Patrick Mannelly is an American former football long snapper who played for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Duke Blue Devils and was selected by Chicago in the sixth round of the 1998 NFL Draft. Mannelly played with the Bears for 16 years before retiring in 2014. He is considered one of the top long snappers in modern-day football, a title given to him by sports columnist Rick Gosselin and special teams NFL agent Kevin Gold.
Mannelly in 2008
In gridiron football, the long snapper is a center on special teams whose duty is to snap the football over a longer distance, typically around 15 yards during punts, and 7–8 yards during field goals and conversion attempts.
A long snapper (91, foreground) practicing field goal snaps with his position coach (background)
In the traditional or "cup" punt formation, the long snapper is the center of the interior line (#58 in blue)
Traditional field goal formation with the long snapper in the center