Ian Gold

Last updated

Ian Gold
No. 52
Position: Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1978-08-23) August 23, 1978 (age 45)
Ann Arbor, Michigan, U.S.
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:223 lb (101 kg)
Career information
High school: Belleville (MI) [1]
College: Michigan
NFL draft: 2000  / Round: 2 / Pick: 40
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Tackles:491
Sacks:17
Interceptions:4
Player stats at NFL.com  ·  PFR

Ian Maurice Gold (born August 23, 1978) is an American former professional football player who played as a linebacker for eight seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the Denver Broncos from 2000 to 2003 and 2004 to 2007 and for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2004. He appeared in 115 NFL games, 80 as a starter, registered 422 tackles, and was selected to play in the 2002 Pro Bowl.

Contents

Gold played college football for the Michigan Wolverines from 1996 to 1999 and was a member of the undefeated 1997 Michigan Wolverines football team that was ranked #1 in the final AP Poll. He was selected as a first-team linebacker on both the 1998 and 1999 All-Big Ten teams.

Early years

In August 1978, Gold was born at University Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where his parents were both students at the University of Michigan. [2] [3] He attended middle school in Ann Arbor, Michigan. [2] In middle school, he developed a passion for the arts, while enjoying time with his friends.[ citation needed ] As a high school senior in 1995, Gold rushed for 950 yards and 21 TDs on 98 carries, giving him an average of 9.6 yards per rush. Gold earned All-West Wayne Offensive MVP and was selected to the Detroit News All-State Dream Team after his senior campaign. [4] [5]

University of Michigan

Gold enrolled at the University of Michigan in 1996 and played college football for head coach Lloyd Carr's Michigan Wolverines football teams from 1996 to 1999. [6]

As a sophomore, Gold started one game at inside linebacker for the undefeated 1997 Michigan Wolverines football team that outscored opponents 322–144, won the Big Ten Conference championship, defeated Washington State in the 1998 Rose Bowl, and was ranked #1 in the final AP Poll. [7] Gold had 34 tackles in 1997, including three solo tackles in the 1998 Rose Bowl. [8]

Gold started eight games at inside linebacker in 1998, [9] and then, as a senior, started all 12 games at the position for the 1999 Michigan team that compiled a 10-2 record and was ranked #5 in the final AP and ESPN/Coaches Polls. [10] Gold led the 1999 team with 95 tackles, including 71 solo tackles, [8] and was selected by the conference coaches as a first-team linebacker on the 1999 All-Big Ten Conference football team. [11] He won the 1999 Roger Zatkoff Award as the team's top linebacker.

Professional football

Gold was selected by the Denver Broncos in the second round (40th overall pick) of the 2000 NFL Draft. [12] He appeared in all 32 regular season games for the Broncos in 2000 and 2001, but was not a starter. In 2002, Gold started all 16 games at weakside linebacker and totaled 85 tackles and 6.5 quarterback sacks. [2] Gold began the 2003 season on a strong note with 10 tackles and his first career interception return for a touchdown in the opening game against the Cincinnati Bengals. [3] However, he sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury in his right leg on a special teams play during the sixth game of the 2003 season against the Pittsburgh Steelers. [3] He missed the remainder of the season and underwent surgery to repair the injury. [13]

In April 2004, the Broncos stopped contract negotiations with Gold after drafting D. J. Williams in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft. [3] Four days later, Gold signed as a free agent with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. [3] [13] The contract was for seven years and $38 million with a $1.3 million signing bonus, though the contract only guaranteed the signing bonus and gave the team the option to release him after the 2004 season. [3] Gold appeared in all 16 games for the Buccaneers, including 13 as the team's starting strongside linebacker. [2] In early March 2005, the Buccaneers cut Gold to the free agent market rather than pay him a reported $9.6 million option bonus. [3] [14]

After being cut by the Buccaneers, Gold re-joined the Broncos in March 2005. [15] He appeared in all 16 regular season games and registered 72 tackles and three sacks. [2] He helped lead the 2005 Broncos to a 13-3 record and a spot in the AFC Championship Game. He remained with the Broncos for two more seasons, starting 15 games in 2006 and 14 games in 2007. [2] On February 29, 2008 the Broncos released him after three seasons.

