NoteCARDS:
- Has appeared in 152 consecutive regular season games heading into 2012, including all 16 games over the last nine seasons. His 152 consecutive games played streak ranks as the second longest amongst active NFL long snappers—192: Justin Snow (IND), Brian Jennings (SF).
- Named the Arizona Cardinals/Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year and was one of 32 players to qualify for the league’s national 2010 “Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award,” recognizing his off-the-field community service as well as his playing excellence.
- Recorded a career-high 12 special teams tackles with the Cardinals in 2009, doubling his previous career-high of six (2006, ’07). Totaled two special teams tackles in 2011, giving him 23 special teams tackles in three seasons with the Cardinals after totaling 30 in his first nine seasons combined.
- Signed with the Cardinals as a free agent in 2009 after spending seven seasons with the Denver Broncos.
- Was a starting tight end and punter at William & Mary, where he transferred after Boston University dropped football. In April 2011, was one of six people inducted into the William & Mary Hall of Fame.
Pro Career:
Originally signed by Tennessee as an undrafted free agent on 5/3/00 and was waived on 8/26/00 and then signed to the Titans practice squad on 8/29/00. Signed to the active roster on 9/8/00 and again was waived by Tennessee on 10/16/01. Signed by Chicago to a futures contract on 1/10/02 and was waived on 8/26/02. Signed by Denver on 11/4/02 and played in 104 consecutive regular season games and four postseason contests for the Broncos between 2002 and 2008. Signed a three-year contract with the Cardinals on 3/12/09 as a free agent. After appearing in all 48 games and both postseason contests in three seasons, re-upped with Arizona on 3/26/12, agreeing to a three-year contract.
2011: Saw action in all 16 games, extending his consecutive games played streak to 152; the longest streak on the team and the third-longest among active NFL long snappers - 192, Justin Snow (IND) and Brian Jennings (SF) … collected two special teams tackles on the season … snapper for two game-winning FGs in OT … recorded his first special teams tackle of the season vs. StL (11/6) … collected one special teams tackle vs. Cle (12/18) … played in 170th career game @ Cin (12/24).
2010: Saw action in all 16 games for the eighth consecutive season … played in 140th career game and registered one special teams tackle in the season opener @ StL (9/12) … recorded one special teams tackle in each of the next two games: vs. Oak (9/26) and @ SD (10/3) … recorded two special teams tackles @ Min (11/7) … led team with two special teams tackles @ KC (11/21) … played in 150th career game vs. SF (11/29) … recorded one special teams tackle vs. StL (12/5); marked 50th special teams tackle of career … recorded one special teams tackle vs. Dal (12/25) … due to injuries to TEs Ben Patrick and Stephen Spach, saw significant time at TE in the season finale @ SF (1/2/11).
2009: Played in all 16 games and both postseason contests, recording a career-high 12 special teams tackles … appeared in first game as a member of the Cardinals vs. SF (9/13) … tied for the team lead with three special teams tackles and filled in at TE for the injured Stephen Spach in the fourth quarter vs. Hou (10/11) … recorded one special teams tackle @ Sea (10/18); @ NYG (10/25); vs. Car (11/1) … registered two special teams tackles vs. Sea (11/15) to establish a new single-season career high … recorded one special teams tackle in each of the next three games: @ SF (12/14); @ Det (12/20); vs. StL (12/27) … appeared in both postseason contests.
2008: Served as Denver's long snapper for all 16 games ... voted by teammates as special teams captain for season opener @ OAK (9/8) ... had a streak of three consecutive games with a special teams tackle vs. TB (10/5), vs. Jax (10/12) and @ NE (10/20) ... played in his 100th consecutive game @ NYJ (11/30).
2007: Played all 16 games for the Broncos for the fifth consecutive season, performing the club’s long-snapping duties ... led Denver in tackles on punt coverage (six) ... opened the season with one special-teams stop @ Buf (9/9) ... appeared on offense for a play vs. GB (10/29) ... played his 100th pro game @ KC (11/11) ... recorded two special teams tackles vs. Min (12/30).
2006: Served as the Broncos long snapper on punts and kicks in all 16 games ... recorded his first tackle on special teams @ NE (9/24) before adding coverage tackles in consecutive weeks @ Cle (10/22) and vs. Ind (10/29) ... had one special teams tackle vs. Sea (12/3).
2005: For the third consecutive season, handled the Broncos long-snapping duties for all 16 regular-season games and recorded five special-teams tackles ... also served as the club’s long snapper in both postseason outings ... downed a punt at the five-yard line and had one special teams tackle vs. Oak (12/24) … recovered a muffed punt return by Troy Brown in the fourth quarter at the Patriots 15-yard line to set up a Denver TD in the Divisional Playoff win vs. NE (1/14).
2004: Handled the Broncos long-snapping duties for all 16 regular-season games and had three special teams tackles ... collected one tackle on special teams @ TB (10/3), @ NO (11/21) and vs. Oak (11/28) ... added one special teams tackle in Denver’s Wild Card game @ Ind (1/9)
2003: Handled the long-snapping duties in all 16 regular-season games for Denver for the first time in his career and made three special teams tackles during the year ... Denver’s long snapper for its Wild Card matchup @ Ind (1/4).
2002: Played in eight games after signing with the Broncos on 11/4 as the team’s long snapper ... played in his first game as a Bronco vs. Oak (11/11) ... with Chicago in training camp, but was waived on 8/26.
2001: Spent the first four games of the season with Tennessee before being waived on 10/16.
2000: Played in 15 games for the Titans after he was signed to their active roster from the practice squad on 9/8 ... signed to the Titans practice squad after training camp ... saw action at TE during the season ... played mostly on special teams and made one tackle @ Cin (10/8) ... recorded one kickoff return for 10 yards vs. Cle (11/19) … played on special teams in the Divisional Playoff game vs. Bal (1/7).
College:
A two-year starter at tight end and punter at William & Mary after transferring from Boston University when the school dropped its football program ... earned first-team Walter Camp All-America honors at TE as a senior in 1999 and led the Atlantic-10 Conference in punting as a junior and senior ... registered 106 career receptions for 1,181 yards with 12 TDs ... led his conference in receptions (33) among TEs as a senior ... earned second-team All-America (AP) and second-team All-Atlantic 10 honors as a junior ... also set school single-season records for catches (58) by a TE and punting average (44.4 avg.) that season ... played 16 games in two years at Boston University and redshirted at BU in 1995.
Personal:
First-team All-State selection at Jefferson Township (NJ) High School and graduated as the school’s all-time leading scorer and rebounder in basketball ... received a bachelor’s degree in History from William & Mary … Leach and his wife, Julie, have a son, Ryan Matthew, and a daughter, Madeline Rae, with a golden retriever, Snapper.
