Justin
Hartwig - C
HEIGHT
–
6-4
WEIGHT
-
312
COLLEGE
–
Kansas
BORN
–
November 21, 1978
BIRTHPLACE
– Mankato,
Minn.
HOW
ACQUIRED – UFA
‘08
NFL
EXPERIENCE – 7th
Year
PRO: Signed with the
Pittsburgh Steelers on March 25, 2008 as an unrestricted free agent
(Carolina)…played 17 games with 16 starts at center for the Carolina Panthers
from 2006-2007…signed by Carolina on March 16, 2006 as an unrestricted free
agent (Tennessee)…started 47 games for the Titans at center from
2003-2005…anchored a Tennessee offensive line that ranked eighth in the NFL in
2005 and sixth in the NFL in 2003 in sacks per pass play…received the offensive
game ball with Tennessee for his performance at Miami on September 11,
2004…earned the starting center job for Tennessee during the 2003 preseason
after never having played the position in his career…originally selected by
Tennessee in the sixth round (187th overall) of the 2002 NFL
Draft.
2007
(15-15): Started 15 games as
center…was placed on the Reserve/Injured list on December 23…anchor of an
offense that rushed for 1,824 yards (4.0 avg.)…9/9 at St. Louis: Started at
center…helped pave the way for a season-high 186 rushing yards…9/16 vs. Houston: Started at
center…provided protection to allow Jake Delhomme to throw for a season-high 287
yards…9/23 at Atlanta: Started at
center…cleared the way for the team to rush for 176 yards…9/30 vs. Tampa Bay: Started at
center…10/7 at New Orleans: Started
at center…unit allowed only one sack…10/14 at Arizona: Started at
center…helped pave the way to 181 rushing yards, the second-most of the
season…10/28 vs. Indianapolis:
Started at center…part of a unit which allowed zero sacks…11/4 at Tennessee: Started at center…11/11 vs. Atlanta: Started at center…11/18 at Green Bay: Started at
center…helped clear the way for the team to rush for 131 yards…11/25 vs. New Orleans: Started at
center…anchor of a unit which allowed only one sack…12/2 vs. San Francisco: Started at
center…leader of a unit which ran for 166 yards and had 323 yards of total
offense…12/9 at Jacksonville:
Started at center…12/16 vs. Seattle:
Started at center…helped pave the way for the team to rush for 114 yards…12/22 vs. Dallas: Started at center…12/23: Placed on the Reserve/Injured
list.
2006
(2-1): Signed by the
Carolina Panthers as an unrestricted free agent on March 16 (Tennessee)…started
the season opener at center against Atlanta on September 10…missed six straight
games due to a groin injury before appearing as a reserve against Dallas on
October 29…was inactive for two more weeks before being placed on the
Reserve/Injured list on November 24.…9/10 vs. Atlanta: Started at center and
helped the team gain 280 yards of total offense…9/17 at Minnesota: Was inactive due to
a groin injury…9/24 at Tampa Bay:
Was inactive…10/1 vs. New Orleans:
Was inactive…10/8 vs. Cleveland:
Was inactive…10/15 at Baltimore:
Was inactive…10/22 at Cincinnati:
Dressed but did not play…10/29 vs.
Dallas: Played as a reserve…11/13
vs. Tampa Bay: Was inactive…11/19
vs. St. Louis: Was inactive…11/24:
Was placed on the Reserve/Injured list.
