Garin Veris

Defensive end, New England Patriots, Stanford University

What is Garin Veris known for?

Garin Lee Veris is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League (NFL), best known for his time with the New England Patriots. Born on February 27, 1963 in Chillicothe, Ohio, Veris graduated from Chillicothe High School where he was a prominent figure in football and basketball. He also excelled in track and field, securing the OHSAA Class AAA shot put and discus throw titles consecutively in 1980 and 1981.

Veris' stellar high school performance paved the way for his football career at Stanford University. His contributions to the university's football team were recognized with his induction into the Stanford University Athletics Hall of Fame. Veris was part of the Stanford team during the famous 1982 game against California Golden Bears, remembered as 'The Play'.

As the Round 2, Pick 48 in the 1985 NFL Draft, his NFL journey began with the New England Patriots. In his rookie season, Veris recorded a whopping 14 sacks, with four in the playoffs. His impressive performance led him to start in Super Bowl XX, where the Patriots lost to the Chicago Bears. Veris' NFL career stats boast 36.0 sacks and seven fumble recoveries. His successful stint with the Patriots from 1985 to 1991 and a season with the San Francisco 49ers in 1992 earned him a place in the Patriots' All-1980s Team.

Post-retirement, Veris ventured into academic administration, serving as the athletic director and at-risk coordinator at his alma mater, Chillicothe High School, in 2011-2012. He also served as the athletic director at Massachusetts Maritime Academy from 2015 until 2018. Since March 2013, Veris has been working as director of external business development & marketing for UMass Boston Athletics.

In addition to his impressive football and academic accomplishments, Veris' name popped up in popular culture when he was featured in the Family Guy episode "Run, Chris, Run", where the character Glenn Quagmire is seen playing as Veris in the game Tecmo Super Bowl. Though, interestingly, there is an anachronistic twist in the scenario that involves players Ronnie Lott, Bo Jackson, and the teams they belonged to.

For more details, you can check out his career highlights in Pro Football Reference, his time at Stanford University, or learn more about his home town, Chillicothe, Ohio.