No. 51 | |||||||||
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Position: | Linebacker | ||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||
Born: | New York City, U.S. | April 16, 1982||||||||
Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||
Weight: | 230 lb (104 kg) | ||||||||
Career information | |||||||||
High school: | Coral Gables Senior (Coral Gables, Florida) | ||||||||
College: | Miami (FL) (2000–2003) | ||||||||
NFL draft: | 2004 / Round: 1 / Pick: 12 | ||||||||
Career history | |||||||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Player stats at NFL.com · PFR |
Jonathan Polynice Vilma (born April 16, 1982) is an American color analyst and former professional football player in the National Football League (NFL). He played as a linebacker and was a three-time Pro Bowl selection.
Vilma played college football for the Miami Hurricanes, winning a national championship in 2001. He was selected by the New York Jets in the first round of the 2004 NFL draft. Vilma won a Super Bowl championship with the New Orleans Saints. He serves as a color analyst for the NFL on Fox. He previously worked at ESPN as a college football commentator and studio analyst. [1] Vilma was elected as a member of the Orange Bowl Committee in 2018.
Vilma was born in East Harlem Neighborhood of New York City to Haitian immigrant parents. [2] [3] His family moved to Coral Gables, Florida when Vilma was 6 years old, where he attended G.W. Carver Middle School and later Coral Gables Senior High School, where he was a teammate of Pro Bowl running back Frank Gore.
Vilma received an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Miami, and played for coach Butch Davis and coach Larry Coker's Miami Hurricanes football teams from 2000 to 2003.
In 2000, Vilma played in all 11 games as a reserve middle linebacker and compiled 38 tackles (29 solo) and a pass deflection.
After the graduation of Dan Morgan, Vilma stepped into the starting middle linebacker role and played an integral role on the Hurricanes' National Championship team. He led the team in tackles with 79 (54 solo) and compiled two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery for a 36-yard touchdown, three pass deflections and an interception. He started 11 of 12 games during the regular season and was selected on the First-team All-Big East team.
Vilma led Miami in tackles with 133 (75 solo), and had two quarterback sacks, a forced fumble, recovered two fumbles, (returning one for a touchdown) and broke up five passes. He earned unanimous first-team All-Big East selection for the second time in his career and was a semi-finalist for the Dick Butkus Award, along with teammate D.J. Williams.
In his final year, Vilma led the team in tackles for a third time with 127 (81 solo), with one sack, forced one fumble, and recovered three fumbles. Vilma ended the year as a finalist for the Butkus Award.
Along with his success on the field, Vilma was a three-time Academic All-Big East Conference. He received a bachelor's degree in finance from the University of Miami's School of Business Administration.
Vilma was interviewed about his time at the University of Miami for the documentary The U , which premiered December 12, 2009 on ESPN.
Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 ft 0+1⁄2 in (1.84 m) | 233 lb (106 kg) | 31+1⁄2 in (0.80 m) | 9+3⁄8 in (0.24 m) | 4.60 s | 4.20 s | 6.67 s | 37 in (0.94 m) | 10 ft 1 in (3.07 m) | 23 reps | |||
All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day [4] [5] |
Vilma was drafted by the Jets in the first round with the 12th selection in the 2004 NFL draft. [6]
In 2004, Vilma was named as the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year by the Associated Press. During his rookie campaign, he recorded 107 tackles, two sacks, and three interceptions, one of which was returned for his first NFL touchdown.
In 2005, Vilma led the NFL in tackles with 169, forced four fumbles, notched one fumble recovery, half a sack, and one interception. Vilma also replaced Zach Thomas at the 2006 Pro Bowl.
In 2006, Vilma put together another solid season. He compiled 114 tackles, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and one interception.
On October 27, 2007, Vilma was placed on injured reserve. He suffered a season ending knee injury during the New York Jets week 7 game against the Cincinnati Bengals. [7] [8]
On February 29, 2008, the Jets traded Vilma to the New Orleans Saints for a fourth-round draft pick in the 2008 NFL draft and a conditional pick in the 2009 NFL draft (ultimately a third-round pick). Jets then-head coach Eric Mangini elected to start linebackers Eric Barton and David Harris in his place.
In his first season with the Saints, Vilma was a bright spot on a weak defensive unit. Vilma played in all 16 games, and recorded 132 tackles with one sack.