2005
(16-16): Started all 16 games
at center for the second time in career…anchored offensive line that tied for
10th in the NFL for fewest sacks allowed with 31 and finished eighth
in sacks per play, yielding only one sack every 20.2 pass plays…led an offense
that ranked ninth in league in passing with an average of 224.8 yards per
game…9/11 at Steelers: Started at
center and led an offensive unit which generated 303 total yards…9/18 vs. Baltimore: Started at center
for an offense that produced 25 points in a victory…9/25 at St. Louis: Started at center
and provided the protection for Steve McNair to pass for two touchdowns…10/2 vs. Indianapolis: Started at
center …10/9 at Houston: Started at
center and led an offensive attack which produced 34 points…10/16 vs. Cincinnati: Started at center
and cleared the way for Chris Brown to rush for 84 yards and two touchdowns…10/23 at Arizona: Started at center and
anchored an offensive unit which gained 348 yards of total offense…10/30 vs. Oakland: Started at center
and was part of an offensive line which allowed Chris Brown to rush for 97 yards
and a touchdown…11/6 at Cleveland:
Started at center and helped provide protection for Steve McNair to throw
for 235 yards…11/20 vs. Jacksonville:
Started at center as the offense had 254 total yards…11/27 vs. San Francisco: Started at
center as the offensive line provided the protection for Steve McNair to pass
for 343 yards and three touchdowns…12/4
at Indianapolis: Started at center…12/11 vs. Houston: Started at center as
the Titans had 301 yards of total offense…12/18 vs. Seattle: Started at center
and anchored an offensive line which allowed Steve McNair to pass for 310 yards
and two touchdowns…12/24 at Miami:
Started at center and cleared the way for the Titans to rush for 92 yards…1/1 at Jacksonville: Started at
center.
2004
(15-15): Started 15 games at
center and helped the Titans offense finish 11th in the NFL, which
included Chris Brown’s 1,067 rushing yards and 3,829 combing passing yards
between the team’s two starting quarterbacks, Steve McNair and Billy Volek…did
not play at Oakland in Week 15 due to a laceration of his right ring finger…was
awarded the game ball for his performance at Miami in Week 1 after the team
gained 182 rushing yards in a 17-7 season-opening victory...9/11 at Miami: Started at center…earned
the game ball after helping Chris Brown rush for his first career 100-yard
game…9/19 vs. Indianapolis: Started
at center and again paved the way for Brown to have a huge day with 152 rushing
yards…9/26 vs. Jacksonville: Started
at center as offensive line again cleared the way for Brown to go over the
century mark with 101 yards…10/3 at San
Diego: Started at center as the offense racked up 329 yards of total
offense…10/11 at Green Bay: Started
at center and lead an offensive line which did not allow a sack…10/17 vs. Houston: Started at center
and helped provide the protection for Steve McNair to pass for 210 yards and one
touchdown…10/24 at Minnesota:
Started at center…10/31 vs.
Cincinnati: Started at center and was part of a unit which allowed Chris
Brown to rush for 147 yards…11/14 vs.
Chicago: Started at center and anchored an offense which passed for 318
yards and two touchdowns…11/21 at
Jacksonville: Started at center as the Titans again ran for over 100 yards,
led by Antowain Smith’s 95 yards…11/28
at Houston: Started at center and lead an offensive attack which generated
355 yards of total offense…12/5 at
Indianapolis: Started at center and again paved the way for Brown to exceed
the century mark with 104 rushing yards…12/13 vs. Kansas City: Started at
center as the offense had a huge day statistically with 542 total yards and 426
yards passing by Billy Volek…left the game in the third quarter with a right
finger laceration…12/19 at Oakland:
Was inactive due to a right finger laceration…12/25 vs. Denver: Started at center…1/2 vs. Detroit: Started at center as
the offensive line held the Lions sack-less.
2003 (16-16/2-2):
Started every game at
center and helped Steve McNair lead the league in passing (100.4 rating) while
Eddie George recorded his seventh 1,000-yard rushing season (1,031)…team totaled
eight regular-season games and one playoff game with 100 or more rushing
yards…member of offensive line ranked tied for sixth in the league in fewest
sacks allowed with 25…offense ranked fourth overall in AFC (eighth in NFL)…won
starting center job with four preseason starts after never playing center prior
to training camp…9/7 vs. Oakland:
Made first career start at center in the Titans’ opening day win…9/14 at Indianapolis: Started at
center…9/21 vs. New Orleans: Started
at center and paved the way for Eddie George to post his first 100-yard rushing
performance of the season with exactly 100 yards…9/28 at Pittsburgh: Started at center
and provided protection for Steve McNair to pass for three touchdowns…10/5 at New England: Started at center
for an offense which rolled up 411 yards of total offense…10/12 vs. Houston: Started at center
and allowed Steve McNair to pass for a career-high 421 yards passing and three
touchdowns, while the offense had 535 yards of total offense…10/19 at Carolina: Started at center
where his blocking helped the Titans rush for 134 yards as a team…10/26 at Jacksonville: Started at
center as the Titans’ offensive line held the Jaguars without a sack in the
Tennessee victory…11/9 at Miami:
Started at center as the Titans held the opposition without a sack for the
second consecutive week…11/16 vs.
