 Paxton with the Denver Broncos in 2009 | |||||||||
| No. 66 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Long snapper | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born | (1978-03-13)March 13, 1978 (age 47) Orange, California, U.S. | ||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||
| Weight | 270 lb (122 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school | Centennial (Corona, California) | ||||||||
| College | Sacramento State (1996–1999) | ||||||||
| NFL draft | 2000: undrafted | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Leonidas E. "Lonie" Paxton III (born March 13, 1978) is an American former professionalfootballlong snapper who played in theNational Football League (NFL). He playedcollege football for theSacramento State Hornets and was signed by theNew England Patriots as anundrafted free agent after the2000 NFL draft. Paxton also played in the NFL for theDenver Broncos.
When Paxton was a child growing up in southernCalifornia, he and his father would attendLos Angeles Rams games, where his father, a retired construction worker and football fan, had season tickets in seats right next to where the long snappers would practice during the game. AtCentennial High School inCorona, California, Paxton was a three-year starter as a two-way lineman and long snapper. As a senior, he was selected as the team's Lineman of the Year.
At Sacramento State, Paxton was a four-year starter as a long snapper and an offensive lineman. As a junior, he was part of an offensive line that blocked for the NCAA Division I-AA rushing leader. As a senior, he helped his team lead theBig Sky Conference in rushing yards per game with 234.2 rushing yards per game. He majored in communications at Sacramento State. He earned Rookie of the Year honors as a freshman, junior of the year and co-lineman of the year as a senior.
Paxton snapped on nine ofAdam Vinatieri's game-winning field goals over four seasons, including his game-winning 48-yarder at the end ofSuper Bowl XXXVI. He famously made a snow angel in the end zone after Vinatieri kicked a 23-yard field goal in overtime to give the Patriots a16-13 victory over theOakland Raiders which put them in the 2001 AFC championship game. He repeated his victory snow angel on theLouisiana Superdome turf after Vinatieri's kick beat theSt. Louis Rams inSuper Bowl XXXVI.
In 2003, Paxton established the Active Force Foundation, a non-profit organization that designs and donates special sports equipment to physically challenged athletes.
On February 27, 2009, Paxton signed a five-year, $5.3 million contract with the Denver Broncos. The deal included a $1 million signing bonus. This made Paxton the second-highest paid long snapper in the NFL, slightly behindRyan Pontbriand of theCleveland Browns.He was released by Denver on February 15, 2013.
On August 1, 2017, Paxton signed a one-day contract with the Patriots to officially retire in New England.
Paxton is the oldest of 6 siblings with 2 brothers and 3 foster brothers and sisters. He has worked with theShriners Hospitals for Children inSacramento, California. He is halfGreek on his father's side;[1] his father's lineage is fromSparta, Greece.[2]
He married Meghan Vasconcellos, a formerNew England Patriots Cheerleader, on February 26, 2011.[3][4]