Tanner Purdum

Tanner Purdum
No. 46
Position:Long snapper
Personal information
Born: (1984-08-15) August 15, 1984 (age 40)
Enid, Oklahoma, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:270 lb (122 kg)
Career information
High school:Ava (MO)
College:Baker
Undrafted:2008
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career NFL statistics
Games played:112
Total tackles:10
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Tanner Gregory Purdum[1] (born August 15, 1984) is a former American football long snapper who played seven seasons with the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). Purdum comes from Ava, Missouri.[2] He was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He played college football at Baker.

Professional career

Kansas City Chiefs

On April 7, 2009, the Kansas City Chiefs signed Purdum with the intention of having him compete for the starting job of long snapper.[3][4] On August 13, 2009, the Chiefs waived Purdum in favor of Thomas Gafford.[5][6]

New York Jets

On February 5, 2010, the New York Jets signed Purdum to a three-year contract after incumbent long snapper James Dearth, who was an unrestricted free agent at the time, had a few snaps that were "off the mark" in the 2009 season.[7][8] Purdum was recommended to the team by former Chiefs and Jets punter Louie Aguiar.[8]

On March 10, 2017, Purdum signed a one-year contract extension with the Jets.[9]

On September 2, 2017, Purdum was released by the Jets after the team traded for rookie long snapper Thomas Hennessy. At the time, Purdum was the longest-tenured player on the team, and the last remaining player on the roster who had appeared in a playoff game for the Jets.[10]

On March 28, 2018, Purdum announced his retirement from the NFL.[11]

Personal life

Purdum is married to his wife, Kara.[1] He received his master's degree in education from Baker in 2009. Purdum graduated from Ava High School in Ava, Missouri in 2003.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Tanner Purdum", New York Jets, archived from the original on July 1, 2011, retrieved October 27, 2010
  2. ^ www.rostermon.com : Taqnner Purdum Retrieved 2017-07-04.
  3. ^ "Chiefs Sign WR Rodney Wright, LS Tanner Purdum", Kansas City Chiefs, April 7, 2009, archived from the original on October 3, 2009, retrieved October 27, 2010
  4. ^ J-W Staff (April 4, 2009), "Former Baker player joins K.C. Chiefs", LJWorld.com, Lawrence Journal-World & 6News, archived from the original on May 3, 2009, retrieved October 27, 2010
  5. ^ "Access Training Camp: Blog - Ready for Arrowhead", Kansas City Chiefs, August 13, 2009, archived from the original on June 11, 2011, retrieved October 27, 2010
  6. ^ "Kansas City Signs Free Agent LS Thomas Gafford", Kansas City Chiefs, August 13, 2009, archived from the original on June 11, 2011, retrieved October 27, 2010
  7. ^ Cimini, Rich (February 5, 2010), "The end of the Dearth era?", New York Daily News, archived from the original on February 9, 2010, retrieved October 27, 2010
  8. ^ a b Davis, Kyle (February 5, 2010), "Former Wildcat signs with New York Jets", The Baker Orange, archived from the original on July 16, 2011, retrieved October 27, 2010
  9. ^ Allen, Eric (March 10, 2017). "LS Tanner Purdum Re-Signs with Jets". NewYorkJets.com.
  10. ^ Allen, Eric (September 2, 2017). "Jets Release LS Tanner Purdum". NewYorkJets.com.
  11. ^ "Former Jets LS Tanner Purdum announces retirement". USAToday.com. March 28, 2018.