Kris Wilson (American football)
Encyclopedia
Kristopher "Kris" Wilson (born August 22, 1981 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
) is an American football
tight end
for the Baltimore Ravens
of the National Football League
. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs
in the second round of the 2004 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Pittsburgh
. Wilson has also been a member of the Philadelphia Eagles
and San Diego Chargers
.
and wide receiver
.
He received a full scholarship to the University of Pittsburgh
, graduating with a Bachelor's degree in Economics. He was one of three finalists for the John Mackey Award
in 2003.
Wilson has an organization called the Kris Wilson Foundation, which promotes literacy and education for inner-city young people. Wilson's mother, Deborah, who is a licensed Social Worker with a Master's degree from Temple University
, is the Foundation's Chairwoman and President.
of the National Football League
. During four years as a backup fullback
and tight end
with the team, Wilson caught 42 passes for 345 yards and four touchdowns. He also rushed four times for 13 yards.
After a short stint with the Philadelphia Eagles
in the 2008 offseason, Wilson signed a two-year contract with the San Diego Chargers
. Once again a backup (TE), Wilson caught four passes for 28 yards and a touchdown in 2009 after failing to play in 2008. Wilson signed another two-year contract with the San Diego Chargers in March, 2010. He had 113 yards in 2010 but was cut on July 28, 2011.
Wilson signed with the Baltimore Ravens
to compete for the #3 TE spot with Davon Drew
after star Todd Heap
was released.
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 49,528, making it the ninth largest city in Pennsylvania...
) is an American football
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...
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...
for the Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
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 Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
in the second round of the 2004 NFL Draft
2004 NFL Draft
The 2004 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 24-25, 2004 at the theater at Madison Square Garden...
. 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 Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Panthers football
Pittsburgh Panthers football is the intercollegiate football team of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Traditionally the most popular sport at the university, Pitt football has played at the highest level of American college football...
. Wilson has also been a member of 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...
and San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Early years
Wilson lived in Harrisburg until the age of nine, attending the African School and Steele Elementary School there. The family then moved to Lancaster, where Kris attended Wharton Elementary School, Reynolds Junior High School and J. P. McCaskey High School. As a senior, he won first team All-Lancaster-Lebanon Section One honors at both linebackerLinebacker
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 wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
.
He received a full scholarship to the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
, graduating with a Bachelor's degree in Economics. He was one of three finalists for the John Mackey Award
John Mackey Award
The John Mackey Award is presented annually to college football's most outstanding tight end.The award is given to the collegiate tight end who best exemplifies the play, sportsmanship, academics, and community values of NFL Hall of Fame tight end John Mackey....
in 2003.
Wilson has an organization called the Kris Wilson Foundation, which promotes literacy and education for inner-city young people. Wilson's mother, Deborah, who is a licensed Social Worker with a Master's degree from Temple University
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
, is the Foundation's Chairwoman and President.
NFL Career
Kris Wilson was drafted in the Second Round (61st Overall) by the Kansas City ChiefsKansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
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...
. During four years as a backup 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...
and 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...
with the team, Wilson caught 42 passes for 345 yards and four touchdowns. He also rushed four times for 13 yards.
After a short stint with 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...
in the 2008 offseason, Wilson signed a two-year contract with the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Once again a backup (TE), Wilson caught four passes for 28 yards and a touchdown in 2009 after failing to play in 2008. Wilson signed another two-year contract with the San Diego Chargers in March, 2010. He had 113 yards in 2010 but was cut on July 28, 2011.
Wilson signed with the Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
to compete for the #3 TE spot with Davon Drew
Davon Drew
Davon Anthony Drew is an American football tight end for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Ravens in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL Draft...
after star Todd Heap
Todd Heap
Todd Benjamin Heap is an American football tight end for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played college football at Arizona State-Early years:At Mountain View High School, in Mesa, Arizona,...
was released.