Brian Finneran life and biography

TRANSACTIONS
Originally signed by Seattle as a rookie free agent on A pril 28, 1998. Waived by the Seahawks on August 25. Selected by the Barcelona Dragons in the NFL Europe Draft on February 23, 1999. Signed by Philadelphia on July 6. Waived by the Eagles on October 12. Signed by the Atlanta Falcons to the practice squad on December 13. Re-signed by Atlanta on January 12, 2000. Re-signed by the Falcons on April 2, 2001. Re-signed by Atlanta to a four-year contract on February 27, 2003. Re-signed by Atlanta to a four-year contract on March 13, 2006.

CAREER

Tall, rangy target who earned a starting role in 2002 and produced career-highs in catches, yards and scores, while leading the Falcons in receiving, but had a promising 2006 career cut short due to a knee injury in training camp. Also suffered a knee injury prior to the start of training camp in 2007 and was placed on injured reserve. Ranked first among Falcons' wide receivers in 2005 with 50 catches and 611 receiving yards, while also tallying a career-high three two-point conversions on the season. In Falcons career, 167 of his 217 receptions (76.9 percent) have been for a first down or touchdown. Emerged as a solid receiver with big-play ability in his second season for the Falcons in 2001, leading the team with a 21.3-yard per catch average.

2009 (FALCONS)
Competed in 10 games and finished the season with 11 receptions for 111 yards and a long catch of 19 yards. Also contributed with two kickoff returns for 22 yards. Logged two receptions for 23 yards at New England (9/27). Posted two receptions for 22 yards at Dallas (10/25). Totaled a season-high 25 receiving yards on two receptions against New Orleans (12/13).

2008 (FALCONS)
In 16 contests, caught 21 passes for 169 yards and his first touchdown since 2005. Also contributed on the punt return unit. Recorded two catches for 10 yards at Carolina (9/28) in his 90th career game. Notched season highs in receptions (four) and receiving yards (44) vs. Denver (11/16). Recorded two catches for 18 yards and his first receiving touchdown since November 6, 2005 at Miami. Posted two receptions for 11 yards, including one third down catch for a new set of downs at Arizona (1/3/09) in a NFC Wild Card match-up.

2007 (FALCONS)
Suffered a knee injury prior to training camp and was placed on Injured Reserve.

2006 (FALCONS)
Had promising 2006 campaign cut short due to a knee injury suffered during training camp.

2005 (FALCONS)
Played in all 16 games with seven starts and finished the season ranked second on the team with 50 catches and 611 receiving yards. Also tallied two touchdown receptions, four special teams tackles and a career-high three two-point conversions. Tallied 35 receiving yards on a team-high five receptions with one touchdown at Seattle (9/18). Started his first game of the season at Buffalo (9/25) and led the team with 57 receiving yards on four catches. Recorded a team-high 103 receiving yards on five receptions, including a career-long 53-yard catch, vs. New England (10/9). Also tallied a two-point conversion to tie the game at 28 in the fourth quarter. Established a career-high with eight receptions for 92 yards and one touchdown at Miami (11/6).

2004 (FALCONS)
Saw action in 12 games with one start and recorded 23 receptions for 258 yards and two touchdowns. Also tallied five solo special teams tackles. Had three catches for 45 yards and one touchdown at Seattle (1/2). Tallied two receptions for eight yards in the NFC Divisional Playoff Game vs. St. Louis (1/15/05) and one catch for 29 yards at Philadelphia (1/23/05) in the NFC Championship Game.

2003 (FALCONS)
Caught 26 passes for 368 yards (14.2 avg.) with a pair of touchdowns in 12 games and 10 starts. Did not play Weeks 2-5 due to a broken left hand suffered in the season opening victory at Dallas (9/7). Returned to the starting lineup at St. Louis (10/13) and had three catches for 55 yards.

2002 (FALCONS)
Set career-highs by leading all receivers with 56 receptions for 838 yards and six touchdowns in 16 starts. Of those 56 receptions, 39 went for first downs with another six for scores. Tied a season-high with six receptions for 72 yards at Pittsburgh (11/10). Also blocked a potential game-winning 48-yard field goal attempt by K Todd Peterson in overtime. Led the team with six receptions for 77 yards and two touchdowns vs. Cincinnati (9/22). The two touchdown catches were a career-high. Caught four passes for 104 yards, the first 100-yard receiving game of his career, at Carolina (11/24). Posted his second straight 100-yard receiving game at Minnesota (12/1) with a career-high 114 yards on five receptions with one touchdown.

2001 (FALCONS)
Totaled 23 receptions for 491 yards and three touchdowns with a team-high 21.3 yards per catch average in 16 games with one start. Also contributed a career-high 11 special teams tackles to finish sixth on the club. Scored first NFL touchdown vs. San Francisco (10/14) on a 47-yard catch in the fourth quarter for the go-ahead touchdown with just over two minutes remaining, tying the game at 24–24. Earned the first start of his career when the team opened with three wide receivers at New Orleans (10/21) and caught one pass for seven yards.

2000 (FALCONS)
Played in 12 games and tallied seven receptions for 60 yards.

1999 (FALCONS)
Played in three games, posting two receptions for 21 yards. Inactive for two games. Caught his first career pass for a 10-yard gain from QB Doug Pederson in his NFL debut vs. Arizona (9/12).

1998 (FALCONS)
Signed as a rookie free agent by the Seattle Seahawks after a prolific college career at Villanova. Did not make the final roster and was waived.

NFL EUROPE
Allocated to the Barcelona Dragons in 1999 and tallied 54 receptions for 844 yards and eight touchdowns. Named Offensive Player of the Week after catching seven passes for 205 yards and three touchdowns.

COLLEGE

All-America selection after catching 96 passes for 1,389 yards and 19 scores as a senior at Villanova. For his efforts, he was afforded the Walter Payton Award given to the nation's top offensive player in Division I-AA. Finished career with a school record 265 receptions for 3,872 yards and 34 touchdowns. Had his number 25 jersey retired by Villanova in the fall of 2003.

PERSONAL

Serves as the official spokesperson for SafeKids, a helmet safety program for Hall County. Brian's brother-in-law suffered a major head injury from a skateboard crash without wearing a helmet. Serves as a Celebrity Spokesman for the international “Bee a Buckler” Safety Program to encourage children and adults to buckle up, and to use Child Safety Seats and Booster Seats correctly. He also taped a Public Service Announcement (PSA) for the nonprofit organization. Taped a PSA for Georgia Operation Lifesaver, a nonprofit educational program on safety around trains and railroad tracks; airing of this PSA (reminding citizens to yield to oncoming trains and not trespass on railroad tracks) earned a local television station the 2007 Media Award presented annually by Operation Lifesaver. Donated monetarily for every touchdown catch to Suwanee (GA) Elementary for a handicap playgroud. Likewise, he donated to the Empty Stocking Fund, Falcons Feed the Homeless campaign and also participated in the Falcons' Ball Boy Mentoring Program and works with Breast Friends, a breast cancer support system 24/7. Born Brian Joseph Finneran on January 31, 1976 in Mission Viejo, California. He and his wife, Erin, have four children: Conor, Brynn, Keenan, Cullen.

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