Suggs was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota.[3] He was raised in St. Paul, Minnesota. While growing up in Saint Paul, he played youth football, as a center, with future major league MVP baseball player Joe Mauer as quarterback.[4] Suggs moved to Arizona after the eighth grade.[5] As a teenager, he attended multiple schools, the first being Chandler High School. He later transferred to Hamilton High School where he set the Arizona Class 5A record for rushing yards in a game with 367 against Yuma Kofa as a junior in 1999.[6]
As a senior, Suggs was named a Parade high school All-American in 2000, Gatorade Arizona Player of the Year, the No. 1 jumbo athlete in the nation by SuperPrep Magazine, Arizona Player of the Year by USA Today as well as an All-American by USA Today and the 60th-best player in the nation by Sporting News.[7]
In addition to football, Suggs played AAU basketball.[8]
College career
Suggs decided to attend Arizona State University, where he played defensive end for coach Bruce Snyder and coach Dirk Koetter's Arizona State Sun Devils football teams from 2000 to 2002.[9][10] He finished his career with 163 tackles, including a school, career-record 65.5 tackles for losses, and 44 quarterback sacks, 14 forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, two interceptions, and nine passes deflected. He set an NCAA single-season record with 24 sacks in 2002.[11] Following his 2002 junior season, he was a first-team All-Pac-10 selection and the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year.[12][13] He won the Bronko Nagurski Award, the Ted Hendricks Award, and the Vince Lombardi Award.[14][15][16] He was recognized as a unanimous first-team All-American.[17]
Suggs was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round with the 10th overall pick in the 2003 NFL draft, becoming one of the youngest defensive players ever drafted at only 20 years old.[21][22]
Suggs enjoyed immediate success as a rookie in 2003 as he tied an NFL record by posting a sack in each of his first four games.[23] He finished the season with 27 tackles (19 solo), 12 sacks (a Ravens franchise rookie record), six forced fumbles, two pass deflections, and one interception, earning him Defensive Rookie of the Year honors while only starting one game that year.[24][25][26]
2004
In 2004, Suggs was elected to his first Pro Bowl as he recorded 10.5 sacks and 60 tackles (45 solo).[27][28]
2005
In 2005, the Ravens' new defensive co-ordinator Rex Ryan, son of famous defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan, moved Suggs from outside linebacker to defensive end in many of the defensive schemes. In Week 13, Suggs earned AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his game against the Houston Texans.[29] Despite registering a then-career-low eight sacks, Suggs also set new career-highs in tackles with 69 (46 solo) and interceptions with two.[30]
In 2006, Suggs was part of the NFL's best overall defense, the unit allowing a league-low 12.6 points per game.[31] He recorded 64 tackles (46 solo), 9.5 sacks, and set a new career-high in pass deflections with eight.[32] After the season, he was voted to the Pro Bowl for the second time.[33] He was a major contributor as the Ravens went 13–3.[34] For the season, Suggs started nine games at right defensive end in the Ravens base 4–3 and seven games at outside linebacker when the Ravens started game in a base 3–4 defense.[citation needed] Suggs earned attention for his flashy playing style, "Suggs evolved into one of the league's best pass-rushers whether he is blitzing as a linebacker or rushing from defensive end with one hand on the ground."[35]
From left to right: Haloti Ngata, Lewis, and Suggs chasing down Willie Parker of the Steelers in 2006.
2007
The following season in 2007, Suggs made 80 tackles (52 solo) and five sacks, as he and the Ravens plummeted to 5–11.[36][37] Like the season before, Suggs was a hybrid defensive end/linebacker, playing 50 percent of the defensive snaps at defensive end in the Ravens base 4–3 defense.[35]
On February 19, 2008, the Ravens placed the franchise tag on Suggs.[38] He initially filed a grievance because the team had designated him as a LB with the franchise tag rather than a DE, which resulted in a monetary difference of about $800,000. Despite being unhappy with the franchise tag, Suggs reported to off-season mini-camps to practice with the team. On May 13, 2008, he reached an agreement with the team to split the difference in the franchise tag amounts of a LB and a DE and drop his grievance.[39]
In Week 7 of the 2008 NFL season, Suggs intercepted a pass from Chad Pennington of the Miami Dolphins and returned it 44 yards for a touchdown, the first pick six of his professional career.[40] He earned AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his game against Miami.[41] Two weeks later, he intercepted Derek Anderson of the Cleveland Browns for a game-sealing touchdown.[42] At season's end, he was named to his third Pro Bowl after producing 68 tackles (53 solo), two forced fumbles and eight sacks to go along with the two interceptions, a new career-high nine pass break-ups and two touchdowns.[43][44] During the 2008–09 NFL playoffs, Suggs recorded sacks in all three of the Ravens' post-season games, including two in the AFC Championship against Ben Roethlisberger and the division-winning Pittsburgh Steelers.[45]
On February 18, 2009, he was once again given the Ravens' franchise tag.[46] On July 15, 2009, the Ravens signed him to a 6-year, $62.5 million contract.[47] His bonus money ($33.1 million) made him the highest paid linebacker in NFL history.[48]
2009
