COLLEGE STATION, TX -- Former Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill made history and 17 Aggies were on active team rosters for the opening weekend of the NFL season last week.
Tannehill, the No. 8 overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, became the first Aggie to start at quarterback in the initial game of his professional career. Tannehill started for the Miami Dolphins against the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium in Houston, which was also the site of his final Texas A&M game at the Meinecke Car Care Bowl of Texas. Tannehill completed 20-of-36 passes for 219 yards as the Dolphins fell to the Texans, 30-10.
Tannehill was one of three former A&M players making their NFL debuts on the opening weekend. Also debuting were 2011 senior Cyrus Gray with the Kansas City Chiefs and 2008 senior Jorvorskie Lane with the Dolphins. After a long battle to get his chance in the NFL, Lane, who scored an A&M-record 50 touchdowns from 2005-08, got his name in the boxscore with a 24-yard catch from Tannehill.
Former A&M All-American punter Shane Lechler is the longest-tenured NFL Aggie in his 13th season with the Oakland Raiders, which are coached by the youngest head coach in the NFL and former Wrecking Crew member Dennis Allen. Arguably the greatest punter in NFL history, Lechler, a six-team first-team All-Pro selection, is the NFL’s career punt average leader (47.6) by over a yard.
Another Aggie with an impressive opening weekend was Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller, who contributed a pair of sacks in his team’s 31-19 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Brothers Martellus and Michael Bennett also turned in strong games with Martellus grabbing four catches for 40 yards and a touchdown for the New York Giants against the Dallas Cowboys and Michael contributing a sack and forcing a fumble for Tampa Bay against the Carolina Panthers.
Here’s a complete look at the Aggies on NFL Opening Day active rosters (week 1 action):
#85 Martellus Bennett, TE, New York Giants (4 catches-40 yards, 1 TD vs. Cowboys)
#71 Michael Bennett, DL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2 tackles, 1 sack, 1 FF vs. Panthers)
#95 Rocky Bernard, DL, New York Giants (3 tackles, 1 sack vs. Cowboys)
#79 Red Bryant, DL, Seattle Seahawks (3 tackles vs. Cardinals)
#96 Ron Edwards, DL, Carolina Panthers (1 tackle vs. Buccaneers)
#25 Mike Goodson, RB, Oakland Raiders (2 rushes, 13 yards vs. Chargers)
#42 Cyrus Gray, RB, Kansas City Chiefs (no stats vs. Falcons)
#63 Geoff Hangartner, OL, Carolina Panthers (no stats vs. Buccaneers)
#41 Jorvorskie Lane, FB, Miami Dolphins (1 catch, 24 yards vs. Texans)
#9 Shane Lechler, P, Oakland Raiders (2/32.0, long of 62 vs. Chargers)
#60 Kevin Matthews, OL, Tennessee Titans (no stats vs. Patriots)
#58 Von Miller, LB, Denver Broncos (4 tackles, 2 sacks vs. Steelers)
#48 Don Muhlbach, DS, Detroit Lions (no stats vs. Rams)
#32 Jordan Pugh, DB, Washington Redskins (no stats vs. Saints)
#17 Ryan Tannehill, QB, Miami Dolphins (20-of-36, 219 yards, 0 TD, 3 INT vs. Texans)
#74 Cody Wallace, OL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (no stats vs. Panthers)
#94 *Ty Warren, DL, Denver Broncos (1 tackle vs. Steelers)
* -- Injured in game, placed on Injured Reserve
Six former A&M players are listed on NFL practice squads:
#79 Ben Bass, DL, Dallas Cowboys
#37 Terrence Frederick, DB, New York Giants
#83 Jeff Fuller, WR, Miami Dolphins
#63 Tony Jerod-Eddie, DL, San Francisco 49ers
#80 Jamie McCoy, TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
#77 Lucas Patterson, DL, Kansas City Chiefs
Injured Reserve:
#4 Randy Bullock, PK, Houston Texans
Eight Aggies are on NFL Coaching Staffs:
Dennis Allen, Oakland Raiders (Head Coach)
Dan Campbell, Miami Dolphins (Tight Ends)
Kyle Caskey, Cincinnati Bengals (Offensive Quality Control)
Jerry Fontenot, Green Bay Packers (Tight Ends)
Johnny Holland, Oakland Raiders (Linebackers)
Gary Kubiak, Houston Texans (Head Coach)
Kirk Parrish, Seattle Seahawks (College Scouting Coordinator)
Shawn Slocum, Green Bay Packers (Special Teams Coordinator)
