Pierre Andre Garçon (; born August 8, 1986) is an American former professional
football
Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...
player who was a
wide receiver
A wide receiver (WR), also referred to as a wideout, and historically known as a split end (SE) or flanker (FL), is an eligible receiver in gridiron football. A key skill position of the offense (American football), offense, WR gets its name ...
in the
National Football League
The National Football League (NFL) is a Professional gridiron football, professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams, it is divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National ...
(NFL). He played
college football
College football is gridiron football that is played by teams of amateur Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. It was through collegiate competition that gridiron football American football in the United States, firs ...
at
Norwich University
Norwich University is a private university in Northfield, Vermont, United States. The university was founded in 1819 as the "American Literary, Scientific and Military Academy". It is the oldest of six senior military college, senior militar ...
and
Mount Union College, and was selected by the
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. The Colts compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC South, South division. Since the 2008 India ...
in the sixth round of the
2008 NFL draft
The 2008 NFL draft was the 73rd NFL draft, annual meeting of National Football League (NFL) franchises to select newly eligible American football players. The draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, New York (state), New York ...
. He also played five seasons with the
Washington Redskins
The Washington Commanders are a professional American football team based in the Washington metropolitan area. The Commanders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East ...
and two seasons with the
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers (also written as the San Francisco Forty-Niners and nicknamed the Niners) are a professional American football team based in the San Francisco Bay Area. The 49ers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member ...
.
Early life
Garçon is of
Haitian descent, and is bilingual, speaking French fluently. Garçon attended
John I. Leonard High School
John I. Leonard Community High School is a Public school (government funded), public high school located in Greenacres, Florida, Greenacres, Florida, United States.
History
The high school is named after John I. Leonard, who served as the first ...
in
Greenacres,
Florida
Florida ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the north, the Atlantic ...
. He earned two varsity letters in football. He also played soccer,
[Pierre Garcon – 85](_blank)
pierregarconlive.com playing for travel teams competing across the state and across the country. He was also known for his backflip after scoring goals.
College career
Garçon started his college career at
Norwich University
Norwich University is a private university in Northfield, Vermont, United States. The university was founded in 1819 as the "American Literary, Scientific and Military Academy". It is the oldest of six senior military college, senior militar ...
in
Northfield, Vermont
Northfield is a New England town, town in Washington County, Vermont, United States. The town lies in a valley within the Green Mountains and has been home to Norwich University since 1866. It contains the Northfield (CDP), Vermont, village of No ...
. As a freshman in 2004, he played in ten games and had 44 receptions for 1,017 yards and 13 touchdowns. Wanting to play in a more football oriented program, he transferred to
Mount Union College in the
Ohio Athletic Conference
The Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) is an intercollegiate athletic conference which competes in the NCAA's Division III. All member institutions are located in Ohio. Formed in 1902, it is the third oldest athletic conference in the United States ...
. He averaged over 60 catches, 1,000 yards and 15 touchdowns in his career as a Purple Raider. While at Mount Union he led the team to two consecutive
NCAA Division III Football Championships, falling just short of a third.
[ During his sophomore season in 2005, he earned ]Ohio Athletic Conference
The Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) is an intercollegiate athletic conference which competes in the NCAA's Division III. All member institutions are located in Ohio. Formed in 1902, it is the third oldest athletic conference in the United States ...
second-team honors after having 68 receptions for 1,196 yards and 16 touchdowns. As a junior, he was named to the Ohio Athletic Conference first-team and was the recipient of the Ed Sherman Award for the OAC's most outstanding receiver. That season, he was third in the nation with 1,212 receiving yards and had 67 receptions with 17 touchdowns. As a senior in 2007, Garçon was Ohio Athletic Conference first-team and was the recipient of the Ed Sherman Award, for the second time. He had 67 receptions for 955 yards and 14 touchdowns.
During his time at Mount Union, he was teammates with future NFL wide receiver, Cecil Shorts III.
Garçon also ran track at Mount Union, where he recorded personal bests of 10.61 seconds in the 100 meters and 21.69 seconds in the 200 meters
The 200 metres, or 200-meter dash, is a sprint running event. On an outdoor 400-metre racetrack, the race begins on the curve and ends on the home straight, so a combination of techniques is needed to successfully run the race. A slight ...
.