The 2009 season was not as productive for Suggs as he recorded a career-low in sacks with 4.5.[49] Playing above his normal playing weight,[47] he also missed the first three games of his career due to injury after quarterback Brady Quinn dove at his legs after cornerback Chris Carr intercepted a pass.[50] In the Wild Card Round against the New England Patriots, Suggs sacked and forced a Tom Brady fumble before recovering the ball on the Patriots' opening drive, helping the Ravens ultimately win 33–14.[51]
2010
In 2010, Suggs compiled 68 tackles (53 solo), 11.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and two pass deflections.[52] In the playoff win over the Kansas City Chiefs in the Wild Card Round, he made four tackles (all solo) and two sacks. Against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Divisional Round, he recorded six tackles (five solo), a career-high three sacks, and a forced fumble that was recovered and returned for a touchdown by fellow defensive end Cory Redding, but the Ravens would go on to lose 24–31 after squandering a 21–7 halftime lead.[53][54] He earned a fourth Pro Bowl nomination.[55] He was ranked 40th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2011.[56]
2011: Defensive Player of the Year
Suggs in 2011
2011 saw Suggs have the best season of his career, which started with a Defensive Player of the Week-winning performance against the Steelers.[57] In a 35–7 blowout, Suggs recorded three sacks and two forced fumbles, contributing heavily to the defense's seven turnovers.[58]
Suggs had two more games that season with three sacks, the second on Thanksgiving in a 16–6 win over the NFC's number-two-seeded San Francisco 49ers and the third in a 24–10 win over the Indianapolis Colts.[59][60] He earned AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors for both performances.[61][62] He finished the season with career highs in sacks (14) and forced fumbles (7), tied his career high for interceptions (2), and also had 50 total tackles and six passes defended. He was named to his fifth Pro Bowl and first All-Pro first team.[63][64]
During the 2012 offseason, Suggs tore his Achilles tendon allegedly while playing basketball; though Suggs and his agent have claimed that he was hurt while doing conditioning workouts.[71] Owner Steve Bisciotti stated that it was no concern where he hurt it and the Ravens will not try to avoid paying him his contract.[72] Some medical experts believed that Suggs' injury should have forced him to miss the 2012 season, however Suggs claimed he would return by November 2012.[73] On October 20, 2012, Suggs was removed from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, allowing him to play the next day against the Houston Texans. Suggs has been the first player in NFL history to recover so quickly from such a serious injury.[74] Suggs' return surprised many, as he finished the game with four tackles (three solo), one pass defended, and one sack, less than five and a half months after having Achilles tendon surgery.[75] He finished the 2012 season with 22 total tackles, two sacks, and four passes defensed in eight games.[76]
In the 2013 season, Suggs started all 16 games with 80 tackles, a fumble recovery, and ten sacks.[81] Suggs was elected to participate in the Pro Bowl for his sixth such nomination.[82] He was ranked 26th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2014.[83]
2014
In Weeks 6–8, Suggs had one sack in each game.[84][85][86] In Week 7, the sack he recorded on Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan was for a safety, and he recovered a fumble.[87]
From Weeks 10–17, Suggs recorded at least one sack in each game, with the one exception being the Week 16 loss to the Houston Texans. In Week 10, Suggs had 1.5 sacks on Titans rookie quarterback Zach Mettenberger.[88] Two weeks later, in a Monday Night Football matchup against the New Orleans Saints, Suggs accounted for a sack against Saints quarterback Drew Brees.[89] With the hit, Suggs became the 31st player in NFL history to register over 100 sacks,[90] and the first member of the Baltimore Ravens to achieve such a milestone.[citation needed]
In the Ravens' season finale, Suggs recorded a sack, a defended pass and a fumble recovery, all on Browns first-time-starting quarterback Connor Shaw.[91] The Ravens clinched a Wild Card spot in the playoffs that day. Suggs finished the year with 12 sacks, a pass defended, a fumble recovery, and a safety.[92] He and Elvis Dumervil led the league in sacks by a pair with 29.[93][94]
In the regular season opener against the Denver Broncos on September 13, 2015, Suggs suffered an achilles injury and left the game. Hours later, an MRI revealed that his achilles was torn, which prematurely ended his 2015 season.[98]
2016
In the 2016 season, Suggs appeared in 15 games. He recorded 8.0 sacks, 28 tackles, seven assisted tackles, four passes defended, and three forced fumbles.[99] He led the team in sacks, forced fumbles, tackles-for-loss, and quarterback hits.[100]
2017
Suggs and other Ravens players in 2017
In the 2017 season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals, Suggs recorded two sacks and forced a fumble off of quarterback Andy Dalton in the third quarter of the 20–0 victory. The fumble, which was recovered by teammate Michael Pierce, occurred in the Ravens' red zone and helped preserve the eventual shutout victory.[101] In Week 2, against the Cleveland Browns, he forced a fumble off DeShone Kizer, which helped set up the Ravens' offense on an eventual touchdown scoring drive in the 24–10 victory.[102] In Weeks 11 and 12, he had two sacks in each game, helping the Ravens win back-to-back times against the Green Bay Packers and Houston Texans.[103][104] On December 19, 2017, Suggs was named to his seventh Pro Bowl.[105]
