Jay Riemersma
Encyclopedia
Allen Jay Riemersma is a former American football
tight end
. He played for the University of Michigan
from 1994 to 1995. He next played nine seasons in the NFL
for the Buffalo Bills
(1996–2002) and Pittsburgh Steelers
(2003–2004). In 2007, he accepted a position as the regional director of the Family Research Council
. He announced his candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives in September 2009.
and grew up in Zeeland, Michigan
. In 1991, he graduated from Zeeland High School, where he was a star athlete in three sports. He became Zeeland's all-time leading scorer in basketball, played baseball for two seasons, and was the quarterback for the football team.
in 1991. Originally recruited by Michigan as a quarterback, Riemersma appeared in three games at that position in the 1992
and 1993 season
s. On September 26, 1992, he made his debut as a redshirt freshman against the University of Houston
. He came into the game as a substitute for Todd Collins in the third quarter and completed all three passes he attempted for 43 yards, including a 14-yard touchdown pass to Amani Toomer
in the fourth quarter. He completed a total of six of eleven passes for 79 yards the 1992 and 1993 seasons.
In 1994, Riemersma suffered a rotator cuff
injury, which ended his career as a quarterback. Michigan head coach Gary Moeller
switched Riemersma to the tight end
position, where he played in the 1994
and 1995 season
s. Interviewed in 2009, Riemersma pointed to the rotator cuff injury as "divine intervention," saying, "Some called the injury luck. I called it divine intervention. I never would have played in the NFL as a quarterback. It was an injury that parlayed into an NFL career."
During the 1994 season, Riemersma became one of quarterback Todd Collins' favorite targets, finishing as the team's third leading receiver behind Amani Toomer
and Mercury Hayes
. He caught 33 passes for 336 yards and two touchdowns in 1994. His most productive games were against Notre Dame
(5 catches for 69 yards and a touchdown) and Wisconsin
(8 catches for 79 yards and a touchdown).
In 1995, Riemersma added another 41 catches for 370 yards and a touchdown. His best game of the 1995 season came against Virginia
and Michigan State
. He connected with Scott Dreisbach
for seven catches and 71 yards in the Wolverines' come-from-behind 18-17 win over Virginia in the season opener. And he caught a career-high nine passes, good for 70 yards, in a 28-25 loss to the Spartans. The longest reception of his college career was a 35-yard catch in Michigan's 31-23 win over Ohio State
in 1995.
In two seasons as Michigan's tight end, Reimersma caught 74 passes for 706 yards. While completing his degree at Michigan, Riemersma twice earned Academic All-Big Ten Conference awards. He also won both the Meyer Morton Award and the Arthur Robinson Scholarship Award while attending Michigan.
. He spent seven seasons in Buffalo from 1996 to 2002, appearing in 90 games, 65 as a starter. As a tight end for the Bills, he had 221 receptions for 2,304 yards and 20 touchdowns.
As a rookie in 1996, Riemersma appeared in all 16 games for the Bills, including eight as a starter. He caught 26 passes for 208 yards and two touchdowns.
In 1998, Riemersma had a career-high six touchdowns in 16 games for the Bills. He had his first career two-touchdown game in a November 2000 win over the Miami Dolphins
.
From 1999 to 2001, he missed only six games in four years, and accumulated 1,808 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns. In a September 2000 game against the Green Bay Packers
, Riemersma had his second career two-touchdown game and 70 receiving yards. After the game, teammate Eric Moulds
said, "A couple of times they tried to double me and left Jay wide open down the field. We'll take that matchup all day. If you're going to leave Jay Riemersma one-on-one with a linebacker, you're going to lose most of the time."
He had his best season in 2001. He started 15 games for the 2001 Bills and caught 53 passes for 590 yards.
