Steven Means
refer to caption
Means with the Atlanta Falcons in 2021
Personal information
Born: (1990-09-16) September 16, 1990
Buffalo, New York, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:263 lb (119 kg)
Career information
High school:Grover Cleveland
(Buffalo, New York)
College:Buffalo
Position:Outside linebacker
NFL Draft:2013 / Round: 5 / Pick: 147
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2022
Total tackles:108
Sacks:6.0
Forced fumbles:3
Fumble recoveries:1
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Steven Means (born September 16, 1990) is an American football outside linebacker who is a free agent. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fifth round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He played college football for the University at Buffalo.

Means has also played for the Baltimore Ravens, Houston Texans, and Philadelphia Eagles.

Early life

Means was born in Buffalo, New York. He attended Grover Cleveland High School, where he participated on the basketball, track and field, swimming and football teams.[1] Means' father, Steven Means Sr., played football at Buffalo State College. Means has two younger brothers, Brandon and Cameron.[2]

College career

While attending the University at Buffalo, Means was a member of the Buffalo Bulls football team from 2009 to 2012. In four seasons as a defensive end, Means accumulated 186 total tackles, 30.5 tackles for loss, 19.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, two interceptions and five blocked kicks. He majored in human development and family studies.[3]

Professional career

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

On April 27, 2013, Steven Means was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fifth round (147th overall) in the 2013 NFL Draft.[4] Means signed his contract on May 13, 2013, and also got a $191,752 signing bonus on a four-year deal worth $2,351,752. Means appeared in ten games for the Buccaneers during his rookie campaign in 2013. After appearing in the first game of the following season, Means was waived on September 9.[5] In eleven games with the Buccaneers over two seasons, Means accumulated six tackles and no sacks.

Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens signed Means to their practice squad in October 2014. Means appeared in only one game in 2014 after an injury to offensive tackle Rick Wagner created a vacancy on the roster. On May 7, 2015, Means accepted a $510,000 exclusive-rights tender offer from the Ravens.[6] On September 2, 2015, after suffering a sports hernia,[7] Means was released by the Ravens with an injury settlement.[8]

Houston Texans

On October 20, 2015, the Houston Texans signed Means to their practice squad.[9]

Philadelphia Eagles

On December 8, 2015, Means was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles off the Texans' practice squad.[10]

In 2016, the Eagles chose to retain Means following a strong preseason showing.[11] Means was active for the first three weeks of the season and recorded his first solo tackle since his rookie year.[12] Following a Week 4 bye, Means was placed on the inactive list.[13] In a Week 7 game against the Minnesota Vikings, Means, active again due to an injury to Bennie Logan, recorded his first career sack, which also caused Sam Bradford to fumble.[14][15]

On August 30, 2017, Means signed a one-year contract extension with the Eagles.[16] Means won Super Bowl LII after the Eagles defeated the New England Patriots 41-33.[17]

On September 1, 2018, Means was released by the Eagles.[18]

Atlanta Falcons

On September 10, 2018, Means signed with the Atlanta Falcons.[19] He played in eight games with four starts, recording 14 combined tackles and one sack.

On February 13, 2019, Means signed a one-year contract extension with the Falcons.[20] On May 22, 2019, Means suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in OTAs and was ruled out for the season.[21]

On March 9, 2020, Means signed a one-year contract extension with the Falcons.[22] He was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the team on August 29, 2020.[23] On September 8, 2020, Means was activated prior to the season opener against the Seattle Seahawks.[24] In Week 12 against the Las Vegas Raiders, Means recorded a strip sack on Derek Carr that was recovered by teammate LaRoy Reynolds during the 43–6 win.[25] In 2020 while with the Falcons, Means was the team's recipient of the 2020 Ed Block Courage Award. The award is given to select NFL players who are voted by their teammates as role models of inspiration, courage, and sportsmanship.[26]

On April 1, 2021, Means re-signed with the Falcons on a one-year contract.[27] In Week 9, Means recovered a fumble and returned it for 32 yards thanks to a James Vaughters strip sack on Trevor Siemian in a 27-25 win over the Saints. Means suffered a knee injury as he was tackled from behind by Saints receiver Tre'Quan Smith. He was placed on injured reserve on November 14, 2021.[28] He was activated on December 4.

