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Team / Players / Donald Lee
 
TE DONALD LEE #86
6' 4" 248 lbs. Mississippi State

Exp: 7th NFL Season, 5th Packers Season
Age: 29
Acquired: Free Agent 2005
Current Status: Active Roster
2008 Bio:
  • Became first Packers tight end since Jackie Harris (1992-93) to post back-to-back seasons of 39-or-more receptions
  • Ranks eighth in team history for career receptions by a tight end with 130
  • Moved into No. 1 tight end role in ’07 after two years as the No. 3, catching 48 passes for 575 yards and six TDs, and earning a multi-year contract extension
  • Scored touchdowns on his initial two catches in a Packers uniform in 2005
  • Played tailback as a senior in high school, and served primarily as a blocking tight end at Mississippi State
  • Originally a fifth-round draft choice of the Miami Dolphins in 2003
  • From age 7 through high school, spent summers hauling logs in his hometown of Pheba, Miss.
Pro Summary
  • A veteran tight end who has developed into a steady performer for the Packers
  • Over the past two seasons, became the first Packers tight end since Jackie Harris (1992-93) to post back-to-back seasons of 39-or-more receptions
  • Has played in 61 of a possible 64 games since joining the Packers in 2005, and 93 of 96 during his six-year NFL career
  • Ranks eighth in team history for receptions by a tight end with 130; needs four more to surpass No. 7 Harris (133) and 41 more to move past No. 6 Ron Kramer (170)
  • Played in all 16 games in ’08 for the first time as a Packer
  • Ranked third on the team with 39 receptions in 2008 and second on the Packers with five touchdown catches
  • Enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2007, taking over as the team’s No. 1 tight end, developing into an all-around performer at the position, and earning a multi-year contract extension at midseason
  • Caught 48 passes for 575 yards and six touchdowns in ’07,  essentially doubling his career totals in every category
  • Became a significant downfield threat, catching seven passes of 20 yards or longer, which he combined with fundamentally sound blocking to become a reliable every-down tight end
  • Previously had earned playing time in Green Bay as a backup tight end and special teams contributor, finishing second on the team in special teams tackles in 2006 with 15
  • Had an immediate impact in 2005, despite signing with Green Bay as a free agent just five days before the season opener
  • His first two receptions in a Green Bay uniform were touchdown catches
  • Came to Green Bay after two seasons (2003-04) with the Dolphins, who selected him in the fifth round of the ’03 draft
  • Signed a contract extension with the Packers on Nov. 5, 2007
  • Has appeared in 93 career contests with 48 starts, catching 150 passes for 1,542 yards and 15 TDs
  • His Green Bay numbers are 61 games, with 33 starts, 130 receptions, 1,322 yards and 13 TDs
2008 SeasonBack To Top
  • Played in every game with a career-high 14 starts
  • Ranked third on the team with 39 receptions for 303 yards, and tied for second on the Packers with five TD catches
  • Vs. Atlanta (Oct. 5): Caught his first TD of the season on a 4-yard shovel pass from Aaron Rodgers late in the fourth quarter
  • Vs. Indianapolis (Oct. 19): Made a leaping 12-yard TD grab on a play-action pass in the second quarter
  • Vs. Chicago (Nov. 16): Led the team with a career-high six receptions for 33 yards, including a 5-yard TD grab from Rodgers on a play-action pass in the third quarter
  • Vs. Houston (Dec. 7): Caught three passes for season-high 48 yards, including 20-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter
2007 SeasonBack To Top
  • Moved ahead of incumbent Bubba Franks in the preseason to take over the No. 1 tight end position
  • Played in 15 of 16 games, with 12 starts, and signed a contract extension in November and almost immediately bought a house for his mother
