 Tait at the Bears 2008 training camp | |||||||||
| No. 76 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Offensive tackle | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born | (1975-01-26)January 26, 1975 (age 50) Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. | ||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | ||||||||
| Weight | 312 lb (142 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school | McClintock (Tempe, Arizona) | ||||||||
| College | BYU | ||||||||
| NFL draft | 1999: 1st round, 14th overall pick | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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John Bernard Tait (born January 26, 1975) is an American former professionalfootballoffensive tackle, who played for both theKansas City Chiefs and theChicago Bears of theNational Football League (NFL). He was selected with the 14th overall pick in the1999 NFL draft by theKansas City Chiefs out ofBrigham Young University (BYU) and played for the Chiefs for five years. He also played for theChicago Bears.
He is a 1993 graduate ofMcClintock High School inTempe, Arizona.
At Brigham Young University, Taitstarted 38 games during his three-yearcollege career. Tait was anAll-America pick his final season and earned first-team All-WAC honors as a sophomore and a junior. Eligible for a fifth year of college action afterredshirting as atrue freshman in 1993, Tait declared for the draft. He served as thecaptain for the BYUoffense and started all 13 games atleft tackle as a junior. He was a first-team All-WAC choice, earned first-team All-America honors fromFootball News (1998), was named National Offensive Lineman-of-the-Year byThe Sports Network and received a freshman All-America nod fromThe Sporting News.
Regarded as the No. 1 offensive tackle available in the1999 NFL draft, Tait was selected 14th overall by the Chiefs.[1][2]Sports Illustrated described him as "a pure left tackle" with "no real physical weaknesses".[3]
As arookie in Kansas City, Tait held out during the negotiation of his first contract. There was a meeting between Tait, his two agents and Chiefsgeneral managerCarl Peterson, wherein Tait and his agents left. Shortly afterward Tait signed an offer sheet for five years.
In a 2002 game against the Cleveland Browns Tait was involved in an unusual play that helped his team win the game 40 to 39. With only a few seconds remaining and trailing by 2 points, QuarterbackTrent Green was attempting to throw aHail Mary pass but was flushed out of the passing pocket, with the game on the line and opposition players having grabbed him Green desperately lobbed the ball backwards where Tait happened to be standing. Tait caught the ball and proceeded to make a 36-yard rush upfield before being forced out of bounds. Ordinarily this would have been the end of the game butDwayne Rudd had thrown his helmet off in a premature celebration, a defensive penalty that extended the game by oneuntimed down. Tait's run combined with the penalty yardage enabledMorten Andersen to attempt and make a 30-yard field goal for the win.[4]
At the end of Tait's contract with the Chiefs the team put atransition tag on him. This gave the Chiefs a right of first refusal over an offer from other team but ultimately ended with Tait leaving the team.
Tait signed with theChicago Bears in 2004. His contract was for six years and $34 million. On February 21, 2009, Tait announced his retirement.[5]