Richard Owens

Richard Owens

No. 89, 49, 45
Position:	Tight end
Personal information
Date of birth:	(1980-11-04) November 4, 1980
Place of birth:	Middleburg, Florida
Height:	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:	273 lb (124 kg)
Career information
College:	Louisville
Undrafted:	2004
Career history
Minnesota Vikings (2004–2006) St. Louis Rams (2007) New York Jets (2009)* *Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career NFL statistics
Receptions:	17
Receiving Yards:	141
Rushing TDs:	1
Stats at NFL.com

Richard Owens (born November 4, 1980) is a former American football tight end. The Minnesota Vikings acquired him as an undrafted free agent in 2004. He played college football at Louisville.

Owens was also a member of the St. Louis Rams and New York Jets.

Early years

As a defensive lineman at Middleburg High School, he was a First-team All-Area tight end and 2nd-team All-Area. Owens caught 19 passes for 242 yards and recorded 46 tackles and 4 sacks as a senior, as well as averaging 14 yards per catch, had 51 tackles, 3 sacks, and 4 blocked kicks as a junior. He was selected to athletic director's honor roll in his final 2 years. In 2006, Owens high school number was retired before a Middleburg High School football game.

College career

While majoring in sports administration at the University of Louisville, Owens played under former Vikings Offensive Coordinator Scott Linehan. In 1999, he was redshirted as a freshman. The following year, he played in all 12 games with 3 starts. He was selected to Conference USA All-Freshman Team. Although he had just one catch, it went for a 10-yard TD in a shutout win over Grambling He also served as the team's backup longsnapper. In 2001, he played in thirteen games, and had three catches on the season, two of which went for TDs, including a 9-yard TD pass against Southern Miss and a 22-yarder against TCU. In 2002, He appeared in all thirteen games with starts in six of the last seven games. He was ranked 6th on the team with a career-high 20 catches for 182 yards and two TDs. He caught a career-high six balls for 72 yards and a score against TCU in his first start of the season, and had five catches for 39 yards against Marshall University in the GMAC Bowl. In his senior year, he played in all thirteen games with four starts and finished 7th on the team with twelve catches for 121 yards and three TDs. Against Temple, he caught two passes for twelve yards and a TD. He also had two receptions for 23 yards and a TD at South Florida as well as grabbing two catches for 22 yards vs. Tulane. He also recorded a 7-yard TD reception at Cincinnati. Owens finished his career with 36 catches for 371 yards and eight touchdowns, while also serving as the Cardinals' longsnapper.

(* represents NFL Combine; **represents Louisville Pro Day)

Professional career

Minnesota Vikings

In his three-year career, he has accumulated 16 catches for 123 yards and one touchdown. In 2004, Owens started two of the eight games he played in. He caught eight passes for 69 yards and made 3 special teams tackles. He joined defensive tackle Spencer Johnson and long snapper Cullen Loeffler as the only rookie free agents to make the opening-day roster in 2004 and was one of eight Vikings rookies to start a 2004 regular-season game. He joined LS Cullen Loeffler as game vs. Chicago, opening at halfback and catching two passes for 16 yards. At Houston, he started his second consecutive game, catching three passes for 17 yards in the 36–28 overtime win. In week two of the 2006 season, Owens caught a 16-yard touchdown pass, his first career touchdown, on a fake field goal attempt, thrown by Vikings kicker Ryan Longwell. On his way to the endzone, Owens dodged an attempted tackle by Carolina Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers. The Vikings won the game 16–13 in overtime.

New York Jets

Owens signed with the New York Jets on July 14, 2009. He was waived on August 3, 2009.

Coaching career

Following his playing career in the NFL, Owens joined Bobby Petrino's staff at the University of Arkansas prior to the 2010 season.^[1] Owens had previously played for Petrino while at Louisville. He spent two years as a graduate student working with the tight ends before being hired by Garrick McGee to serve as tight ends coach at UAB. After one season, Owens was promoted to offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach.^[2]

Personal

He is married to his high school girlfriend, Tina. Owens volunteered with the Salvation Army during 2004 season and has earned numerous state and national awards for his work with Toys for Tots, Habitat for Humanity, and FHA/HERO.

References