Sean Weatherspoon
refer to caption
Weatherspoon with the Atlanta Falcons in 2013
No. 56, 55
Position:Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1987-12-29) December 29, 1987
Greenville, South Carolina, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:244 lb (111 kg)
Career information
High school:Jasper (TX)
College:Missouri (2006–2009)
NFL Draft:2010 / Round: 1 / Pick: 19
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles:329
Sacks:8.0
Forced fumbles:1
Pass deflections:15
Interceptions:2
Defensive touchdowns:1
Player stats at NFL.com

Franklin De'Sean "Sean" Weatherspoon (born December 29, 1987) is a former American football linebacker. He played college football at the University of Missouri, and was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons with the 19th overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. He has also played for the Arizona Cardinals.

Early years

Weatherspoon attended Jasper High School in Jasper, Texas, where he was a versatile athlete who was an accomplished three-sport star in Texas, including as a linebacker in football. He was the 2006 recipient of the defensive Willie Ray Smith Award. He was named the Texas District 22-3A player of the year as a senior; after making 98 tackles in 2005 for the Jasper Bulldogs. He had 8 tackles for loss in 2005, and added 4 quarterback sacks along with 2 interceptions from his linebacker position as well. His high school football career also included a second-team All-State pick. He also played receiver on offense, and had 27 catches for 428 yards and 7 touchdowns. He was a first-team All-District selection as a junior in 2004 at linebacker, after registering 105 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 2 QB sacks and 3 interceptions. He was named the 22-3A defensive newcomer of the year as a sophomore in 2003; when he amassed 101 stops, 3 tackles for loss, 1 QB sack and 2 interceptions. He was an All-District performer as a guard in basketball.

In track & field, Weatherspoon was an All-State high jumper. At the 2005 District 22-3A Championships, he won the high jump event with a leap of 1.89 meters (6-2), and ran the fourth leg on the Bulldogs 4 × 200 relay, helping them earn a first-place finish with a school-record time of 1:30.62 minutes.[1] He posted personal-best leaps of 1.97 meters (6 ft 5 in) in the high jump and 6.40 meters (20-11) in the long jump. He also competed as a sprinter, running the 200-meter dash in 22.9 seconds,[2] and was also timed at 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash.

Considered only a two-star recruit by Rivals.com, Weatherspoon was not ranked among the best linebacker prospects in the nation.[3] He chose Missouri over Iowa State, Houston, Tulane, and TCU, among others.

College career

One of only four true freshmen to play for the Tigers in 2006, Weatherspoon saw action in all 13 games, primarily on various special teams units, and was named Mizzou's special teams player of the year, as he led the team with 9 tackles on kickoff coverage. Weatherspoon was listed as the backup on the depth chart at middle linebacker to senior co-captain Dedrick Harrington, and had 17 tackles in all for the season.

As a sophomore, Weatherspoon became a starter at weakside linebacker and blossomed into a leader on the field, under the tutoring of coach Dave Steckel.[4] He led the team with 130 tackles, and also broke up 8 passes on the year (second most on the team). Weatherspoon received All-Big 12 First-team honors by the Associated Press, San Antonio Express-News, and Rivals.com in 2007.

In 2008, Weatherspoon finished the season with 155 tackles, which were the 2nd-most in Missouri single-season history, trailing only to Travis McDonald (164 in 1994). He also had 18.5 tackles for loss, 3 interceptions (2 of which he returned for touchdowns), and also broke up 7 passes. In the 2008 Alamo Bowl, Weatherspoon was named the game's defensive MVP after registering 17 tackles. He announced after the game that he had filed for the 2009 NFL Draft, but just to see where he would rank, and that he would return for his senior season.[5]

Professional career

2010 NFL Draft

Weatherspoon was drafted in the first round by the Atlanta Falcons 19th overall in the 2010 NFL Draft.[6][7]

Atlanta Falcons

2010 season

In his rookie season, Weatherspoon recorded 42 tackles and one sack. He played in only 11 games while starting 5.[8]

2011 season

Weatherspoon then became the Falcons' starting outside linebacker. Without missing a start, he finished the season with 115 tackles, four sacks, and one fumble recovery.

