Pittsburgh Steelers Bring In Kicker Garrett Hartley
By Harv Aronson
No Pittsburgh Steelers fan wanted to see Shaun Suisham suffer a knee injury that ended his season last Sunday night. But, that’s a simple fact in professional football that your season can end on any given moment. Even if you are assigned to just kicking a ball.
More from Pittsburgh Steelers
- Pittsburgh Steelers: A Look Back at 2019
- Steelers: Need for QB of the Future is More Apparent than Ever
- Steelers: Defense Needs to Take Advantage of Inconsistent Bills Passing Attack
- Steelers: Devlin Hodges Has Chance to Make Lasting Impression in Week 14
- Steelers: James Washington’s Emergence Could Make Offense Dangerous
Such is the case for Suishi so on Tuesday an open tryout was held by Mike Tomlin to find the replacement. The one day competition came down to Garrett Hartley, Jay Feely and Alex Henery.
In the end, the choice was Hartley who once kicked for the New Orleans Saints where he was a hero for nailing a field goal that placed them in the Super Bowl. By beating the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl 44, the Saints won their first-ever National Football League title. In that game, Hartley kicked three successful field goals, all for over 44 yards as well as nailing one extra point.
So in comes the veteran Hartley who will get his first opportunity to kick in a live game this Friday in Jacksonville. Hartley is originally from Keller, Texas, attended the University of Oklahoma, and is 5’8, and 204 pounds. In 2009, the season New Orleans won it all with Hartley kicking, he was suspended the first four games of that campaign after testing positive for a banned substance.
He would end up playing in just five games that season and then because of a hip injury missed the entire season in 2011. In 2013, the Saints cut Hartley and last year he was signed by the Cleveland Browns but played in just two games.
For his career, Garrett Hartley has attempted 104 field goals making 85 for a percentage of 81.7. He has missed only one extra point but bear in mind that in the NFL this season, the extra point attempt is being moved back to the 15-yard line as Roger Goodell and his staff have deemed the previous spot made it too easy to make the one-point attempt.
Garrett Hartley will wear jersey number eight (8). The number has only been worn by three players before 2015 and they were Tommy Maddox (2001-2005), Everett Fisher (1940), and Joseph Yurcic (1940).
Sometimes when there is an addition, there is also a subtraction. As Hartley joins the team, Devin Gardner departs via the waived/injured list. Steelers Nation, welcome aboard the newest member of your team.
Next: Steelers: Madden NFL 16 AFC North Ratings