 Grigsby in 2006 | |||||||||
| No. 51, 46 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Linebacker /Fullback | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | (1981-11-15)November 15, 1981 (age 43) Canton, Illinois, U.S. | ||||||||
| Height: | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 237 lb (108 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Canton | ||||||||
| College: | Illinois State | ||||||||
| NFL draft: | 2005: 5th round, 138th pick | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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James Harvey "Boomer" Grigsby (born November 15, 1981) is an American former professionalfootball player who was afullback in theNational Football League (NFL). He playedcollege football for theIllinois State Redbirds, and was selected by theKansas City Chiefs in the fifth round of the2005 NFL draft. Grigsby was also a member of theMiami Dolphins andHouston Texans.
Grigsby attended and playedhigh school football atCanton High School where he was an all-arealinebacker during his senior season.[1] He was not recruited to playcollege football until anIllinois State coach saw him lifting weights in his high school's weight room.[1]
Grigsby was a four-year letterman atIllinois State University. As a sophomore, he set a school record with 179 tackles and also recorded what would remain a career-high four sacks.[1]
The following season, Grigsby tied his own school record with 179 tackles.[1] He came in second behind only futureKansas City Chiefs teammateJared Allen in the voting for theBuck Buchanan Award, given annually to the top defensive player inDivision I-AA.[1]
In 44 games (40 starts), at Illinois State, Grigsby recorded a school record 580 tackles to go along with 41.5 tackles for a loss, 13 sacks, six fumble recoveries, five forced fumbles and seven passes defended.[1] He wasGateway Football Conference Player of the Year, a Division I-AAAll-American and Buchanan award finalist each of his final three seasons.[1]
Grigsby was selected by theKansas City Chiefs in the fifth round (138th overall) of the2005 NFL draft.[2] On July 15, he signed a three-year, $1.067 million contract with the team.[3] It included a signing bonus of $142,000 and base salaries of $230,000 (2005), $310,000 (2006) and $385,000 (2007).[3]
Grigsby played in all 16 regular season games that year in a reserve role and finished third on the team with 19 special teams tackles.[1]
"Boomer Grigsby has as much presence at the position as anybody I've been around at the start of his career."
Appearing in 15 games in 2006, Grigsby again ranked third on the Chiefs in special teams tackles with 18.[1] He missed one game that season with foot injury.[1]
Prior to the 2007 regular season, Grigsby was converted fromlinebacker tofullback.[3] The transition was chronicled on theHBO reality seriesHard Knocks:Training Camp with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Despite the position change and an injury to his ribs during the preseason,[3] Grigsby made the team.[1] He went on to appear in 13 games for the Chiefs that season including one start.[1] His first NFL reception came on a nine-yard pass fromquarterbackBrodie Croyle against theDenver Broncos on December 9, and he finished the season with two receptions for 14 yards.[1] He finished third on the team in special teams tackles (12) for the third straight season.[1]
Arestricted free agent in the 2008 offseason, Grigsby was not tendered a contract by the Chiefs and became anunrestricted free agent.[4]
On March 4, 2008, Grigsby agreed to terms on a one-year contract with theMiami Dolphins.[3] The signing reunited him with current Dolphinsrunning backs coachJames Saxon, who was Grigsby's position coach with the Chiefs in 2007.[1]
Grigsby won the team's starting fullback job in 2008 after incumbentReagan Mauia was released during final cuts. However, after starting the Dolphins' season opener against theNew York Jets on September 7, Grigsby was released by the team two days later in favor of free agentCasey Cramer. He spent the rest of the season out of football.
Grigsby was signed by theHouston Texans on May 12, 2009. He was waived with an injury designation on August 18. After going unclaimed on waivers, he reverted to Texans'injured reserve. He was released with an injury settlement on August 25.