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Ron Heller (tight end)

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Ron Heller
No. 89, 80, 85, 82
Position:Tight end
Personal information
Born: (1963-09-18) September 18, 1963 (age 61)
Grass Valley, California, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:235 lb (107 kg)
Career information
High school:Clark Fork (ID)
College:Oregon State
Undrafted:1986
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Receptions:84
Receiving yards:871
Touchdowns:5
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Ronald Jeffrey Heller (born September 18, 1963) is a former professional football tight end in the National Football League for the San Francisco 49ers, Atlanta Falcons, and Seattle Seahawks. He played college football at Oregon State University.

Early life

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Born in Grass Valley, California, he moved with his family to Clark Fork in north Idaho when he was 12,[1] and graduated from Clark Fork High School in 1981,[2] in a senior class of 18. He was a three-sport standout in football (All-state), basketball (All-state), and track (won the state title in the 200-meter dash). He played in an 8-man league in football.

Heller accepted a football scholarship to Oregon State University. He played for the Beavers from 1981 to 1985, where he played as a nose guard (freshman) and linebacker (sophomore and junior), before being switched to tight end as a senior.[3][4]

In 2005, he was inducted into the Idaho Athletic Hall of Fame.

Professional career

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Dallas Cowboys

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Heller was not selected in the 1986 NFL draft and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Dallas Cowboys.[5][6] He was released before the start of the season.

San Francisco 49ers

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The San Francisco 49ers claimed him based on a recommendation from Paul Hackett, but a preseason neck injury placed him on the injured reserve list during the 1986 season.[7] With the 49ers he was a special teams player and a part-time starter.

Atlanta Falcons

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He signed with the Atlanta Falcons as a Plan B free agent in 1989. He started 13 games and his 33 receptions for 324 yards, ranked him sixth in the National Football Conference.[8]

Seattle Seahawks

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In 1990 after being left unprotected again, he signed as a Plan B free agent with the Seattle Seahawks.[9] He was waived on August 26, 1991.[10] After being out of football for a year, the Seahawks re-signed him on March 10, 1992.

NFL career statistics

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Regular season

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Legend
Won the Super Bowl
Bold Career high
Year Team Games Receiving
GP GS Rec Yds Avg Long YPG TD
1987 SF 13 6 12 165 13.75 12.7 39t 3
1988 SF 16 8 14 140 10.00 8.8 22 0
1989 ATL 15 13 33 324 9.82 21.6 30 1
1990 SEA 16 5 13 157 12.08 9.8 23 1
1992 SEA 16 11 12 85 7.08 5.3 17 0
Career 76 43 84 871 10.37 11.5 39t 5

[11]

Personal life

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Heller left football in 1993 and spent two years at Smith Barney as a financial consultant. In 1995, he co-founded Peritus Asset Management where he was CEO and Senior Portfolio Advisor. He is currently the head of Partner Development at PlanMember in Carpinteria, CA.

References

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  1. ^ "Obituaries: Betty Heller". Spokesman-Review. December 25, 2001. p. D7.
  2. ^ Van Sickel, Charlie (February 19, 1981). "Dutch Rub". Spokane Chronicle. p. 32.
  3. ^ Stalwick, Howie (September 27, 1984). "From Clark Fork to Corvallis: Heller is an unlikely starter". p. 29.
  4. ^ "New season, new position". Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  5. ^ "Heller and DeMers among 2005 Idaho Hall of Fame inductees". Bonner County Bee. January 29, 2005.
  6. ^ Jenkins, Jim (October 8, 1988). "Clark fork's Heller trying not to drop the ball". Spokesman-Review. McClatchy News Service. p. B2.
  7. ^ "Clark Fork's Heller trying not to drop the ball". Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  8. ^ "Falcons keep 4 free agents on roster". Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  9. ^ "Heller hopes Seahawks give him a place to stay". Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  10. ^ "Transactions". Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  11. ^ "Ron Heller Stats Summary". www.footballdb.com. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
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