No. 31 | |||||||||||||
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Position: | Safety | ||||||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||||||
Born: | San Diego, California, U.S. | October 7, 1986||||||||||||
Height: | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||||||||||||
Weight: | 203 lb (92 kg) | ||||||||||||
Career information | |||||||||||||
High school: | Clayton (Clayton, Missouri) | ||||||||||||
College: | Oregon (2005–2008) | ||||||||||||
NFL draft: | 2009 / round: 2 / pick: 42 | ||||||||||||
Career history | |||||||||||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
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Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
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Player stats at PFR |
Jairus Keelon Byrd (born October 7, 1986) is an American former professional football player who was a safety in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Oregon Ducks. He was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the second round of the 2009 NFL draft. He is a three-time Pro Bowl selection.
Byrd attended Clayton High School in St. Louis County, Missouri. He played quarterback, wide receiver, safety and special teams. As a senior, he was the Missouri 4A offensive player of the year and played a large role in leading the school to the 2004 state championship. As a senior, he rushed for 1,480 yards with 26 touchdowns, passed for 1,038 yards with 13 touchdowns, and made six receptions for 125 yards on offense. On defense, he had 71 tackles, seven interceptions, three quarterback sacks and two fumble recoveries. He also had 10 kickoff returns, 15 punt returns, and 18 punts. He also lettered in baseball, basketball and track.
Byrd enrolled in the University of Oregon, where he played for the Oregon Ducks football team. As a freshman in 2005, Byrd was red-shirted. In 2006 Byrd was a freshman All-American second-team selection by The Sporting News and was the Pac-10 co-freshman player of the year (alongside Taylor Mays and Alterraun Verner). He started the last 11 games at cornerback, recording 56 tackles and five interceptions.
As a sophomore in 2007 Byrd was an All-Pac-10 conference honorable mention. He started all 13 games for the Ducks, recording 64 tackles, a sack, and a conference leading seven interceptions. As a junior in 2008 he was an all-Pac 10 first-team selection and was the defensive MVP of the 2008 Holiday Bowl. He started 13 games and finished with 83 tackles and five interceptions.
Byrd finished his college career starting 37 of 39 games, with 203 tackles, 17 interceptions, a sack, two forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries.
After the season Byrd announced that he would forgo his senior season and enter the 2009 NFL draft. [1]
Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Bench press | Wonderlic | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5 ft 10+1⁄8 in (1.78 m) | 207 lb (94 kg) | 32+5⁄8 in (0.83 m) | 10+1⁄8 in (0.26 m) | 4.68 s | 1.53 s | 2.68 s | 4.10 s | 6.75 s | 35.0 in (0.89 m) | 15 reps | 15 [2] | |
All values from NFL Combine/Oregon Pro Day [3] [4] |
The Buffalo Bills selected Byrd in the second round (42nd overall) of the 2009 NFL draft. Byrd was the third safety drafted in 2009, behind Patrick Chung and Louis Delmas. [5]
On July 29, 2009, the Buffalo Bills signed Byrd to a four-year, $4.15 million contract that includes $2.47 million guaranteed. [6] [7]
After spending the first couple of games as a backup, Byrd started his first career game at free safety against the Miami Dolphins due to injuries to both the Bills starting safeties Donte Whitner and Bryan Scott. [8] He finished the game with three tackles. In his second start the next week Byrd recorded his first career interception off of Derek Anderson of the Cleveland Browns. Starting for the third straight week, Byrd recorded two more interceptions off Mark Sanchez of the New York Jets bringing his total to three. [9] The next week against the Carolina Panthers, Byrd had his second straight game of two interceptions, both of them coming off Jake Delhomme, bringing his total to five. [10] For his play, he was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month for October. [11]
In Week 8 against the Houston Texans, Byrd recorded two interceptions for the third consecutive week, bringing his total to seven. This tied an NFL record held by Dave Baker for consecutive games with two or more interceptions with three. [12] After the Bills bye week Byrd intercepted his eighth pass of the season off of Vince Young of the Tennessee Titans. This was his fifth straight game with an interception, setting the team record for consecutive games with an interception. [13] He intercepted his ninth pass of the season off of Matt Cassel of the Kansas City Chiefs.
