Charlie Garner


Charlie Garner III is a former American football running back in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round of the 1994 NFL Draft. He played college football at Tennessee.
Garner has also been a member of the San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Raiders, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Early years

Garner grew up in Falls Church, Virginia and attended J.E.B. Stuart High School. His senior year, he was selected first Team All-Metropolitan, first Team All-State, and named Virginia's player of the year after rushing for more than 2,000 yards and 38 touchdowns.
On October 16, 2009, Garner had his JEB Stuart High School number 30 jersey retired during a halftime ceremony.

College career

In 1991, Garner set junior college records for rushing yards in a game and yards in two consecutive games at Scottsdale Community College. Garner then transferred to the University of Tennessee and graduated with a business degree. He is notable for starting ahead of fellow NFL RB James Stewart at Tennessee.
Garner was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round of the 1994 NFL Draft.
He was a multi-talented running back and an excellent receiver. In the 2002-03 season with the Oakland Raiders, he was the team's leading rusher with 962 yards and seven touchdowns, while also leading all NFL running backs in receiving with 91 receptions for 941 yards and another four touchdowns. The 91 receptions for 941 yards were the fifth and fourth most in NFL history by a running back, respectively. He also previously held the record for most rush yards in a game by a 49er later broken by Frank Gore. The crossed forearm symbol he displayed after scoring was a tribute to his neighborhood of Bailey's Crossroads, Virginia.
In August 2005, Garner was released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after suffering a knee injury the previous season. During his career, he rushed 1,537 times for 7,097 yards scoring 39 touchdowns, caught 419 passes for 3,711 yards and 12 touchdowns.
In 2017, post-football, Doctors have told Garner they believe he has Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, which in recent years has become a plague for former NFL players. It can only be diagnosed post-mortem.
"I don't have all my faculties anymore," Garner said. "I can't remember things. When I go to the mall or grocery store, I have to take one of my kids with me to remember where the car is parked. I have trouble remembering conversations I had five minutes ago. Bright lights bother me. I just don't feel right all the time."

NFL statistics

Rushing Stats
YearTeamGamesCarriesYardsYards per CarryLongest CarryTouchdownsFirst DownsFumblesFumbles Lost
1994PHI101093993.72832432
1995PHI151085885.45562510
1996PHI15663465.24611600
1997PHI161165474.72633111
1998PHI10963814.04041811
1999SF162411,2295.15345131
2000SF162581,1424.44275343
2001OAK162118394.03813122
2002OAK161829625.33674700
2003OAK141205534.63332710
2004TB3301113.7250300
Career1471,5377,0974.655393261610

Receiving Stats
YearTeamGamesReceptionsYardsYards per ReceptionLongest ReceptionTouchdownsFirst DownsFumblesFumbles Lost
1994PHI108749.3280300
1995PHI1510616.1290411
1996PHI1514926.6130411
1997PHI16242259.4270900
1998PHI10191105.8210500
1999SF16565359.65322200
2000SF16686479.56232800
2001OAK16725788.02722800
2002OAK169194110.36944400
2003OAK14483868.04611500
2004TB39626.9310100
Career1474193,7118.9691216322