  • Breakout season included 48 receptions for 575 yards with six touchdowns
  • Caught four-or-more passes in eight games
  • Also started both playoff games and added five catches for 51 yards and a TD
  • At Minnesota (Sept. 30): Led the team with 66 receiving yards on four catches. Caught a 27-yard pass in the first quarter; three plays later Brett Favre threw his record-setting 421st career TD pass to Greg Jennings for a 7-0 Green Bay lead
  • Vs. Washington (Oct. 14): Caught three passes for 75 yards. In the first quarter, caught a short pass and ran down the field for a career-long 60-yard gain (previously 32) to the Washington 3-yard line; DeShawn Wynn ran in a score on the next play for a 7-0 lead
  • At Kansas City (Nov. 4): Caught four balls for a career-high 78 yards to surpass 1,000 career yards receiving
  • Vs. Carolina (Nov. 18): Posted a (then) career-high five receptions with two TDs, the first multiple-touchdown game of his career. Made a 26-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter, giving Green Bay a 21-3 lead. Scored the Packers’ next and final TD of the game, a 12-yard catch on the opening drive of the third quarter
  • Vs. Oakland (Dec. 9): Led the team with four catches for 71 yards and one touchdown. In the fourth quarter, caught a pass down the middle of the field, broke a tackle and stiff-armed another defender on his way to a 46-yard score, the longest touchdown reception of his career
  • Vs. N.Y. Giants (Jan. 20): Made three catches for 35 yards and one touchdown in the NFC Championship. In the third quarter, caught a 12-yard TD in the back of the end zone, giving Green Bay a 17-13 lead
2006 SeasonBack To Top
  • Played in 15 games at tight end, including two starts, and dressed but did not play in one contest
  • Caught 10 passes for 150 yards (15.0 avg.)
  • Eight of his 10 receptions went for 10 yards or more
  • An extremely productive member of the coverage units, finished second on the team with 15 special teams tackles
  • Vs. New Orleans (Sept. 17): Led the club with four special teams tackles, all on the punt-coverage unit
  • At Detroit (Sept. 24): In the fourth quarter, set up a touchdown with a (then) career-long 32-yard reception; also posted two special teams stops
2005 SeasonBack To Top
  • Played in 15 games for Green Bay with five starts, four of which came when the team opened in multiple-tight end sets
  • Listed as inactive for one game
  • Finished fourth on the team (first among tight ends) in receiving with 33 catches for 294 yards and two touchdowns
  • Posted five special teams tackles
  • Scored touchdowns on his first two catches in a Packers uniform
  • Vs. Cleveland (Sept. 18): Played in his first Packers game, seeing nine offensive plays in addition to contributing on special teams
  • At Carolina (Oct. 3): Registered his first catch with Green Bay, a 16-yard TD pass from Favre in the Packers’ furious fourth-quarter comeback attempt; held onto the ball despite a hard hit from S Mike Minter
  • Vs. New Orleans (Oct. 9): Caught a 26-yard TD pass from Favre in the third quarter
  • Vs. Minnesota (Nov. 21): Hauled in a (then) career-high four receptions for 37 yards in Monday night contest
  • At Chicago (Dec. 4): Made three catches for 37 yards, one a season-long 27-yarder on second-and-19 in the third quarter, the Packers’ longest play from scrimmage in the game
2004 SeasonBack To Top
  • Played in all 16 games for Miami, including 10 starts as a second tight end, in his second NFL season
  • Caught 13 passes for 110 yards and a touchdown
  • Vs. Pittsburgh (Sept. 26): Caught season-high three passes for 16 yards
  • Vs. Buffalo (Dec. 5): Recorded his lone TD on the season on a 15-yard pass from A.J. Feeley
  • At Baltimore (Jan. 2): Matched season high with three catches for season-best 25 yards
2003 SeasonBack To Top
  • Appeared in all 16 games in his rookie season, including five starts as a No. 2 tight end