Professional career
Indianapolis Colts
2008 season
Garçon was selected by the Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. The Colts compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC South, South division. Since the 2008 India ...
in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL draft
The 2008 NFL draft was the 73rd NFL draft, annual meeting of National Football League (NFL) franchises to select newly eligible American football players. The draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, New York (state), New York ...
with the 205th overall pick. In Week 2 against the Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis. The Vikings compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. Founded in 1960 as ...
, he made his NFL debut. Later in Week 10 against the Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional American football team based in Pittsburgh. The Steelers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC North, North division. Founded in 1933 P ...
, he recorded his first reception. Garçon spent his rookie season as a backup receiver recording only four catches for 23 yards.
2009 season
By the start of the 2009 season, Garçon was made Reggie Wayne
Reginald Wayne (born November 17, 1978) is an American former professional American football, football player who was a wide receiver for 14 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football f ...
's back-up. After Anthony Gonzalez was injured in the first game of the season, he took his place in the starting lineup. In Week 2 against the Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a professional American football team based in the Miami metropolitan area. The Dolphins compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East division. The team ...
, he had his first career start and recorded his first touchdown. In Week 13 against the Titans, he had six receptions for 136 yards in the victory. He continued to be a starter until a hand injury caused him to miss the last two games of the season. He displayed himself as a deep threat in Peyton Manning's offense, recording 47 receptions, 765 yards, and four touchdowns in his second season.
2010 season
In 2010
The year saw a multitude of natural and environmental disasters such as the 2010 Haiti earthquake, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and the 2010 Chile earthquake. The 2009 swine flu pandemic, swine flu pandemic which began the previous year ...
, Garçon had the starting spot most of the season with the exception for Week 3 and 4, where he was inactive for both games. In Week 6 against the Washington Redskins
The Washington Commanders are a professional American football team based in the Washington metropolitan area. The Commanders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East ...
, he made an impressive one-handed catch. By the end of the season, he had 67 receptions for 784 yards and six touchdowns. In the Colts' Wild Card Round loss to the Jets, he had five receptions for 112 yards and a touchdown.
2011 season
Despite Peyton Manning
Peyton Williams Manning (born March 24, 1976) is an American former professional American football, football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 18 seasons. Nicknamed "the Sheriff", he spent 14 seasons with the In ...
being out the entire 2011 season due to injury, Garçon had his best season with the Colts. In Week 4 against the Buccaneers, he had two receptions for 146 yards and two touchdowns in the loss. In the following game, he had five receptions for 125 yards and two touchdowns in the loss to the Chiefs. In Week 13 against the Patriots, he had nine receptions for 150 yards and two touchdowns in the loss. He started in all 16 games of the season and recorded 70 receptions, 947 receiving yards, and six touchdowns.
Washington Redskins
2012 season
On March 13, 2012, Garçon signed a five-year $42.5 million, $20.5 million guaranteed, contract with the Washington Redskins
The Washington Commanders are a professional American football team based in the Washington metropolitan area. The Commanders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East ...
.
He was the Redskins' first free agent signing for the 2012 season. During the first OTA of the 2012 preseason, Garçon and Brandyn Thompson accidentally collided into coach Mike Shanahan
Michael Edward Shanahan ( ; born August 24, 1952) is an American football coach, best known as the head coach of the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL) from 1995 to 2008. During his fourteen seasons with the Broncos, he led th ...
. In the season opening 40-32 win against the New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans. The Saints compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC South, South division. Since 1975, the team ...
, he scored the first touchdown. After catching a 16-yard pass from Robert Griffin III, Garçon ran for an additional 72 yards and a touchdown, which gave Griffin his first career touchdown. Despite not playing for the entire second half of the game due to a foot injury, he finished with 109 yards on four receptions and one touchdown. After missing several games due to the same foot injury, it was confirmed on October 25 that he had a plantar plate
In the human foot, the plantar or volar plates (also called plantar or volar ligaments) are fibrocartilaginous structures found in the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) and interphalangeal (IP) joints. The anatomy and composition of the plantar plates ar ...
tear in the bottom of his right foot. In the Week 12 win against the Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The Cowboys compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East division. T ...
on Thanksgiving, he would score his second touchdown of the season after catching a 59-yard pass from Griffin III. Garçon finished the season with 44 receptions on 67 targets for 633 yards and four touchdowns.
2013 season
In Week 2 of the 2013 season, Garçon had eight receptions for 143 yards and a touchdown in a loss to the Packers. In the Week 9 win against the San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers were a professional American football team in the National Football League (NFL). The Chargers played in San Diego, California from 1961 until 2016, before relocating back to the Greater Los Angeles area, where the franch ...