Baltimore Ravens (second stint)

On June 17, 2022, Means signed with the Baltimore Ravens.[29] He was released on August 30, 2022 and signed to the practice squad the next day.[30][31] On September 14, the Ravens signed Means to the active roster.[32] He suffered a torn Achilles tendon in Week 2 and was placed on injured reserve on September 19, ending his season.[33]

Personal life

Means grew up a fan of his hometown Buffalo Bills, but admitted to feeling slighted by the organization for passing on him in the draft. He has done charity work for his high school, albeit under the radar. Means is a Christian.[34]

References

  1. ↑ "Steven Means - Buffalo". UBBulls.com. University at Buffalo Athletics. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
  2. ↑ Smith, Joe (May 10, 2013). "Bucs rookie Means fulfills pledge". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Steven Means". Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
  4. ↑ UB's Steven Means drafted in fifth round by Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  5. ↑ Philipse, Sander (September 9, 2014). "Buccaneers re-sign Larry English, waive Steven Means". Bucs Nation. SB Nation. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
  6. ↑ Weiss, Yitzi (May 7, 2015). "Pass Rusher Steven Means Signs His Tender". Baltimore Beatdown. SB Nation. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
  7. ↑ Zangaro, Dave (December 11, 2015). "Outside linebacker Steven Means plans to stick with Eagles". Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
  8. ↑ Zrebiec, Jeff (September 2, 2015). "Ravens release Chris Greenwood, Steven Means". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
  9. ↑ Wilson, Aaron (October 20, 2015). "Texans sign defensive end Steven Means to practice squad". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
  10. ↑ McPherson, Chris (December 8, 2015). "LB Means Signed To Active Roster". Philadelphia Eagles. Archived from the original on March 12, 2016. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
  11. ↑ Berman, Zach (September 3, 2016). "After cuts, Birds have only four linebackers". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
  12. ↑ Hermann, Adam (October 9, 2016). "Eagles Inactives: Bennie Logan active in Detroit". Bleeding Green Nation. SB Nation. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
  13. ↑ Kempski, Jimmy (October 9, 2016). "Eagles-Lions Week 5 inactives, with analysis". Philly Voice. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
  14. ↑ Bowen, Les (October 23, 2016). "Source: Eagles' Ron Brooks to require surgery". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
  15. ↑ Davenport, Turron (October 23, 2016). "Four things learned in Eagles 21-10 win over the Vikings". USA Today. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
  16. ↑ Gowton, Brandon Lee (August 30, 2017). "Steven Means, Eagles sign contract extension". BleedingGreenNation.com.
  17. ↑ "Eagles dethrone Tom Brady, Patriots for first Super Bowl title in stunner". USA TODAY. Retrieved February 25, 2019.
  18. ↑ McPherson, Chris (September 1, 2018). "Eagles Get To The 53-Player Limit". PhiladelphiaEagles.com.
  19. ↑ McFadden, Will (September 10, 2018). "Falcons place Keanu Neal on IR, sign Steven Means to active roster". AtlantaFalcons.com.
  20. ↑ McFadden, Will (February 13, 2019). "Falcons agree to terms with Steven Means on one-year extension". AtlantaFalcons.com.
  21. ↑ McFadden, Will (May 22, 2019). "Falcons' Steven Means suffers season-ending injury". AtlantaFalcons.com.
  22. ↑ Conway, Kelsey (March 9, 2020). "Falcons agree to terms on one-year deal with Steven Means, waive Lukayas McNeil". AtlantaFalcons.com.
  23. ↑ McFadden, Will (August 29, 2020). "Falcons place Steven Means on reserve/COVID-19 list". AtlantaFalcons.com. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  24. ↑ Choate, Dave (September 8, 2020). "Falcons activate Steven Means, cut LB Deone Bucannon". thefalcoholic.com/.
  25. ↑ "Las Vegas Raiders at Atlanta Falcons – November 29th, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  26. ↑ "Steven Means named Falcons ed Block Courage Award winner". February 5, 2021.
  27. ↑ Moran, Gaby (April 1, 2021). "Falcons Re-Sign DE Steven Means, Sign OL Josh Andrews and DT Jonathan Bullard". AtlantaFalcons.com. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  28. ↑ "Falcons activate OLB Fowler, place Means on injured reserve". Newsobserver.com. November 14, 2021.
  29. ↑ Brown, Clifton (June 17, 2022). "Ravens Sign Veteran Linebacker Steven Means". BaltimoreRavens.com.
  30. ↑ Mink, Ryan (August 30, 2022). "Ravens Make Roster Cuts to 53". BaltimoreRavens.com.
  31. ↑ Mink, Ryan (August 31, 2022). "Ravens Set Initial Practice Squad". BaltimoreRavens.com.
  32. ↑ Brown, Clifton (September 14, 2022). "Ravens Sign Steven Means to 53-Man Roster". BaltimoreRavens.com. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
  33. ↑ Mink, Ryan (September 19, 2022). "Steven Means Suffers Torn Achilles, Out for Year". BaltimoreRavens.com.
  34. ↑ Wolf, Jason (December 31, 2021). "Q&A: Why Falcons linebacker Steven Means, a Buffalo native and UB grad, hates the Bills". The Buffalo News. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
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