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{{Short description|American football player (born 1980)}}
{{Infobox NFL player
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
|name=Will Witherspoon

|image=Will Witherspoon Al Anbar cropped.jpg
{{Infobox NFL biography
|number=54, 51, 92
| name = Will Witherspoon
|position=[[Linebacker]]
| image = Will Witherspoon Al Anbar cropped.jpg
|birth_date={{birth date and age|1980|8|19}}
| caption = Witherspoon at [[Al Asad Airbase]] in 2009
|birth_place=[[San Antonio, Texas]]
| number = 54, 51, 50, 92
|death_date=
| position = [[Linebacker]]
|death_place=
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1980|8|19}}
|height_ft=6
| birth_place = [[San Antonio|San Antonio, Texas]], U.S.
|height_in=1
| death_date =
|weight_lbs=242
| death_place =
|high_school=[[Rutherford High School (Florida)|Panama City (FL) Rutherford]]
| height_ft = 6
|college=[[Georgia Bulldogs football|Georgia]]
| height_in = 1
|draftyear=2002
| weight_lbs = 240
|draftround=3
| high_school = Rutherford {{nowrap|([[Panama City, Florida]])}}
|draftpick=73
| college = [[Georgia Bulldogs football|Georgia]] (1998–2001)
|pastteams=
| draftyear = 2002
| draftround = 3
| draftpick = 73
| pastteams =
* [[Carolina Panthers]] ({{NFL Year|2002}}–{{NFL Year|2005}})
* [[Carolina Panthers]] ({{NFL Year|2002}}–{{NFL Year|2005}})
* [[St. Louis Rams]] ({{NFL Year|2006}}–{{NFL Year|2009}})
* [[St. Louis Rams]] ({{NFL Year|2006}}–{{NFL Year|2009}})
* [[Philadelphia Eagles]] ({{NFL Year|2009}})
* [[Philadelphia Eagles]] ({{NFL Year|2009}})
* [[Tennessee Titans]] ({{NFL Year|2010}}–{{NFL Year|2012}})
* [[Tennessee Titans]] ({{NFL Year|2010}}–{{NFL Year|2012}})
* [[St. Louis Rams]] ({{NFL Year|2013}})
* St. Louis Rams ({{NFL Year|2013}})
|highlights=
| highlights =
| statlabel1 = [[Tackle (football move)|Total tackle]]s
* [[St. Louis Rams]] MVP (2007)
| statvalue1 = 951
|statlabel1=[[Tackle (football move)|Tackle]]s
| statlabel2 = [[Quarterback sack|Sack]]s
|statvalue1=949
| statvalue2 = 26.0
|statlabel2=[[Quarterback sack|Sack]]s
| statlabel3 = [[Fumble|Forced fumbles]]
|statvalue2=26.0
| statvalue3 = 11
|statlabel3=[[Interception]]s
| statlabel4 = [[Fumble|Fumble recoveries]]
|statvalue3=14
| statvalue4 = 8
|nflnew=willwitherspoon/2504980
| statlabel5 = [[Interception]]s
| statvalue5 = 14
| statlabel6 = [[Touchdown|Defensive touchdowns]]
| statvalue6 = 3
| pfr = WithWi20
}}
}}


'''William "Will" Cordell Witherspoon''' (born August 19, 1980) is a former [[American football]] [[linebacker]]. He was drafted by the [[Carolina Panthers]] in the third round of the [[2002 NFL Draft]]. He played [[college football]] at [[Georgia Bulldogs football|Georgia]]. He has also played for the [[St. Louis Rams]], [[Philadelphia Eagles]] and [[Tennessee Titans]].
'''William Cordell Witherspoon''' (born August 19, 1980) is an American former professional [[American football|football]] [[linebacker]]. He was selected by the [[Carolina Panthers]] in the third round of the [[2002 NFL draft]]. He played [[college football]] at [[Georgia Bulldogs football|Georgia]]. He also played for the [[St. Louis Rams]], [[Philadelphia Eagles]], and [[Tennessee Titans]].