, Garçon achieved a new career-high of 172 receiving yards in a single game. During the Week 16 game against the Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The Cowboys compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East division. T ...
, he broke the Redskins' all-time franchise record for receptions in a single season, previously held by Art Monk with 106 receptions set in 1984
Events
January
* January 1 – The Bornean Sultanate of Brunei gains full independence from the United Kingdom, having become a British protectorate in 1888.
* January 7 – Brunei becomes the sixth member of the Association of Southeas ...
, with 107 receptions. At the end of the 2013 season, Garçon extended the record to 113 receptions, as well as finishing with a new career high of 1,346 yards. His 181 targets tied with Andre Johnson for most in the 2013 season. On the NFL Network's Top 100 Players of 2014, Garçon was voted the 80th best player (overall) in the league by his peers.
2014 season
In Week 3 against the Eagles, Garçon had 11 receptions for 138 yards in the 37–34 loss. In the Week 7 win against the Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC South, South division. They play the ...
, after catching a short pass from quarterback Colt McCoy, Garçon ran the ball in for a 70-yard touchdown. Garçon finished the season with 68 receptions on 105 targets for 752 yards and three touchdowns.
2015 season
Garçon opened the 2015 season behind DeSean Jackson
DeSean William Jackson (born December 1, 1986) is an American college football coach and former player who is the Head coach, head football coach at Delaware State Hornets football, Delaware State University. Known for his speed, he is recog ...
with Kirk Cousins
Kirk Daniel Cousins (born August 19, 1988) is an American professional American football, football quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Michigan State Spartans football, Mi ...
as the starting quarterback for the team. After Jackson injured his hamstring in the Week 1 loss against the Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a professional American football team based in the Miami metropolitan area. The Dolphins compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East division. The team ...
, Garçon moved into the WR1 position and quickly developed a strong trust with Cousins, due to his toughness when being hit along with a knack for finding the ball in traffic. This was evident as Garçon caught the game-winning touchdown in Week 4 against the Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia. The Eagles compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East division. The team plays its ...
, which was caught as he was hit by two defenders. Garçon continued to make tough catches for the team throughout the season, and posted a 60% first-down catch rate in an effort to push the Redskins to the playoffs. In the last three games, Garçon's production increased, catching a touchdown in each of those games, including a 39-yard score in their season finale against the Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The Cowboys compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East division. T ...
. In the Redskins' postseason matchup against the Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are a professional American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. They ar ...
, Garçon posted five receptions for 70 yards in the 35–18 Wild Card Round loss. He finished the season with 77 receptions on 118 targets for 847 yards and 6 touchdowns (including the postseason).
2016 season
In a game against the Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional American football team based in Cleveland. The Browns compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC North, North division. The team is named after ...
on October 2, 2016, Garçon caught his 500th career reception. In Week 11, against the Packers, he had six receptions for 116 yards and a touchdown. Garçon finished the season with 79 receptions on 116 targets for 1,041 yards and three touchdowns.
San Francisco 49ers
On March 9, 2017, Garçon signed a five-year, $47.5 million contract with the San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers (also written as the San Francisco Forty-Niners and nicknamed the Niners) are a professional American football team based in the San Francisco Bay Area. The 49ers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member ...
.
2017 season
On September 10, 2017, in his 49ers debut, Garçon had six receptions for 81 yards in the season opening 23–3 loss to the Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Panthers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC South, South division. The t ...
. In Week 3, against the Rams, he had seven receptions for 142 yards in the 41–39 loss. He started the first eight games of the season recording 40 catches for 500 yards before suffering a neck injury. He was placed on injured reserve on November 4, 2017.
On December 11, 2018, Garçon was placed on injured reserve for the second year in a row after undergoing knee surgery. He finished the season with 24 receptions for 286 yards and one touchdown.
On February 14, 2019, the 49ers declined the option on Garçon's contract, making him a free agent at the start of the new league year.
NFL career statistics
References
External links
Mount Union Purple Raiders bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Garcon, Pierre
1986 births
Living people
American sportspeople of Haitian descent
People from Carmel, New York
Sportspeople from the New York metropolitan area
People from Greenacres, Florida
Players of American football from Palm Beach County, Florida
American football wide receivers
American football return specialists
Norwich Cadets football players
Mount Union Purple Raiders football players
Indianapolis Colts players
Washington Redskins players
San Francisco 49ers players