After being recruited to Ohio State as a DB, Ted Ginn Jr dabbled in playing WR during his Freshman campaign in 2004.
Displaying dangerous speed and body balance Ginn was such a factor on offense, he moved to it fulltime in 2005, while also picking up return duties.
Over three years at Ohio State, Ginn had 135 receptions for 1,943 yards and 15 TDs, 213 yards rushing, 1,012 returning (38 kickoffs) and 64 punt returns for 900 yards and 6 TDs.
Selected by the Miami Dolphins with the 9th overall pick of the 2007 NFL Draft.
Functioned in much the same capacity with the Dolphins his rookie year, catching 34 passes for 420 yards and 2 TDs, 63 kick returns for 1,433 yards, and 24 punt returns for 230 yards and an 87 yard franchise tying record PR TD in his rookie campaign.
In 2008 had 56 catches for 790 yards and 2 TDs, 32 kick returns for 657 yards, and 7 punt returns.
Mistakes began to pile up in 2009, as Ginn who already suffered from fumble-itis, developed a case of the dropsies.
Although he had 1,826 all purpose yards that season, he was traded to the ‘9ers in 2010 for a 5th round pick.
Confined mainly to special teams, Ginn shined in 2011 in that capacity.
Had 268 total return yards against Seattle, scoring on a 102 yard kickoff and then returning a punt 59 seconds later for a TD- unheard of in NFL history.
Signed with the Panthers in 2013 and saw more playing time back at WR.
Had 36 receptions for 556 yards and 5 TDs.
Signed by the Cardinals the following season, and had perhaps his most disappointing season with less than 1,000 yards from scrimmage.
Returned to the Panthers in 2015 and posted a career high 10 TD catches on 44 receptions.
Signed with the Saints in 2017 and played with the franchise through the 2019 season.
Played with the Bears in 2020, but was released before the season ended.
Retired from playing football in 2021, and transitioned into coaching.
In 2025 was named head coach of the UFL Columbus Aviators and went 3-6 in his first campaign.
ACCOLADES:
All-Rookie Team 2007
Pro Bowl 2007
NOTES:
Had to move fast on this one when I saw that Ginn was signing through the Aviators while the season was winding down. Pleasantly surprised to receive it back during the league offseason.
CARDS: Pro Set 1989, Fleer 1991, Score 1991 ACQUIRED: TTM 2026, C/o Work SENT: 2/2/26 RECEIVED: 2/21/26 (19 days)
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Sam played basketball at Pitt from 1977-’81.
He averaged 14.4 points and 11.6 rebounds a game as forward over four years.
Then in ’79 won a Gold Medal at the Pan American Games.
Drafted by both the Phoenix Suns and the Seattle Seahawks- despite not playing a down of football in college- in 1981.
Played in the CBA for the Billings Volcanoes scoring 11.5 points and pulling in 8.3 rebounds a game from 1981-’82.
Joined the Seahawks in ’82 but spent the entire season on IR after messing up his knee.
In 1983, Sam was a rotational piece behind Jacob Green and Jeff Bryant, seldom used in nickel and dime situations.
Spent a season in the USFL with the Pittsburgh Maulers in 1984 notching 120 tackles, 15 sacks and 2 fumble recoveries.
Posted another 4 sacks in ’85 playing for the Memphis Showboats.
After the USFL collapsed that year, traded by Seahawks to the Browns.
Played four seasons for Cleveland, starting 21 contests and making 14 sacks and 3 fumble recoveries.
Signed as a free agent in ’88 with the Indianapolis Colts.
In 1990, started 8 of 16 contests as a pass rush specialist at both LDE and RDE.
Led team with 7.5 sacks, and had 48 total tackles.
Finished career with the Colts after the 1993 campaign and tallied 16 sacks and 4 fumble recoveries over time in Indianapolis.
Coached DL in NFL Europe, for the Barcelona Dragons‘ World Bowl Champion Team in 1997 (’95-’99).
Returned stateside to coach for a duo of NFL Teams, the Saints (2000-’03) and the Raiders (2004-’05).
Hailed as a local home grown hero, Sam as of 2026 is a director at Pitt’s Varsity Club.
ACCOLADES:
Gold Medal Pan American Games- Basketball 1979
Awardee of Distinction- Pitt Varsity Letter Club
Sam Clancy Day- June 23rd, 2023
Pitt’s All-Centennial Men’s Basketball Team (1905-2006)
Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame
NOTES:
Sam had an incredible career for an athlete who never played a down of college football before stepping onto the gridiron. The cards themselves came back a bit bent but that’s okay.
I’m glad that Sam got some other cards, because I absolutely loathed this card of him in his warm ups for Indianapolis. Pro Set at the time at least really prided itself in capturing players in the action. This was certainly not that. I like to give Pro Set the benefit of the doubt that maybe this was a replacement card for someone who retired, since it’s at the back end of Pro Set 1989 series II right before the rookies.
CARDS: Pro Set 1989, Pro Set 1990, Topps 1990 ACQUIRED: TTM 2023, C/o Home SENT: 2/21/23 RECEIVED: 9/12/23 (203 days)
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
An AP Honorable Mention in 1980 when he caught 26 passes, Hoby Brenner played TE at USC.
3rd round choice of the New Orleans Saints in 1981.
His 41 catches (574 yards) in ’83 ranked second on the team.
Then in 1984 had 28 receptions for 554 yards and 6 TDs.
Improved on those numbers again in ’85 with 42 receptions for 652 yards (3 TDs) and was named team’s offensive player of the year.
In 1990 passed Mark Childs to become club’s all-time leading receiver at TE.
Retired after the 1993 campaign, appearing in 175 contests.
ACCOLADES:
Pro Bowl 1985
New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame
NOTES:
A venerable TE who really didn’t get enough credit, you gotta wonder how Hoby’s career would have ended if it was tailored more towards him in general, as Brenner was not only an exceptional blocker, he was an accomplished receiver as well.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
