2012 SD Chargers Media Guide_PROOF.P - Seahawks Online ...

71 ANTONIO GARAYDefensive Tackle Free Agent – ’096-4, 320 Boston College6th NFL SeasonRahway HS4th with ChargersRahway, N.J.The Chargers retained a key cog on the defensive line shown on a number of highlight shows around the country.when Antonio Garay signed a two-year contract in March A native of Rahway, N.J., Garay is a second-generationto remain with the Bolts.freestyle wrestler and his family holds the second-mostThe anchor of the line in the team’s 3-4 defensive medals in state history. Garay’s uncle, Louie Garay, won thescheme, Garay has a championship background as a N.J. state title in 1955, uncle, Carlos Garay, finished secondfreestyle amateur wrestler and it’s helped him become one in ’55, cousin, Carlos Garay, was third in ’99 and Antonio’sof the league’s top defensive tackles. He returns after a dad, Tony, was third in ’66. Garay’s brother, Dan, also owns2011 season in which he led the defensive line in tackles a state title, but Antonio may have been the best of them(67) and tackles for loss (nine), while ranking second on the all. A state champion in his weight class (275 lbs.), Garayteam in pressures (10) and quarterback hits (14).was undefeated and won the high school national championshipGaray’s football story is one of incredible perseverence.as a senior. He was also an All-American in football,Just five years ago as a member of the Chicago Bears, he sufferedwhich led him to Boston College. He excelled in both sportsa broken right leg and shattered right ankle as the result until the Eagles dropped wrestling prior to his senior year.of a horrific chop block that took nearly two years to heal. It Garay finished fourth in the NCAA Championships as awas the kind of injury that in most cases is career-ending, but sophomore and won the award for the most pins in theGaray refused to throw in the towel. He spent nearly two full least amount of time at the national tournament. The onlyyears doing rehab and his big break came when good family wrestling All-American in school history, in 2009 Bostonfriend and former wrestling coach, Joe Ryan, helped him createCollege inducted Garay into its Athletics Hall of Fame.workout videos and post them on a website for NFL Garay comes from a diverse family. His mother, Marsha,teams to see. The effort paid off in Oct. 2009 when the New is Jewish and his father is Catholic and a combination ofYork Jets signed Garay to the practice squad.Puerto Rican, Costa Rican and Jamaican. Both of Garay’sJust seven weeks after signing with the Jets, the Chargers,parents were two-sport athletes at Hofstra University,in need of help on the defensive line, signed Garay. It where they met. His mom was a softball pitcher and cap-was a chance for him to reunite with Don Johnson, his formertain of the tennis team and his dad wrestled and playedposition coach in Chicago whom he’d played for when football. One of the most highly-touted defensive linemenhe sustained the horrific injury.in the country in 1971, Garay’s father spent time in theGaray saw limited action his first season with the Bolts, NFL with the Los Angeles Rams, Oakland Raiders, Newbut by 2010, the Chargers saw enough to move the 6-4, England Patriots and New York Jets. Garay’s mother has320-pounder into the starting lineup and Garay enjoyed a instilled Jewish heritage in Antonio and his siblings, and asbreakout season. He led the defensive line and set new such, one of his ambitions is to visit Israel and wrestle incareer highs in tackles, sacks, tackles for loss and quarterbackthe Maccabi Games, an international Jewish athletic eventhits. His 5.5 sacks tied for second among all NFL similar to the Olympics. Garay also has been mentioned asdefensive tackles and he was selected as a third-alternate a candidate to one day represent the United States into the AFC Pro Bowl squad. Garay played in every game, wrestling at the Summer Olympics.starting all but one, and was a key reason the Chargers led Garay is working toward starting a foundation calledthe NFL in total defense and ranked fourth against the run. “Set the Tone,” to help kids prepare for college. GarayOne play in particular stuck out during Garay’s stellar ’10 earned bachelor’s degrees in both English and marketing,season. During the Chargers’ Nov. 28 game in Indianapolis on and a master’s degree in secondary education with a focusNBC’s Sunday Night Football, Garay put guard Jeff Linkenbachon English from Boston College.on his heels and drove him backward into quarterback Garay is still reverred in his hometown. In 2011, he wasPeyton Manning. The play forced Manning to the ground, invited to teach a clinic at the New Jersey All-Stateand even though Garay wasn’t credited with a sack, it was Wrestling Camp and in 2012, the Sicilian Federation ofone of the most impressive plays of the NFL season and was New Jersey (Federazione Siciliana Del New Jersey) presentedGaray with its "Humanitarian of the Year Award.”Off the field, Garay is well-knownfor unique hair designs that hechanges prior to each game. And heturned heads last year when hepulled into the parking lot at ChargersPark behind the wheel of a miniatureSmart Car with images of HelloKitty emblazoned on the sides. Parteco-conscious and part publicitystunt, Garay gained notoriety on anational level while driving the car.The car is featured as the avatar on Garay’s Twitter account(@antoniogaray71) which boasts more than 10,000 followers.Continued next pageMEDIA GUIDE | 57VETERANS &RETURNING PLAYERS