On February 27, 2009, Vilma signed a five-year, $34 million contract with the Saints. [9] Vilma was elected one of the defensive captains, led the team in tackles, had three interceptions, and was chosen for his second Pro Bowl. In Super Bowl XLIV on February 7, 2010, Vilma made several important plays, including making a key defensive audible and deflecting a pass on 3rd and 11 in the fourth quarter. The Saints beat the Indianapolis Colts 31–17.
Vilma again led the team in tackles in 2010, started every game, and was selected to the Pro Bowl. In 2011, he started and played in 11 games but was inactive for six others with a knee injury.
Vilma was a central figure in the New Orleans Saints bounty scandal. The NFL alleged that defensive coordinator Gregg Williams operated an incentive program, which paid out "bounties" for deliberately putting opposing players out of games. The league alleged that Vilma offered $10,000 cash to anyone who knocked Brett Favre out of the 2009 NFC Championship Game. Most notably, Favre was forced out of the game for one play with an ankle injury. Although up to 27 players were accused of involvement, Vilma was the only player initially singled out by the league for his role. [10] [11] The NFL suspended Vilma for the entire 2012 season on May 2, 2012. The suspension was reported to be the longest suspension related to in-game misconduct in modern NFL history, dwarfing the previous record of five games handed to Albert Haynesworth for stomping on Andre Gurode's head in 2006. The league contended that Vilma and defensive end Will Smith aided Williams in starting the alleged program in 2009. [12] Vilma found out about the suspension when it was announced on SportsCenter , immediately announced his intent to appeal and adamantly denied that he was involved in any sort of bounty scheme. [13] Vilma filed a personal slander suit against Roger Goodell. [14]
Opinions about the suspensions were divided, as alleged targets like Favre and Kurt Warner claimed that incentive programs were part of the game, which was corroborated by [15] former players interviewed by Sports Illustrated . On July 26, Vilma and seven witnesses from the Saints (along with a sworn affidavit from Drew Brees) testified to a federal judge in New Orleans that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell misrepresented the facts in the league's investigation. Vilma's suspension was overturned on September 7, and he was reinstated for the 2012 season. [16] The Associated Press reported Roger Goodell's disappointment in the determination of the arbitration board's ruling.
On October 9, 2012, the league again suspended Vilma, Browns linebacker Scott Fujita, Saints defensive end Will Smith and free-agent defensive end Anthony Hargrove. Vilma's suspension lasted throughout the entire 2012 season, but he was allowed to retain his paychecks (when he was on the Physically Unable to Perform list) for the first six weeks of the season. [17] The suspensions were then reviewed by former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, who overruled Roger Goodell and vacated the suspensions on December 11, 2012. Vilma continued his defamation lawsuit against commissioner Goodell, [18] but it was ultimately dismissed in January 2013. [19]
In total, Vilma played in 11 games during the 2012 season.
Vilma underwent knee surgery during the preseason and was placed on the Reserve/Injured Designated for Return list, with the hope that he would recover in time to play during the season. He was reactivated for the Saints' eighth game, a 26–20 loss to his former team, the New York Jets, and was in the game for only 12 defensive snaps. The following week, he was again placed on injured reserve, ending his 2013 season. [20]
On February 12, 2014, Vilma's contract was not renewed with the New Orleans Saints. He became a guest analyst on Bleacher Report . [21]
Vilma officially retired from football, and was honored by the Saints before their home game on December 6, 2015. [22]
Vilma was inducted into the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame on October 29, 2017.
Legend | |
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Led the league | |
Bold | Career best |
Year | Team | GP | Tackles | Interceptions | Fumbles | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | Int | Yds | PD | TD | FF | FR | |||
2004 | NYJ | 16 | 108 | 77 | 31 | 2.0 | 3 | 58 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
2005 | NYJ | 16 | 173 | 128 | 45 | 0.5 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
2006 | NYJ | 16 | 117 | 69 | 48 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
2007 | NYJ | 7 | 41 | 31 | 11 | 0.0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
2008 | NO | 16 | 132 | 98 | 34 | 1.0 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
2009 | NO | 15 | 110 | 87 | 23 | 2.0 | 3 | 25 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2010 | NO | 16 | 105 | 70 | 35 | 4.0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
2011 | NO | 11 | 54 | 36 | 18 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
2012 | NO | 11 | 37 | 20 | 17 | 1.0 | 1 | 18 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
2013 | NO | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Totals [23] | 125 | 879 | 617 | 262 | 10.5 | 12 | 116 | 40 | 3 | 11 | 10 |
Vilma is a spokesman for Under Armour and WaterBank of America USA Inc. [24]
His parents, Fritz Vilma and Nelly Banatte, migrated to the United States from Haiti in the 1970s. After the 2010 earthquake, he was active in relief efforts. [25]
Vilma started the Jonathan Vilma Foundation after the 2010 Haiti earthquake to help with the rebuilding efforts in Haiti, in particular a charter school to educate students from elementary school to high school.
