Shaun O'Hara life and biography

* Signed by the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted rookie free agent April 17, 2000…Signed by the Giants as a free agent on March 8, 2004.

GIANTS NOTES

* Scored his only career touchdown on his only career reception playing for Cleveland vs. Detroit on Sept. 23, 2001.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

* Has played in 145 regular season games, with 129 starts and has started the last 125 games in which he's played…Has also started all 7 postseason games in which he's played…In his first 6 years with the Giants, O'Hara started all 91 regular season and 6 postseason games in which he's played. He started every regular season game in the previous 3 seasons.
* In 2009. O'Hara started all 16 regular season games…Was selected to his 2nd consecutive Pro Bowl and started the game for the NFC team…Was joined at the Pro Bowl by guard Chris Snee and tackle David Diehl, the 1st time the Giants had 3 players from the same position group in the game since 1962 (when offensive linemen Rosie Brown, Darrell Dess and Ray Wietecha – also a tackle, guard and center – all received the honor…O'Hara and Snee were the 1st Giants to be selected to back-to-back Pro Bowls since Tiki Barber and Jeremy Shockey in 2005-06 and they were the 1st Giants offensive lineman to go in consecutive seasons since guard Ron Stone in 2000 and 2001. O'Hara was the 1st Giants center selected to successive Pro Bowls since Bart Oates in 1990-91…Run and pass blocking helped the Giants average 366.0 yards a game, the NFL's 8th-highest figure…Line allowed only 32 sacks, tied for 7th-best in the league.
* In 2008, O'Hara started all 16 regular season games and the NFC Divisional Playoff Game at center. The Giants were the only team to start the same 5 linemen in all 32 regular season games in 2007-08…O'Hara was selected to his 1st Pro Bowl and was named 1st team All-Pro by Sports Illustrated and The Sporting News, 1st team All-NFC by the Pro Football Writers Association and 2nd team All-Pro by the Associated Press.
* O'Hara was an integral part of an offense that helped the Giants finish with 427 points and 338 first downs, both the 2nd-highest totals in franchise history. The Giants gained 5,695 yards, the 3rd-highest total in their history. The line's blocking enabled the Giants to lead the NFL and set franchise records in both rushing yards per game (157.4) and yards per carry (5.0). With McKenzie and the line opening holes, Brandon Jacobs (1,089) and Derrick Ward (1,025) became the 4th pair of running back teammates to rush for 1,000 yards in the same season.
* With the line opening holes, the Giants rushed for 301 yards in a victory over Carolina (12/21) that clinched the top seed in the NFC playoffs. It was the 5th-highest total Giants history.
* O'Hara and the line allowed just 2 sacks in a 5-game period from Sept. 21-Oct. 26.
* In 2007, started all 16 regular season games and the Giants' final 3 postseason games at center. Did not play in the NFC Wild Card Game at Tampa Bay due to a knee injury suffered in the regular season finale vs. New England.
* Was one of the Giants' team captains for the 2007 season, with Eli Manning, Michael Strahan, Antonio Pierce and Jeff Feagles.
* Blocking by O'Hara and the O-line enabled the Giants to finish 4th in the NFL in rushing yardage with an average of 134.3 yards a game. In their 4-game postseason surge that culminated in a Super Bowl XLII victory, the Giants averaged 305.5 yards, including 103.8 on the ground.
* In 2006, O'Hara started all 15 regular season games in which he played and the NFC Wild Card Game at center…Inactive due to an ankle injury vs. Philadelphia (12/17).
* In 2005, started all 16 regular season games and the NFC Wild Card Game at center…Was selected as a 3rd alternate to the NFC Pro Bowl squad…Blocking by the O-line helped Tiki Barber rush for a franchise record 1,860 yards…Blocking at Oakland (12/31) helped Barber rush for 203 yards, including a team-record 95-yard touchdown.
* In 2004, started all 12 games in which he played in at center…Inactive at Minnesota (10/31) and vs. Chicago (11/7) with leg infection that forced him to be hospitalized for a week. Inactive vs. Atlanta (11/21) and vs. Philadelphia (11/28) with an ankle injury…Key member of a line that provided the blocking to enable Barber to set a then-franchise single-season rushing record with 1,518 yards
* In 2003, started all 14 games in which he played for the Browns, 8 at left guard and 6 at right guard…Started at right guard at Cincinnati (12/28) as the Browns rushed for a season-high 264 yards, including 186 and 2 touchdowns by Lee Suggs.
* In 2002, started all 16 regular season games for the 1st time in his career, 13 at right guard and 3 at center…Also started at right guard in the AFC Wild Card Game at Pittsburgh (1/5/03) as the offensive line gave Kelly Holcomb enough time to throw for 429 yards and 3 touchdowns.
* In 2001, played in all 16 games, including starts in the final 4 games at left guard…Majority of action came in a backup role at center and guard, on special teams and as a tackle eligible on the goal-line unit…Made his 1st start at left guard (previous starts were at center) vs. Jacksonville (12/16)…Scored his 1st career touchdown vs. Detroit (9/23) when he lined up as a tackle eligible in the 2nd quarter and caught a 2-yard pass from Tim Couch to give the Browns a 14-0 lead in the 2nd quarter. Cleveland won, 24-14.
* In 2000, earned a roster spot as a rookie free agent during training camp and played in 8 games, including 4 starts at center…Made his NFL debut playing on special teams vs. Cincinnati (10/29)…Made his 1st career start at center at Baltimore (11/26).