NFL career statistics

Legend
BoldCareer high

Regular season

YearTeamGamesTacklesInterceptionsFumbles
GPGSCmbSoloAstSckTFLIntYdsTDLngPDFFFRYdsTD
2000 DEN 160302552.01000011200
2001 DEN 160423753.02000031200
2002 DEN 161610085156.500000412180
2003 DEN 66313010.0621411260000
2004 TAM 16137154170.5413103130000
2005 DEN 16169074163.012000044200
2006 DEN 15159170210.04000041000
2007 DEN 14147261112.04160651200
115805274369117.04345113130910180

Playoffs

YearTeamGamesTacklesInterceptionsFumbles
GPGSCmbSoloAstSckTFLIntYdsTDLngPDFFFRYdsTD
2000 DEN 101100.01000000000
2005 DEN 2210730.00000000100
3211830.01000000100

Later years

In 2012, Gold's autobiography, "Plant Water Grow" was published. [16] [17]

Related Research Articles

Lawrence Edward Foote Jr. is an American football coach and former linebacker who is the co-defensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). Foote previously served as the linebackers coach for the Arizona Cardinals from 2015 to 2018. He played college football at Michigan and was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fourth round of the 2002 NFL Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rob Lytle</span> American football player (1954–2010)

Robert William Lytle was an American professional football player in the National Football League (NFL).

Mark W. Messner is a former American football player who played in the National Football League (NFL) as a linebacker for the Los Angeles Rams during the 1989 NFL season. He sustained a serious knee injury in the 1989-90 NFC Championship Game against the San Francisco 49ers and never played in another game.

Bobby E. Abrams Jr. is a former American football player. He played college football as defensive back and linebacker for the University of Michigan from 1986 to 1989. He played professional football in the National Football League (NFL) for six seasons as a linebacker and special teams player for the New York Giants (1990–1992, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings and New England Patriots. He won three Super Bowl titles with the Giants and the Cowboys, all over the Buffalo Bills.

Sam Lee-Arthur Sword is a former American football player.

Roger John Anderson is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL) for 12 seasons from 1978 to 1989.

Erick Scott Anderson is a former American football player.

Derrick Norval Walker is a former American football player. He played college football for the University of Michigan as a tight end and inside linebacker from 1986 to 1989. He played professional football as a tight end in the National Football League (NFL) for nine seasons with the San Diego Chargers (1990-1993), the Kansas City Chiefs (1994-1997), and the Oakland Raiders (1998).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roger Zatkoff</span> American football player and businessman (1931–2021)

Roger Zatkoff was an American professional football player and businessman.

Mel Tyrae Owens is a former American football linebacker. He played college football at the University of Michigan from 1977 to 1980. He was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the first round of the 1981 NFL Draft. He played nine seasons as a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL), all with the Rams. He compiled 26.5 quarterback sacks.

Kevin Craig Brooks is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions. He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines. He was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the first round of the 1985 NFL Draft wit the 17th overall pick.

Ronald Bernard Simpkins is a former American football player. He played college football at the University of Michigan as a linebacker from 1976 to 1979. He became Michigan's all-time career tackle leader in 1979 and was a consensus first-team selection for the 1979 College Football All-America Team. He later played professional football in the National Football League (NFL) for the Cincinnati Bengals and the Green Bay Packers (1988).

Christopher H. Hutchinson is an American former college football player who was a defensive tackle and outside linebacker for the Michigan Wolverines football team of the University of Michigan from 1989 to 1992. He was selected as a first-team All-American in 1992. He was also named the Big Ten Conference Defensive Lineman of the Year in 1992, was named to the Academic All-Big Ten team three times, was voted a team captain and MVP in 1992, and won an NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Ptacek</span> American gridiron football player (born 1937)

Robert J. Ptacek, Jr. is a former professional American and Canadian football player. He played college football at the halfback and quarterback positions for the University of Michigan from 1956 to 1958. He later played professional football in the National Football League (NFL) for the Cleveland Browns in 1959 and in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the Saskatchewan Roughriders from 1960 to 1965. He was a CFL All-Star in 1964 as a defensive back and an All-Western Conference linebacker in 1961.

