Vonta Leach
Former fullback for the Houston Texans and Super Bowl champion with the Baltimore Ravens.
Vonta Leach (born November 6, 1981) is an American former professional football player who was a fullback for ten seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He was signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2004 and played college football at East Carolina. Leach also played for the New Orleans Saints, Houston Texans, and Baltimore Ravens.
- Role
- Running Back
- Affiliation
- Houston Texans (2008–2014)
- Draft Year
- 2008
- Status
- Retired Legend
- Key Trait
- Durability and Consistency
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Leach attended East Carolina University, where he played for the East Carolina Pirates football team from 2000 to 2003. He became a member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity and earned his degree in 2010 after completing online classes. He spent his first three years with the Green Bay Packers, catching Aaron Rodgers' first completion on October 9, 2005. After brief stints with the Saints and Texans, he signed a four-year, $8 million offer sheet with the New York Giants in 2007, but the Texans matched it. He scored his first NFL touchdown on December 13, 2007, and was voted to the Pro Bowl and All-Pro team after the 2010 season. He signed with the Ravens in 2011, earning further All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors, and won Super Bowl XLVII. He re-signed with the Ravens in 2013, was released in 2014, and retired as a Raven in 2019.
In Their Own Story
The Friday night lights at Reliant Stadium hummed with the energy of a packed house, the air thick with humidity and anticipation. Vonta Leach stood in the backfield, his hands on his knees, watching the defensive line shift. The play call was simple: handoff to the right, lean into the gap, and drive forward. As the ball hit his palms, he lowered his shoulder, absorbing the impact of a linebacker with a thud that echoed through the stadium. He didn't stop; he pushed through the pile, gaining the crucial three yards needed for a first down, embodying the relentless spirit that defined his time in Houston.
Reader's Guide
Vonta Leach played fullback for the Houston Texans from 2006 to 2010. In the 2008 season, he appeared in all 16 games and started 12. He helped pave the way for Arian Foster's breakout 2010 campaign and was selected to the Pro Bowl and All-Pro team after that season. He was ranked 45th on the 2011 NFL Top 100.
Did You Know?
- Leach caught Aaron Rodgers' first career completion on October 9, 2005.
- He scored the first touchdown of the 2013 NFL season on a 2-yard pass from Joe Flacco.
- Leach was the highest-paid fullback in the NFL after signing with the Ravens in 2011.
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