Dan Koppen life and biography

Dan Koppen is an American football center for the New England Patriots of the National Football League.

Dan Koppen was drafted by the New England Patriots in the fifth round (164th overall) of the 2003 NFL Draft ... Signed by the Patriots (7/21/03) ... Placed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury (11/15/05).

Career Highlights

* Koppen has started 103 of 104 games for the Patriots over seven seasons with the club (2003-09). In his seven seasons in New England, Koppen has been a part of six division championships, three conference titles and two Super Bowl crowns.
* The Patriot have finished in the top 10 in total offense five times in his seven NFL seasons: 2004 (7), 2005 (7), 2007 (1), 2008 (5) and 2009 (3).
* In 2008, Koppen started every game at center as part of an offensive line that supported the best rushing season for the Patriots in more than 20 years in terms of rushing yards, rushing touchdowns and average yards per carry.
* Koppen earned his first career Pro Bowl selection in 2007 and was selected to the Associated Press All-Pro Second Team. He became the third center in Patriots history to earn all-star honors, joining Damien Woody (2002) and Jon Morris (seven AFL All-Star appearances from 1964-70).
* Koppen contributed to a Patriots offense that set all-time NFL records with 589 points and 75 touchdowns in 2007.
* Koppen started all three games in the 2003 postseason as the offensive line did not allow a sack in the playoffs and the Patriots won Super Bowl XXXVIII.

2010 (9/9)
* Started at center the first nine weeks of the season.
* Helped the Patriots become the first team in 2010 to record over 100 rushing yards (103) against a stingy Steelers defense, including a 17-yard rush by BenJarvus Green-Ellis that was the longest run by any player against the Steelers this season. Also helped power Tom Brady to 350 passing yards.
* Was part of an offensive line that helped BenJarvus Green-Ellis to a career-high 112 rushing yards and two touchdowns against the Vikings (10/31).
* Part of an offensive line that helped the Patriots rushing attack register 200 yards, their highest single-game rushing total since Dec. 14, 2008. game average in franchise history.

2009 (16/16, 1/1)
* Made all 16 starts at center and was part of an offensive line that allowed the fewest sacks (18) by a Patriots line since the NFL moved to a 16-game schedule in 1978.
* Contributed to a Patriots line that powered the offense to 619 net yards, setting a franchise record in a 59-0 victory vs. Tennessee (10/18).
* Played on a line that helped the Patriots offense finish third in the NFL after averaging 397.3 yards per game, the second highest in team history to the 411.3 yards in total offense per game in 2007.
* Started in the postseason game vs. Baltimore (1/10).

2008 (16/16)
* Started every game at center as part of an offensive line that led the Patriots to 356 first downs in 2008, the second highest total in franchise history.
* Was a part of the best rushing season for the Patriots in more than 20 years, totaling 2,278 rushing yards (sixth in team history and the most since 1985), 21 rushing touchdowns (tied for fourth in team history and the most since 1981) and an average of 4.4 yards per carry (fifth in team history and the best since 1983).
* Helped the Patriots rank fifth in the NFL in total offense, averaging 365.4 yards per game - the third-best yards per game average in franchise history.
* Helped the Patriots record a franchise-best three games with 500 or more total net yards, with the team’s 530 total net yards at Miami (11/23) standing as the second highest total for any game in franchise history.
* Started at center and led the charge with key blocks on a pair of 2-yard touchdown runs by Kevin Faulk at San Francisco (10/5).
* Started at center and was part of an offensive line that helped the Patriots to 257 rushing yards against Denver (10/20).
* Started at center and anchored an offensive line that helped Matt Cassel to a career high four touchdown passes and led Patriots rushers to 277 yards on the ground, the team’s highest single-game rushing total since 1985, at Oakland (12/14).

2007 (15/15, 3/3)
* Started at center in each of the 15 games he appeared in during the 2007 season.
* Earned his first career Pro Bowl selection.
* Started every game except Cleveland (10/7).
* Was part of a Patriots offensive line that allowed just 21 sacks, the fewest for the franchise in 30 years.
* Helped the Patriots set all-time records for points scored (589) as Tom Brady set an NFL record with 50 touchdown passes.
* Started at center and led an offensive line that provided time for Tom Brady’s franchise record six touchdown passes at Miami (10/21).
* Started at center in Super Bowl XLII (2/3).

