Jessie Tuggle

Last updated

Jessie Tuggle
Jessie Tuggle.png
Tuggle in 2021
No. 58
Position: Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1965-04-04) April 4, 1965 (age 59)
Griffin, Georgia, U.S.
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:232 lb (105 kg)
Career information
High school: Griffin
College: Valdosta State
Undrafted: 1987
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Tackles:1,809
Sacks:21.0
Interceptions:6
Player stats at PFR

Jessie Lloyd Tuggle Jr. (born April 4, 1965) [1] is an American former professional football player who spent his entire career as a linebacker for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL) from 1987 to 2000. He played college football for the Valdosta State Blazers. He appeared in the Pro Bowl five times, and played in Super Bowl XXXIII. His nickname is "the Hammer", because of the impact of his tackles.

Contents

Early life

Tuggle was born in 1965 in Spalding County, Georgia, [2] and attended Griffin High School. He played football at Griffin as an outside linebacker and offensive guard. [3]

Tuggle was considered "too small" (five-foot-10 and 180 pounds) and "too slow" to play Division I college football. He was not recruited by any Division I programs and received only two Division II offers. He accepted an offer from Valdosta State University and was a four-year starter at linebacker from 1983 to 1986. He broke Valdosta's career record with 340 tackles. [4] He was a three-time All-Gulf South Conference selection and his No. 88 was retired less than a decade after Tuggle left. [5]

In 2007, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. [3]

Atlanta Falcons

After going undrafted, Tuggle signed with the Atlanta Falcons through a chance encounter. During training camp, myriad injuries at linebacker gave Tuggle playing time and a shot at making the roster (which he did). [6]

After being a role player his rookie season, he recorded 108 tackles by virtue of eight starts. Becoming a bona fide star on the Atlanta defense, marked by the 1989-1993 period in which Tuggle racked up 969 tackles. During that stretch, he made his first Pro Bowl appearance in 1992. [6] Even while the Falcons languished, Tuggle never thought of leaving in free agency, even when he would meet former teammates like Brett Favre. [7] This endeared him to many Atlanta fans, who consider him one of the greatest and most beloved Falcons of all time.

After being with the Falcons through some tough years, [8] the high point in Tuggle's career was 1998, when he played in Super Bowl XXXIII and was voted to the Pro Bowl. [9]

Tuggle retired during training camp in 2001 after injuries plagued the end of his career. [10]

In his 14 NFL seasons, Tuggle appeared in 209 games (189 as a starter) and recorded 1,640 tackles (164 assisted), 21 sacks, six interceptions, which he returned for 106 yards and a touchdown, 10 forced fumbles and 37 pass deflections. He also recovered 10 fumbles, returning them for 155 yards and an NFL record five touchdowns. [11]

He and his former teammate Clay Matthews Jr. are the only two players to lead the NFL in tackles four times. Tuggle also holds the record for most tackles from 1990 to 1999 with 1,293. [12] At the time of his retirement, he held the NFL record for touchdowns via fumble recoveries with five. [13]

NFL career statistics

Legend
Led the league
BoldCareer high

Regular season

YearTeamGamesTacklesInterceptionsFumbles
GPGSCmbSoloAstSckIntYdsTDFFFR
1987 ATL 12435––1.000000
1988 ATL 168103––0.000011
1989 ATL 1616183––1.000000
1990 ATL 1614201––5.000032
1991 ATL 1616207––1.0121012
1992 ATL 1515193––1.011011
1993 ATL 1616185––2.000011
1994 ATL 161612993360.010001
1995 ATL 1616152111411.0384110
1996 ATL 161611496181.000010
1997 ATL 16159269231.500000
1998 ATL 16168666203.000011
1999 ATL 14149271213.500000
2000 ATL 87332670.000000
Career 2091891,80553216621.0610611010

Personal life

Tuggle's oldest son, Justin Tuggle, played at Kansas State University and is a former linebacker in the NFL and Canadian Football League. He participated in the 2013 NFL draft, but was undrafted, and eventually signed with the Houston Texans. [14]

