Joe Gaziano
No. 99 – Atlanta Falcons
Position:Defensive end
Personal information
Born: (1996-09-27) September 27, 1996 (age 27)
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:280 lb (127 kg)
Career information
High school:Xaverian Brothers
(Westwood, Massachusetts)
College:Northwestern
Undrafted:2020
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2023
Total tackles:24
Sacks:1.0
Pass deflections:1
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Joseph Matthew Gaziano (born September 27, 1996) is an American football defensive end for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Northwestern.

Early life and high school

Gaziano grew up in Scituate, Massachusetts and attended Xaverian Brothers High School, where he played football and lacrosse.[1] He was named the Massachusetts Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior after recording 21 tackles for loss and 16 sacks.[2]

College career

Gaziano was a member of the Northwestern Wildcats for five seasons, redshirting his true freshman year.[3] He finished his collegiate career with school records of 30 sacks and 10 forced fumbles and second all-time with 48.5 tackles for loss with 153 total tackles, four fumbles recovered, 15 passes defended and a blocked kick in 52 games played.[4]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
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 ft 4+1⁄4 in
(1.94 m) 		282 lb
(128 kg) 		32+5⁄8 in
(0.83 m) 		9+1⁄2 in
(0.24 m)		 5.10 s 1.68 s 2.85 s 4.61 s 7.50 s 32.5 in
(0.83 m)		 9 ft 3 in
(2.82 m)		 25 reps
All values from Pro Day[5]

Los Angeles Chargers

Gaziano was signed by the Los Angeles Chargers as an undrafted free agent on April 25, 2020.[6] He was waived at the end of training camp during final roster cuts on September 5, 2020,[7] and signed to the practice squad on September 10, 2020.[8] He was elevated to the active roster on October 12 and December 26 for the team's weeks 5 and 16 games against the New Orleans Saints and Denver Broncos, and reverted to the practice squad after each game.[9][10] On January 1, 2021, Gaziano was signed to the active roster.[11]

On August 31, 2021, Gaziano was waived by the Chargers and re-signed to the practice squad the next day.[12][13] He was activated for the Chargers' week 2 game against the Cowboys. He was signed to the active roster on October 1.[14]

On August 30, 2022, Gaziano was waived by the Chargers and signed to the practice squad the next day.[15][16] He was promoted to the active roster on November 19.[17] He was placed on injured reserve on December 21.[18]

Atlanta Falcons

On March 27, 2023, Gaziano signed a one-year contract with the Atlanta Falcons.[19]

References

  1. ^ Barboza, Scott (November 26, 2014). "Xaverian captain savors the moment". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  2. ^ "HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Xaverian's Joe Gaziano named Gatorade Player of the Year". Boston Herald. December 4, 2014. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  3. ^ Mandel, Stewart (December 28, 2017). "Music City Bowl: Northwestern's Joe Gaziano is adding new fame to family name". The Athletic. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  4. ^ Brockway, Ella (April 27, 2020). "NU's Joe Gaziano signs with L.A. Chargers as undrafted free agent". The Daily Northwestern. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  5. ^ "Joe Gaziano, Northwestern, DE, 2020 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  6. ^ Dudek, Greg (April 25, 2020). "Joe Gaziano heads West, signs free agent contract with Chargers". Boston Herald. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  7. ^ "We've Trimmed Our Roster to 53". Chargers.com. September 5, 2020. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  8. ^ Peterson, Michael (September 10, 2020). "Chargers sign DE Joe Gaziano to practice squad". BoltsFromTheBlue.com. SB Nation. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  9. ^ "Chargers Activate DE Joe Gaziano and RB Troymaine Pope". Chargers.com. October 12, 2020. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  10. ^ "Los Angeles Chargers Sign Jessie Lemonier to Active Roster; Place Uchenna Nwosu on Injured Reserve". Chargers.com. December 26, 2020. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  11. ^ "Los Angeles Chargers Make Roster Moves Prior to Sunday's Game". Chargers.com. January 1, 2021. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
  12. ^ "Chargers Reduce Roster to 53". Chargers.com. August 31, 2021. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  13. ^ "Chargers Announce Practice Squad and Claim Two Players Off Waivers". Chargers.com. September 1, 2021. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  14. ^ "Los Angeles Chargers Sign Joe Gaziano to Active Roster". Chargers.com. October 1, 2021. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  15. ^ "Los Angeles Chargers Reduce Roster to 53 Players". Chargers.com. August 30, 2022. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  16. ^ Cothrel, Nicholas (August 31, 2022). "Chargers Sign 14 Players to Practice Squad". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  17. ^ "Chargers Announce Roster Moves Before Week 11 Contest". Chargers.com. November 19, 2022. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  18. ^ Cothrel, Nicholas (December 22, 2022). "Chargers Place DL Joe Gaziano on Injured Reserve, Make Three Other Roster Moves". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  19. ^ McElhaney, Tori (March 27, 2023). "Falcons sign defensive end Joe Gaziano to one-year deal". AtlantaFalcons.com. Retrieved August 28, 2023.

External links

Atlanta Falcons roster
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