Richard Rodgers

Richard Christopher Rodgers II (born January 22, 1992) is an American football tight end for the Washington Football Team of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at California, and was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the third round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He has also played for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Rodgers was born in California, growing up there and Oregon and New Mexico before moving to Worcester, Massachusetts in 2004. He attended St. John's High School in Shrewsbury. At St. John's he was a four-time letterman in basketball and three-time letterman in football for the Pioneers. While on the basketball team, he led the Pioneers to the state championship game all four years, including a win in 2009. As a senior, he averaged 17.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, 4.5 blocks, 4.1 steals and 3.4 assists playing basketball. Rodgers was named to the starting five on ESPNBoston's MIAA All-State Boys Basketball Team along with other talented players from Massachusetts such as seniors Pat Connaughton and Jake Layman as well. He is one of 14 athletes in Saint John's history to be a member of the 1000 Point Scorers List, with 1423 points. In football, he helped lead the Pioneers to central Massachusetts super bowl championship wins his last two years. Former Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Rob Blanchflower was also a teammate of Rodgers in football and basketball at St. John's.

Prior to the start of his senior year, Rodgers committed to attend the University of California, Berkeley, where his father Richard Rodgers Sr.,who also played football, handled two of the five laterals in "The Play".

Rodgers is cousins with Jairus Byrd.

Rodgers played in 35 of 37 possible games (starting 11) for the California Golden Bears during three seasons from 2011-13. He had 20 catches for 288 yards as a 2012 sophomore. He had his best season in 2013 as a junior, when he totaled career highs of 39 receptions and 608 yards receiving to rank third on the team in both categories. He finished his career at Cal with 59 receptions for 896 yards receiving (15.2 yards per catch) and two touchdown catches.

College statistics

Green Bay Packers

Rodgers was selected in the third round (98th overall) by the Green Bay Packers in the 2014 NFL Draft. On June 12, 2014, he signed a contract with the Packers. He made his NFL debut on September 4, 2014. He did not record a catch. In Week 4, he recorded his first two catches for 52 yards against the Chicago Bears. Rodgers' first NFL touchdown came in the second quarter of the Packers' November 23, 2014 matchup versus the Minnesota Vikings at TCF Bank Stadium. After rolling out far to his right, quarterback Aaron Rodgers completed a 1-yard touchdown pass across the width of the field to Richard Rodgers, who had completely avoided defensive coverage and was left standing alone in the corner of the endzone.

On December 3, 2015, in a Week 13 matchup against the Detroit Lions, Richard Rodgers caught a Hail Mary pass from Aaron Rodgers for 61 yards with 0:00 left to beat the Lions 27–23, after the game was extended due to a face mask penalty called on Detroit. The Hail Mary was quickly dubbed as "The Miracle in Motown." After the game Richard Rodgers admitted thinking about "The Play" his father was part of stating "It's a really special moment for him and I was kind of thinking on the play before, when Aaron got the facemask, I was kind of thinking we would do something like that. Obviously it turned out differently."

Philadelphia Eagles

On April 4, 2018, the Philadelphia Eagles signed Rodgers to a one-year, $880,000 contract that included $200,000 guaranteed. He was placed on injured reserve on September 4, 2018 with a knee injury. He was activated off injured reserve on November 16, 2018. His only statistics were during a week 16 match against the Houston Texans.Where he recorded one catch for 7 yards.

On March 28, 2019, Rodgers re-signed with the Eagles on a two-year contract. He was placed on injured reserve with a foot injury on August 30, 2019. He was released from injured reserve with an injury settlement on September 11. He was re-signed on December 24, 2019.

Washington Football Team

Rodgers signed with the Washington Football Team on April 6, 2020.

NFL statistics

Regular season

Postseason