2012 season

Weatherspoon was named the Falcons' defensive captain at the beginning of the season. He ended his 2012 campaign with 95 tackles, three sacks and his first career interception. He played in and started 13 games.

2013 season

In 2013, Weatherspoon missed 10 regular season games due to injury. He finished the season with 38 tackles, one interception and his first career touchdown.

2014 season

On June 10, 2014, the Falcons announced that Weatherspoon would miss the entire 2014 season with a ruptured Achilles tendon.[9]

Arizona Cardinals

2015 season

On March 11, 2015, Weatherspoon signed a one-year deal with the Arizona Cardinals.[10]

Second stint with Falcons

2016 season

On March 10, 2016, Weatherspoon agreed to a one-year contract to return to the Atlanta Falcons.[11] On October 4, 2016, he was placed on injured reserve after suffering a torn Achilles in a Week 4 win over the Carolina Panthers, ending his season.[12]

2017 season

On October 24, 2017, Weatherspoon re-signed with the Atlanta Falcons.[13]

NFL career statistics

Year Team GP Tackles Fumbles Interceptions
CmbSoloAstSckFFFRYdsIntYdsAvgLngTDPD
2010ATL 11423481.0000000.0001
2011ATL 1611582334.0010000.0008
2012ATL 139570253.0110166.0604
2013ATL 73826120.000017171.07112
2014ATL 0did not play due to injury
2015ARI 1411920.0000000.0000
2016ATL 4272160.0000000.0000
2017ATL 21100.0000000.0000
Career[14]67329243868.012027738.571115

Personal life

Sean was born to Develous Weatherspoon and Elwanda Martin Weatherspoon in Greenville, South Carolina in 1987.[15] He has two children, Ava and Franklin Jr., with college girlfriend Christine Weston, whom he married June 10, 2017.

References

  1. ↑ "2005 District 22 3A Championships". Archived from the original on November 7, 2014. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Sean Weatherspoon | Missouri | Falcons DB/LB". Archived from the original on October 6, 2016. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  3. ↑ Sean Weatherspoon Profile, Rivals.com
  4. ↑ Schmenner, Drew (October 30, 2007), "MU linebacker Sean Weatherspoon doesn't forget to have fun on the field", Columbia Missourian, archived from the original on July 23, 2012
  5. ↑ Laymance, Reid (December 30, 2008), "Sean Weatherspoon coming back; Jeremy Maclin unsure", St. Louis Post-Dispatch, archived from the original on March 26, 2009
  6. ↑ "2010 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Falcons first-rounder Weatherspoon lands five year, $17.5M deal", NFL.com, July 29, 2010.
  8. ↑ "Sean Weatherspoon". ESPN.com.
  9. ↑ Wilkening, Mike (June 10, 2014). "Falcons LB Sean Weatherspoon suffers season-ending Achilles injury". NBCSports.com. Retrieved July 30, 2014.
  10. ↑ Urban, Darren (March 11, 2015). "Cardinals Agree To Terms With Mike Iupati, Sean Weatherspoon, Corey Peters". AZCardinals.com. Archived from the original on October 1, 2017.
  11. ↑ Rapoport, Ian (March 10, 2016). "Weatherspoon and Falcons agree to one-year deal".
  12. ↑ Jackson, Curtis (October 4, 2016). "Falcons Sign LB Hawk, Release LB Schofield". AtlantaFalcons.com.
  13. ↑ Conway, Kelsey (October 24, 2017). "Falcons sign linebacker Sean Weatherspoon, waive defensive lineman Joe Vellano". AtlantaFalcons.com. Archived from the original on January 31, 2018.
  14. ↑ "Sean Weatherspoon Stats". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Sean Weatherspoon". NFL Enterprises LLC. Retrieved October 3, 2012.
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