Justin Peelle

Justin Morris Peelle (born March 15, 1979) is an American former professional football tight end and coach who is the tight ends coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL).

After playing college football for Oregon, he was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the fourth round of the 2002 NFL draft. He played for the Chargers for four seasons from 2002 to 2005, the Miami Dolphins from 2006 to 2007, the Atlanta Falcons from 2008 to 2010, and the San Francisco 49ers in 2011. He became an assistant tight ends coach for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2013 before he was promoted to tight ends coach in 2015.

Peelle played high school football at Dublin High School.

Peelle started 28 of the 42 games in which he played during his four seasons at the University of Oregon (1998–2001). During that time he played alongside the former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Joey Harrington. He was an honorable mention all-conference pick as a junior when he registered 24 receptions for 388 yards and five scores. He was a first-team All-Pac-10 selection as a senior when he caught 34 passes for 491 yards and nine touchdowns. The same year, he was also a semifinalist for the Mackey Award, given to the nation's top tight end.

In his collegiate career, he totaled 63 receptions for 944 yards and 14 touchdowns. He was also an All-Pac-10 Academic choice all four years.

Peelle began his professional career in 2002, when he was a fourth-round selection (103rd overall) by the San Diego Chargers and their general manager John Butler in the 2002 NFL draft. He played in 15 games his rookie season, including two starts. On the year, he caught three passes for 15 yards. Peelle was also fifth on the squad with seven tackles on special teams. His first NFL reception came on a two-yard pass from quarterback Drew Brees against the San Francisco 49ers on November 17.

Peelle started nine of the 15 games in which he appeared in 2003. He tallied a career-high 16 receptions for 133 yards on the season, and had one touchdown catch on the year. Peelle also contributed two tackles on special teams. He posted a career-high four catches, totaling 24 yards, against the Baltimore Ravens on September 21. His lone scoring catch of the year came on a seven-yard grab from Brees in the back of the end zone the following week at the Oakland Raiders, marking his first NFL touchdown reception. He was inactive for game at the Detroit Lions on December 7 with a concussion sustained the previous week against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Peelle started four of 16 contests in which he appeared in 2004. He totaled 10 receptions for 84 yards and a pair of scores on the season and recorded four stops on special teams. His first reception of season came on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Brees in 38–17 win over the Tennessee Titans on October 3. Peelle tallied his longest scoring reception of his NFL career in a 42–14 victory over the Raiders on October 31 with a 17-yard grab from Brees. Peelle had three receptions for a career-best 34 yards in first-round playoff game against the New York Jets on January 8, 2005.