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Bryan Bulaga

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Bryan Bulaga
refer to caption
Bulaga with the Packers in 2016
No. 75
Position:Offensive tackle
Personal information
Born: (1989-03-21) March 21, 1989 (age 35)
Barrington, Illinois, U.S.
Height:6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight:314 lb (142 kg)
Career information
High school:Marian Central Catholic
(Woodstock, Illinois)
College:Iowa (2007–2009)
NFL draft:2010 / round: 1 / pick: 23
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played:126
Games started:122
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Bryan Joseph Bulaga (/buˈlɑːɡə/ boo-LAH-gə; born March 21, 1989) is an American former professional football player who was an offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes, and was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the first round of the 2010 NFL draft, winning Super Bowl XLV that season. He also played for the Los Angeles Chargers.

Early life

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His parents are of Polish descent. Bulaga has one small Polish word tattooed on each arm (siła "strength", and pycha "pride"). He was raised Catholic.[1] Bulaga grew up in Crystal Lake, Illinois, where he played peewee football for the Crystal Lake Raiders Youth Football program. He attended Marian Central Catholic High School in Woodstock, Illinois, where he played offensive tackle and tight end but also at defensive end occasionally, and even at linebacker for the Marian Central Catholic Canes high school football team. He recorded 261 career tackles with 46 tackles for losses, 31 sacks, and one interception, while as a tight end, he had 35 pass receptions for a total of 665 yards, and scored 10 touchdowns. Bulaga and his teammates at the Marian Central High School, coached by Ed Brucker, were undefeated during their regular season in nine games, and they took second place in the state playoffs, losing in the championship to the Springfield Sacred Heart Griffin High School.

Bulaga was considered a four-star college recruit by the service Rivals.com, and he ranked sixth among the college prospects for offensive tackle.[2] He had numerous offers for to play football on athletic scholarships, including ones from the University of Nebraska, Oklahoma State University, and the University of Wisconsin, with a number of other schools recruiting him as either a defensive lineman or a tight end. Bulaga chose to attend the University of Iowa, whose football coaches promised him that he could play in the offensive line.

College career

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Bulaga played left guard in his true freshman year in 2007, and was a starter by mid-season. He was named to Sporting News' Freshman All-Big Ten team. In 2008, he made the move to left tackle, and he started every game at that position for the Hawkeyes. He earned a second-team All-Big Ten selection by the coaches and a second-team Sophomore All-American selection by College Football News.

In 2009, Bulaga was listed at number three on Rivals.com's preseason offensive tackle power ranking.[3] He was also named to the 2009 Outland Trophy watch list.[4]

After missing three games with a thyroid disease, Bulaga started all of the remaining games for the Hawkeyes, including their 24–14 win over the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the 2010 Orange Bowl. He was named the Big Ten's offensive lineman of the year for 2009.

Professional career

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Pre-draft

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On January 6, 2010, Bulaga released a statement about his intentions to forgo his final season of college and enter the 2010 NFL draft.[5]

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press Wonderlic
6 ft 5+3⁄8 in
(1.97 m) 		314 lb
(142 kg) 		33+1⁄4 in
(0.84 m) 		9+1⁄4 in
(0.23 m)		 5.22 s 1.80 s 3.03 s 4.75 s 7.70 s 27+1⁄2 in
(0.70 m)		 8 ft 2 in
(2.49 m)		 26 reps 20[6]
All values from NFL Combine[7][8]
Bulaga in a game against the Washington Redskins in 2018
Bulaga with the Packers in 2015

Green Bay Packers

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Bulaga was selected in the first round (23rd overall) by the Green Bay Packers in the 2010 NFL draft.[9][10] He began the 2010 season as a back-up offensive lineman before getting his first start in the fifth week against the Washington Redskins. He went to start every game for the rest of the season,[11] eventually being named to the NFL All-Rookie team.[12] At 21 years, 322 days, Bulaga became the youngest player to start in a Super Bowl.[13] Bulaga and the Packers defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers by a score of 31–25 in the Super Bowl.[14]

During the 2012 NFL season, Bulaga injured his hip and in November was placed on season-ending injured reserve.[15] The Packers decided to shift him over to the left tackle slot for the 2013 NFL season.[16]

Bulaga suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during training camp workouts on August 4, 2013. He missed the entire 2013 season.[17]

