Who Is Greg Olsen in the NFL?

Greg Olsen is an American football tight end who currently plays for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL).

Greg Olsen’s Background

Greg Olsen is a professional football player who has been playing for the Carolina Panthers since 2007. He was born in Paterson, New Jersey and went to high school at Wayne Hills High School. Olsen then attended the University of Miami, where he played tight end for the Hurricanes.

His childhood

Gregory Walter Olsen was born in Paterson, New Jersey on March 11, 1985, to Kristine and Christopher Olsen. He was the youngest of three boys. His brothers, Kevin and Chris, are both former NFL tight ends. Greg grew up in Wayne, New Jersey and played football and basketball at Wayne Hills High School.

In football, he was a two-time All-State selection and helped lead his team to the state championships in 2001 and 2002. He was also named the Gatorade New Jersey Player of the Year as a senior. In basketball, he was named All-State as a junior and senior.

His college career

Greg Olsen played college football for the Miami Hurricanes from 2004 to 2006. He was a member of the team that won the BCS National Championship in 2001, and he was also a member of the 2003 team that won the Rose Bowl. Olsen was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played for the Bears from 2007 to 2010, and then he played for the Carolina Panthers from 2011 to present.

His NFL career

Greg Olsen is an American football tight end who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He has also played for the Carolina Panthers and Seattle Seahawks.

Olsen attended Wayne Hills High School in Wayne, New Jersey, where he was a three-sport star in football, basketball, and track. He set a school record with 1,208 receiving yards as a senior. Olsen played college football at Miami University, where he was a consensus All-American. He was drafted by the Bears in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft, and spent four seasons with the team before being traded to the Panthers in 2011.

In his first season with the Panthers, Olsen set career highs in catches (45) and receiving yards (526). He followed that up with consecutive Pro Bowl seasons in 2012 and 2013, becoming the first tight end in franchise history to be named to back-to-back Pro Bowls. Olsen had another successful season in 2014, catching 84 passes for 1,041 yards and six touchdowns. After another Pro Bowl season in 2015, he was named First-team All-Pro for the first time in his career. Olsen continued to be one of Cam Newton’s favorite targets in 2016 and 2017, totaling over 1,000 receiving yards in both seasons. He was named to his fourth straight Pro Bowl after the 2017 season.

Olsen signed with the Seahawks prior to the start of the 2020 season. After appearing in just one game due to injury, he was released by Seattle on November 17, 2020.

Greg Olsen’s Family

Greg Olsen is an American football tight end for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at the University of Miami, and was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft. Olsen is the son of Christopher and Susan Olsen. He has three brothers, Kevin, Zach, and Chris. His father played football at the University of Iowa.

His wife

Greg Olsen’s wife is Kara Olsen. The couple has been married since 2009 and have three children together. Kara is a former college volleyball player and now stay-at-home mom.

His kids

Greg Olsen and his family reside in Charleston, South Carolina. He has three children with his wife, Kara: Talbot, Greta, and T.J.. Kara is a former Clemson Tigers cheerleader.

Greg Olsen’s Charity Work

Greg Olsen is not only an NFL tight end, but he is also a philanthropist. He and his wife founded The HEARTest Yard in order to help families with children who have congenital heart conditions. They have also donated over $1.5 million to the Levine Children’s Hospital. Let’s learn more about Greg Olsen’s charity work.

His foundation

Greg Olsen started the HEARTest Yard Foundation in 2012 after his son, TJ, was born with a congenital heart defect called Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS). The Foundation provides financial assistance and support services to families with babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) who have been diagnosed with congenital heart defects or other cardiac problems.

In addition to financial assistance, the HEARTest Yard Foundation also provides families with in-home nursing care, developmental therapies, and other support services. To date, the Foundation has helped more than 50 families in the Charlotte area and has provided grants to other organizations that serve children with congenital heart defects.

What he does for the community

Olsen is dedicated to giving back to the community, especially children in need. He and his wife, Kara, founded the HEARTest Yard Fund in 2012. The fund provides financial assistance and support services to families with children who have congenital heart defects or other cardiac problems.

In 2015, he teamed up with Carolina Panthers teammate Steve Smith Sr. to start the Offensive Line/Defensive Line Academy. The free football camp for kids ages 6-16 teaches offensive and defensive line techniques as well as conditioning and character development. He also hosts an annual Kickin’ It With Greg Celebrity Waiters Dinner to raise money for the Carolinas chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Greg Olsen’s Legacy

Greg Olsen is a tight end for the Carolina Panthers who was drafted in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He has played his entire career with the Panthers, and is currently the longest-tenured player on the team. Olsen has been selected to three Pro Bowls and is a two-time First-team All-Pro. He is also the Panthers’ all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdown receptions by a tight end.

His impact on the NFL

Greg Olsen was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Miami, and was drafted as a tight end. He has played for the Bears, Panthers and Seahawks. He is a three-time Pro Bowl selection and was named to the All-Pro team in 2016.

In his 11 NFL seasons, Olsen has caught 742 passes for 8,683 yards and 60 touchdowns. He is the only tight end in NFL history to have three seasons with 1,000 or more receiving yards, and he is one of only four tight ends to have done it twice. His career reception total is the most by any tight end in Panthers history, and his 8,683 career receiving yards are second most in team history behind Steve Smith Sr.

Olsen was born and raised in Wayne, New Jersey. He played high school football at Wayne Hills High School, where he was a three-sport star in football, basketball and track. Olsen went on to play college football at Miami from 2003 to 2006. As a junior in 2005, he was named a first-team All-American by The Sporting News after catching 40 passes for 667 yards and five touchdowns.

His impact on the community

Greg Olsen is a well-known name in the NFL, but he’s also made a major impact in his community.

Olsen founded the HEARTest Yard Fund in 2012, which provides financial and emotional support to families with children who have congenital heart defects. To date, the fund has raised more than $1.7 million to help families cover medical expenses and provide other assistance.

In addition, Olsen has been active in supporting Make-A-Wish Foundation, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and other charities. He was named the Walter Payton Man of the Year in 2016 for his charitable work.

Olsen’s work off the field has made him a well-respected player in the NFL community, and his legacy will continue to make an impact long after he hangs up his cleats.