No. 32, 30 | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Position: | Cornerback | ||||||
Personal information | |||||||
Born: | Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. | December 19, 1974||||||
Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||
Weight: | 199 lb (90 kg) | ||||||
Career information | |||||||
High school: | El Camino (CA) | ||||||
College: | Texas | ||||||
NFL draft: | 1997 / Round: 1 / Pick: 5 | ||||||
Career history | |||||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||||
| |||||||
Career NFL statistics | |||||||
| |||||||
Player stats at PFR |
Bryant Antoine Westbrook (born December 19, 1974) is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Texas.
Westbrook attended El Camino High School, where he was a three-year starter at defensive back, while helping his team to 2 county titles.
As a senior, he registered 41 tackles, 4 forced fumbles and 2 interceptions. He also rushed for 676 yards (7 yard-avg.) with 5 touchdowns in the first 7 games, before switching to wide receiver for the final 5 contests, making 25 receptions for 423 yards. He received Parade All-American and North County Defensive Player of the Year honors. He also practiced basketball.
Westbrook played college football at the University of Texas at Austin, where he was named the starting right cornerback midway through his freshman season, tallying 39 tackles, 7 passes defensed and 2 interceptions. The next year, he was moved to the left side after the fifth game, making 30 tackles, 3 passes defensed and 4 interceptions.
As a junior, he recorded 62 tackles (47 solos), 9 passes defensed, 1 interception and 3 forced fumbles. In his final season, he posted 52 tackles, 11 passes defensed, 2 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles and 2 blocked kicks.
Westbrook was known for making powerful tackles that would intimidate his opponents. One such moment occurred in the 1995 rivalry game against Texas A&M when Westbrook landed a devastating hit on Aggies running back Leeland McElroy. It caused color analyst Dick Vermeil to yell "Holy mackerel! Whoo!" Westbrook picked up an unsportsmanlike conduct call for taunting because he strutted next to a stunned McElroy and looked down at McElroy as he walked by. The broadcast team calling the game did not like the call. When Vermeil learned the referee called the play taunting, Vermeil responded by saying "just shoot the official." Ultimately, the play was not a factor in the game's outcome or even that drive. The penalty did not result in a first down since the Aggies were inside the 15-yard line. Half the distance to the goal line was not enough yardage for a first down. The Aggies were forced to bring out their field goal unit. [1]
Westbrook is also known for a brutal hit against Notre Dame in 1996. In the play, Irish QB Ron Powlus pitched the ball out to TB Randy Kinder on the option. Unfortunately for Kinder, Westbrook read the play perfectly and had a full head of steam when the ball got to the tailback Kinder. The ensuing hit caused legendary college football announcer Keith Jackson to instantly say "Uh oh! Hello! Bryant Westbrook!" then fall silent for 10 seconds. Then he said, "The important thing right now is to make sure Randy Kinder can find a place to lay down... 'cause he really took a hit." [2]
In yet another memorable instance of his powerful hits, in the 1995 Sugar Bowl, Westbrook "laid the lumber" to FB Brian Edmonds of Virginia Tech, knocking him unconscious. The hit caused ABC announcer Mark Jones to say, "Somebody answer the phone, because there's a bell ringing, and it's Bryant Westbrook." Then later after some replays and analysis of the play, he further commented about Edmonds, “When he comes to, his clothes will be out of style.” [3]
Westbrook was selected in the first round (fifth overall) of the 1997 NFL draft by the Detroit Lions. [4] As a rookie, he returned his first career interception for a touchdown and led the Lions with 20 passes defended, while making 54 tackles, 2 interceptions and a forced fumble. After the season, Westbrook was named to the USA Today All-Rookie team.
The next year, he was moved to the left side, recording a career-high 77 tackles, to go along with 19 passes defensed (led the team) and 3 interceptions. In 1999, he was limited with hamstring injuries and a broken bone in his hand, appearing in 10 games, while posting with 34 tackles and 6 passes defensed. [5]
In 2000, he was having his best season as a professional, until suffering a ruptured left Achilles tendon against the Minnesota Vikings and being placed on the injured reserve list on December 4. [6] Despite the premature ending of his season, he registered 52 tackles (43 solo), a career-high 6 interceptions and led team with a career-high of 21 passes defensed. He also was named a Pro Bowl alternate and earned the Chuck Hughes Most Improved Player award, as voted by teammates.
In 2001, he returned to play in 9 games, making his first start on December 16 against the Vikings. He was not re-signed at the end of the year, after not being able to regain his previous form.
On March 22, 2002, he signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an unrestricted free agent. [7] He passed Duane Hawthorne on the depth chart and was named the starter at left cornerback for the season opener against the Houston Texans, who at the time were an expansion team, playing in their first game ever. Westbrook was charged with a 43-yard pass interference penalty on Houston's first play from scrimmage, which led to a touchdown. He continued to be targeted by the Texans during the contest and in the fourth quarter, a sack of quarterback David Carr was cancelled because Westbrook was called with a 5-yard penalty for illegal contact, leading to the final touchdown of a 19-10 loss. [8] On September 12, he was cut due to his poor play in the season opener. [9]
On October 9, 2002, he was signed by the Green Bay Packers as a free agent for depth purposes, after injuries to Mike McKenzie and Darren Sharper. [10] The next season, he was tried at safety, [11] before rupturing his right Achilles tendon and being placed on the injured reserve list on August 17, 2003. [12] He was released on May 6, 2004.