Riemersma was plagued by injuries during his six years with the Bills. He underwent eight surgeries during his NFL career. His offensive production declined in 2002 to 32 receptions for 350 yards, and for the first time in his NFL career, Riemersma did not score a touchdown in 2002. In February 2003, the Bills announced that they intended to release Riemersma unless he accepted a significant pay cut. Bills president Tom Donahoe said the club was asking Riemersma to restructure the final year of his contract, reportedly worth $3.5 million. The Bills officially released Riemersma in late February 2003.
worth almost $4 million. In his first game for the Steelers, a 34-15 win over the Baltimore Ravens
on September 7, 2003, Riemersma "beat Baltimore safety Ed Reed badly" for a 20-yard touchdown pass from Tommy Maddox
. On the next drive, Ravens safety Gary Baxter followed Riemersma and left Hines Ward
wide open for a 28-yard touchdown catch. After the game, Steelers coach Bill Cowher
said, "Jay Riemersma adds a dimension we never had. He gives you a guy that you better start thinking about down the middle of the field." He played for Pittsburgh in 2003 and 2004 before rupturing his right Achilles tendon
on a 26-yard touchdown reception against the Jacksonville Jaguars
in December 2004. At the time of the injury, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported, "Jay Riemersma caught a touchdown pass in his first game with the Steelers and his last, but that's about the extent of any good fortune the tight end has had in his two seasons here."
Riemersma did not play another game in the NFL after suffering the Achilles tendon injury. In February 2005, the Steelers released Riemersma in a salary cap move required after the Steelers' 15-1 performance in 2004 triggered performance bonuses, including a $2 million bonus to Ben Roethlisberger
. Riemersma spent the 2005 season coaching high school football and recovering from his injury. In January 2006, Riemersma announced that he would not attempt a comeback and that he was retiring from the NFL. His agent, said at the time that the nature and severity of the injury would make it too difficult for Riemersma to play again.
In nine NFL seasons, Riemersma played in 112 games (74 as a starter) and caught 221 passes for 2,524 yards and 23 touchdowns.
In 2009, Riemersma was inducted into the Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame.
, a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C.
, as the director of a six-state region that includes Michigan.
In September 2009, Riemersma announced that he would run for the U.S. House of Representatives as a Republican
in Michigan's 2nd congressional district
. The seat is currently held by Rep. Peter Hoekstra who is vacating it to run for Governor of Michigan
. Riemersma said he would fight against abortion, taxes and big government. In February 2010, Riemersma drew attention when he announced his support for Tim Tebow
's Focus on the Family
Super Bowl advertisement.
. Riemersma is an active member and deacon of Parkside Bible Church in Holland. Riemersma also serves on the Board of Directors of the American Red Cross
, Ottawa County Chapter.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
tight end
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
. He played for the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
from 1994 to 1995. He next played nine seasons in the NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
for the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
(1996–2002) and Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
(2003–2004). In 2007, he accepted a position as the regional director of the Family Research Council
Family Research Council
The Family Research Council is a conservative or right-wing Christian group and lobbying organization formed in the United States in 1981 by James Dobson. It was fully incorporated in 1983...
. He announced his candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives in September 2009.
Zeeland
Riemersma was born in Evansville, IndianaEvansville, Indiana
Evansville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Indiana and the largest city in Southern Indiana. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 117,429. It is the county seat of Vanderburgh County and the regional hub for both Southwestern Indiana and the...
and grew up in Zeeland, Michigan
Zeeland, Michigan
Zeeland is a city in Ottawa County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 5,805 at the 2000 census. The city is located at the western edge of Zeeland Charter Township which is politically independent. Its name is derived from the Dutch province of Zeeland...
. In 1991, he graduated from Zeeland High School, where he was a star athlete in three sports. He became Zeeland's all-time leading scorer in basketball, played baseball for two seasons, and was the quarterback for the football team.
