Schobel, Aaron

Cards: Score 2010, Panini Prestige 2010, Adrenalyn 2010
Acquired: TTM 2020, C/o Home
Sent: 8/3 Received: 8/21 (18 days)

Aaron Schobel had a productive career with the Horned Frogs of TCU. He earned WAC Defensive Player of the Year Honors in 2000, and finished his career at the school with 31 sacks, 264 tackles, and 7 forced fumbles. (His 31 sacks would be a school record.)

After being selected out of TCU in 2001 with the Bills 2nd round pick, Aaron played 9 years for the team where he was a rock at defensive end in their 4-3 alignment. He was a two time Pro Bowl selection in 2006 and 2007. In 6 of those 9 seasons Aaron posted 8.5 sacks or more, including a career high 14 in 2006. Over that era, he posted 78 career sacks- a number that was only second to HOF DE Jason Taylor.

As the Bills planned to transition to a 3-4 defense in 2011, Schobel decided to retire at the age of 32. Afterwards many rumors swirled about him returning to play for a team on the message boards, most notably the Houston Texans (who are about 70 miles from his hometown), but Aaron felt the fire was gone and injuries had taken their toll, so he decided to stay retired. I sometimes think about what a devastating line that would’ve been in 2011 if the Texans had lined up budding rookie JJ Watt alongside grizzled veteran Aaron Schobel.

On my occasional drives back from Houston, I’d see a billboard for his family’s restaurant and it’d remind me of him, so I decided to take a shot and mail these cards out to him, that he graciously signed for me.

G/GSTACSACFUM
133/12848378.08

INTYDSAVGTDLG
33110.1126t