Chris Clemons (defensive end)

Last updated

Chris Clemons
Chris Clemons with Eagles 2009.jpg
Clemons with the Eagles in 2009
No. 57, 58, 91
Position: Defensive end
Personal information
Born: (1981-10-30) October 30, 1981 (age 42)
Griffin, Georgia, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:255 lb (116 kg)
Career information
High school: Griffin
College: Georgia
Undrafted: 2003
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles:276
Sacks:69.0
Forced fumbles:20
Fumble recoveries:7
Defensive touchdowns:2
Player stats at PFR

Christopher Clemons (born October 30, 1981) is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs, and signed with the Washington Redskins as an undrafted free agent in 2003. Clemons also played in the NFL for the Oakland Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles, Seattle Seahawks and the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Contents

Early life

Clemons attended Griffin High School in Griffin, Georgia, where he was a four-year letterman and three-year starter for the football team. He was named AAA-All Region first-team and nominated for Region MVP by the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association. He recorded 49 tackles, six sacks, two interceptions, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble his senior year, as well as rushed for 80 yards on ten carries and 12 receptions for 159 yards and three touchdowns. He was also a member of the track team.

College career

Clemons was recruited by the University of Georgia in 1999. He started the 2000 season opener recording seven tackles, but then suffered a shoulder injury early in the season that sidelined him for several games. He played in 11 games in 2001, starting three of them. He played in 12 games with ten starts during his junior season, recording 53 tackles, and one sack. He was then named Most Improved Linebacker of 2002.

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 3 in
(1.91 m)
236 lb
(107 kg)
32+14 in
(0.82 m)
9+12 in
(0.24 m)
4.68 s1.72 s2.75 s4.66 s7.48 s35.0 in
(0.89 m)
9 ft 8 in
(2.95 m)
18 reps
All values from NFL Combine [1]

Washington Redskins (first stint)

After being undrafted in the 2003 NFL draft, Clemons signed with the Washington Redskins. However, he spent that entire season on injured reserve after suffering a torn ACL. He spent the 2004 training camp with the Redskins, but was released prior to the start of the regular season.

Cleveland Browns

Clemons was signed to the Cleveland Browns practice squad after being cut by the Redskins.

Washington Redskins (second stint)

He was re-signed to the Redskins' active roster on November 24, 2004, where he began to establish himself in the Redskins' defense, recording three sacks as a speed rusher late in the season. Clemons signed with the Washington Redskins again for the 2005 season where he played in 14 games and had eight tackles, two sacks, a blocked punt, and a forced fumble.

Oakland Raiders

Clemons played the 2007 season with the Oakland Raiders, primarily playing as a situational pass rusher before becoming a free agent.

Philadelphia Eagles

On March 1, 2008, Clemons signed a five-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles. He is well known for stiff-arming of Tashard Choice on a fumble return touchdown in a playoff-clinching game versus the Dallas Cowboys on December 28, 2008, and body-slamming Tarvaris Jackson in the subsequent first-round playoff game. [2]

Seattle Seahawks (first stint)

Clemons with the Seahawks in 2013 Chris Clemons vs. Rams 2013.jpg
Clemons with the Seahawks in 2013

On March 16, 2010, Clemons was traded with a fourth round pick by the Eagles to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for Darryl Tapp. [3]

He was originally brought in to play the Leo position in Pete Carroll's defensive 4–3 over scheme, but with the injury of Red Bryant after Week 7, Raheem Brock was moved into his place and Clemons moved to starting left defensive end.

Clemons led the team with a career-high 11 sacks in both 2010 and 2011.

On September 24, 2012, Clemons recorded four sacks, all in the first half, in a victory over the Green Bay Packers.

On January 6, 2013, Clemons suffered a torn ACL in a 24-14 playoff victory over the Redskins. Clemons was later placed on injured reserve. [4] On September 20, 2013, the Seahawks announced Clemons will play for his season debut in Week 3 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Clemons and the Seahawks went on to win Super Bowl XLVIII that season. [5]

On March 12, 2014, Clemons was released by the Seahawks. [6]

Jacksonville Jaguars

On March 13, 2014, Clemons signed a four-year, $17.5 million contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars. [7]

The Jaguars released Clemons on March 3, 2016. [8]

Seattle Seahawks (second stint)

On April 1, 2016, Clemons agreed to terms in a deal to return to the Seahawks. [9] On July 28, 2016, he informed the team that he planned to retire. [10]

NFL career statistics

Legend
Led the league
BoldCareer high

Regular season

YearTeamGamesTacklesInterceptionsFumbles
GPGSCmbSoloAstSckTFLIntYdsTDLngPDFFFRYdsTD
2004 WAS 607703.02000011000
2005 WAS 1419812.02000011000
2007 OAK 162201558.07000012100
2008 PHI 160151234.030000112731
2009 PHI 16011833.03000010000
2010 SEA 161649331611.09000041100
2011 SEA 161651341711.012000053000
2012 SEA 16164031911.58000043100
2013 SEA 14112412124.54000023000
2014 JAX 1616362798.06000034100
2015 JAX 168141313.05000011161
162862762007669.061000024207792

Playoffs

YearTeamGamesTacklesInterceptionsFumbles
GPGSCmbSoloAstSckTFLIntYdsTDLngPDFFFRYdsTD
2008 PHI 303300.00000020000
2009 PHI 100001.00000000000
2010 SEA 226511.02000020000
2012 SEA 112020.00000000000
2013 SEA 339631.01000012000
106201463.03000052000

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References

  1. "2003 NFL Draft Scout Chris Clemons College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  2. Tarvaris Jackson Choke Slam is Today's BIG Thing - JAN 07, 2009 Archived January 12, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  3. "Eagles add Tapp to defensive line". ESPN.com. March 16, 2010. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  4. "Seattle signs Ryan Longwell, Patrick Chukwurah". Yahoo! Sports. Associated Press. January 9, 2013. Archived from the original on January 14, 2013. Retrieved January 9, 2013.
  5. "Super Bowl XLVIII - Seattle Seahawks vs. Denver Broncos - February 2nd, 2014". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 3, 2017.
  6. Blount, Terry (March 12, 2014). "Seahawks release Chris Clemons". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  7. Patra, Kevin (March 12, 2014). "Chris Clemons, Jacksonville Jaguars strike contract". NFL.com. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  8. Gantt, Darin (March 3, 2016). "Jaguars cut pass-rusher Chris Clemons, have load of cap room". NBCSports.com. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  9. "Seattle Seahawks Agree To Terms With Defensive End Chris Clemons". Seattle Seahawks. Retrieved April 2, 2016.
  10. Wesseling, Chris (July 28, 2016). "Chris Clemons informs Seahawks he plans to retire". NFL.com . Retrieved March 27, 2023.