Year | Team | GP | Tackles | Fumbles | Interceptions | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Comb | Solo | Ast | Sack | FF | FR | Int | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | PD | |||
1997 | DET | 15 | 44 | 41 | 3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 64 | 32.0 | 64 | 1 | 21 |
1998 | DET | 16 | 73 | 59 | 14 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 49 | 16.3 | 34 | 1 | 21 |
1999 | DET | 10 | 34 | 31 | 3 | 0.0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
2000 | DET | 13 | 49 | 36 | 13 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 126 | 21.0 | 101 | 1 | 19 |
2001 | DET | 10 | 20 | 19 | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
2002 | DAL | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
GB | 6 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
Career [13] | 71 | 230 | 196 | 34 | 0.0 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 239 | 18.4 | 101 | 3 | 73 |
In January 2011, Westbrook was the defensive back coach at Shadow Mountain High School in Phoenix, Arizona. In 2012, he was the defensive back coach at Cactus High School in Glendale. He is currently an assistant football coach at perennial Arizona powerhouse Saguaro High School. [14]
DeAngelo Eugene Hall is an American professional football coach and former player who was a defensive back for 14 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Virginia Tech Hokies and was selected by the Atlanta Falcons with the eighth overall pick in the 2004 NFL draft. Hall played half a season for the Oakland Raiders before being released and signed by the Washington Redskins in 2008, playing for them until retiring following the 2017 season. He was a cornerback for the majority of his career before playing at free safety during his last few seasons.
Derrick O'Hara Johnson is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Texas Longhorns, twice earning consensus All-American honors. He was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the first round of the 2005 NFL draft with the 15th overall pick. In his 13 seasons with the Chiefs, he made four Pro Bowls. He also played six games for the Oakland Raiders.
George Theo Teague is an American former professional football player who was a safety in the National Football League (NFL) who played for the Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins. He played college football at the University of Alabama.
Kevin Bryant Mathis is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints, and Atlanta Falcons. He played college football at Texas A&M University–Commerce.
Michael Devin Griffin is an American former professional football player who was a safety for 10 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Texas Longhorns. He was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the first round of the 2007 NFL draft.
Johnathan Lee Joseph is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the South Carolina Gamecocks and was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the first round of the 2006 NFL draft. Joseph also played for the Houston Texans, Tennessee Titans, and Arizona Cardinals.
Cedric Leonard Griffin is a former American football cornerback who played in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Texas, where he was a stand-out performer on the 2005 national championship team.
Todd William Lyght is a former professional American football player and former defensive backs coach for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
The 2006 Philadelphia Eagles season was the franchise's 74th season in the National Football League (NFL), and the eighth under head coach Andy Reid. the Eagles improved on their 6–10 record from 2005 and finishing 10–6, reclaiming the NFC East, and winning a playoff game at home. The season ended in a Divisional Round playoff loss to the New Orleans Saints, but was seen as a success in the face of the adversity of losing starting quarterback Donovan McNabb to injury in Week 11.
Mario Lashun Edwards Sr. is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Miami Dolphins. He was drafted in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft by the Cowboys. He played college football at Florida State University.
Michael Lynn Downs is a former American football safety in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys and Phoenix Cardinals. He played college football at Rice University.
Kevin Rey Smith is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback for nine seasons with the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Texas A&M Aggies, earning consensus All-American honors in 1991. Smith won three Super Bowls with the Cowboys.
William Gay is an American football coach and former cornerback who is the assistant defensive backs coach for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Louisville Cardinals and was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fifth round of the 2007 NFL draft. Gay was a member of the Super Bowl XLIII-winning team the following season and played for the Arizona Cardinals and New York Giants before becoming a coach in 2019.
Jonté Buhl is a former professional Canadian football cornerback who played four seasons for the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. He played college football at Texas A&M University and originally signed with the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League.
Jamar Wall is an American former professional football player who was a defensive back for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He also was a member of the Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans and Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Texas Tech.
James Michael Smith is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Baltimore Ravens with the 27th pick in the 2011 NFL draft. He played college football for the Colorado Buffaloes.
Melvin O'Key White is a former American football cornerback. He is known for having played with the St. Louis Rams and Carolina Panthers. He played college football at Louisiana. His younger brother plays basketball for USC-Upstate. Currently he works for Railserve, Inc at Dow plant B in Freeport, TX as a brakeman.
Byron Philip Jones is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the UConn Huskies, and was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the first round of the 2015 NFL draft after a stellar combine performance. He holds the unofficial world record for the standing long jump at 12 feet 3 inches. He played five seasons for the Cowboys, where he was once named Second-team All-Pro and made the Pro Bowl. A free agent after his fifth season, Jones signed a five-year, $82 million contract with the Miami Dolphins, making him the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL at the time.
Desmond King II is an American football cornerback for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He earned All-Pro honors in 2018 as both a defensive back and a punt returner. He played college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes, and was a unanimous All-American. King was selected by the Los Angeles Chargers in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL draft. He has also played for the Tennessee Titans and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Damontae Tyron Kazee is an American football safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He played college football at San Diego State.