Michael Taylor is a former American football linebacker. He played college football at the University of Michigan from 1969 to 1971 and was a consensus All-American in 1971. He played two seasons in the National Football League (NFL) for the New York Jets in 1972 and 1973. He also played for the Detroit Wheels in the World Football League in 1974.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1983 Michigan Wolverines football team</span> American college football season

The 1983 Michigan Wolverines football team was an American football team that represented the University of Michigan in the 1983 Big Ten Conference football season. In their 15th season under head coach Bo Schembechler, the Wolverines compiled a 9–3 record, lost to Auburn in the 1984 Sugar Bowl, and outscored all opponents by a total of 355 to 160.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1974 Michigan Wolverines football team</span> American college football season

The 1974 Michigan Wolverines football team was an American football team that represented the University of Michigan in the 1974 Big Ten Conference football season. In their sixth year under head coach Bo Schembechler, the Wolverines compiled a 10–1 record, outscored opponents 324 to 75, and were ranked #3 in final AP Poll. Michigan won the first ten games of the 1974 season in convincing fashion, including blowout victories over Colorado (31-0), Navy (52-0), Minnesota (49-0), and Purdue (51-0). In the final game of the season, #2 Michigan faced #3 Ohio State. The Wolverines lost by a score of 12-10, as place-kicker Mike Lantry missed a last-minute field goal that would have given Michigan a victory.

Thomas Emmett Hendricks, III is a former American football player. He played college football as a defensive back for the University of Michigan from 1996 to 1999 and was a member of the undefeated 1997 Michigan Wolverines football team that was ranked #1 in the final AP Poll. He later played professional football as a backup linebacker and special teams player in the National Football League (NFL) for the Miami Dolphins from 2000 to 2003 and the Jacksonville Jaguars during the 2004 season.

Andrew J. Cannavino is a retired American football linebacker. He played for the University of Michigan from 1977 to 1980. He became one of the leading tacklers in Michigan history, played in the 1981 Rose Bowl and was the only unanimous selection as a first-team player on the 1980 Associated Press All-Big Ten football team. He later played professional football in the USFL from 1983 to 1984 for the Michigan Panthers and Chicago Blitz.

Robert Thompson is a retired American football linebacker. He played for the University of Michigan from 1979 to 1982 and in the NFL for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Detroit Lions.

References

  1. "Five inducted into Belleville High School Athletic Hall of Fame". Belleville-Area Independent. Retrieved 2024-02-12.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Ian Gold NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Jamal Thalji (July 6, 2004). "Gold ready to prove his worth: The 2004 season is something of an audition for new Bucs linebacker". St. Petersburg Times. p. C1.
  4. "Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan on November 30, 1995 · Page 107". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2020-08-17.
  5. "95 dream team". Detroit Free Press. 1995-11-26. p. 40. Retrieved 2020-08-17.
  6. "Michigan Football Roster Database". University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library. Retrieved April 11, 2015.
  7. "1997 Football Team". University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  8. 1 2 "Michigan Football Statistic Archive Query Page". University of Michigan. Archived from the original on November 12, 2007. Retrieved April 12, 2015.(to retrieve Gold's statistics, enter "gold" in the box for the player's last name and "russell" in the box for player's first name)
  9. "1998 Football Team". University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  10. "1999 Football Team". University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  11. "Renes, Hutchinson Earn All-Big Ten First Team "Double"". University of Michigan. November 30, 1999. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  12. "2000 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2023-03-19.
  13. 1 2 Mike Cobb (April 29, 1994). "Bucs Sign Gold to Long-Term Deal: Former All-Pro will give Tampa Bay some much-needed depth at linebacker". Lakeland Ledger. p. C1.
  14. "Multitalented Brown cut loose". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. March 2, 2005. p. B4.
  15. "Giants sign Pierce while the Jets lose Jordan, Ferguson". The Day (AP story). March 4, 2005. p. D6.
  16. Ian Gold (2012). Plant Water Grow. ISBN   978-0983706700.
  17. Ian Gold. "Home page". iangold.com. Retrieved April 12, 2015.