==Early years==
==Early life==
Witherspoon's father served in the US Air Force, and so Witherspoon moved around as a child. However, his family never lived on the military bases, instead deciding to live in the community so the children could experience the culture. In addition to speaking English, he knows how to speak [[German language|German]], and is learning both [[Arabic language|Arabic]] and [[Swedish language|Swedish]]. He attended Good Shepherd Lutheran School in middle school. He played [[running back]] for [[Rutherford High School (Florida)|Rutherford High School]] in [[Panama City, Florida]], but switched to linebacker before his senior year. He was chosen as the [[USA Today]] Florida Player of the Year for his efforts as a senior, where he posted 112 [[tackle (football move)|tackles]], 3 [[quarterback sack|sacks]], and three [[interception]]s.
Witherspoon's father served in the US Air Force, and so Witherspoon moved around as a child. However, his family never lived on the military bases, instead deciding to live in the community so the children could experience the culture. In addition to speaking English, he knows how to speak [[German language|German]], and is learning both [[Arabic language|Arabic]] and [[Swedish language|Swedish]]. He attended Good Shepherd Lutheran School in middle school. He played [[running back]] for [[Rutherford High School (Florida)|Rutherford High School]] in [[Panama City, Florida]], but switched to linebacker before his senior year. He was chosen as the [[USA Today]] Florida Player of the Year for his efforts as a senior, where he posted 112 [[tackle (football move)|tackles]], 3 [[quarterback sack|sacks]], and three [[interception]]s.


Witherspoon and his wife, Rebecca have 3 daughters.<ref>[http://www.stlouisrams.com/team/players/53230/ ST. Louis Rams Bio]</ref>
Witherspoon and his ex-wife, Rebecca, have three daughters.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stlouisrams.com/team/players/53230/|title=ST. Louis Rams Bio|access-date=September 5, 2008|archive-date=July 1, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100701115655/http://www.stlouisrams.com/team/players/53230/|url-status=live}}</ref>


==College career==
==College career==
Line 44: Line 53:


==Professional career==
==Professional career==
{{NFL predraft

===Pre-draft measureables===
{{nfl predraft
| height ft = 6
| height ft = 6
| height in = 1½
| height in = 1 1/2
| weight = 231
| weight = 231
| dash = 4.58
| dash = 4.67
| ten split = 1.73
| ten split = 1.67
| twenty split = 2.76
| twenty split = 2.75
| shuttle = 4.21
| shuttle = 4.21
| cone drill = 7.09
| cone drill = 7.09
Line 60: Line 67:
| bench = 25
| bench = 25
| wonderlic =
| wonderlic =
| arm span =
| arm span = 32
| hand span =
| hand span = 9
| note = All values from [[NFL Combine]].<ref>[http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=60158&draftyear=2002&genpos=OLB NFL Draft Scout]</ref>
| note = All values from [[NFL Combine]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=2081&DraftYear=2002 |title=Will Witherspoon College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=August 26, 2009}}</ref>
}}
}}


===Carolina Panthers===
===Carolina Panthers===
Witherspoon was drafted by the [[Carolina Panthers]] in the third round (73rd overall) of the [[2002 NFL Draft]]. Witherspoon was the latest addition to new coach [[John Fox (NFL)|John Fox's]] overhaul of the defense, and Witherspoon's versatility at linebacker helped the Panthers total the second-best defense in the league. He replaced [[Dan Morgan]] at middle linebacker halfway through the season after Morgan went down with injury. He finished the season with 71 tackles and 1.5 sacks, his first half sack coming at the [[Cleveland Browns]] on December 1. During the [[2003 NFL season]], Witherspoon was the only Panther linebacker to start every game, where he once again filled in for an injured Morgan at middle linebacker.
Witherspoon was selected by the [[Carolina Panthers]] in the third round (73rd overall) of the [[2002 NFL draft]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=2002 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2002/draft.htm |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> He was the latest addition to new coach [[John Fox (NFL)|John Fox's]] overhaul of the defense, and Witherspoon's versatility at linebacker helped the Panthers total the second-best defense in the league. He replaced [[Dan Morgan]] at middle linebacker halfway through the season after Morgan went down with injury. He finished the season with 71 tackles and 1.5 sacks, his first half sack coming at the [[Cleveland Browns]] on December 1. During the [[2003 NFL season]], Witherspoon was the only Panther linebacker to start every game, where he once again filled in for an injured Morgan at middle linebacker.