London Levi Fletcher-Baker is an American former linebacker who played for 16 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the St. Louis Rams, Buffalo Bills, and Washington Redskins. He played college football at John Carroll and signed with Rams as an undrafted free agent in 1998. After four seasons with the Rams, he was a member of the Bills for five seasons and spent his last seven seasons with the Redskins. He made four Pro Bowls during his Redskins tenure and won a Super Bowl title with the Rams in Super Bowl XXXIV.
Gregg Williams is an American football coach who is currently the defensive coordinator for the DC Defenders of the United Football League (UFL). He recently served as the defensive coordinator for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL) from 2019 to 2020. Previously, he was head coach of the Buffalo Bills from 2001 to 2003, and defensive coordinator of the New Orleans Saints from 2009 to 2011, and the Cleveland Browns, acting as an interim head coach in the 2018 season. Williams is known for running aggressive, attacking 4–3 schemes that put heavy pressure on opposing quarterbacks and for his key role in the New Orleans Saints bounty scandal, also known as "Bountygate".
Daniel Thomas Morgan Jr. is an American football executive and former linebacker who is the president of football operations and general manager for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as the assistant general manager for the Panthers, the director of player personnel for the Buffalo Bills and the director of pro personnel for the Seattle Seahawks.
William Raymond Smith III was an American professional football player who was a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes and was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the first round of the 2004 NFL draft, where he played for the entirety of his career. Smith was shot and killed during an altercation after an alcohol related traffic crash.
Genos Derwin "D. J." Williams, Jr. is a former American football linebacker who played 11 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at the University of Miami and was selected by the Denver Broncos in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He also played for the Chicago Bears.
Scott Anthony Fujita is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for 11 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the California Golden Bears. He was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fifth round of the 2002 NFL Draft. He played in the NFL for the Chiefs, Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints and Cleveland Browns. He was a member of the 2009 Saints team that won Super Bowl XLIV, defeating the Indianapolis Colts. After his NFL career, he became Head of School at All Saints' Day School.
Bryan Keith Cox Sr. is an American football coach and former player who is the assistant defensive line coach for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He played professionally as a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He was a three-time Pro Bowl selection with the Miami Dolphins, and was a member of the New England Patriots club that won Super Bowl XXXVI.
Darrell McClover is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the New York Jets in the seventh round of the 2004 NFL Draft and also played for the Chicago Bears. He played college football at the University of Miami. While at Miami, McClover played alongside New Orleans Saints star Jonathan Vilma and Denver Broncos linebacker D.J. Williams.
Darrin Andrew Smith is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, Seattle Seahawks and New Orleans Saints. He played college football for the Miami Hurricanes.
Anthony La'Ron Tony Hargrove is a former American football defensive end. He was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the third round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football at Georgia Tech.
Robert Michael Ninkovich is an American former professional football player who was an outside linebacker 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.
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.
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Lavonte Lamar David is an American football linebacker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Nebraska, and was selected by the Buccaneers in the second round of the 2012 NFL draft. Since entering the NFL, David has been named to three All-Pro teams, one Pro Bowl appearance and won Super Bowl LV during the 2020 season, in a 31–9 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.
The New Orleans Saints bounty scandal, colloquially known as "Bountygate", was an illegal program in which the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL) placed bounties on opposing players. The consensus around the program was that if a targeted player was knocked out of a game, a bonus would be paid out to the defensive player that made the hit. A slush fund for paying the bounties was found to have operated from the 2009 season to the 2011–12 playoffs.
Clint Mosley Jr. is an American football linebacker for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Alabama, and was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft. Mosley made 4 Pro Bowls as a member of the Ravens, and has made another as a member of the Jets.
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