Michigan
Riemersma enrolled at the University of MichiganUniversity of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in 1991. Originally recruited by Michigan as a quarterback, Riemersma appeared in three games at that position in the 1992
1992 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1992 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1992 college football season. The team's head coach was Gary Moeller. The Wolverines played their home games at Michigan Stadium...
and 1993 season
1993 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1993 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1993 college football season. The team's head coach was Gary Moeller. The Wolverines played their home games at Michigan Stadium. That year Michigan Wolverines football competed in the Big Ten Conference in...
s. On September 26, 1992, he made his debut as a redshirt freshman against the University of Houston
University of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
. He came into the game as a substitute for Todd Collins in the third quarter and completed all three passes he attempted for 43 yards, including a 14-yard touchdown pass to Amani Toomer
Amani Toomer
Amani Toomer is a retired American football wide receiver who played in the National Football League. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the second round of the 1996 NFL Draft. He played college football at Michigan, where he was a fan favorite.Toomer has also been a member of the Kansas...
in the fourth quarter. He completed a total of six of eleven passes for 79 yards the 1992 and 1993 seasons.
In 1994, Riemersma suffered a rotator cuff
Rotator cuff
In anatomy, the rotator cuff is the group of muscles and their tendons that act to stabilize the shoulder. The four muscles of the rotator cuff, along with the teres major muscle, the coracobrachialis muscle and the deltoid, make up the seven scapulohumeral muscles of the human body.-Function:The...
injury, which ended his career as a quarterback. Michigan head coach Gary Moeller
Gary Moeller
Gary O. Moeller is an American football coach best known for being head coach at the University of Michigan from 1990 to 1994. During his five seasons at Michigan, he won 44 games, lost 13 and tied 3 for a winning percentage of .758...
switched Riemersma to the tight end
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
position, where he played in the 1994
1994 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1994 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1994 college football season. Led by Gary Moeller in his last season as head coach, the Wolverines participated in the Holiday Bowl.-Schedule:...
and 1995 season
1995 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1995 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1995 college football season. The team's head coach was Lloyd Carr...
s. Interviewed in 2009, Riemersma pointed to the rotator cuff injury as "divine intervention," saying, "Some called the injury luck. I called it divine intervention. I never would have played in the NFL as a quarterback. It was an injury that parlayed into an NFL career."
During the 1994 season, Riemersma became one of quarterback Todd Collins' favorite targets, finishing as the team's third leading receiver behind Amani Toomer
Amani Toomer
Amani Toomer is a retired American football wide receiver who played in the National Football League. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the second round of the 1996 NFL Draft. He played college football at Michigan, where he was a fan favorite.Toomer has also been a member of the Kansas...
and Mercury Hayes
Mercury Hayes
Mercury Wayne Hayes is a former professional American football and Canadian football wide receiver, kickoff returner, and punt returner. He has played in the National Football League for the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons, and he has played in the Canadian Football League for the...
. He caught 33 passes for 336 yards and two touchdowns in 1994. His most productive games were against Notre Dame
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...
(5 catches for 69 yards and a touchdown) and Wisconsin
Wisconsin Badgers football
The Wisconsin Badgers are a college football program that represents the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. They play their home games at Camp Randall Stadium, the fourth-oldest stadium in college football...
(8 catches for 79 yards and a touchdown).
In 1995, Riemersma added another 41 catches for 370 yards and a touchdown. His best game of the 1995 season came against Virginia
Virginia Cavaliers football
Virginia Cavaliers football is a college football program that competes in the NCAA Division I-FBS and the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
and Michigan State
Michigan State Spartans football
The Michigan State Spartans football program represents Michigan State University in college football as members of the Big Ten Conference at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level...
. He connected with Scott Dreisbach
Scott Dreisbach
Scott Dreisbach is a former American football quarterback who last played for the Columbus Destroyers of the Arena Football League...
for seven catches and 71 yards in the Wolverines' come-from-behind 18-17 win over Virginia in the season opener. And he caught a career-high nine passes, good for 70 yards, in a 28-25 loss to the Spartans. The longest reception of his college career was a 35-yard catch in Michigan's 31-23 win over Ohio State
Ohio State Buckeyes football
The Ohio State Buckeyes football team is an intercollegiate varsity sports team of The Ohio State University. The team is a member of the Big Ten Conference of the NCAA, playing at the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, formerly Division I-A, level. The team nickname is derived from the state...
in 1995.
