GARCIA REACHES FOOTBALL MILESTONE WITH 1,000th TOUCHDOWN
5/3/2011
He's done it in Phoenix, New Jersey, Iowa, Long Island and Jacksonville. He's done it with Rattlers, Coyotes, Red Dogs, Barnstormers, Dragons and Sharks. He's done it against the likes of Gladiators, Pharaohs, Desperados and VooDoo. And on Saturday night, Aaron Garcia did it for the 1,000th time.
Garcia, the former Sacramento State quarterback, became the first person to throw 1,000 career touchdown passes as he helped lead the Jacksonville Sharks to a 76-55 win over Orlando. His latest accomplishment was not missed by those in the football world as the game ball and Garcia's jersey are en route to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
Garcia's football journey has been a long one. A prep phenom at Sacramento's Grant High School, Garcia broke California high school records that were held by John Elway. He began his collegiate career at Washington State and despite leading the Pac-10 in passing efficiency, Garcia lost his job to freshman Drew Bledsoe and opted to return home to play for the Hornets.
His two seasons with the Green & Gold came as Sacramento State transitioned from Div. II to Div. I-AA. In that time, he threw for 2,468 yards and 19 touchdowns.
Garcia's professional career began in 1995 with the Arizona Rattlers of the young Arena Football League. Seventeen years, five teams and one work stoppage later, Garcia is still one of the top passers in the league and has established himself as the most prolific passer in football history.
To put his 1,003 career touchdowns in perspective, Garcia is now just three passing TDs shy of Brett Favre and Dan Marino combined. He has also thrown for 46,916 career yards — the most in AFL history.
For Garcia, who still resides in Sacramento in the offseason with his three children, there is one thing missing from his successful career.
"What's missing is a championship," he recently told the The Florida Times-Union. "I have to get back to work. I'm glad to have 1,000 touchdown (passes), but I want a championship."
Garcia has led the Sharks to a 6-1 record and the team is currently in first place in the AFL's South Division.
