Robert Geathers

Robert Geathers, Jr. (born August 11, 1983) is an American football defensive end for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at the University of Georgia. He was selected by the Bengals in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft.

Early years
Geathers played at Choppee High School and later at Carvers Bay High School. As a senior, he recorded 100 tackles and nine sacks on defense and played quarterback on offense. This helped him garner several scholarship offers, and decided to attend the University of Georgia.

College career
At the University of Georgia, He started 16 of 39 games during his career registering 81 tackles with five sacks, 10 stops for losses, 22 quarterback pressures, six pass deflections, a fumble recovery, a forced fumble and two interceptions. He decided to forgo his senior season and enter the NFL draft. He was drafted in the fourth round (117th overall) of the 2004 NFL Draft by Cincinnati. He was a sports studies major.

Professional career
Robert made his first NFL start on November 14, 2004 versus the Washington Redskins. In his rookie season, Robert saw sparing action because he was primarily used on special teams. He had a career game resulting in a victory on Nov. 7 against the Dallas Cowboys. Robert finished the game with a sack and forced fumble, a key pass defended, and a QB pressure that led to an intentional grounding penalty. On January 2, 2005 against the Philadelphia Eagles, he intercepted a swing pass by Jeff Blake and returned it 36 yards for his first career NFL touchdown. This gave the rookie some confidence going into the 2005 season.

At the beginning of the 2005 season, he was named the starter at defensive end and started all sixteen games, including Cincinnati’s playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He entered the 2006 season with a hopes of winning a Super Bowl. Geathers along with his coaches set high standards for him and his teammates. Geathers finished the season with 10.5 sacks.

Hit on Trent Green
On September 10, 2006, Geathers acquired headlines around the country. Geathers made a tackle on a scrambling Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Trent Green, which gave Green a concussion. There was no penalty on the play. After several reviews on television the announcers thought that Eddie Kennison might have tried to block Geathers forcing him into Green. Green was on the injured list for almost two months. Geathers was not fined by the NFL for his hit.

Family
Geathers comes from a line of football athletes. He is the son of Robert and Debra Geathers. Robert Sr. was a standout defensive lineman at South Carolina State and was a third round draft choice in the 1981 NFL Draft, but an injury ended his career. His uncle James "Jumpy" Geathers played at Wichita State University and then in the NFL, recording 62 sacks and two Super Bowl wins in a 13-year career (1984-96 with New Orleans, Washington (Super Bowl XXVI), Atlanta, and Denver (Super Bowl XXXIII).

His brother Clifton Geathers played for the University of South Carolina and was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the 6th round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He currently plays for the Indianapolis Colts. His other brother Kwame Geathers is a nose tackle for the Georgia Bulldogs football team. His cousin Clayton Geathers plays defensive back for the University of Central Florida.