Jon Jansen

Infobox NFLactive


currentteam=Washington Redskins
currentnumber=76
currentpositionplain=Offensive tackle
birthdate=birth date and age|1976|1|28
birthplace=Clawson, Michigan
heightft=6
heightin=6
weight=306
debutyear=1999
debutteam=Washington Redskins
college=Michigan
draftyear=1999
draftround=2
draftpick=37
pastteams=
* Washington Redskins (1999-present)
nfl=JAN692150
highlights=
* 1x Second-team All-Pro (2005)

Jonathan Ward Jansen (born January 28, 1976 in Clawson, Michigan) is an American football player who currently plays offensive tackle for the Washington Redskins in the National Football League. He played college football at the University of Michigan.

High School

Jansen earned Prep Football Report All-Midwest and Detroit News Blue Chip honors as a tight end at Clawson High (Mich.). As a senior, he made a school-record 31 catches for 420 yards. He posted 68 career catches and made 202 tackles, four sacks and four INTs at linebacker to earn Oakland County Defensive MVP honors. He lettered in football, basketball and baseball.

College

Jansen was a two-time First-Team All-Big Ten selection at Michigan. He set a school record with 50 straight starts, all at Right Tackle, earning the nickname "Rock." As a senior in 1998, he was named a First-Team All-American by the Burger King American Football Coaches Association. He paced Michigan's down lineman with 106 knockdowns on an offense that gained 4,955 yards. He helped Michigan to a 45-31 victory over Arkansas in the Citrus Bowl. He was Michigan's co-captain as a senior and junior and fortified an offense that posted 4,652 yards en route to the National Championship. As a redshirt freshman, he helped propel an offense that amassed 5,140 yards. As a captain of Michigan's Football Team and leader among the student body, Jansen was elected to the University of Michigan senior society, Michigamua.

NFL career

Jansen is the senior leader of the Washington Redskins, leading all players with his ten straight years of service in the burgundy and gold. Jansen has been one of the team's captains for the past three seasons. He has been one of the Redskins' most consistent and reliable players since being drafted by the team in 1999.

1999 Season

Jansen was drafted by Washington in the second-round of 1999 NFL Draft (37th overall). Jon was a valuable addition to a Redskins offensive line that allowed 31 sacks compared with a franchise record 61 in 1998. He started all 16 regular-season games and both playoff games. He made a huge impact in mini-camp, training camp and the preseason, impressing coaches with his ability to grasp the Redskins system. He was part of an offensive line that earned game balls for allowing no sacks in a 50-21 win over the Giants in Week 2.

2000 Season

On an offensive line decimated with injuries, Jansen didn't miss a snap. He was one of four players on offense to start each game and has now started every game in his career (34), including two playoff contests. His blocking helped Stephen Davis rush for 1,318 yards.

2001 Season

Jansen started all 16 games for the third straight season. He has started every game in his career (50, including two playoff games). He earned the game ball, along with the rest of the offensive line, for making way for the offense to rush for a season-high 226 yards in Redskins 27-14 win over Seattle (11/4). He and the unit earned another game ball for their outstanding play in Week 16 after the Redskins beat the Saints 40-10. Jansen's blocking helped running back Stephen Davis eclipse the team record with 1,432 yards rushing, third in the NFL and first in the NFC.

2002 Season

Jansen was voted by his teammates as the 'Unsung Hero' of the Redskins for 2002. He regarded as one of the best tackles in the NFL and part of the best bookend tandem of tackles when paired with Pro Bowler Chris Samuels. A relentless worker, Jansen helped the Redskins offense rush for 1,889 yards.

2003 Season

Jansen started all 16 games at right tackle for the fourth straight season, living up to his nickname: "The Rock". He had started 82 straight contests (including 2 playoff games) as a pro after starting 50 straight games in his college career at Michigan. Jansen continued to be a solid performer at right tackle, teaming with new right guard Randy Thomas to open up holes and protect Redskin quarterbacks. In Week 1 vs. New York Jets, he helped open holes for the Redskins to rush for 160 yards. In Week 2 at Atlanta, he helped the Redskins total 435 yards and 125 rushing yards. In Week 3 vs. New York Giants, he helped the Redskins total 456 yards and 124 rushing yards. He continued his rivalry with Pro Bowl defensive end Michael Strahan by limiting him to two tackles and no sacks. In a Week 10 game against Seattle, he helped the Redskins offense compile 379 total yards and 137 rushing yards. In Week 13 game against the New Orleans Saints, he helped the Redskins to 392 total yards and 161 rushing yards, opening holes for Trung Candidate who logged 115 rushing yards.

2004 Season

Jansen suffered a ruptured left Achilles tendon injury in the Redskins' preseason opener on Aug. 9 against the Denver Broncos. He was placed on the team's injured reserve list shortly after having surgery to repair the injury.

2005 Season

Jansen returned from an Achilles injury in 2004 to start all 16 games and two playoff games. He joined with right guard Randy Thomas to develop a dominant right side of the offensive line. He also helped running back Clinton Portis rush for a single-season team record 1,516 yards. In Week 1 vs. Chicago, he helped the Redskins' offense rush for 164 yards, led by Clinton Portis's 121 rushing yards on 21 carries. In Week 7 vs. San Francisco, he helped the Redskins' offense rush for 204 yards, led by Clinton Portis's 101 rushing yards and Ladell Betts' 92 yards. In Week 13 at St. Louis, he was part of an offensive line that compiled a season-high 257 rushing yards. Clinton Portis had 136 rushing yards and two TDs, while Rock Cartwright had 118 rushing yards on nine carries.

Jansen was given a new contract on February 7, 2007 at the conclusion of the 2006 season.

2007 season

During the season opener against Miami, Jansen suffered a season-ending broken and dislocated ankle. He was placed on the injured reserve. Reche Caldwell, a wide receiver, was signed for the roster spot vacated by Jansen.

Costas Now

In September, 2006 Jansen appeared on the HBO show "Costas Now" where in an interview with Bob Costas he stated that in his estimation between 15-20% of the league used illegal performance enhancing drugs. Jansen stated that the use of illegal substances was on the rise because the use of human growth hormone injections which are not tested for by the NFL.

He later recanted this estimation, saying that he felt 15-to-20 percent was a low amount and not realizing the significant numbers of players that a 15-to-20 percent figure would represent.