View source for Jeff Backus

{{Short description|American football player (born 1977)}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| image       = Jeff Backus 2012.jpg
| caption     = Backus with the Detroit Lions in 2012
| number      = 76
| position    = [[Offensive tackle]]
| birth_date  = {{birth date and age|1977|09|21}}
| birth_place = [[Midland, Michigan]], U.S.
| height_ft   = 6
| height_in   = 5
| weight_lbs  = 305
| high_school = [[Norcross High School|Norcross]] ([[Norcross, Georgia]])
| college     = [[Michigan Wolverines football|Michigan]] (1996–2000)
| draftyear   = 2001
| draftround  = 1
| draftpick   = 18
| pastteams   =
* [[Detroit Lions]] ({{NFL Year|2001}}–{{NFL Year|2012}})
| highlights  =
* [[PFWA All-Rookie Team]] ([[PFWA All-Rookie Team#2001|2001]])
* [[College football national championships in NCAA Division I FBS|National champion]] ([[1997 Michigan Wolverines football team|1997]])
* Second-team [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] ([[2000 College Football All-America Team|2000]])
* 2× First-team [[List of All-Big Ten Conference football teams|All-Big Ten]] ([[1999 All-Big Ten Conference football team|1999]], [[2000 All-Big Ten Conference football team|2000]])
* 2× Second-team All-Big Ten ([[1997 All-Big Ten Conference football team|1997]], [[1998 All-Big Ten Conference football team|1998]])
| statlabel1  = Games played
| statvalue1  = 191
| statlabel2  = Games started
| statvalue2  = 191
| statlabel3  = [[Fumble|Fumble recoveries]]
| statvalue3  = 6
| pfr         = BackJe20
}}

'''Jeffrey Carl Backus''' (born September 21, 1977) is an American former professional [[American football|football]] player who was an [[offensive tackle]] in the [[National Football League]] (NFL). He played [[college football]] for the [[University of Michigan]]. He was selected with the 18th pick in the first round of the [[2001 NFL draft]] by the [[Detroit Lions]] and played his entire 12-year career for the team.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2001 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2001/draft.htm |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

==Early life==
Backus attended [[Norcross High School]] and was a standout in football and baseball.<ref>{{cite web | title=JEFF BACKUS – Gwinnett County Public School Foundation | website=Gwinnett County Public School Foundation | date=2024-05-02 | url=https://gcps-foundation.org/hof_profile/jeff-backus/ | access-date=2025-06-29}}</ref> He spent his freshman year at Marist School in Dunwoody before returning to Norcross, where he played his middle school years. In football, as a senior, he was a [[USA Today All-USA high school football team#1995 team|''USA Today'' All-America selection]], and was chosen by the Gwinnett Touchdown Club as the Gwinnett Touchdown Club's Lineman of the Year.

==Professional career==
{{NFL predraft
|height ft=6
|height in=5 1/2
|weight=310
|dash=5.33
|ten split=1.81
|twenty split=3.01
|shuttle=4.67
|cone drill=8.27
|vertical=27
|broad ft=8
|broad in=3
|bench=25
|wonderlic=
|arm span=32 1/2
|hand span=9 1/2
|note=All measurables were taken at the [[NFL Scouting Combine]].<ref name="draft scout">{{cite web | url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=75&DraftYear=2001 | title=NFL Draft Scout }}</ref> See also the [https://www.espn.com/fantasy/?id=136 scouting report].
}}

In July 2001, Backus signed a $7 million 5-year contract with the [[Detroit Lions]], including a $3.2 million signing bonus. In July 2006, Jeff Backus signed a $40 million 6-year contract with the Lions. On November 22, 2012, Backus' streak of starting and playing in 186 consecutive games ended due to injury.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-11-22 |title=Lions' Backus inactive, ending 186-game streak |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/8662813/detroit-lions-jeff-backus-inactive-ending-186-game-streak |access-date=2025-06-29 |website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press |language=en}}</ref> On March 14, 2013, Backus retired.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-03-14 |title=Durable Lions T Backus retires after 12 seasons |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/9053216/jeff-backus-retires-12-seasons-detroit-lions |access-date=2024-10-18 |website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press |language=en}}</ref>

==Post-playing career==
Backus became a part-time coaching intern with the Detroit Lions after his retirement from playing football.<ref>{{cite web|author=Birkett, Dave|url=http://www.freep.com/article/20130530/SPORTS01/305300077/detroit-lions-jeff-backus|title=Lions glad Jeff Backus is sticking around to coach|work=Detroit Free Press|date=May 30, 2013|access-date=June 8, 2013}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline}}

{{1997 Michigan Wolverines football navbox}}
{{2001 NFL Draft}}
{{LionsFirstPick}}
{{Lions2001DraftPicks}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Backus, Jeff}}
[[Category:1977 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American people of Lithuanian descent]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Norcross, Georgia]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Midland, Michigan]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Michigan]]
[[Category:American football offensive tackles]]
[[Category:Norcross High School alumni]]
[[Category:Michigan Wolverines football players]]
[[Category:Detroit Lions players]]