On December 23, 2009, Byrd was placed on season ending injured reserve. [14] He finished the season starting 11 of 14 games, recording 45 tackles and nine interceptions. The nine interceptions were tied for the league lead and was five more than any other rookie had. [15] [16] For his play, he was selected to play in the Pro Bowl, becoming the first Bills rookie to be selected to play in a Pro Bowl since Greg Bell in 1984. [17] However, he was unable to play and was replaced by Brandon Meriweather. He was also a member of the Sporting News all-rookie team. [18]
On March 1, 2013, the Bills placed their franchise tag on Byrd after he was originally designated to become a free agent after the 2012 season. [19] On August 20, 2013, Byrd signed his $6.9 million franchise tender. [20] Despite signing the tender, reports were released that he wanted the Bills to trade him. [21] Byrd's tenure with the Bills ended after the team and his agents failed to agree on a long-term deal following the 2013 season. In five seasons with Buffalo, Byrd intercepted 22 passes and forced 11 fumbles, also making three Pro Bowl appearances. [22]
On March 11, 2014, Byrd agreed to a six-year, $56 million contract including $28 million guaranteed with the New Orleans Saints. [23] Byrd played in the Saints' first 4 games of the 2014 season, but then suffered a torn lateral meniscus knee ligament during practice on October 2, 2014; the following day, the team announced Byrd would be placed on season-ending injured reserve. [24]
On March 10, 2017, Byrd was released by the Saints. [25]
On October 3, 2017, Byrd was signed by the Carolina Panthers. [26]
Year | Team | GP | COMB | TOTAL | AST | SACK | FF | FR | FR YDS | INT | IR YDS | AVG IR | LNG | TD | PD |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2009 | BUF | 14 | 45 | 33 | 12 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 118 | 13 | 37 | 0 | 11 |
2010 | BUF | 16 | 89 | 62 | 27 | 1.0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 37 | 37 | 37 | 1 | 2 |
2011 | BUF | 16 | 98 | 75 | 23 | 1.0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 88 | 29 | 37 | 1 | 8 |
2012 | BUF | 16 | 76 | 53 | 23 | 0.0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 81 | 16 | 45 | 0 | 6 |
2013 | BUF | 11 | 48 | 37 | 11 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 85 | 21 | 57 | 0 | 6 |
2014 | NO | 4 | 22 | 17 | 5 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
2015 | NO | 13 | 53 | 37 | 16 | 1.0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 0 | 3 |
2016 | NO | 16 | 82 | 56 | 26 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 35 | 17 | 24 | 0 | 3 |
2017 | CAR | 12 | 11 | 9 | 2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career | 118 | 524 | 379 | 145 | 4.0 | 13 | 6 | 1 | 25 | 468 | 19 | 57 | 2 | 41 |
His father, Gill Byrd, played in the National Football League for the San Diego Chargers from 1983 to 1992, and was the defensive backs coach for the Buffalo Bills for the 2017-18 season. He is currently the passing game coordinator/safeties coach at the University of Illinois. [28]
Byrd is cousins with Richard Rodgers. [29] His uncle is Richard Rodgers Sr.
Byrd is a Christian. [30] He also sponsors two children through Compassion International. [31]
Sam Adams is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle for 14 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Texas A&M Aggies, earning consensus All-American honors, and was selected eighth overall by the Seattle Seahawks in the 1994 NFL draft. Following six seasons as a member of the Seahawks, he earned consecutive Pro Bowl selections and All-Pro honors during his two seasons with the Baltimore Ravens. Adams was also part of the team that won a Super Bowl title in Super Bowl XXXV and made another championship appearance in his one season for the Oakland Raiders in 2002. As a member of the Buffalo Bills from 2003 to 2004, Adams was named to a third Pro Bowl. He spent his last two seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals and the Denver Broncos.
Gill Arnette Byrd is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He was a twice Pro Bowl selection in 1991 and 1992 for the Chargers after graduating from San Jose State University. Byrd was inducted into the Chargers Hall of Fame in 1998.
Roman Harper is an American former professional football player who was a safety in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide, and was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the second round of the 2006 NFL draft. In 2009, Harper earned his first Pro Bowl invitation and helped lead the Saints to Super Bowl XLIV. The following year, 2010, he was again selected to the Pro Bowl. In 2015, he helped lead the Carolina Panthers to Super Bowl 50.
Malcolm Jenkins is an American former professional football player who was a safety for 13 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes, earning consensus All-American honors, and winning the Jim Thorpe Award as a senior. He was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the first round of the 2009 NFL draft and played for the Philadelphia Eagles from 2014 to 2019.
Andrew Steven Levitre is an American former professional football player who was an offensive guard in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Oregon State Beavers and was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the second round of the 2009 NFL draft. He also played in the NFL for the Tennessee Titans and Atlanta Falcons.
The 2009 season was the Buffalo Bills' 40th season in the National Football League (NFL) the 50th overall and the fourth and final under the head coach Dick Jauron.
Earl Winty Thomas III is an American former professional football safety who played in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Texas Longhorns and received consensus All-American honors and played in the 2010 BCS National Championship Game. He left after his redshirt sophomore year and he was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the first round of the 2010 NFL draft. During his time with the Seahawks, he made 6 Pro Bowls and 5 All-Pro teams as he was a core member of the Legion of Boom defense, winning Super Bowl XLVIII against the Denver Broncos and started in Super Bowl XLIX. After nine seasons with Seattle, he signed with the Baltimore Ravens as a free agent and played one season while earning his 7th Pro Bowl invite.
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Da'Norris Searcy is a former American football safety. He played college football for the University of North Carolina Tar Heels and was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the fourth round of the 2011 NFL draft.
Corey White is a former American football cornerback. He played college football for Samford University. He was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the fifth round of the 2012 NFL draft.
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Aaron James Klein is an American former football linebacker who played eleven seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Iowa State. He was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the fifth round of the 2013 NFL draft.
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Antoine Duane Winfield Jr. is an American professional football safety for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Minnesota Golden Golphers, earning unanimous All-American honors. Winfield was selected by the Buccaneers in the second round of the 2020 NFL draft.