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Jeff Saturday’s rise to Pro Bowl status; Where is he now?
Jeff Saturday at a Colts town hall meeting. (Credit: Matt Kryger/IndyStar via Imagn Content Services, LLC)

Jeff Saturday’s rise to Pro Bowl status; Where is he now?

INDIANAPOLIS (BVM) – While this generation of kids may know Jeff Saturday as a TV analyst, everyone else remembers him for his stellar career. For years, when people mentioned the center position, Saturday would be the first name to come to mind. For 11 seasons, he became one of the best to ever do it. 

Jeff Saturday before the NFL

Growing up near the Atlanta area, playing football in the SEC was likely a dream for Saturday. Unfortunately, he was a little undersized for his position compared to the prototypical center. This had SEC schools go in a different direction.

Ultimately Saturday wound up at the University of North Carolina where he became a first-team All-ACC selection in 1996 and 1997. He was a team captain for the Tar Heels during those seasons as well.

Due to his 6-foot-2, 295pound frame not being the preferred archetypical size, Saturday went undrafted, signing with the Baltimore Ravens. He was waived throughout training camp leaving his NFL career in limbo.

Jeff Saturday’s Colts career

After a season went by, Saturday’s former college teammate, Nate Hobgood-Chittick, was able to convince his general manager, Bill Polian, to give Saturday a try out. 

“I had no footing at all with that franchise, so I stood outside Polian’s door in my dirty sweats, saying a prayer,” Hobgood-Chittick told Tim Layden in a 2012 Sports Illustrated story. “I walked in and said, ‘There’s a guy selling electrical supplies in Raleigh right now who whipped all those first-round draft choices at North Carolina every day.’ Polian looked at me and said, ‘I love it. Let’s get him in here for a workout.’”

After making two starts at left guard in 1999, Saturday took over as the full-time center in 2000 and never looked back. He would become an iron man for the Colts’ offensive line, missing only four games from 2000 through 2011.

Saturday was first-team All-Pro in 2005 and 2007, while making a total of five Pro Bowls during his time in Indy. He was also a big contributor to the Colts’ 2006 Super Bowl run.

Jeff Saturday’s Packers stint

After spending years with one of the all-time greats in Peyton Manning, he made the move to play with another generational QB in Aaron Rodgers. Green Bay went 11-5 that season advancing to the divisional round of the playoffs. Saturday made the Pro Bowl in his final season, getting to take one last snap from “The Sheriff”.

Jeff Saturday’s Hall of Fame status

Saturday was a nominee for the 2022 NFL Hall of Fame class, but did not get in. The class included Tony Boselli, Cliff Branch, LeRoy Bulter, Art McNally, Sam Mills, Richard Seymour, Dick Vermeil and Bryant Young. Saturday will likely be nominated again for the 2023 class.

He was inducted into the Colts Ring of Honor in 2015.

Jeff Saturday’s weight loss

According to an article from Insider.com, Jeff Saturday is now down to 238 pounds. Saturday was one of the main focuses in an ESPN piece by Greg Garber about offensive lineman losing weight following their football careers.

“Every guy who played at least two years in the NFL can apply,” Saturday told Garber. “We have program managers, and they’ll take you through brain and body examinations. They’ll teach you to lift [weights], not like an NFL player but as a healthy adult. Just having conversations about getting you in the place where you’re at your best.”

Where is Jeff Saturday now?

Saturday remains close to the game today, as he is an analyst for ESPN, allowing fans to get insight from one of the brightest football minds the NFL has ever seen.

He has three kids with his wife, Karen, with the eldest a current member of the North Carolina football team.