In two seasons as Michigan's tight end, Reimersma caught 74 passes for 706 yards. While completing his degree at Michigan, Riemersma twice earned Academic All-Big Ten Conference awards. He also won both the Meyer Morton Award and the Arthur Robinson Scholarship Award while attending Michigan.
Buffalo Bills
Riemersma was drafted by the Buffalo Bills as the 35th pick of the 7th round (244th pick overall) of the 1996 NFL Draft1996 NFL Draft
The 1996 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 20–21, 1996...
. He spent seven seasons in Buffalo from 1996 to 2002, appearing in 90 games, 65 as a starter. As a tight end for the Bills, he had 221 receptions for 2,304 yards and 20 touchdowns.
As a rookie in 1996, Riemersma appeared in all 16 games for the Bills, including eight as a starter. He caught 26 passes for 208 yards and two touchdowns.
In 1998, Riemersma had a career-high six touchdowns in 16 games for the Bills. He had his first career two-touchdown game in a November 2000 win over the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
From 1999 to 2001, he missed only six games in four years, and accumulated 1,808 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns. In a September 2000 game against the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
, Riemersma had his second career two-touchdown game and 70 receiving yards. After the game, teammate Eric Moulds
Eric Moulds
Eric Shannon Moulds is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills 24th overall in the 1996 NFL Draft. He played college football at Mississippi State...
said, "A couple of times they tried to double me and left Jay wide open down the field. We'll take that matchup all day. If you're going to leave Jay Riemersma one-on-one with a linebacker, you're going to lose most of the time."
He had his best season in 2001. He started 15 games for the 2001 Bills and caught 53 passes for 590 yards.
Riemersma was plagued by injuries during his six years with the Bills. He underwent eight surgeries during his NFL career. His offensive production declined in 2002 to 32 receptions for 350 yards, and for the first time in his NFL career, Riemersma did not score a touchdown in 2002. In February 2003, the Bills announced that they intended to release Riemersma unless he accepted a significant pay cut. Bills president Tom Donahoe said the club was asking Riemersma to restructure the final year of his contract, reportedly worth $3.5 million. The Bills officially released Riemersma in late February 2003.
Pittsburgh Steelers
In March 2003, Riemersma signed a three-year contract with the Pittsburgh SteelersPittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
worth almost $4 million. In his first game for the Steelers, a 34-15 win over the Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
on September 7, 2003, Riemersma "beat Baltimore safety Ed Reed badly" for a 20-yard touchdown pass from Tommy Maddox
Tommy Maddox
Thomas "Tommy" Alfred Maddox is a former football quarterback in the National Football League, the XFL and the Arena Football League. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the first round of the 1992 NFL Draft. He played college football at UCLA.-Early years:At L. D...
. On the next drive, Ravens safety Gary Baxter followed Riemersma and left Hines Ward
Hines Ward
Hines E. Ward, Jr. is an American football player who currently plays the wide receiver position for the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers, where he is the longest-tenured current player on the team. He was voted MVP of Super Bowl XL. He played college football at the University of Georgia...
wide open for a 28-yard touchdown catch. After the game, Steelers coach Bill Cowher
Bill Cowher
William Laird "Bill" Cowher is a former American football coach and player. Cowher resigned after 15 seasons as the Steelers' coach on January 5, 2007, 11 months to the day after winning 2005–06's Super Bowl XL...
said, "Jay Riemersma adds a dimension we never had. He gives you a guy that you better start thinking about down the middle of the field." He played for Pittsburgh in 2003 and 2004 before rupturing his right Achilles tendon
Achilles tendon
The Achilles tendon , also known as the calcaneal tendon or the tendo calcaneus, is a tendon of the posterior leg. It serves to attach the plantaris, gastrocnemius and soleus muscles to the calcaneus bone.- Anatomy :The Achilles is the tendonous extension of 3 muscles in the lower leg:...
on a 26-yard touchdown reception against the Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in December 2004. At the time of the injury, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported, "Jay Riemersma caught a touchdown pass in his first game with the Steelers and his last, but that's about the extent of any good fortune the tight end has had in his two seasons here."
