Aaron Schobel
He was the defensive end who sacked Tom Brady more times than any other player in NFL history, a persistent thorn in the side of a football dynasty.
Born 1977 (age 49)·American football player·Birthday: September 1·Generation X
Biography
Aaron Schobel’s football story is one of quiet, relentless consistency. Drafted in the second round out of TCU by the Buffalo Bills in 2001, he didn't arrive with fanfare but left an indelible mark through sheer effort. For nine seasons, he anchored the Bills' defensive line, a model of durability and technique in a position often defined by raw power. His career was defined by a specific, remarkable dominance: he brought down New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady more than any other defender. In an era where Brady's offense seemed untouchable, Schobel's success was a point of pride for Buffalo fans. He retired after the 2009 season with 78.5 career sacks, his name forever etched in a unique piece of NFL rivalry lore.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Aaron was born in 1977, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Aaron Was Born
The biggest hits of 1977
#1 Movie
Star Wars
Best Picture
Annie Hall
#1 TV Show
Happy Days
Aaron's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1977Born
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1982Started school
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1990Became a teenager
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Could drive
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1995Could vote
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Turned 21
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2007Turned 30
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 40
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 49 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Recorded more career sacks against quarterback Tom Brady (12.5) than any other player in NFL history.
- Played his entire nine-season professional career with the Buffalo Bills after being their second-round draft pick in 2001.
- Earned two Pro Bowl selections (2006, 2007) for his performance as a defensive end.
- Recorded at least 6.5 sacks in eight of his nine NFL seasons, demonstrating remarkable consistency.
- Finished his career with 78.5 total sacks and 19 forced fumbles.
Did You Know?
He was a standout high school tight end and punter in Texas before focusing on defense in college.
Schobel and his wife are major supporters of the Buffalo community, having donated $1 million to the Women & Children's Hospital of Buffalo.
He is a cousin of former NFL fullback Boomer Grigsby.
After retiring, he returned to his native Texas to manage his family's cattle ranch.
“I showed up every Sunday, put my hand in the dirt, and went after the quarterback.”
