Sharks Activate Quarterback Aaron Garcia
Monday April 7, 2014
ArenaBowl XXIV champion officially returns to team
JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville Sharks announced Monday that the team has activated quarterback Aaron Garcia from the Refused to Report list. Garcia had previously been acquired in a trade with the Orlando Predators on February 10, and was placed on Refused to Report on February 21.
Over his 18-year Arena Football League career, the 43-year-old Garcia (6’1”, 195) has firmly entrenched himself as one of the league’s all-time greatest signal-callers. As the first starting quarterback in Jacksonville franchise history, Garcia led the Sharks to back-to-back division titles in 2010 and 2011.
After a first-round playoff exit in 2010, Garcia rebounded with perhaps the greatest season of his career, completing 71.5 percent of his passes as he tossed 116 touchdown passes against 17 interceptions during the 2011 regular season. Garcia then took the Sharks through the first two rounds of the playoffs, earning a spot in ArenaBowl XXIV against the Arizona Rattlers. In that game, Garcia established a two ArenaBowl record with 402 passing yards to go along with his eight touchdown passes. Garcia capped that ArenaBowl performance with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Jeron Harvey as time expired, lifting Jacksonville to a 73-70 victory.
Since he last played with Jacksonville, Garcia spent time with the San Antonio Talons, San Jose SaberCats and Orlando Predators over the last two years. In 2012, he established a new career high with 118 touchdown passes in his first and only season with the Talons. This past season, Garcia was traded to Orlando partway through the campaign. Taking over a Predator team that was sitting at 0-5, Garcia helped carry Orlando into the No. 3 seed in the American Conference. Between the Predators and SaberCats, Garcia tossed a total of 108 touchdown passes in 2013, the third straight season in which he has accomplished that feat.
For his career, Garcia has racked up 1,304 career touchdown passes, a total unmatched in all of professional football. He has thrown 100 or more touchdown passes in five different seasons and accounted for 90 or more scores in three others. Garcia’s storied AFL career began with the Arizona Rattlers in 1995. Prior to becoming a professional, Garcia completed his collegiate career at Sacramento State University after transferring from Washington State.
The Sharks also announced Monday that kicker Fabrizio Scaccia has been placed on inactive reserve. Following the day’s, the Jacksonville roster remains at the League maximum of 24 active players.
About the Jacksonville Sharks
The Jacksonville Sharks are members of the Arena Football League (AFL). The ArenaBowl XXIV and four-time South Division Champions are presented by Sea Best Seafood and play all home games on Sea Best Field at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena. Season Tickets for the 2014 season are now available, two tickets as low as $169. To reserve your season tickets or for more information, please call (904) 621-0700. Follow the Sharks on facebook at facebook.com/jaxsharks and on Twitter @jaxsharks, as well as the Attack Dance Team at facebook.com/sharkattackdance and Chum at facebook.com/chumsharks.