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Jahri Evans

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Jahri Evans
refer to caption
Evans with the Saints in 2007
New Orleans Saints
Position:Offensive assistant
Personal information
Born: (1983-08-22) August 22, 1983 (age 41)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:318 lb (144 kg)
Career information
High school:Frankford (Philadelphia)
College:Bloomsburg (2002–2005)
NFL draft:2006 / round: 4 / pick: 108
Career history
As a player:
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
As a coach:
As an administrator:
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played:183
Games started:183
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Jahri Divine Evans (born August 22, 1983) is an American football coach and former football guard who played in the National Football League (NFL). He currently serves as an offensive assistant for the New Orleans Saints. He played college football for the Bloomsburg Huskies. Evans was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL draft and won Super Bowl XLIV with the team over the Indianapolis Colts. He has also been a member of the Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers.

Although only a fourth round draft pick from a small school, Evans established a reputation as one of the best guards in the NFL, and in May 2010 the Saints signed him to a contract that made him the highest-paid guard in NFL history at the time.[1][2]

Early life

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Unusual for an NFL player, Evans did not play football until high school. He attended Frankford High School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he was an All-Public League selection as a junior. However, Evans fractured his leg playing a game of pickup basketball at a church event prior to his senior year and missed the entire football season.[3] While sidelined he focused on academics, graduating 10th in his class, and with the help of his high school coach, Tom Mullineaux, was admitted to Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania.[3] In fact, Evans did not attend Bloomsburg on an athletic scholarship, but rather an academic scholarship.[3]

College career

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Evans attended Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, where he played for the Bloomsburg Huskies football team. After redshirting his first year, he spent his freshman season as a reserve offensive lineman. He was heavily motivated to make the starting lineup, battling Kyle Miller for the position who had played with Pennsylvania's Lakeland High School Chiefs. By his sophomore year, he took over as the starter at left tackle and went on to anchor the Huskies offensive line for the following three seasons. He was awarded All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference honors in each of those seasons, while earning Division II "Little All-American" selections in his junior and senior years.[4]

As a junior, Evans had 88 knockdowns with 10 blocks resulting in a touchdown. In his senior season, he opened holes for fellow Little All-America selection Jamar Brittingham, who ran for 2,260 yards and 32 touchdowns. He was a finalist for the Division II Gene Upshaw Offensive Player of the Year Award in each of final two seasons.

Fraternity Membership

In addition to his academic and athletic achievements, Jahri Evans also engaged in Greek life during his time at Bloomsburg University. He pledged the Alpha Eta Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. as an undergraduate. His involvement with the fraternity continued well beyond his college years, as he is not only a life member of Omega Psi Phi but also actively participates in the fraternity's activities through the Eta Mu Nu Chapter. This experience not only enriched his college life but also connected him to a historic and influential network of African American leaders and professionals. Omega Psi Phi, founded in 1911 at Howard University, is known for its emphasis on community service, academic excellence, and the upliftment of African American communities. Evans' lifelong commitment and active participation in the fraternity demonstrate his dedication to the Cardinal Principles of Manhood, Scholarship, Perseverance and Uplift in both his personal and professional life.

Professional career

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Entering the 2006 NFL draft, Evans was seen as a developmental prospect and was projected to move from tackle to guard in the NFL. He was evaluated as an early seventh round pick by Sports Illustrated.[5]

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 4+1⁄2 in
(1.94 m) 		316 lb
(143 kg) 		5.29 s 1.79 s 3.02 s 4.80 s 7.97 s 27.0 in
(0.69 m)		 7 ft 11 in
(2.41 m)		 20 reps
All values from NFL Combine[6]

New Orleans Saints (first stint)

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Evans was selected in the fourth round (108th overall) by the Saints, after they had traded their early fourth-round pick in the draft to the Philadelphia Eagles for veteran defensive tackle Hollis Thomas and the Eagles' mid-fourth-round pick.[7][4][8] Evans was the first Bloomsburg player drafted since Eric Jonassen went 140th overall to the San Diego Chargers in the 1992 NFL draft. Evans was signed to a three-year contract by the Saints on July 25, 2006. He emerged as a consistent performer in training camp and preseason, and won the starting job after the projected starter, Jermane Mayberry, was injured in training camp and ultimately retired.[8] In his rookie year, Evans started all 16 games, and both playoff games, at right guard. He was subsequently named to the Pro Football Weekly All-Rookie team.

In his second year, Evans started all 16 games at right guard again, and contributed to an offense that ranked No. 3 overall in the NFL. Remaining a starter in 2008, Evans was part of an offensive line that allowed just 13 sacks on the season, a Saints franchise record.