2006 (16/16, 3/0)
* Started all 16 games and three playoff contests at center in 2006.
* Helped pave the way for the Patriots to record 1,969 rushing yards, the team’s second highest total in the last 18 years.
* Member of an offensive line that opened holes for Patriots’ rushers to gain 183 rushing yards on 41 carries against Buffalo (9/10).
* Recovered a Tom Brady fumble in Patriots’ territory late in the first quarter vs. Buffalo (9/10)
* Against Cincinnati (10/1), member of an offensive front that opened holes for Patriots’ ball carriers to gain 238 rushing yards on 41 carries, marking New England’s highest team rushing total in 13 seasons.
* Made the start at center and was a part of an offensive line that opened holes for Patriots’ rushers to gain 145 yards on just 26 carries (5.6 yard avg.) against the N.Y. Jets (11/12).
* Member of an offensive front that allowed Patriots’ ball carriers to gain 171 rushing yards on just 31 carries at Tennessee (12/31).
* Part of an offensive line that allowed just two sacks despite 51 pass attempts in a divisional playoff game at San Diego (1/14). San Diego entered the game as the league leader in sacks.

2005 (9/9, 0/0)
* Started the first nine games of the season at center before being placed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury (11/15).
* Had started 46 consecutive games at center, including the playoffs, before being placed on injured reserve.
* Member of an offensive line that did not allow a sack on 38 pass attempts against Oakland (9/8).
* Member of an offensive front that opened holes for Corey Dillon to rush for 106 yards on 23 carries against Atlanta (10/9). Provided enough pocket time for Tom Brady to throw for 350 yards and three touchdowns.

2004 (16/16, 3/3)
* Started all 16 regular season games and all three postseason games at center.
* Member of an offensive line that allowed Patriots rushers to gain more than 200 rushing yards twice in 2004, 225 rushing yards against Cleveland (12/5) and 208 rushing yards against Buffalo (11/14), marking the first time in six years the team exceeded 200 net yards rushing in a game.
* Was a part of an offensive line that opened holes for Corey Dillon to rush for 158 yards on 32 carries (4.9-yard avg.) against Arizona (9/19), the highest rushing total by a Patriot in six years. Recovered a Tom Brady fumble that was caused after the signal caller was sacked in the first quarter.
* Member of an offensive line that opened holes for Patriots’ rushers to gain 210 yards on the ground on 39 carries (5.4 avg.) in the divisional playoffs against Indianapolis (1/16), the second highest playoff rushing output in team history.
* Member of an offensive line that opened holes for Patriots’ rushers to gain 112 yards on 28 carries in New England’s 24-21 victory over the Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX.

2003 (16/15, 3/3)
* Started the final 15 games of the season and all three postseason games at center.
* Was part of an offensive line that did not allow a sack in the playoffs.
* Part of an offensive line that started the same five players in each of the last 12 regular-season games, all Patriots victories.
* Made his first career start at center against Philadelphia (9/14).
* Member of an offensive line that did not allow a sack on 35 pass attempts against Denver (11/3). Supplied Tom Brady with time in the pocket, allowing him to throw for 350 passing yards.
* Part of an offensive line that opened holes for Antowain Smith to rush for 121 yards on just 18 carries (6.7 avg.) against the N.Y. Jets (12/20). Member of an offensive line that did not allow a sack on 25 pass attempts.
* Started at center and was a member of an offensive line that did not allow a sack in the Patriots’ 32-29 Super Bowl XXXVIII victory over the Panthers.

College

* Koppen was a three-year starter at Boston College.
* A highly competitive player, he received winning grades for blocking consistency in every game he started.
* Finalist for the Rimington Award, given to the nation’s premier center.

Personal

* Daniel Koppen was born the son of Kathleen and Michael Koppen on Sept. 12, 1979 in Dubuque, Iowa.
* Attended Whitehall (Pa.) High.
* His number 77 was retired by Whitehall High during the Patriots’ bye week in 2005 and he was inducted into the school hall of fame in 2010.
* Earned all-state, all-area and All-East Penn Conference first-team honors as a senior offensive lineman/defensive end.
* Captured Prep Star All-American accolades as a senior.
* A verstile high school player, he had 10 sacks and scored eight touchdowns, carrying the ball on occasion.
* Earned defensive MVP honors in the 1997 Kaylee Rotary Bowl.
* Versatile athlete who was also a two-year letterman in track and basketball.
* Majored in management at Boston College.
* Dan and his wife, Amber, have a son, Cambell.

Extra
* Now in his eighth year with the Patriots after playing for four years at Boston College, Dan, a native of Whitehall, Pa., has spent more than a third of his life playing football in the Boston area.
* Dan is one of three current Patriots to start in the team’s victories in Super Bowls XXXVIII and XXXIX, joining Tom Brady and Matt Light.

Honors and Awards

2007 : AFC Pro Bowl Team ; Associated Press All-Pro: Second Team
2003 : Peter King's All-Pro Team ; ESPN.com All-Rookie Team

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