Björn Werner
Björn Werner is a German former professional player of American football who was a defensive end for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. He played college football for the Florida State Seminoles, earning unanimous All-American honors in 2012. Werner was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the first round of the 2013 NFL draft. He is co-owner and sports director of the Berlin Thunder of the European League of Football.
Early life
Werner grew up in the Berlin neighborhoods of Wedding and Reinickendorf. He originally played for the Berlin Adler, before attending Salisbury School in Salisbury, Connecticut, as an exchange student in 2007, as part of an exchange program organized by Pat Steenberge. He had 54 tackles, including 24 for losses, 12 sacks and two fumble recoveries in just eight games, but returned to Germany for his junior year. In 2008, he played on the U-19 Germany national team against the Poland U-19 squad in Będzin, winning 67–0. In 2009, Werner returned to Salisbury, and logged 57 tackles in seven games with three sacks, four forced fumbles and two blocked field goals as a senior.Despite having played high school football for only two years, Werner was regarded a three-star recruit and ranked the fifth overall prospect in the state of Connecticut by Rivals.com. Werner chose FSU over Oregon, University of Miami, and California, during a National Signing Day telecast on ESPN.
Over spring break 2010, Werner married his girlfriend Denise, whom he had met in tenth grade in Berlin.
College career
Werner enrolled in Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida, where he was a member of coach Jimbo Fisher's Florida State Seminoles football team from 2010 through 2012. He appeared in all 14 games as a true freshman, registering 20 tackles, including 6.0 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks, as a backup of senior defensive end Markus White. In his sophomore season, he took over as starter at left defensive end, registered 37 tackles, including 25 solo stops, 11 tackles for loss and 7 sacks for a Florida State defense that ranked second in rushing defense, fourth in scoring defense and sixth in total defense. In his junior season, he had his best collegiate season. He registered 42 tackles, 30 solo stops, 18 tackles for loss and 13 sacks. He was voted the 2012 Defensive Player of the Year.Professional career
Pre-draft
In preseason mock drafts from May 2012, Werner was listed as a late first-rounder for the 2013 NFL draft. By mid-season, he had moved up to a top-3 spot. The Seminoles had not seen one of their players selected in the top-3 since Andre Wadsworth in 1998. On January 3, 2013, Werner announced his decision to enter the 2013 NFL draft. He signed with agent Jimmy Sexton of Creative Artists Agency.Indianapolis Colts
2013 season
In the 2013 NFL Draft, the Indianapolis Colts selected him in the first round, 24th overall.On July 24, 2013, Werner signed a four-year contract worth $7.9 million featuring a $4.12 million signing bonus. On September 8, 2013, Werner played his first NFL game. During a 21-17 win over the Oakland Raiders, Werner made also his first tackle. In week 15, Werner had his first sack in the NFL against the Houston Texans. During the season, Werner played in 13 games making 18 tackles with 4 passes defended and 2.5 sacks. Werner entered the playoffs with the Colts and played in both of the Colts' playoff games: their Wild Card win over the Kansas City Chiefs and their Divisional Round loss to the New England Patriots.