| No. -- free agent | |
| Tight end | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Date of birth: November 22, 1981 | |
| Place of birth: Miami, Florida | |
| Height: 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | Weight: 250 lb (113 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College: Miami (Fla.) | |
| Undrafted in 2006 | |
| Debuted in 2008 for the New Orleans Saints | |
| Career history | |
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| Roster status: Active | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Stats at NFL.com | |
Buck Ortega (born November 22, 1981 in Miami, Florida) is an American football tight end who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Washington Redskins as an undrafted free agent in 2006. He played college football at the University of Miami.
Ortega has also been a member of the Cleveland Browns, New Orleans Saints and Miami Dolphins.
His wife is Emily Ortega. She is the former Miss Arkansas. Buck has a younger brother named Caleb.
Buck played college football at the University of Miami. At UM he played quarterback, tight end and special teams.
Buck played his high school football at Gulliver Prep in Miami, Florida. At Gulliver he played with deceased former NFL Star Sean Taylor. These two future NFL players led Gulliver to the 2000 2A State Football championship.
Following his time at the University of Miami, Buck played for the Washington Redskins, Cleveland Browns, and finally the New Orleans Saints. Buck played tight end and special teams for the New Orleans Saints during their Super Bowl Championship season.
His father, Ralph Ortega, played at the University of Florida, where he is enshrined among the hundred greatest players in that program's history as well as being selected to the hundred greatest player's in Florida High School football history after an impressive career at Coral Gables High School.
Ralph Ortega enjoyed a six-year professional football career in the NFL. He was chosen in the second round (twenty-ninth pick overall) of the 1975 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons. He was a starting linebacker in 1977, and a key component of the renowned "Grits Blitz" Falcons defense, before being relegated to special teams in 1978. He was traded to the Miami Dolphins for a future third-round draft pick in 1979. He finished his NFL career with the Dolphins in 1980.