| PRO Unquestioned leader of the Buccaneers
and arguably the most respected player in the NFL…
Cornerstone for the league’s best defense of the last
decade… Devoted and inspirational player who demands
and receives total commitment from his teammates…
Impacts a game and the opponent’s game plan because
of his game-breaking play ability... Displays unique skills
as a run and pass defender... Excellent open-field tackler
who boasts exceptional speed and recognition to stop the
NFL’s top playmakers... Ultimate professional who
is a steady force on and off the field... Long considered
the NFL’s best linebacker, earned his club-record
ninth consecutive Pro Bowl appearance in 2005… His
nine total Pro Bowl selections are also a team record…
Elevated his status as one of the league’s most accomplished
defenders after being honored as the NFL’s Defensive
Player of the Year in 2002... His nine consecutive Pro Bowls
rank him tied for fourth in NFL history for most consecutive
Pro Bowls by a linebacker… Has also been named as
a Pro Bowl starter for the past eight seasons… Earned
2006 Pro Bowl MVP honors… Team captain who was instrumental
in leading Tampa Bay to its first Super Bowl championship
following the 2002 season... Undeniably the most philanthropic
athlete in the Tampa Bay community and one of the NFL’s
most active, he has received numerous awards for his civic
work including: the 2000 Walter Payton/NFL Man of the Year
award (co-recipient), the 2004 Byron “Whizzer”
White Award and the 2003 Bart Starr Award… Only active
player, and just the fifth player in NFL history, to be
selected to nine consecutive Pro Bowls, earn AP Defensive
Player of the Year honors and win a Super Bowl… Along
with former teammate DT Warren Sapp, became the first pair
of teammates selected in the same draft class (1995) to
earn seven Pro Bowl appearances since the Buffalo Bills’
DE Bruce Smith and WR Andre Reed (1985 draft class)... Earned
All-Pro honors from the Associated Press for the eighth
consecutive year in 2005 (first-team honors in 1999, 2000,
2002, 2004 and 2005; and second-team honors in 1998, 2001
and 2003)... Led the defense in tackles for seven consecutive
seasons (1998-2004) and paced the club in that category
in eight of the past 10 seasons... Tied for the NFL lead
with 10 consecutive seasons (1996-2005) of 100 or more tackles
(also Miami LB Zach Thomas)… Ranks as the most prolific
tackler in franchise history with 1,775 stops... Ranks sixth
in club history with 21 career interceptions... Named team
MVP by the Tampa Sports Club (fan) in 1996, 1998, 1999 (along
with Sapp) and 2002… Only linebacker in NFL history
to have three interception returns for a touchdown in a
season (2002) and his four touchdowns on turnovers (2002)
are tied for second-most in a single season in NFL history...
Added an interception return for a score in Tampa Bay’s
Super Bowl XXXVII victory... Has scored six regular season
touchdowns in his career, second-most in team history by
a defensive player… Ranks second on the club’s
all-time games started list (173) and is third on the all-time
games played list (176)... Has played in 176 consecutive
games and has posted 160 straight starts, the most among
all active NFL defensive players while also leading all
active Buccaneers... Has not missed a start in each of the
last 10 seasons... Has totaled 21 career interceptions,
21 forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, 13.5 sacks, 118
passes defensed and 10 special teams tackles... Started
in 10 postseason contests, notching 94 career tackles, three
passes defensed, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery
and two interceptions (including one returned for a touchdown)...
Has earned NFC Player of the Week honors five times and
Player of the Month honors twice during his career…
Selected by the Buccaneers in the first round (28th overall)
of the 1995 draft.
courtesy of Buccaneers.com |