Jacksonville: Started at center as the Titans won a defensive battle…11/23 at Atlanta: Started at center and
helped clear the way for Eddie George to exceed the century mark for the second
time on the season with 115 rushing yards…12/1 at New York Jets: Started at
center and provided protection for Steve McNair to pass for 272 yards and two
touchdowns…12/7 vs. Indianapolis:
Started at center and again gave Steve McNair the time to have a big day
with 235 yards passing and two touchdowns…12/14 vs. Buffalo: Started at center as
the Titans were able to gain 349 yards of total offense…12/21 at Houston: Started at center as
the offense had another huge day with 182 rushing yards and 450 yards of total
offense…12/28 vs. Tampa Bay: Started
at center and gave Neil O’Donnell time to pass for 232 yards and two
touchdowns…AFC Wild Card Game 1/3 at
Baltimore: Started at center as the Titans upset the Ravens behind 88 yards
on the ground from Eddie George and 159 yards passing and one touchdown thrown
by Steve McNair…AFC Divisional Game 1/10
at New England: Started at center as the Titans were eliminated from the
playoffs by the eventual Super Bowl champion Patriots.
2002 (3-0/0-0):
Played the final
three games primarily on special teams after being inactive for the first 13
games…was inactive for both playoff games…made his NFL debut on Monday Night
Football against the Patriots in Week 15…9/8 vs. Philadelphia: Was inactive…9/15 at Dallas: Was inactive…9/22 at Cleveland: Was inactive…9/29 at Oakland: Was inactive…10/6 vs. Washington: Was inactive…10/13 vs. Jacksonville: Was inactive…10/27 at Cincinnati: Was inactive…11/3 at Indianapolis: Was inactive…10/10 vs. Houston: Was inactive…11/27 vs. Pittsburgh: Was inactive…11/24 vs. Baltimore: Was inactive…12/1 at New York Giants: Was
inactive…12/8 vs. Indianapolis: Was
inactive…12/16 vs. New England: Made
his NFL debut on Monday Night Football playing primarily special teams…12/22 at Jacksonville: Saw action as a
reserve at guard and also contributed on special teams…12/29 at Houston: Played primarily
special teams…AFC Divisional Game 1/11
vs. Pittsburgh: Was inactive…AFC
Championship Game 1/19 at Oakland: Was inactive.
COLLEGE:
Three-year starter at
right tackle…appeared in 38 games with 34 starts…second-team All-Big 12 choice
and team captain as a senior…All-Big 12 honorable mention as a junior…2001: Second-team All-Big 12 Conference
selection by the league’s coaches…served as team co-captain, earning Player of
the Week honors three times…manned the right offensive tackle position, grading
80.9 percent for blocking consistency as the team totaled 2,968 yards…only
offensive lineman to start every game the last two years...2000: Started all 11 games at right
tackle…honorable mention All-Big 12 Conference selection…second-highest graded
lineman among the offensive line unit with 82.3 percent mark…1999: Started all 12 games at right
tackle…earned one of the top blocking grades among offensive linemen at 82.0
percent…had his first starting assignment in the season opener vs. Notre Dame…1998: Made a significant contribution
as a backup at tackle…saw action as a reserve in four games…1997: Redshirted…communication studies
major…Jayhawk Scholar.
PERSONAL:
His
father, Craig, had a tryout with the Atlanta Falcons during the early
1980s…earned all-conference and second-team all-state honors his senior season
at Valley (Wes Des Moines, Iowa) High…three-year starter who didn’t allow a
quarterback sack from his offensive tackle position…also a standout in track and
basketball…helped his basketball team to the state tournament and a 17-5
record…team’s leading rebounder and averaged 8.1 points…earned honorable mention
all-conference honors in basketball…broke the school discus record in track with
a throw of 164-7…won the conference discus title two consecutive years and
placed third in the state 4A meet…earned first-team all-state honors in the
discus as a senior, and was a choice on the Elite All-State discus listing by
the Iowa High School Coaches Association…Full name: Justin James
Hartwig.
