Michael Pittman
Encyclopedia
Michael Pittman is an American football
running back
who is currently a free agent
. He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals
in the fourth round of the 1998 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Fresno State
.
Pittman has also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
, Denver Broncos
, and Florida Tuskers. He earned a Super Bowl ring
with the Buccaneers in Super Bowl XXXVII
.
San Diego, California
, and graduated in 1993. He was a first team All-Eastern League honoree. He played with older brother Wayne Pittman.
University. He rushed for 3,017 yards during his career at Fresno State. A two time All-WAC
First-team selection, Pittman is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha
fraternity.
(95th overall) by the Arizona Cardinals
.
On January 26, 2003, Pittman played in Super Bowl XXXVII
and rushed for 124 yards on 29 carries in Tampa Bay's 48-21 victory of the Oakland Raiders
.
On November 7, 2004, Pittman scored on a 78-yard touchdown
run against the Kansas City Chiefs
, the longest run in Tampa Bay Buccaneers history.
On March 22, 2005, Pittman launched his official website, Pittman32.com. On September 11, 2005, the website was praised by Greg Auman of the St. Petersburg Times
as "the team's best player site".
On January 7, 2006 during a Wild Card playoff game between the Buccaneers and Washington Redskins
, Pittman was involved in an altercation with Redskins' safety Sean Taylor, who allegedly spat on him following a play. Pittman responded with a blow to Taylor's helmet. Taylor was ejected from the game that the Redskins won 17-10.
Pittman became a free agent
following the 2007 season.
and moved to the fullback position. Cornerback Dré Bly was already wearing No. 32, so Pittman was assigned No. 28 as his jersey number. His official website was renamed Pittman28.com to reflect the change.
Pittman was placed on season-ending injured reserve
with a neck injury. In eight games (three starts) during the 2008 season, Pittman rushed 76 times for 320 yards and four touchdowns.
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...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
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....
. He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the fourth round of the 1998 NFL Draft
1998 NFL Draft
The 1998 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 18-19, 1998...
. 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 Fresno State
Fresno State Bulldogs football
The Fresno State Bulldogs football team represents California State University, Fresno in NCAA Division I FBS college football. The green “V” on the Bulldogs' helmets, uniforms, field symbolize California Central Valley, specifically the San Joaquin Valley, the agricultural valley from which they...
.
Pittman has also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
, 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...
, and Florida Tuskers. He earned a Super Bowl ring
Super Bowl ring
The Super Bowl ring is an award in the National Football League given to the winners of the league's annual championship game, the Super Bowl...
with the Buccaneers in Super Bowl XXXVII
Super Bowl XXXVII
Super Bowl XXXVII was an American football game played on January 26, 2003 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 2002 regular season...
.
Early years
Pittman attended Mira Mesa Senior High SchoolMira Mesa Senior High School
Mira Mesa Senior High School is a public high school in the San Diego City Schools District. The school is recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School and a California Distinguished School.-The Witch Creek Fire:...
San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
, and graduated in 1993. He was a first team All-Eastern League honoree. He played with older brother Wayne Pittman.
College career
Pittman is an alumnus of Fresno StateCalifornia State University, Fresno
California State University, Fresno, often referred to as Fresno State University and synonymously known in athletics as Fresno State , is one of the leading campuses of the California State University system, located at the northeast edge of Fresno, California, USA.The campus sits at the foot of...
University. He rushed for 3,017 yards during his career at Fresno State. A two time All-WAC
Western Athletic Conference
The Western Athletic Conference is an American collegiate athletic conference, which was formed on July 27, 1962, making it the sixth oldest of the 11 college athletic conferences currently participating in the NCAA's Division I FBS...
First-team selection, Pittman is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha is the first Inter-Collegiate Black Greek Letter fraternity. It was founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Its founders are known as the "Seven Jewels". Alpha Phi Alpha developed a model that was used by the many Black Greek Letter Organizations ...
fraternity.
Arizona Cardinals
Pittman was selected in the 4th round of the 1998 NFL Draft1998 NFL Draft
The 1998 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 18-19, 1998...
(95th overall) by the Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
His career high for rushing yards in a season was 926 in 2004 and his career high for receiving yards was 597 in 2002. The highest combination in one year was 2003 when he had a total of 1,348 yards (751 rushing and 597 receiving).On January 26, 2003, Pittman played in Super Bowl XXXVII
Super Bowl XXXVII
Super Bowl XXXVII was an American football game played on January 26, 2003 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 2002 regular season...
and rushed for 124 yards on 29 carries in Tampa Bay's 48-21 victory of the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
On November 7, 2004, Pittman scored on a 78-yard 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:...
run against 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...
, the longest run in Tampa Bay Buccaneers history.
On March 22, 2005, Pittman launched his official website, Pittman32.com. On September 11, 2005, the website was praised by Greg Auman of the St. Petersburg Times
St. Petersburg Times
The St. Petersburg Times is a United States newspaper. It is one of two major publications serving the Tampa Bay Area, the other being The Tampa Tribune, which the Times tops in both circulation and readership. Based in St...
as "the team's best player site".
On January 7, 2006 during a Wild Card playoff game between the Buccaneers 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,...
, Pittman was involved in an altercation with Redskins' safety Sean Taylor, who allegedly spat on him following a play. Pittman responded with a blow to Taylor's helmet. Taylor was ejected from the game that the Redskins won 17-10.
Pittman became 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....
following the 2007 season.
Denver Broncos
On May 27, 2008, Pittman was signed by the Denver BroncosDenver 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...
and moved to the fullback position. Cornerback Dré Bly was already wearing No. 32, so Pittman was assigned No. 28 as his jersey number. His official website was renamed Pittman28.com to reflect the change.
Pittman was placed on season-ending 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...
with a neck injury. In eight games (three starts) during the 2008 season, Pittman rushed 76 times for 320 yards and four touchdowns.