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BranDon PettiGrew
Tight End
Oklahoma State 4th Year
Ht: 6-5 Wt: 265
Born: 2/23/85 Tyler, Texas
Draft: ‘09, R1 (20)-Det
Complete biographical information available on Detroit<strong>lions</strong>.com.
MANE FACTS
¾ Growing up in Texas, Pettigrew was naturally a Cowboys fan and his
favorite players were QB Troy aikman and Wr Michael irvin. He was
also a fan of Wr Jerry rice.
¾ Goes bowling every week, often with teammates, and has around a
200 average.
¾ His favorite musical artist is lil’ Wayne; favorite actor is Denzel Washington;
favorite movies include Man on Fire and Book of Eli.
TRANSACTIONS
¾ Placed on reserve/injured list by the <strong>lions</strong> December 1, 2009.
¾ Drafted by the Detroit <strong>lions</strong> in the first round (20th overall) of the
2009 Nfl Draft.
PRO
Pettigrew is a big, athletic tight end who has the ability to stretch the field
as a receiver and aggressively block at the line of scrimmage. Has emerged
as one of the best young tight ends in the game.
¾ ranks first and second in team history for receptions (83 in 2011; 71
in 2010) and receiving yards (777 in 2011 and 722 in 2010) by a tight
end in a season. first tight end with 2 seasons recording 70+ receptions
and 2 seasons with 700+ receiving yards. He accomplished this
in back-to-back seasons.
¾ only tight end in <strong>lions</strong> history with 3 100-yard receiving games,
including 2 in 2011.
¾ reached 100 career receptions the fastest by a <strong>lions</strong> tight end by doing
so in 27 games. The previous mark was 34 games by Te Jim Gibbons.
¾ also reached 1,000 career yards in 26 career games, the second fastest
tight end in team history to reach that milestone. Hall of fame Te Charlie
sanders reached 1,000 career yards in 25 games.
¾ fifth tight end in team history to register 100 career catches and
1,000 career yards.
¾ started in the first 11 games of his career before a knee injury on
Thanksgiving Day <strong>vs</strong>. Green Bay (11/26) forced him out for the remainder
of his rookie season.
¾ led all Nfl rookie tight ends in 2009 with 30 catches for 346 yards,
and was tied for the most receiving touchdowns (two).
¾ regarded by many as most complete tight end to enter 2009 Nfl Draft.
<strong>lions</strong> selected him in first round (20th overall) of the 2009 Nfl Draft.
2011: second on the team with 83 receptions, a new <strong>lions</strong> record for most
catches by a tight end. Broke his own record of 71 set in 2010. 777 yards
were also second on team and a single-season record for <strong>lions</strong> tight ends.
also added 5 touchdowns.
¾ Pettigrew’s 83 receptions finished third among tight ends in the Nfl
and he was 11th in receiving yards (777).
¾ The <strong>lions</strong> offense generated 48 points in the victory over the Chiefs
(9/18), the most points scored by the <strong>lions</strong> since they garnered 55
points in a Thanksgiving Day 55-20 win over Chicago (11/27/97). That
game was also the last time the team scored 6 offensive touchdowns
(rushing and receiving) in a single game. The last time the <strong>lions</strong> scored
6 offensive touchdowns in a game of which at least 4 were via the pass
was a 48-17 win over Chicago (10/19/81).
¾ Came up with a big performance in <strong>lions</strong> 26-23 overtime win at Minnesota
(9/25) by contributing 11 catches for 112 yards, both career highs.
after halftime, he had 9 receptions for 88 yards. 112 receiving yards
is his second career 100-yard receiving game. Pettigrew joins Hall of
fame Te Charlie sanders (2, 1968-77) and Te Jim Gibbons (2, 1958-68)
as only tight ends in <strong>lions</strong> history with 2 100-yard receiving games.
¾ Pettigrew’s 11 catches set a new team record for receptions by a <strong>lions</strong>’
tight end in a single game. it was only the second time in <strong>lions</strong> history
that a tight end registered 10 catches in a game. Previously, sanders
had 10 catches at Washington December 15, 1968.
¾ among his big plays against the Vikings, his 27-yard long in the game
helped set up the <strong>lions</strong> second score of the game (28-yard field goal)
as he moved the ball down to the 2-yard line. on the drive, Pettigrew
caught 3 passes for 42 yards.
¾ Had 6 receptions for 62 yards at Dallas (10/2) in the <strong>lions</strong> 34-30 comefrom-behind
(24-point) deficit.
¾ Caught first touchdown of the season on an 18-yard pass in the third
quarter during the <strong>lions</strong> 24-14 win over Chicago (10/10). The score gave
the <strong>lions</strong> a 14-10 win in the game, which they would never surrender
the rest of the way. He finished the game with 4 catches for 39 yards.
¾ recorded second touchdown of the season on a 16-yard pass from QB
Matthew stafford <strong>vs</strong>. san francisco (10/16). finished as the team’s
leader in receptions with 8 for 42 yards.
¾ 6 catches for 57 yards and 1 touchdown <strong>vs</strong>. Minnesota (12/11). in both
<strong>vs</strong>. Minnesota, Pettigrew caught 17 receptions for 169 yards.
¾ on fourth reception of game to end the first quarter <strong>vs</strong>. Minnesota
(12/11), he moved season totals to 60 and became first tight end in <strong>lions</strong>
history to record 60 receptions in two different seasons (71 in 2010).
