Nate Ebner is a former American football player who played as a safety and special teams player. He was born on December 14, 1988, in Dublin, Ohio, and attended Hilliard Davidson High School, where he played football and rugby.
Ebner's football career began at Ohio State University, where he played for the Buckeyes from 2009 to 2011. During his college career, he played in 36 games and recorded 30 tackles, one interception, and one forced fumble.
In 2012, Ebner was drafted by the New England Patriots in the sixth round of the NFL Draft. He quickly became a valuable member of the team's special teams unit, playing in all 16 regular-season games and all three playoff games during his rookie season. He continued to excel on special teams over the next several seasons, earning a reputation as one of the best special teams players in the league.
Ebner's football career was interrupted in 2016 when he took a leave of absence from the Patriots to compete in the Rio Olympics as a member of the United States rugby sevens team. He returned to the Patriots later that year and continued to play for the team until 2019.
In 2020, Ebner signed with the New York Giants, where he played in all 16 games and recorded 14 tackles on special teams. He became a free agent after the season and announced his retirement from football in April 2021.
Throughout his football career, Ebner was known for his toughness, work ethic, and leadership. He was a three-time team captain at Ohio State and was named a team captain by the Patriots in 2018. He was also a two-time winner of the Patriots' Ron Burton Community Service Award, which recognizes players for their contributions to the community.
In addition to his football career, Ebner was also a successful rugby player. He played for the United States national rugby sevens team from 2011 to 2015 and was a member of the team that won a bronze medal at the 2015 Pan American Games. He also played for the Columbus Rugby Club and helped lead the team to a national championship in 2010.
Overall, Nate Ebner had a successful career as a football and rugby player. He was a valuable member of the Patriots and Giants special teams units and was respected by his teammates and coaches for his hard work and dedication.
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