  • Was one of only two tight ends on the Dolphins’ 53-man roster for the majority of the season
  • Finished the year with seven receptions for 110 yards and a touchdown
  • Vs. Houston (Sept. 7): Started on opening day as part of a two-tight end set. Came up with the first reception of his career, a 5-yard connection with Jay Fiedler
  • Vs. Indianapolis (Nov. 2): Notched his season’s longest two receptions as he made catches of 25 and 23 yards, both from Brian Griese
  • At Tennessee (Nov. 9): Caught his first NFL touchdown pass, a 21-yard grab from Sage Rosenfels
  • 2003 Draft: Was the first of Miami’s two fifth-round choices (156th overall) and was the 10th tight end selected
CollegeBack To Top
  • Was a four-year letterman at Mississippi State and started each of his final three seasons
  • Finished his career with 61 receptions for 611 yards and three touchdowns
  • Started 30 of the 45 games in which he appeared
  • Was used primarily as a blocker
  • Earned degree in physical education
  • Senior season (2002): Played in all 12 games with 10 starts, and finished  fourth on the team with 22 catches for 161 yards and a touchdown
  • Junior season (2001): Played in all 11 games with nine starts, and caught 16 balls for 197 yards
  • Sophomore season (2000): Played in all 11 games with eight starts
  • Notched 19 catches for 204 yards and a touchdown
  • Named to the Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll after earning a 3.22 grade-point average
  • Freshman season (1999): Played in all 11 games, starting three, and had four catches for 49 yards and a touchdown
PersonalBack To Top
  • Given name Donald Tywon Lee
  • Born in Maben, Miss.
  • Single
  • Has two children, Donsha, 8, and Don Jr., 7
  • From age 7 through high school, spent the summers hauling logs with an uncle in Pheba, Miss.
  • High school: Attended Maben (Miss.) High School, where he lettered in football, track and basketball
  • Rated one of the top 20 players in the state by USA Today
  • Spent the first three years of his prep career as a tight end and linebacker before moving to tailback for his senior season
  • Posted career totals of 167 grabs for 2,667 yards and 21 touchdowns
  • Also gained 1,087 yards on 136 carries, with 12 TDs
  • On the other side, recorded 352 tackles with 15 sacks and two interceptions
  • Led the state Class A ranks with 54 receptions for 1,447 yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior
  • Also played one year of baseball
  • Community involvement: Has participated in the Brett Favre Celebrity Softball Game, the Donald Driver Celebrity Softball Game and the Edgar Bennett Celebrity Bowl-A-Thon
  • Hobbies/interests: Would like to coach when he is done playing; names his high school coach, Ken Williamson, as a big influence in his development
  • Grew up a fan of the former All-Pro tight end Shannon Sharpe, who played for Denver at the time
  • A workout enthusiast who pays careful attention to his diet, a habit he says he inherited from former Dolphins teammate and current Chiefs linebacker Zach Thomas
  • Enjoys spending most of his free time with his family and lists a visit to Universal Studios in Orlando, Fla., with his children as one of his favorite vacations, as well as camping trips with his family, and going to the movies
  • Enjoys driving off-road vehicles
  • Owns a 1979 Chevrolet truck and had it fitted with monster truck tires
  • Lists Joe Dirt and Step Brothers as his favorite movies, Tyler Perry’s House of Payne as his favorite television show and Sun Up as his favorite book
  • Residence: Pheba, Miss.
Player StatsBack To Top
Receiving
Year GP GS No Yds Avg Lg TD
2003 Miami 16 5 7 110 15.7 25 1
2004 Miami 16 10 13 110 8.5 15t 1
2005 Green Bay 15 5 33 294 8.9 27 2
2006 Green Bay 15 2 10 150 15.0 32 0
2007 Green Bay 15 12 48 575 12.0 60 6
2008 Green Bay 16 14 39 303 7.8 26 5
NFL totals (six years) 93 48 150 1,542 10.3 60 15
Green Bay totals 61 33 130 1,322 10.2 60 13

