.jpg) Vitale with the Cleveland Browns in 2018 | |||||||||||
| No. 40, 45 | |||||||||||
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| Position: | Fullback | ||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born: | (1993-10-26)October 26, 1993 (age 31) Wheaton, Illinois, U.S. | ||||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight: | 239 lb (108 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school: | Wheaton Warrenville South | ||||||||||
| College: | Northwestern | ||||||||||
| NFL draft: | 2016: 6th round, 197th pick | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
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| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||
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Dan Michael Vitale III (born October 26, 1993) is an American former professionalfootball player who was afullback in theNational Football League (NFL). He playedcollege football for theNorthwestern Wildcats and was selected by theTampa Bay Buccaneers in the sixth round of the2016 NFL draft. He was also a member of theBuffalo Bills,Cleveland Browns,Green Bay Packers, andNew England Patriots.
Vitale was born one of two sons to Lisa and Dan Vitale. His brother Tommy played as alinebacker while atNorthwestern University. Vitale attended high school inWheaton, Illinois, the same as former football playerRed Grange, actorJohn Belushi and astronomerEdwin Hubble.[1]
While attending Wheaton Warrenville South High School, Vitale earned distinctions including places on thehonor roll andNational Honor Society. He playedhigh school football as both awide receiver andrunning back. During the 2011 season, Vitale earned All-Area and All-State awards. He earned aletter in wrestling where he competed at 152 lbs, lettered two years in football and earned letters three years in track.[1]
Vitale played forNorthwestern University, beginning with his freshman season in 2012. He was named to the Academic All-Big Ten Conference three times, during his sophomore, junior and senior seasons. While at Northwestern, Vitale majored ineconomics,[1] with minors in business institutions and integrated marketing communications.[2]
| 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft0+7⁄8 in (1.85 m) | 239 lb (108 kg) | 31+3⁄4 in (0.81 m) | 9+3⁄4 in (0.25 m) | 4.60 s | 1.59 s | 2.69 s | 4.12 s | 7.12 s | 38.5 in (0.98 m) | 10 ft 3 in (3.12 m) | 30 reps | |
| All values fromNFL Combine[3][4] | ||||||||||||
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Vitale was selected by the Buccaneers in the sixth round of the2016 NFL draft with the 197th overall pick.[5] He was released by the Buccaneers as part of final roster cuts on September 3, 2016.[6]
Vitale was claimed off waivers by theBuffalo Bills the next day,[7] but failed hisphysical examination, voiding the contract.[8]
On September 10, 2016, he re-joined the Buccaneers as a member of theirpractice squad.[9]
Vitale was signed off the Buccaneers' practice squad by the Cleveland Browns on October 14, 2016.[10]
On September 1, 2018, Vitale suffered a calf injury and was placed oninjured reserve.[11] He was released on October 12, 2018.
Vitale was signed to theGreen Bay Packers practice squad on October 22, 2018.[12] He was promoted to the active roster on December 1, 2018.[13] He appeared in five games in the 2018 season.[14]
In the 2019 season, Vitale saw some increased usage in the receiving game with sevenreceptions for 97 yards. He started in four of the 15 games he appeared in.[15]
On March 21, 2020, Vitale signed a one-year contract with theNew England Patriots.[16] On July 28, 2020, Vitale announced he was opting out of the 2020 season due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[17] He was released after the season on May 27, 2021.[18]
On June 6, 2021, Vitale announced his retirement from professional football.[19]
| Year | Team | Games | Rushing | Receiving | Fumbles | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2016 | CLE | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 27 | 6.8 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | CLE | 15 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 19 | 6.3 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | GB | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | GB | 15 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 3.0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 97 | 13.9 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | NE | Did not play due to COVID-19 opt-out | |||||||||||||
| Total | 44 | 13 | 1 | 3 | 3.0 | 3 | 0 | 15 | 145 | 9.7 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Source:NFL.com | |||||||||||||||
Beginning in November 2021, Vitale founded the health and fitness company VITALETY, LLC. In January 2022, Vitale became Financial Advisor and Financial Planning Specialist for the financial services companyMorgan Stanley inNew York, New York.[2]