¾ Had a team-high 9 catches for 80 yards and a touchdown <strong>vs</strong>. san Diego
(11/24). it was his 5th touchdown of the season.
¾ With 5 touchdown catches this season combined with Te Tony scheffler’s
6 touchdown receptions, Pettigrew and scheffler are the second
pair of <strong>lions</strong> tight ends in team history to each register 5 touchdown
catches each in a season. in 1976, Hall of fame Te Charlie sanders
and Te David Hill each recorded 5 touchdown receptions that season.
¾ His 80 yards <strong>vs</strong>. san Diego (12/24) moved his season total of receiving
yards to 661 pasing Hall of fame Te Charlie sanders (656, 1969) for the
second-most receiving yards by <strong>lions</strong> tight end in one season. Pettigrew
has the club record with 722 receiving yards in 2010.
¾ registered career high 116 yards off 7 receptions in 2011 season finale
at Green Bay (1/2). it was his third 100-yard game of his career and
second of the season.
COLLEGE
second tight end in oklahoma state history drafted in first round first
(reuben Gant, 1974-Buffalo). ended college career ranked ninth overall on
the school’s receiving yardage record list with 1,450 and averaged more
than 54 knockdown blocks per season for the Cowboys. Became first tight
end in school history to amass more than 100 receptions (112) in a career.
¾ in 2008, finished with a career-high 42 catches for 472 yards (11.2 avg).
23 receptions produced first downs (54.76%), as he converted 4-of-9
third-down (44.44%) and 1-of-2 fourth-down plays.
¾ all-american Dream Team and all-Big 12 Conference selection by The
Nfl Draft report as a senior.
¾ started all 13 games in 2007, ranking third on team with 35 receptions
for 540 yards (15.4 avg) and four TDs. Paced Cowboys with 10 TDresulting
blocks, as his 72 knockdowns were a league-high for tight
ends. all-Big 12 Conference first-team selection.
PERSONAL
attended robert e. lee (Tyler, Tex.) High school, earning all-state honors
in 2003. Despite playing primarily as a blocker, he was rated as the best
tight end in Texas by numerous recruiting services.
¾ all-District and all-east Texas choice. also competed on defensive line.
¾ son of elaine and Henry Pettigrew. Born february 23, 1985.
¾ Was an education major at oklahoma state.
PETTIGREW’S SINGLE-GAME BESTS
receptions: .................................................................................................................................11 at Min 9/25/11
receiving yards: .........................................................................................................................116 at GB 1/1/12
long reception:........................................................................................................................ 35 <strong>vs</strong>. Phi 9/19/10
receiving Touchdowns:.................................................................................1 (6 times) last at Mia 12/26/10
PETTIGREW’S CAREER STATISTICS
RECEIVING RUSHING
Year Tm G S Att Yds Avg Lg TD Rec Yds Avg Lg TD STT
2009 Det 11 11 30 346 11.5 30 2 0 0 0.0 - 0 1
2010 Det 16 16 71 722 10.2 35 4 0 0 0.0 - 0 0
2011 Det 16 16 83 777 9.4 27 5 0 0 0.0 - 0 0
Totals 43 43 184 1845 10.0 35 11 0 0 0.0 - 0 1
POSTSEASON RECEIVING RUSHING
Year Tm G S Att Yds Avg Lg TD Rec Yds Avg Lg TD
2011 Det 1 0 4 49 12.3 22 0 0 0 0 - 0
Totals 1 0 4 49 12.3 22 0 0 0 0 - 0
2011 (Det) RECEIVING RUSHING
Date Opp G S Rec Yds Avg Lg TD Att Yds Avg Lg TD
9/11 at TB 1 1 4 57 14.3 25 0 0 0 0.0 - 0
9/18 KC 1 1 1 7 7.0 7 0 0 0 0.0 - 0
9/25 at Min 1 1 11 112 10.2 27 0 0 0 0.0 - 0
10/2 at Dal 1 1 6 64 10.7 22 0 0 0 0.0 - 0
10/9 CHi 1 1 4 39 9.8 18 1 0 0 0.0 - 0
10/16 sf 1 1 8 42 5.3 16 1 0 0 0.0 - 0
10/23 aTl 1 1 4 31 7.8 9 0 0 0 0.0 - 0
10/30 at Den 1 1 3 8 2.7 7 0 0 0 0.0 - 0
11/13 at Chi 1 1 5 38 7.6 17 0 0 0 0.0 - 0
11/20 Car 1 1 4 37 9.3 16 1 0 0 0.0 - 0
11/24 GB 1 1 4 27 6.8 10 0 0 0 0.0 - 0
12/4 at No 1 1 2 13 6.5 8 0 0 0 0.0 - 0
12/11 MiN 1 1 6 57 9.5 17 1 0 0 0 - 0
12/18 at oak 1 1 5 49 9.8 17 0 0 0 0 - 0
12/24 sD 1 1 9 80 8.9 16 1 0 0 0 - 0
1/1 at GB 1 1 7 116 16.6 26 0 0 0 0 - 0
Totals 16 16 83 777 9.4 27 5 0 0 0.0 - 0
Postseason RECEIVING RUSHING
Date Opp G S Rec Yds Avg Lg TD Att Yds Avg Lg TD
1/7 at No 0 4 49 12.3 22 0 0 0 0 - 0 0
Totals 0 4 49 12.3 22 0 0 0 0 - 0 0