Greg Olsen is currently a tight end for the Carolina Panthers.
Greg was a first round draft pick of the Bears in the 2007 NFL Draft after a standout career at the University of Miami. In college, Greg was named First Team All-ACC as a junior and was an All-ACC honorable mention as a sophomore.
Greg is considered one of the top tight ends in the NFL and figures to be a major part of the Panthers’ offense this coming season.
In his four seasons with the Bears, Greg was the team leader in receptions and receiving TDs, and ranked second in receiving yards. Greg also recorded the most receptions by a Bears tight end in three consecutive seasons since Mike Ditka caught 170 passes from 1963-65.
Among Greg’s accolades, he was selected to NFL All-Rookie team in 2007, named Bears Player of the Year in 2008 by Comcast SportsNet Chicago, and was also named the Brian Piccolo Award winner in 2008.
Greg is a native of Wayne, New Jersey where he attended Wayne Hills High School and played football for his father, Chris Olsen, Sr. During his senior year, Greg was one of three finalists for the Gatorade Player of the Year award, was named a USA Today First-Team All-American, and also helped lead his team to the New Jersey State Title.
Greg comes from a great football family. His father is one of the top coaches in the state, his older brother Chris was a quarterback at the University of Virginia, and his younger brother Kevin is currently considered one of the top high school quarterbacks in the nation.
Off the field, Greg is very active in the support of cancer research. Inspired by his mother, who is a ten-year survivor of breast cancer, Greg started Receptions for Research: The Greg Olsen Foundation, to benefit others affected by the disease. Greg hosts two events annually to help raise money for breast cancer research, Kicks for a Cure, which is the world’s largest charity kickball tournament, and Shake the Lake Musical Festival, which is a fundraising concert featuring some of country music’s best artists.
In its first two years, Receptions for Research has donated over $125k to various charities. Greg and his wife Kara recently had their first child and spend their time between New Jersey & Chicago.
