Gregory Olsen (born March 11, 1985 in Wayne, New Jersey) is a tight end for the Chicago Bears.

Early years

Olsen attended Wayne Hills High School and played football under his father Chris Olsen, Sr.. As a high school senior he was one of three finalists for the Gatorade National Player of the Year award along with former teammate Kyle Wright. He was a USA Today First-Team All-American as a senior in 2002. He was rated third overall on ESPN's list of 100 High School players. He totaled 73 career catches for 1,474 yards, a 20.2 yards per catch average and a school-record 27 touchdowns. He played in the 2003 U.S. Army All-American Bowl. He also played on his high school's basketball team, played both sports on a Varsity level for three years.

College career

Olsen originally enrolled at the University of Notre Dame but transferred as a freshman to the University of Miami in 2003. In 2003, Olsen was on the Hurricanes' scout team before suffering a shoulder injury and was redshirted. He became the starter of the Miami Hurricanes in his sophomore season in 2005 after Kevin Everett was drafted in the third round by the Buffalo Bills. In his career he totaled 87 receptions for 1215 yards (14.0 YPC), and 6 touchdowns.

Professional career

The Chicago Bears selected Olsen as the thirty-first overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft. He signed a five-year contract with the team on July 3, which made him the first of the draft's top sixty-four picks to come to terms with their team. Olsen sustained a knee injury during the Bears' final preseason game in 2007. Consequently, he missed the team's first two games whilst recovering. He made his NFL Debut on September 23, 2007 against the Dallas Cowboys, and caught two passes for twenty-eight yards. Olsen caught his first touchdown two weeks later, during a week five match-up against the Green Bay Packers. Olsen concluded the season with 39 receptions for 391 yards and 2 touchdowns. He was selected to the 2007 Pro Football Weekly/Professional Football Writers' All-Rookie team.

Personal life

Olsen's older brother, Chris Jr., played quarterback for the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia. His brother also tried out for a spot on the Bears' roster, during their rookie mini-camp in May 2007, but was not offered a contract. He participated in the rap group, the 7th Floor Crew, during his tenure at the University of Miami under the pseudonym G-Reg. Many media sources ridiculed Olsen for his involvement in the group, which earned national notoriety for their sexually explicit and vulgar lyrics. Olsen addressed the media about the issue almost a week after the draft. He apologized for his actions and claimed he had moved on.

References

External links

• Greg Olsen biography at University of Miami Athletics Web Site
• Greg Olsen NFL profile at ESPN.com