COLLEGE

* Former walk-on at Rutgers was selected All-Big East 1st-team tackle as a senior in 1999, when he was a team captain…Earned 2nd team All-Big East accolades as a junior in 1998…Also served as the Scarlet Knights' long snapper on all field goal, PAT and punt attempts.
* Originally earned a spot on the Scarlet Knights roster as a walk-on in 1995 and built himself into an outstanding offensive lineman through hard work and effort, starting the last 31 games of his career.

OFF FIELD ACTIVITY

* In 2009, O'Hara started the Shaun O'Hara Foundation to Help to Increase Knowledge and Education (HIKE) in life-threatening diseases for which there is limited funding. O'Hara serves as an Ambassador of Hope for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, a role in which he meets with children and young adults living with the disease whenever he can to help keep their spirits high. He also is very active in events designed to help raise awareness of the CF Foundation's fundraising efforts to find a cure. Some of the events in which O'Hara has participated include Strides Across America, where people pledge money based on the amount of miles they plan to walk over an established course. He's also been an active participant in the Giants Sports Challenge, which sees adults and children with CF come out to Giants Stadium to compete in different team-oriented activities. Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic, potentially life-threatening disease affecting the lungs and digestive system. CF causes the body to produce unusually thick, sticky mucus that clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening infections and obstructs the pancreas, preventing natural enzymes from helping the body break down and absorb food.
* Named the Giants' recipient of the 2005 NFL Walter Payton "Man of the Year" award, given to the player on each team who displays excellence on the football field and in the community.
* Attended Big Brothers & Big Sisters of NYC's Sidewalks of N.Y. fundraiser.
* Participated in the Giants Foundation 2010 Golf Outing.
* Joined Eli Manning to attend The Baby Ball benefitting the Eli and Abby Manning Birthing Center at St. Vincent's Medical Center.
* Participated in Justin Tuck's R.U.S.H. for Literacy fundraiser pool tournament.
* Attended the Champions for Children fundraiser gala benefitting the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation.
* Bowled in Brian Leonard's Rally at the Alley fundraiser benefitting the Embrace Kids Foundation, which assists children with cancer and blood disorders in the greater metropolitan area.
* Attended a fundraiser dinner hosted by Coach Peter Giunta for Holy Spirit School.
* Attended the Giants Kickoff Luncheon benefitting St. Vincent's Medical Center.

PERSONAL

* Married (Amy).
* Born June 23, 1977 in Chicago, Ill.
* Participated in football, basketball and track in high school.
* Named all-state offensive tackle and defensive end in football and was also named captain his junior and senior years.
* Was selected all-conference and all-county and team captain as a basketball center.
* Majored in criminal justice and was on the dean's list at Rutgers.

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