Marco Battaglia


Marco Antonio Battaglia is a former American football tight end in the National Football League who played for five different teams. Battaglia played college football at Rutgers University and was recognized as an All-American. He was chosen in second round of the 1996 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals, and he played professionally for the Bengals, Washington Redskins, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers of the NFL.

Early years

Battaglia was born in Howard Beach, New York. He attended St. Francis Preparatory School in Queens, New York, and played high school football for the St. Francis Terriers.

College career

He attended Rutgers University in New Jersey, where he played for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team from 1992 to 1995. As a senior in 1995, he was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American at tight end for the Scarlet Knights.

Professional career

The Cincinnati Bengals selected Battaglia in the second round of the 1996 NFL Draft, and he played for the Bengals from to. He joined the Washington Redskins mid-season in 2001, and also played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in, and the Carolina Panthers in. In eight NFL seasons, Battaglia played in ninety-six games and started eleven of them, and compiled seventy-one receptions, 660 receiving yards and two touchdown receptions.

Personal life

Battaglia currently lives in Middle Village, New York, with his family. He is a friend and occasional personal trainer of radio host Howard Stern. In March 2002, he broke Howard's thumb when he accidentally dropped some weights on it.