His youngest son, Grady Jarrett, played defensive end in college football at Clemson University. Jarrett went on to be selected as the first pick in the 5th round (137th overall) of the 2015 NFL draft by his father's former team, the Atlanta Falcons. [15]

Tuggle has experienced some concussion-related symptoms like memory loss. [16]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Super Bowl XXXIII</span> 1999 National Football League championship game

Super Bowl XXXIII was an American football game played between the American Football Conference (AFC) champion and defending Super Bowl XXXII champion Denver Broncos and the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Atlanta Falcons to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion for the 1998 season. The Broncos defeated the Falcons by the score of 34–19, winning their second consecutive Super Bowl, and becoming the first franchise to record consecutive Super Bowl victories & defeats. The game was played on January 31, 1999, at Pro Player Stadium in Miami, Florida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keith Brooking</span> American football player (born 1975)

Keith Howard Brooking is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the first round of the 1998 NFL draft. Brooking was a five-time Pro Bowl selection with the Falcons. He also played for the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clay Matthews Jr.</span> American football player (born 1956)

William Clay Matthews Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for the Cleveland Browns and the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected in the first round of the 1978 NFL draft by the Browns and played in 278 games over 19 NFL seasons, which initially ranked him at number 17 among most games played. Matthews had 1,561 tackles in his career, unofficially the third most in NFL history trailing Jessie Tuggle and Ray Lewis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonathan Babineaux</span> American football player (born 1981)

Jonathan Joel Babineaux is an American former professional football player who played his entire 12-year career as a defensive tackle with the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes and was selected by the Falcons in the second round of the 2005 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bryan Cox</span> American football player and coach (born 1968)

Bryan Keith Cox Sr. is an American football coach and former player who currently serves as the assistant defensive line coach for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He played as a linebacker in the NFL. He was a three-time Pro Bowl selection with the Miami Dolphins, and was a member of the New England Patriots team that won Super Bowl XXXVI.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rob Ninkovich</span> American football player (born 1984)

Robert Michael Ninkovich is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker and defensive end for eleven seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Purdue Boilermakers as a defensive end and was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the fifth round of the 2006 NFL draft. He also played in the NFL for the Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots, winning two Super Bowls with the latter. After eight seasons with the Patriots, Ninkovich announced his retirement from the NFL following the 2016 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dannell Ellerbe</span> American football player (born 1985)

Dannell Antonio Ellerbe is a former American football linebacker. He was signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2009 and also played for the Miami Dolphins, New Orleans Saints and Philadelphia Eagles. He played college football at Georgia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Courtney Upshaw</span> American football player (born 1989)

Courtney Tremaine Upshaw is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide, earning first-team All-American honors in 2011. He was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the second round of the 2012 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kyle Van Noy</span> American football player (born 1991)

Kyle Van Noy is an American professional football linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). Van Noy played college football at BYU. He was selected in the second round of the 2014 NFL draft by the Detroit Lions, with whom he spent his first three seasons. Van Noy played his next four seasons for the New England Patriots, where he won Super Bowl LI and Super Bowl LIII. Following a year as a member of the Miami Dolphins, he rejoined New England in 2021. Van Noy signed with the Los Angeles Chargers the following season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Justin Tuggle</span> American gridiron football player (born 1990)

Justin DuJian Tuggle is an American former professional football linebacker. He was signed by the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent in 2013. He played college football at Kansas State. Tuggle is the son of former five-time Pro Bowl linebacker Jessie Tuggle. He is also the brother of Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Grady Jarrett.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Vellano</span> American football player (born 1988)

Joe Vellano is a former American football defensive tackle. He played college football at the University of Maryland, and signed with the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL) as an undrafted free agent in 2013. He was also a member of the Indianapolis Colts, Atlanta Falcons, and Dallas Cowboys of the NFL, and the Parma Panthers of the Italian Football League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grady Jarrett</span> American football player (born 1993)

Grady Jarrett is an American professional football defensive end for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Clemson Tigers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shaquil Barrett</span> American football player (born 1992)

