy Thomas
Randy Thomas (American football)
Randy Thomas is an American football guard who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the New York Jets in the second round of the 1999 NFL Draft...
to open up holes and protect Redskin quarterbacks. In Week 1 vs. New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, he helped open holes for the Redskins to rush for 160 yards. In Week 2 at Atlanta
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, he helped the Redskins total 435 yards and 125 rushing yards. In Week 3 vs. New York Giants, he helped the Redskins total 456 yards and 124 rushing yards. He continued his rivalry with Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
Michael Strahan
Michael Strahan
Michael Anthony Strahan is a former National Football League defensive end who played his entire career for the New York Giants; a career where he set the record for the most sacks in a single season and won a Super Bowl in his final year. He is currently a football analyst on Fox NFL Sunday, and...
by limiting him to two tackles and no sacks. In a Week 10 game against Seattle
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...
, he helped the Redskins offense compile 379 total yards and 137 rushing yards. In Week 13 game against 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 helped the Redskins to 392 total yards and 161 rushing yards, opening holes for Trung Canidate
Trung Canidate
Trung Jered Canidate is a U.S. former American football running back in the NFL. Drafted out of Arizona, Canidate was selected with the 31st overall pick of the 2000 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams.-Pre-draft:...
who logged 115 rushing yards.
Jansen suffered a ruptured left Achilles tendon
Achilles tendon
The Achilles tendon , also known as the calcaneal tendon or the tendo calcaneus, is a tendon of the posterior leg. It serves to attach the plantaris, gastrocnemius and soleus muscles to the calcaneus bone.- Anatomy :The Achilles is the tendonous extension of 3 muscles in the lower leg:...
injury in the Redskins' preseason opener on Aug. 9, 2004 against the Denver Broncos
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...
. He was placed on the team's injured reserve list shortly after having surgery to repair the injury.
Jansen returned from the Achilles injury in 2004 to start all 16 games and two playoff games in 2005. He joined with right guard Randy Thomas to develop a dominant right side of the offensive line. He also helped running back Clinton Portis
Clinton Portis
Clinton Earl Portis is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the second round of the 2002 NFL Draft...
rush for a single-season team record 1,516 yards. In Week 1 vs. Chicago, he helped the Redskins' offense rush for 164 yards, led by Clinton Portis's 121 rushing yards on 21 carries. In Week 7 vs. San Francisco, he helped the Redskins' offense rush for 204 yards, led by Clinton Portis's 101 rushing yards and Ladell Betts' 92 yards. In Week 13 at St. Louis, he was part of an offensive line that compiled a season-high 257 rushing yards. Clinton Portis had 136 rushing yards and two TDs, while Rock Cartwright
Rock Cartwright
Roderick Rashaun Cartwright is an American football running back for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the seventh round of the 2002 NFL Draft...
had 118 rushing yards on nine carries.
Jansen was given a new contract on February 7, 2007 at the conclusion of the 2006 season.
During the season opener against Miami
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 2007, Jansen suffered a season-ending broken and dislocated ankle. He was 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...
. Reche Caldwell
Reche Caldwell
Donald Reche Caldwell, Jr. is a former American college and professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League for six seasons in the early 2000s...
, a wide receiver, was signed for the roster spot vacated by Jansen.
On May 29, 2009, the Washington Redskins cut Jansen. Jansen was released after a meeting with Redskins owner Daniel Snyder, and head coach Jim Zorn
Jim Zorn
James Arthur "Jim" Zorn is an American quarterbacks coach in the National Football League. He was formerly the quarterbacks coach for the Baltimore Ravens and now holds that same position with the Kansas City Chiefs...
among others.
Detroit Lions
On May 29, 2009. the Lions agreed to a one-year deal with Jansen. The deal was finalized on June 1, 2009.In Detroit, Jansen served as a backup to Gosder Cherilus
Gosder Cherilus
Gosder Cherilus is an American football offensive tackle for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions 17th overall in the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Boston College.- Family :...
. On October 11, 2009, Jansen made his first start for the Lions in a game against the 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...
. He was re-signed to a one year, $860,000 deal, the NFL minimum, on March 6, 2010. On September 4, 2010, however, Jansen was released by the Lions as they cut their roster to the NFL-mandated 53 player limit.
Costas Now
In September, 2006 Jansen appeared on the HBO show Costas Now where in an interview with Bob CostasBob Costas
Robert Quinlan "Bob" Costas is an American sportscaster, on the air for the NBC network since the early 1980s.-Early life:...
he stated that in his estimation between 15-20% of the league used illegal performance enhancing drugs. Jansen stated that the use of illegal substances was on the rise because the use of human growth hormone injections which are not tested for by the NFL.
He later recanted this estimation, saying that he felt 15-to-20 percent was a low amount and not realizing the significant numbers of players that a 15-to-20 percent figure would represent.
Personal life
Jansen is married and has two daughters, Lucy and Ruby. He participated at the NFL NetworkNFL Network
NFL Network is an American television specialty channel owned and operated by the National Football League . It was launched November 4, 2003, only eight months after the league's 32 team owners voted unanimously to approve its formation...
coverage of the playoff game between 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...
and 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...
on January 4, 2009, he interviewed Eagles runningback Brian Westbrook
Brian Westbrook
Brian Collins Westbrook is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft after playing college football at Villanova...
. Jansen now does post game shows for the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
on 97.1 The Ticket WXYT-FM on Lions Game day. The Big Ten Network has hired Jon for a variety of roles.