In 2014, Bulaga had one of his finest seasons. Despite suffering an injury in week 1 to the Seattle Seahawks, he started and played in 15 of 16 games. Bulaga was instrumental in the offensive line giving up its fewest sacks (30) since the 2007 season and helped propel Eddie Lacy toward his second consecutive 1,000-yard rushing season.[18]

On March 10, 2015, Bulaga and the Packers agreed to a 5-year deal, worth just under $7 million per year.[19] On November 29, 2015, Bulaga was sidelined with an ankle sprain. He was later declared inactive for Week 13 against the Detroit Lions.[20]

During Monday Night Football against the Lions in Week 9, November 6, 2017, Bulaga was carted off the field with a left knee injury. The next day, it was revealed that his left knee was diagnosed with a torn ACL, putting Bulaga out for the rest of the 2017 season.[21] He was placed on injured reserve on November 18, 2017.[22]

Los Angeles Chargers

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Bulaga with Los Angeles Chargers in 2021

On March 30, 2020, Bulaga signed a three-year, $30 million contract with the Los Angeles Chargers.[23][24] He started 10 games in 2020, missing six games with a back injury.

On September 17, 2021, Bulaga was placed on injured reserve with back and groin injuries.[25]

On March 15, 2022, Bulaga was released by the Chargers.[26]

References

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  1. ^ "Bulaga: Polish, powerful and proud | TheGazette". Archived from the original on April 11, 2013.
  2. ^ "Rivals.com offensive tackles 2007". Rivals.com.
  3. ^ Buchanan, Olin; Dienhart, Tom; Fox, David; Huguenin, Mike; Megargee, Steve (August 22, 2009), "Preseason offensive tackle power rankings", Rivals.com, archived from the original on March 24, 2016, retrieved August 31, 2009
  4. ^ Richardson, Steve (August 11, 2009), 2009 Outland Trophy Watch List Announced, Football Writers Association of America
  5. ^ "Iowa's Bryan Bulaga Will Enter 2010 NFL Draft", HawkeyeSports.com, January 6, 2010
  6. ^ "2010 Green Bay Packers draft picks". JSOnline.com. April 22, 2010. Archived from the original on April 21, 2018. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
  7. ^ Bryan Bulaga Combine Profile, National Football League, archived from the original on March 3, 2016, retrieved February 27, 2010
  8. ^ "Bryan Bulaga, Iowa, OT, 2010 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  9. ^ "2010 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  10. ^ "Bryan Bulaga Draft Profile". National Football League. Retrieved October 31, 2016.
  11. ^ 2010 game logs, National Football League
  12. ^ "Bulaga on all-rookie team", Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, January 18, 2011
  13. ^ "Official Athletics Website of the Iowa Hawkeyes". hawkeyesports.com.
  14. ^ "Super Bowl XLV – Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Green Bay Packers – February 6th, 2011". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 15, 2017.
  15. ^ Gantt, Darin (November 12, 2012). "Packers place Bryan Bulaga on injured reserve". NBC Sports. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  16. ^ Rosenthal, Gregg (May 3, 2013). "Bryan Bulaga moving to left side for Green Bay Packers". NFL.com. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  17. ^ "Report: Packers confirm Bulaga is done for the year". NBC Sports. August 5, 2013. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  18. ^ Hodkiewicz, Weston (March 10, 2015). "Bulaga reportedly signs 5-year, $33.75 million deal". PackersNews.com. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  19. ^ Demovsky, Rob (March 10, 2015). "Bryan Bulaga's return speaks to the importance of continuity". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  20. ^ Pantorno, Joe (November 26, 2015). "Bryan Bulaga Injury: Updates on Packers OT's Ankle and Return". Bleacher Report. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  21. ^ "Injuries: Packers OT Bryan Bulaga suffers torn ACL". National Football League. Retrieved November 7, 2017.
  22. ^ "Packers activate T Jason Spriggs from I.R." Packers.com. November 18, 2017. Archived from the original on May 26, 2018.
  23. ^ Shook, Nick (March 17, 2020). "Bryan Bulaga agrees to three-year deal with Chargers". NFL.com.
  24. ^ "Los Angeles Chargers Announce Free Agency Moves". Chargers.com. March 30, 2020.
  25. ^ "Los Angeles Chargers Sign Michael Schofield III". Chargers.com. September 17, 2021. Archived from the original on September 17, 2021. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
  26. ^ Peterson, Michael (March 15, 2022). "Chargers release OT Bryan Bulaga". Bolts From The Blue. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
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