Riemersma did not play another game in the NFL after suffering the Achilles tendon injury. In February 2005, the Steelers released Riemersma in a salary cap move required after the Steelers' 15-1 performance in 2004 triggered performance bonuses, including a $2 million bonus to Ben Roethlisberger
Ben Roethlisberger
Benjamin Todd "Ben" Roethlisberger , nicknamed Big Ben, is an American football quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Steelers in the first round in the 2004 NFL Draft...
. Riemersma spent the 2005 season coaching high school football and recovering from his injury. In January 2006, Riemersma announced that he would not attempt a comeback and that he was retiring from the NFL. His agent, said at the time that the nature and severity of the injury would make it too difficult for Riemersma to play again.
In nine NFL seasons, Riemersma played in 112 games (74 as a starter) and caught 221 passes for 2,524 yards and 23 touchdowns.
Football coach
In August 2005, while trying to rehabilitate his Achilles tendon, Riemersma returned to western Michigan and took on a one-year assignment as the football coach at Zeeland East High School. After announcing his retirement from the NFL in January 2006, Riemersma returned for two more seasons as the football coach at Zeeland East. In three years as the football coach from 2005 to 2007, Riemersma compiled a record of 1-26. In 2008, Riemersma said, "We won just one game while I was there. I'm really proud, though, of what we tried to accomplish in building character in the kids."In 2009, Riemersma was inducted into the Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame.
Politics
In November 2007, Riemersma joined Family Research CouncilFamily Research Council
The Family Research Council is a conservative or right-wing Christian group and lobbying organization formed in the United States in 1981 by James Dobson. It was fully incorporated in 1983...
, a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, as the director of a six-state region that includes Michigan.
In September 2009, Riemersma announced that he would run for the U.S. House of Representatives as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
in Michigan's 2nd congressional district
Michigan's 2nd congressional district
Michigan's 2nd congressional district is a United States Congressional district in Western Michigan. It consists of the counties of Benzie, Manistee, Wexford, Mason, Lake, Oceana, Newaygo, Muskegon, Ottawa, and the northern portion of Allegan and the northwest portion of Kent. The 2nd district has...
. The seat is currently held by Rep. Peter Hoekstra who is vacating it to run for Governor of Michigan
Governor of Michigan
The Governor of Michigan is the chief executive of the U.S. State of Michigan. The current Governor is Rick Snyder, a member of the Republican Party.-Gubernatorial elections and term of office:...
. Riemersma said he would fight against abortion, taxes and big government. In February 2010, Riemersma drew attention when he announced his support for Tim Tebow
Tim Tebow
Timothy Richard "Tim" Tebow is an American football player who is currently the starting quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League . He was drafted by the Broncos as the 25th overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft...
's Focus on the Family
Focus on the Family
Focus on the Family is an American evangelical Christian tax-exempt non-profit organization founded in 1977 by psychologist James Dobson, and is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Focus on the Family is one of a number of evangelical parachurch organizations that rose to prominence in the 1980s...
Super Bowl advertisement.
Personal
Jay and his wife Cara have three children, Sophie, Trip, and Nick, and reside in Holland, MichiganHolland, Michigan
Holland is a city in the western region of the Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated near the eastern shore of Lake Michigan on Lake Macatawa, which is fed by the Macatawa River ....
. Riemersma is an active member and deacon of Parkside Bible Church in Holland. Riemersma also serves on the Board of Directors of the American Red Cross
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross , also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. It is the designated U.S...
, Ottawa County Chapter.