On most days, Pittsburgh Steelers long snapper Greg Warren can probably walk the streets of Pittsburgh without anyone recognizing him. While many players are recognizable because they play well, Warren is unrecognizable because of his solid play. That’s because long snappers are usually never talked about unless something goes wrong with one of their snaps.
On Friday, Warren will report to Latrobe for his tenth training camp with the Steelers and once again there will be competition waiting for him as Bryce Davis was signed during the offseason. Warren, a North Carolina product, is expected to dispose of Davis quickly just as he has done with all of the other long snappers that have been brought to Latrobe over the years.
During his career, Warren has only missed 11 regular season games and unfortunately one playoff run that ended with a Super Bowl championship. In 2008, he tore the ACL in his left knee in the Week 8 game against the New York Giants. The very next season, Warren tore the ACL in his right knee while snapping for Jeff Reed‘s game-winning extra point with no time left in the Week 15 contest against the Green Bay Packers.
Being a long snapper for a long time in the NFL is not bad work if you can get it. Assuming he makes the roster once again this season, Warren will have earned almost $7 million during his career.
Surprisingly, Warren isn’t the longest tenured long snapper currently in the league as that honor goes to Jon Dorenbos of the Philadelphia Eagles, who entered the league as an undrafted free agent with the Buffalo Bills back in 2003.
Despite his longevity and several near-flawless seasons long snapping for the Steelers, Warren has yet to make it to the Pro Bowl. Maybe 2014 will be his year, but I’m sure he would be glad to turn down that invitation should he get it because of him needing to prepare for another Super Bowl instead.
Fortunately, I don’t get to write much about Warren during the season and I’m sure the Steelers longtime long snapper hopes that remains the case this year. Here’s to Warren staying unrecognizable in 2014.
