John Wendling
Wendling with the Detroit Lions in 2012 | |||||||||
No. 29, 21 | |||||||||
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Position: | Safety / Special teamer | ||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||
Born: | Cody, Wyoming, U.S. | June 4, 1983||||||||
Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||
Weight: | 222 lb (101 kg) | ||||||||
Career information | |||||||||
High school: | Rock Springs (WY) | ||||||||
College: | Wyoming | ||||||||
NFL draft: | 2007 / Round: 6 / Pick: 184 | ||||||||
Career history | |||||||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Player stats at PFR |
John Wendling (born June 4, 1983) is an American former professional football safety who played in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the sixth round (184th overall) of the 2007 NFL draft. He played college football at Wyoming.
During the 2009 and 2010 seasons, Wendling saw most of his playing time as a gunner on special teams. He led the Bills in special teams tackles in 2009, and also led the Lions in 2010.
College career
Wendling redshirted as a freshman in 2002. In his redshirt freshman season, he played on special teams, ending up with two blocked kicks. During his sophomore redshirt season 2004, Wendling led the Cowboys in tackles with 89, and garnered Honorable Mention All-Conference honors. He also had a huge game against Air Force, making 11 tackles and breaking up two passes in a 43-26 victory over Air Force, eventually to be named MWC Defensive Player of the Week. Wendling also succeeded in his junior season, and once again earned Honorable Mention All-Conference honors.
College statistics
Year | Games | Tackles | Assisted tackles | Interceptions | Yds | TD |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2004 | 5 | 56 | 33 | 3 | 7 | 0 |
2005 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
2006 | 5 | 38 | 40 | 1 | 15 | 0 |
Total | 13 | 94 | 73 | 7 | 24 | 0 |
Professional career
Buffalo Bills
Wendling was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the sixth round with the 184th overall pick in the 2007 NFL draft.[1] He signed a contract with the team on July 24, 2007. He was waived on February 16, 2010.
Detroit Lions
Wendling signed with the Detroit Lions on August 27, 2010.
Wendling was named a special teams Pro Bowl alternate for the NFC during the 2010 NFL season.[2]
Wendling's contract ran out following the 2013 season and he was not re-signed by the Lions.[3]
NFL career statistics
Legend | |
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Bold | Career high |
Regular season
Year | Team | Games | Tackles | Interceptions | Fumbles | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | TFL | Int | Yds | TD | Lng | PD | FF | FR | Yds | TD | ||
2007 | BUF | 14 | 0 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
2008 | BUF | 16 | 0 | 13 | 10 | 3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2009 | BUF | 16 | 0 | 27 | 20 | 7 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2010 | DET | 16 | 0 | 30 | 22 | 8 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2011 | DET | 16 | 1 | 25 | 20 | 5 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2012 | DET | 16 | 3 | 29 | 23 | 6 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2013 | DET | 16 | 0 | 14 | 10 | 4 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
110 | 4 | 148 | 115 | 33 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Playoffs
Year | Team | Games | Tackles | Interceptions | Fumbles | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | TFL | Int | Yds | TD | Lng | PD | FF | FR | Yds | TD | ||
2011 | DET | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Personal life
Wendling's wife suggested that he grow out a mullet while watching a Colorado Rockies baseball game in which one of the players donned the prolific hairstyle. Wendling's teammate Reggie Bush referred to him as "Joe Dirt" due to Wendling's resemblance to David Spade's character in the 2001 comedy film by the same name.[4]
References
- ^ "2007 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
- ^ Birkett, Dave (July 27, 2011). "Lions bring back John Wendling, Drew Stanton". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on September 11, 2013.
- ^ "Lions not planning to re-sign five free agents". February 21, 2014.
- ^ "Detroit Lions Q&A: John Wendling, aka 'Joe Dirt,' reveals the origins of his legendary mullet". November 8, 2013.
External links
- Detroit Lions bio Archived November 13, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- Wyoming Cowboys football bio Archived March 2, 2007, at the Wayback Machine