Jermichael Finley
A physically gifted tight end whose promising career with the Green Bay Packers was abruptly shortened by a severe spinal injury.
Born 1987 (age 39)·American football player·Birthday: March 26·Millennials
Biography
Jermichael Finley's story is one of tantalizing potential and sudden, sobering finality. Drafted by the Green Bay Packers in 2008, the University of Texas product represented a new breed of tight end: a massive target with the speed and agility of a wide receiver. His ability to stretch the seam and make contested catches made him a favorite weapon for quarterback Aaron Rodgers during the Packers' high-flying offensive era. He was a key contributor during the team's 2010 Super Bowl-winning season, though an injury kept him out of the championship game itself. Just as he was entering his prime, a catastrophic on-field collision in 2013 resulted in a spinal cord injury that required fusion surgery. Despite hopes of a return, the risk was deemed too great, forcing his retirement at age 27. Finley's legacy is a reminder of the sport's physical fragility and the raw talent that flashed brightly, if briefly, in the NFL.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Jermichael was born in 1987, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jermichael Was Born
The biggest hits of 1987
#1 Movie
Three Men and a Baby
Best Picture
The Last Emperor
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Jermichael's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1987Born
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1992Started school
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2000Became a teenager
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Could drive
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2005Could vote
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2008Turned 21
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2017Turned 30
#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 39 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won Super Bowl XLV as a member of the Green Bay Packers following the 2010 NFL season.
- Recorded a career-best 767 receiving yards and 8 touchdowns in the 2011 season.
- His 55 receptions in 2012 were among the highest season totals for a Packers tight end at the time.
Did You Know?
He played high school football in Diboll, Texas, the same town that produced former NFL running back Jamal Lewis.
He and his wife founded the Jermichael Finley Family Foundation, which supports youth and community initiatives.
After football, he transitioned into business, including ownership in a Wisconsin-based car dealership.
“I played the game with a physicality that demanded everything from my body.”