Playoffs
Year GP GS No Yds Avg Lg TD
2007 Green Bay 2 2 5 51 10.2 18 1

Additional statistics: Special teams tackles - 5 in 2005, 15 in 2006; NFL total: 20. Miscellaneous tackles - 2 in 2004, 2 in 2005, 1 in 2007, 1 in 2008; NFL total: 6. Miscellaneous fumble recoveries - 1 in 2004. Fumbles-Lost - 2-2 in 2004, 1-1 in 2007; NFL totals: 3-3.

SINGLE-GAME CAREER HIGHS
Receptions: 6, vs. Chi. (11/16/08)
Yards: 78, at KC (11/4/07)
Long: 60, vs. Was. (10/14/07)
Touchdowns: 2, vs. Car. (11/18/07)

NFL debut/First NFL start: vs. Houston, 9/7/03, with Miami
First touchdown: at Tennessee, 11/9/03 (S.Rosenfels)

CAREER TRANSACTIONS
2003: Selected as first of two fifth-round choices (156th overall) of '03 NFL Draft, April 27...Signed first contract, June 16.
2005: Waived by Dolphins, Sept. 3...Signed by Green Bay Packers, Sept. 6.
2007: Signed five-year contract extension, through 2011, with Packers, Nov. 5.

CURRENT CONTRACT EXPIRATION: After 2011

ELIAS Game By Game Packers Stats
Game Date OppReceivingSacks
NoYdsAvgTD
Sep 11, 2005 @DET000.000
Sep 18, 2005 CLE000.000
Sep 25, 2005 TB000.000
Oct 3, 2005 @CAR11616.010
Oct 9, 2005 NO12626.010
Oct 23, 2005 @MIN3217.000
Oct 30, 2005 @CIN3289.300
Nov 6, 2005 PIT3217.000
Nov 13, 2005 @ATL33110.300
Nov 21, 2005 MIN4379.300
Nov 27, 2005 @PHI22110.500
Dec 4, 2005 @CHI33712.300
Dec 11, 2005 DET3206.700
Dec 19, 2005 @BAL2168.000
Dec 25, 2005 CHI3103.300
Jan 1, 2006 SEA2105.000
2005 Totals332948.920
Sep 10, 2006 CHI12525.000
Sep 17, 2006 NO000.000
Sep 24, 2006 @DET13232.000
Oct 2, 2006 @PHI000.000
Oct 8, 2006 STL000.000
Oct 22, 2006 @MIA000.0000
Oct 29, 2006 ARI000.0000
Nov 5, 2006 @BUF1-5-5.000
Nov 12, 2006 @MIN000.0000
Nov 19, 2006 NE11616.000
Nov 27, 2006 @SEA000.000
Dec 3, 2006 NYJ000.0000
Dec 10, 2006 @SF11111.000
Dec 17, 2006 DET11515.000
Dec 21, 2006 MIN34113.700
Dec 31, 2006 @CHI11515.000
2006 Totals1015015.000
Sep 9, 2007 PHI4276.800
Sep 16, 2007 @NYG4358.810
Sep 23, 2007 SD44411.000
Sep 30, 2007 @MIN46616.500
Oct 7, 2007 CHI3237.700
Oct 14, 2007 WAS37525.000
Oct 29, 2007 @DEN33411.300
Nov 4, 2007 @KC47819.500
Nov 11, 2007 MIN4276.810
Nov 18, 2007 CAR5499.820
Nov 22, 2007 @DET11010.000
Nov 29, 2007 @DAL33010.000
Dec 9, 2007 OAK47117.810
Dec 16, 2007 @STL144.010
Dec 23, 2007 @CHI122.000
Dec 30, 2007 DET000.000
2007 Totals4857512.060
Sep 8, 2008 MIN3103.300
Sep 14, 2008 @DET22713.500
Sep 21, 2008 DAL5418.200
Sep 28, 2008 @TB166.000
Oct 5, 2008 ATL4256.310
Oct 12, 2008 @SEA294.500
Oct 19, 2008 IND22311.510
Nov 2, 2008 @TEN3227.300
Nov 9, 2008 @MIN166.000
Nov 16, 2008 CHI6335.510
Nov 24, 2008 @NO188.000
Nov 30, 2008 CAR4379.310
Dec 7, 2008 HOU34816.010
Dec 14, 2008 @JAC284.000
Dec 22, 2008 @CHI000.000
Dec 28, 2008 DET000.0000
2008 Totals393037.850
Sep 13, 2009 CHI382.700
Sep 20, 2009 CIN4287.000
Sep 27, 2009 @STL2105.000
Oct 5, 2009 @MIN4287.000
Oct 18, 2009 DET33913.000
Oct 25, 2009 @CLE33913.000
Nov 1, 2009 MIN4246.000
Nov 8, 2009 @TB155.000
Nov 15, 2009 DAL22110.500
Nov 22, 2009 SF000.0000
2009 Totals262027.800
Packers Totals15615249.8130

Statistics provided by Elias Sports Bureau
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