Having established himself as one of the NFL's top right guards in 2009, Evans was named to the 2010 Pro Bowl NFC roster, being only the fourth guard to make the Pro Bowl in the Saints' 43-year franchise history. Jake Kupp made the Pro Bowl in 1969, Brad Edelman was honored in 1987, and LeCharles Bentley went in 2003.[9]

Evans was a restricted free agent after the 2009 season, and on May 11, 2010, the Saints resigned Evans to a seven-year, $56.7 million contract that was reported to make Evans the highest-paid interior offensive lineman in NFL history, surpassing Alan Faneca's five-year, $40 million deal with the New York Jets in 2008.[1][2][10] He was ranked 34th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2011.[11]

On February 8, 2016, the Saints released Evans.[12]

Seattle Seahawks

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On August 6, 2016, Evans signed a one-year deal with the Seattle Seahawks.[13] He was released on September 2, at the end of the preseason.[14]

New Orleans Saints (second stint)

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On September 7, 2016, Evans returned to the Saints, signing a one-year deal.[15] Also in 2016, Evans was named to the Saints All-50th Team. In Week 8 of the 2016 season, Evans helped pave the way for running backs Tim Hightower and Mark Ingram II as the pair ran for a combined 245 yards and two touchdowns. Evans also helped the two backs again at home against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 11, rushing for a combined 197 yards and one touchdown. Evans was also important in the success of a 21-yard screen pass from quarterback Drew Brees to Ingram, resulting in a touchdown that same week.

Green Bay Packers

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On April 26, 2017, Evans signed with the Green Bay Packers.[16][17] He started 14 games at right guard for the Packers in 2017.

Coaching career

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Evans served as a preseason coaching intern in 2022 with the New Orleans Saints as part of the NFL's minority coach internship program.[18] He joined the Saints full time staff as an offensive assistant during the 2023 season.[19] He was inducted into the Saints Ring of Honor on July 31, 2024.

Personal life

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Evans graduated from Bloomsburg in May 2007 with a bachelor's degree in exercise science. In 2009, he established a full scholarship for out-of-state minority students enrolled in BU's Master of Science in clinical athletic training program.[20] He is a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity.[21]

In 2013, Evans married his girlfriend, Takia, in the Bahamas.[22]

In August 2015, Evans bought a share of the Philadelphia Soul of the Arena Football League, joining his Saints teammate Marques Colston, who had bought a piece of the team in 2014.[23] He is currently serving as a preseason coaching intern with the New Orleans Saints as part of the NFL's minority coach internship program.[24]

References

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  1. ^ a b Triplett, Mike (May 5, 2010). "New Orleans Saints guard Jahri Evans gets long-term deal, richest for a guard in NFL history". The Times-Picayune.
  2. ^ a b Reuters, "Guard Evans Signs Seven-Year Contract With Saints," The New York Times, May 5, 2010.
  3. ^ a b c Smith, Jimmy (October 13, 2006), "Unconventional starter", The Times-Picayune
  4. ^ a b "Saints trade 4th-round pick, get linemen". ESPN.com. Associated Press. May 1, 2006. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
  5. ^ "Jahri Evans Draft Profile", Sports Illustrated, April 2006, archived from the original on October 25, 2012
  6. ^ "2006 Draft Scout Jahri Evans, Texas AM NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved December 30, 2009.
  7. ^ "2006 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  8. ^ a b McLane, Jeff (January 24, 2010). "Rocky road to the pros". Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on January 28, 2010. Retrieved May 6, 2010.
  9. ^ Derry, Jim (August 4, 2009), "Guard Jahri Evans was a steal for New Orleans Saints in 2006 draft", The Times-Picayune
  10. ^ Mike Triplett, "How New Orleans Saints guard Jahri Evans' new deal compares to previous highs for NFL guards", Times-Picayune, May 5, 2010.
  11. ^ "2011 NFL Top 100". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
  12. ^ Dragon, Tyler (February 8, 2016). "New Orleans Saints release guard Jahri Evans". NFL.com. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
  13. ^ Patra, Kevin (August 6, 2016). "Seahawks sign Jahri Evans to aid retooled offensive line". NFL.com. Retrieved August 6, 2016.
  14. ^ "Seahawks cut Jahri Evans". Profootballtalk.com/NBC Sports. September 2, 2016. Retrieved September 3, 2016.
  15. ^ "Saints agree to deal with former Pro-Bowl guard Jahri Evans", ESPN, September 7, 2016.
  16. ^ "Packers sign G Jahri Evans". Packers.com. April 26, 2017. Archived from the original on April 28, 2017. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
  17. ^ Sessler, Marc (April 26, 2017). "Ex-Saints guard Jahri Evans to sign with Packers". NFL.com. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
  18. ^ "Jahri Evans, Ty Warren to serve as coaching interns for 2022 New Orleans Saints training camp". neworleanssaints.com. July 28, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  19. ^ "Saints legend Jahri Evans to join Dennis Allen's coaching staff". Saints Wire. March 28, 2023. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
  20. ^ "NFL player and BU Alumni Jahri Evans Establishes Annual Scholarship", BloomUToday, Bloomsburg University, July 20, 2009
  21. ^ "Jahri Evans #73 of the New Orleans Saints: Omega Xi Chapter, 2008". Retrieved August 5, 2010.[permanent dead link‍]
  22. ^ "Takia Kearse and Jahri Evans Get Married in Nassau, Bahamas". Archived from the original on December 30, 2014. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  23. ^ "Dick Vermeil, Jahri Evans buy ownership stakes in Soul". Associated Press at Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia. August 20, 2015. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
  24. ^ "Jahri Evans, Ty Warren to serve as coaching interns for 2022 New Orleans Saints training camp". neworleanssaints.com. July 28, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
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