He intercepted his first pass off [[New Orleans Saints]] [[quarterback]] [[Aaron Brooks (American football)|Aaron Brooks]]. During [[Super Bowl XXXVIII]], Witherspoon posted a career-high 16 tackles. He ended the campaign with a total of 99 tackles, one sack and one interception. The following year, "Spoon" was one of the few defensive players to start every game for the Panthers, who were wracked with injuries. Despite the loss of key personnel like defensive tackle [[Kris Jenkins]], the Panthers led the league in interceptions. Witherspoon set personal bests with three sacks and four interceptions and a then career-high of 103 tackles. In 2005, his final year with the Panthers, Witherspoon played in 15 games and finished the season 81 tackles, 2.5 sacks and two interceptions.
He intercepted his first pass off [[New Orleans Saints]] [[quarterback]] [[Aaron Brooks (American football)|Aaron Brooks]]. During [[Super Bowl XXXVIII]], Witherspoon posted a career-high 16 tackles. He ended the campaign with a total of 99 tackles, one sack and one interception. The following year, "Spoon" was one of the few defensive players to start every game for the Panthers, who were wracked with injuries. Despite the loss of key personnel like defensive tackle [[Kris Jenkins]], the Panthers led the league in interceptions. Witherspoon set personal bests with three sacks and four interceptions and a then career-high of 103 tackles. In 2005, his final year with the Panthers, Witherspoon played in 15 games and finished the season 81 tackles, 2.5 sacks and two interceptions.
[[File:Will Witherspoon.jpg|thumb|Witherspoon at the Panthers training camp in 2005.]]
[[File:Will Witherspoon.jpg|thumb|Witherspoon at the Panthers training camp in 2005.]]


===St. Louis Rams===
===St. Louis Rams (first stint)===
On March 12, 2006, as an unrestricted free agent, he signed a six-year, $33 million contract (including $15 million guaranteed) with the [[St. Louis Rams]] In his first season (2006) with the Rams, he played in all 16 games and recorded a career-high 113 tackles and three sacks. In 2007 he recorded 110 tackles and a career-high seven sacks and was named Team MVP for 2007.<ref>[http://www.nfl.com/players/willwitherspoon/careerstats?id=WIT150248 NFL.com] Stats courtesy of NFL.com</ref><ref>http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/rams/story/FC153562E3B1B0F3862573BD005FFC84?OpenDocument</ref>
On March 12, 2006, as an unrestricted free agent, he signed a six-year, $33 million contract (including $15 million guaranteed) with the [[St. Louis Rams]] In his first season (2006) with the Rams, he played in all 16 games and recorded a career-high 113 tackles and three sacks. In 2007, he recorded 110 tackles and a career-high seven sacks and was named Team MVP for 2007.<ref>[http://www.nfl.com/players/willwitherspoon/careerstats?id=WIT150248 NFL.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091224012924/http://www.nfl.com/players/willwitherspoon/careerstats?id=WIT150248 |date=December 24, 2009 }} Stats courtesy of NFL.com</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/rams/story/FC153562E3B1B0F3862573BD005FFC84?OpenDocument |title=STLtoday - Sports - Rams |access-date=December 27, 2007 |archive-date=December 30, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071230040741/http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/rams/story/FC153562E3B1B0F3862573BD005FFC84?OpenDocument |url-status=live }}</ref>