The Ravens finished the season with a 9–7 record, but missed the playoffs due to blowing the lead in the last fifty seconds of the fourth quarter in their season finale against the Bengals.[106][107][108]
2018
In 2018, Suggs finished tied for second on the team with seven sacks, along with 34 combined tackles, six passes defended, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery he returned for a touchdown in Week 12 against the Oakland Raiders.[109][110][111]
Arizona Cardinals
On March 13, 2019, Suggs signed a one-year, $7 million deal with the Arizona Cardinals.[112] Suggs made his debut with the Cardinals in Week 1 against the Detroit Lions. In the game, Suggs sacked Matthew Stafford twice in the 27–27 tie.[113] Week 2 of the 2019 season saw Suggs go to Baltimore for the first time in an opposing team's jersey. As Suggs ran onto the field he received a standing ovation from Ravens fans. He had one solo tackle during the Cardinals' 23–17 loss.[114][115] Also, in Week 4 against the Seattle Seahawks, Suggs sacked Russell Wilson 1.5 times in the 27–10 loss.[116]
On December 13, 2019, Suggs was released by the Cardinals. He had registered 5.5 sacks and 4 forced fumbles during his time with the team. However, his playing time was reduced during his last two games with Arizona, where he did not register a single tackle. Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury said the team wanted to go with the younger players, and said the decision to release Suggs was a mutual agreement.[117]
Kansas City Chiefs
After his release from the Cardinals, Suggs was eligible to be claimed on waivers. Initial reports stated that Suggs only wanted to be claimed by the Ravens and would not report to any other team.[118] However, on December 16, 2019, Suggs was claimed by the Kansas City Chiefs.[119] Suggs was enticed to sign with the team after speaking with head coach Andy Reid, and was excited at the prospect of playing with reigning MVP Patrick Mahomes.[120]
Suggs moved to the defensive end position in the Chiefs' 4–3 defense. He won the second Super Bowl of his career in Super Bowl LIV when the Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers 31–20 in a fourth-quarter comeback.[121] He had two total tackles and a quarterback hit in the Super Bowl.[122]
Suggs guest starred as himself in 8 episodes of the series Ballers.[124]
Suggs is Jewish through his paternal grandfather.[125] He has had a Jewish star tattooed on his right arm since 2009, which he says he got "to remind me of who I am," and wears a Star of David necklace.[126][127] Suggs wore a Star of David on his cleats during a game in October 2019 to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the deadly Tree of Life – Or L'Simcha Synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh.[125]
Despite Suggs's rocky relationship with his former girlfriend, Candace Williams, the two married on December 14, 2012, and the protective order against Suggs was removed.[128] The couple have two children together. Williams filed for divorce in 2015.[129]
Suggs is the second cousin of Larry Suggs, the father of NBA player Jalen Suggs.[130]
Legal issues
In December 2003, Suggs was charged with felony aggravated assault stemming from a March 2003 incident in Arizona, in which it was alleged that a verbal altercation after a basketball tournament led to Suggs assaulting a man with a piece of reinforcement rod.[131] Apparently the parties had a disagreement during the tournament, and it was claimed that Suggs swung at the victim and broke his nose and cheekbone.[132] In June 2005, however, Suggs was acquitted of the charges, with a juror commenting that guilt beyond a reasonable doubt was not established.[133]
A series of allegations were made by his girlfriend, Candace Williams; in 2009 she alleged he threw a soap dispenser at her head, struck her in the chest with his hand and held a bottle of bleach over her and their 1-year-old son.[134] No criminal charges were filed against Suggs, however, and Williams' subsequent lawsuit was dismissed.[135] In September 2012, he was accused of punching and dragging his girlfriend Candace Williams beside his car while his two children were inside. A temporary protective order was placed against Suggs, who was required to surrender his seven firearms, which included an AK-47, and a judge dismissed the order on December 12.[136][137] After marrying Williams in 2012, the protective order against Suggs was removed.[138]
On April 10, 2024, Suggs was arrested in Scottsdale, Arizona on charges of threatening and intimidating, as well as disorderly conduct with a weapon.[139][140] The arrest stemmed from a March 10 incident in which Suggs made contact with another vehicle in a Starbucks drive–thru, and ensuing arguments led to Suggs threatening to kill the other vehicle's driver and brandishing a handgun in his left hand.[141][142]
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↑ "20 Something". Washington Post. September 13, 2003. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
↑ Eisenberg, John (April 26, 2011). "Eisenberg: Immediately Impactful Rookies Needed". BaltimoreRavens.com. Archived from the original on April 28, 2011. When Terrell Suggs was a rookie in 2003, he tied an NFL record by posting a sack in each of his first four games. He ended up with a dozen and was named AFC Defensive Rookie of the Year by the Associated Press
↑ "Cundiff, Evans share the blame". San Antonio Express-News. Associated Press. January 23, 2012. Archived from the original on November 18, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
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