 Gardner with the Miami Dolphins in 2009 | |||||
| No. 62, 63, 66 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Offensive guard | ||||
| Personal information | |||||
| Born: | April 4, 1986 Chamblee, Georgia, U.S. | ||||
| Height: | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | ||||
| Weight: | 304 lb (138 kg) | ||||
| Career information | |||||
| High school: | Sandy Creek (Tyrone, Georgia) | ||||
| College: | Georgia Tech | ||||
| NFL draft: | 2009 / Round: 6 / Pick: 181 | ||||
| Career history | |||||
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||
| |||||
| Player stats at NFL.com | |||||
Andrew James Gardner (born April 4, 1986) is a former American football offensive guard. He was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the sixth round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at Georgia Tech. He has also been a member of the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Houston Texans, Philadelphia Eagles, and San Francisco 49ers.
A native of Tyrone, Georgia, Gardner attended Sandy Creek High School, where he was teammates with Calvin Johnson. Regarded as a two-star recruit by Rivals.com, Gardner was not listed among the top offensive tackle prospects of his class.[1]
Gardner was an outstanding offensive lineman that started 48 consecutive games for the Yellow Jackets as a left tackle, he also helped future NFL running back Tashard Choice lead the ACC in rushing in both 2006 and 2007.[2] His streak of 48 consecutive starts (every game of his career) was the nation's longest streak in consecutive starts until Gardner underwent season-ending surgery to repair his left shoulder during the 2008 season.[3]
Due to his surgery and subsequent inability to perform many of the combine and pro-day workouts, his stock dropped and he fell to the sixth round where he was selected by the Miami Dolphins with the eighth pick (181st overall) in the sixth round of the 2009 NFL Draft.[4]
After being cut by the Dolphins, Gardner was signed to the Baltimore Ravens practice squad.
After being cut by the Ravens, Gardner was signed to the Cincinnati Bengals practice squad. He was waived on August 23, 2011.
Gardner signed with the Houston Texans on August 29, 2011.
Gardner signed with the Philadelphia Eagles on March 31, 2014. On August 28, 2016, Gardner was waived by the Eagles.[5]
On December 21, 2016, Gardner was signed by the 49ers.[6] He was re-signed on August 14, 2017.[7] He was released on September 1, 2017.[8]
Gardner's wife’s name is Jennifer, and his parents are Jim and Christine Gardner.[9]