Charlie Garner was a professional American football player who played as a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for over a decade. He was born on February 13, 1972, in Virginia, and grew up in West Virginia. Garner attended Auburn University, where he played college football for the Auburn Tigers.
Garner began his professional career in 1994 when he was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round of the NFL Draft. He played for the Eagles for three seasons before being traded to the San Francisco 49ers in 1997. Garner played for the 49ers for two seasons and was a key player in their offense, helping them reach the playoffs in both seasons.
In 1999, Garner signed with the Oakland Raiders as a free agent. He played for the Raiders for four seasons and had some of the best years of his career with the team. In 2002, Garner helped lead the Raiders to the Super Bowl, where they lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
After leaving the Raiders, Garner signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2004 but was released before the start of the season due to a knee injury. He retired from the NFL shortly after.
Throughout his career, Garner was known for his speed, agility, and versatility as a running back. He was also a skilled receiver out of the backfield and was often used in passing situations. Garner finished his career with 7,097 rushing yards, 2,981 receiving yards, and 55 total touchdowns.
Off the field, Garner was known for his charitable work and was involved in several community organizations. He also started his own foundation, the Charlie Garner Foundation, which aimed to help underprivileged children.
In recent years, Garner has faced some health issues related to his football career. In 2015, he revealed that he had suffered multiple concussions during his playing days and was experiencing memory loss and other symptoms. He has since become an advocate for player safety and has spoken out about the need for better concussion protocols in the NFL.
Overall, Charlie Garner had a successful career as a running back in the NFL. He was a versatile player who was able to contribute in multiple ways and was a key part of several successful teams. Despite some health issues in retirement, Garner has remained active in the football community and continues to be a respected figure in the sport.
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