Jabar Gaffney
Jabar Gaffney
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Jabar Gaffney

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Jabar Gaffney

Derrick Jabar Gaffney (born December 1, 1980) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Florida Gators, earning unanimous All-American honors in 2001. He was selected by the Houston Texans in the second round of the 2002 NFL draft, and also played in the NFL for the New England Patriots, Denver Broncos, Washington Redskins, and Miami Dolphins.

Gaffney was born in San Antonio, Texas. He attended William M. Raines High School in Jacksonville, Florida, and was a letterman for the Raines Vikings high school football team. In football, he was a two-year starter as a wide receiver, and as a junior in 1997, he caught the game-winning, fourth-quarter touchdown pass in the state championship game.

Gaffney accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, where he played for coach Steve Spurrier's Florida Gators football team in 2000 and 2001. The Gators coaching staff decided to redshirt him as a true freshman in 1999. Gaffney became a prolific pass-catcher as a first-year starter for the Gators in 2000, and made the game-winning touchdown catch with fourteen seconds remaining to defeat the Tennessee Volunteers 27–23—a game that ultimately decided the 2000 winner of the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Gaffney amassed 1,184 receiving yards and fourteen touchdown receptions in 2000, and another 1,191 and thirteen touchdowns in 2001.

He was a first-team All-SEC selection in 2000 and 2001; he was a College Football News first-team All-American after his redshirt freshman season in 2000, and was recognized as a unanimous first-team All-American by the Associated Press, American Football Coaches Association, Football Writers Association of America, Sporting News, and Walter Camp Foundation following his 2001 sophomore season. In 2001, he was one of the three finalists for the Biletnikoff Award, recognizing the outstanding receiver in college football. He finished his two-season college career with 138 receptions for 2,375 yards and twenty-seven touchdowns, and was chosen by his teammates as the Gators' most valuable player. He remains the only receiver in Gators history with two seasons of 1,000 yards or more.

Gaffney was selected with the 1st pick in the 2nd round of the 2002 NFL draft by the Houston Texans. His tenure with the team was marred by his often inconsistent play which led to his benching in favor of veteran receivers, in particular Corey Bradford. After his rookie contract was up, the Texans chose not to re-sign him.

On March 16, 2006, the Eagles signed Gaffney to a one-year contract. He was released before the start of the season.

Gaffney signed a two-year deal with the New England Patriots on October 9, 2006. On March 5, 2008, Gaffney re-signed with the Patriots for one year worth $2 million.

In his first-ever playoff game, on January 7, 2007, against the New York Jets, Gaffney caught eight passes for 104 yards, his second 100-yard performance as a receiver (in ten regular season games, Gaffney caught 11 passes for 142 yards and one touchdown.) Gaffney followed that performance a week later against San Diego with another 100-yard game, in which he caught ten passes and scored a touchdown.

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