Shaquil Akeem Barrett is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for nine seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Nebraska–Omaha Mavericks before transferring to the Colorado State Rams. Barrett was signed by the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent after the 2014 NFL draft. After five seasons with the Broncos, including winning Super Bowl 50, he signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Barrett's level of play increased, making the Pro Bowl and All-Pro teams in 2019 after leading the league in sacks, and in 2021 won Super Bowl LV, recording a sack in the game. He signed with the Miami Dolphins in 2024 before retiring from football shortly after.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deion Jones</span> American football player (born 1994)

Deion Jones is an American professional football linebacker who is a free agent. He played college football at LSU, and was selected by Atlanta Falcons in the second round of the 2016 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keanu Neal</span> American football player (born 1995)

Keanu Neal is an American professional football safety who is a free agent. He was selected by the Atlanta Falcons with the 17th overall pick in the 2016 NFL draft. He played college football for the Florida Gators.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">De'Vondre Campbell</span> American football player (born 1993)

De'Vondre Campbell is an American professional football linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Hutchinson Community College before transferring to Minnesota, and was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL draft. Campbell has also played for the Arizona Cardinals and the Green Bay Packers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elandon Roberts</span> American football player (born 1994)

Elandon Roberts is an American professional football linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Houston. He was selected by the New England Patriots in the sixth round of the 2016 NFL draft. He plays primarily as a linebacker on defense, but when injuries during the 2019 season left the Patriots without a fullback on the roster, Roberts began to play that position as well.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian Poole (American football)</span> American football player (born 1992)

Brian Poole is a former American football cornerback. He played college football at Florida and signed with the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Samson Ebukam</span> Nigerian American football player (born 1995)

Nnamka Samson Ebukam is a Nigerian–American professional football defensive end for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Eastern Washington and was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Devin White</span> American football player (born 1998)

Devin Marcel White is an American professional football linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at LSU, and was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers fifth overall in the 2019 NFL draft. He spent five seasons with the Buccaneers and won a Super Bowl championship with the team in Super Bowl LV.

References

  1. ↑ "Jessie Tuggle Pro Football Reference". pro-football-reference.com.
  2. ↑ "Jessie Tuggle". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  3. 1 2 "Looking back: Tuggle known for nickname and his determination". myajc. Retrieved February 10, 2017.
  4. ↑ "Atlanta Falcons | Ring of Honor - Jessie Tuggle". Archived from the original on April 24, 2017. Retrieved February 10, 2017.
  5. ↑ "HALL OF FAME PROFILE: JESSIE TUGGLE". footballfoundation.org. National Football Foundation. June 26, 2007. Retrieved February 10, 2017.
  6. 1 2 Rosenberg, I. J. "Top 50 Falcons: No. 6, Jessie Tuggle | Atlanta Falcons blog: Atlanta football news" . Retrieved February 10, 2017.
  7. ↑ "Loyalty Finally Pays Off for Tuggle / Pro Bowl linebacker stayed with Atlanta, even in lean years". SFGate. Retrieved February 10, 2017.
  8. ↑ "Atlanta Falcons: All-time underrated, overrated players". NFL.com. Retrieved February 10, 2017.
  9. ↑ Service, Morris News. "Falcons to send five to Pro Bowl | chronicle.augusta.com". chronicle.augusta.com. Retrieved February 10, 2017.
  10. ↑ Newberry, Paul. "Falcons' Tuggle retires | Online Athens". onlineathens.com. Retrieved February 10, 2017.
  11. ↑ "Jessie Tuggle". Pro-Football-Reference.com .
  12. ↑ "For combined seasons, from 1990 to 1999, requiring Tackles >= 0, sorted by descending Tackles". Pro-Football-Reference.com .
  13. ↑ "Atlanta Falcons: Why Jessie Tuggle should be in the hall of fame". 247Sports. Retrieved February 10, 2017.[ dead link ]
  14. ↑ "Undrafted rookie free agents for all 32 NFL teams". NFL.com. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  15. ↑ Klemko, Robert. "A Dream Interrupts a Nightmare". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved February 10, 2017.
  16. ↑ "Former NFL and College Star Jessie Tuggle Talked About his NFL Career". ESPN 99.1 – Sioux Falls Sports Leader – Sioux Falls Sports. February 27, 2014. Retrieved February 10, 2017.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.