David Garrard

David Douglas Garrard was born on February 14, 1978, in East Orange, New Jersey, and raised in Durham, North Carolina. His football journey began at Southern High School in Durham, where he earned All-America honors and was considered a top high school quarterback in North Carolina. He then attended East Carolina University, playing for the East Carolina Pirates football team from 1997 to 2001. During his college career, Garrard demonstrated exceptional mobility and durability, starting every game from 1999 to 2001. He led the Pirates to significant victories, including a notable comeback against the 13th-ranked Miami Hurricanes in 1999 after Hurricane Floyd impacted their home stadium. Garrard broke 28 school passing and offensive records at East Carolina and is recognized as one of the few quarterbacks to achieve over 9,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards in their collegiate careers. He graduated in 2001 with a degree in Construction Management.

Garrard was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the fourth round of the 2002 NFL draft as the 108th overall pick. He served as a backup quarterback for several seasons, overcoming a diagnosis of Crohn’s disease in 2004, which required surgery. Despite this, he returned healthy for the 2004 season and later led the Jaguars to a 5–1 run in the latter part of the 2005 season, securing a playoff berth. In 2007, Garrard was named the starting quarterback for the Jaguars, leading the team to a 10–2 record, 18 touchdowns, 2,509 passing yards, and only three interceptions in 12 games. This performance included leading the Jaguars to their first playoff win since 1999, a 31–29 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Wild Card game. He was recognized for his achievements by being named to the 2009 Pro Bowl, where he contributed significantly to the AFC’s win with 183 yards and a touchdown. He signed a 6-year, $60 million contract extension with the Jaguars in 2008.

After his release from the Jaguars in 2011, Garrard briefly joined the Miami Dolphins in 2012 but was released due to knee issues. He signed with the New York Jets in March 2013 but announced his retirement in May 2013 due to persistent knee swelling. Despite a brief return to the Jets in October 2013, he officially retired from the NFL. On May 8, 2015, Garrard signed a ceremonial contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars to retire as a member of the team. Off the field, Garrard established The David Garrard Foundation to support breast cancer awareness and research, inspired by his mother’s death from the disease. He is also a spokesperson for 121 Financial Credit Union and has publicly discussed his experience living with Crohn’s disease.