SAN DIEGO – According to the NFL Players Association, the average NFL career lasts about three to five years. Don’t tell 
Entering his 17th year as the Chargers long snapper, Binn is the only remaining player from the 1994 Super Bowl roster. Binn holds the franchise record with 255 games played, ahead of Junior Seau and Russ Washington at 200. Binn missed one career game in 1998.
“I think we were playing Seattle at the Kingdome,” he said. “They had that hard turf and I had a shoulder injury. I regret not playing because I probably could have made it through the game.”
The year Binn entered the league, Nelson Mandela had just been elected President of South Africa and former NFL great O.J. Simpson was arrested ahead of one of the most famous trials in U.S. history.
Seventeen years later, Binn still can play with the best of them. With his “live and let die” approach, he is able to block, run down the field and tackle players who are close to half his age.
That being said, Binn has a lot to be thankful for.
“I have not only had great teammates in my years as a Charger, but I am lucky enough to have played in the same city for my entire career,” Binn said.
With a stay that has the potential to surpass two decades, Binn’s success could not be so without his inherent ability to avoid injury, which has allowed him to focus more on his game and maintain what has become a historical career.
Binn played tight end in college, but wasn’t quick enough or big enough for the position in the NFL.
“I was always good at long-snapping and found that it was the only way that I was going to be able to stay on the field,” Binn recalled.
To the less than devoted fan, a player’s skill often is measured by their celebrity. Long snappers don’t usually become famous. Most fans don’t want to hear the long snapper’s name announced because it’s a bad thing in all but a few cases. Binn has had to perform his duty for 17 years without the publicity of more prominent players.
Nevertheless, Binn is a different kind of special teamer.
He is a veteran who is part of one the best kicking teams in the league year after year. With his textbook snaps, Binn has helped manufacture some of the greatest kickers in Chargers history, among them
Kaeding describes Binn and his experience as an important asset to the team.
“Binn has been around and seen everything,” Kaeding said. “He is very knowledgeable about the NFL and is able to help players get through different situations.”
Kaeding, now the most accurate kicker in NFL history, and Scifres, a first alternate three of the last four Pro Bowls who consistently pins his opponent deep inside the 10-yard line, praise Binn for what he brings to the game.
“The best thing about Binn is that every time he snaps the ball it’s perfect,” Kaeding said.
That’s not the only thing that’s flawless about his abilities.
To the casual observer, Binn’s tight spirals rival that of the quarterbacks. While the quarterbacks work with the running backs during practice, Binn is usually the one warming up the receivers. Having wanted to play quarterback, he found it the next best thing.
“I could always throw and long snapping is like turning upside down and throwing the ball between your legs.”
Similar to all professional athletes, Binn is fulfilling a dream.
“Right now I have my family and my son here in San Diego. I could not be happier.”