===Philadelphia Eagles===
===Philadelphia Eagles===
On October 20, 2009 Witherspoon was traded from the Rams to the [[Philadelphia Eagles]] in exchange for [[wide receiver]] [[Brandon Gibson]] and a fifth round draft pick in 2010. In his first game as an Eagle against the [[Washington Redskins]] on October 26, 2009, Witherspoon recorded six tackles, an interception (returned for a touchdown), sack, and a forced fumble. During the season, he played in 17 games, unusual for players to do so (he was traded prior to St. Louis's bye week to the Eagles after the Eagles bye week).
On October 20, 2009, Witherspoon was traded from the Rams to the [[Philadelphia Eagles]] in exchange for [[wide receiver]] [[Brandon Gibson]] and a fifth round draft pick in 2010. In his first game as an Eagle against the [[Washington Redskins]] on October 26, 2009, he recorded six tackles, an interception (returned for a touchdown), sack, and a forced fumble. During the season, he played in 17 games, becoming the fifth player since bye weeks were reintroduced in 1990 to do so, as he was traded prior to St. Louis's bye week to the Eagles after the Eagles bye week.<ref>{{cite news |title=Former Eagle Witherspoon Producing for Titans |url=https://www.titansonline.com/news/former-eagle-witherspoon-producing-for-titans-2940798 |website=TitansOnline.com |date=October 20, 2010 |access-date=December 15, 2019 |archive-date=December 16, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191216000103/https://www.titansonline.com/news/former-eagle-witherspoon-producing-for-titans-2940798 |url-status=live }}</ref>


He was released on March 5, 2010.
He was released on March 5, 2010.
[[File:Willwitherspoon2013rams.jpg|thumb|left|Will Witherspoon during second stint with Rams. 2013]]
[[File:Willwitherspoon2013rams.jpg|thumb|left|Witherspoon during second stint with Rams. 2013]]


===Tennessee Titans===
===Tennessee Titans===
Witherspoon was signed by the [[Tennessee Titans]] on March 9, 2010. He was voted by his teammates as the Titans [[Ed Block Courage Award]] recipient <ref>http://www.edblock.org/content/ed-block-courage-award-recipients</ref>
Witherspoon was signed by the [[Tennessee Titans]] on March 9, 2010. He was voted by his teammates as the Titans [[Ed Block Courage Award]] recipient <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.edblock.org/content/ed-block-courage-award-recipients |title=Ed Block Courage Award Recipients &#124; the ed Block Courage Award Foundation |access-date=June 28, 2012 |archive-date=July 7, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120707022705/http://www.edblock.org/content/ed-block-courage-award-recipients |url-status=live }}</ref>

===St. Louis Rams (second stint)===
On July 18, 2013, Witherspoon signed with the Rams.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/will-witherspoon-reportedly-rejoining-st-louis-rams-0ap1000000218663|title=Will Witherspoon reportedly rejoining St. Louis Rams|website=[[NFL.com]] |access-date=July 19, 2013|archive-date=July 22, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130722002126/http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000218663/article/will-witherspoon-reportedly-rejoins-st-louis-rams|url-status=live}}</ref>

==NFL career statistics==
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! colspan="2"| Legend
|-
| '''Bold'''
| Career high
|}

===Regular season===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!rowspan="2"| Year
!rowspan="2"| Team
!colspan="2"| Games
!colspan="5"| Tackles
!colspan="5"| Interceptions
!colspan="4"| Fumbles
|-
! GP !! GS !! Cmb !! Solo !! Ast !! Sck !! TFL !! Int !! Yds !! TD !! Lng !! PD !! FF !! FR !! Yds !! TD
|-
! [[2002 NFL season|2002]] !! [[2002 Carolina Panthers season|CAR]]
| 15 || 8 || 71 || 56 || 15 || 1.5 || 3 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 5 || 1 || 1 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2003 NFL season|2003]] !! [[2003 Carolina Panthers season|CAR]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 99 || 74 || 25 || 1.0 || 8 || 1 || 10 || 0 || 10 || 5 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2004 NFL season|2004]] !! [[2004 Carolina Panthers season|CAR]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 103 || 84 || 19 || 3.0 || 5 || '''4''' || '''48''' || 0 || 25 || '''14''' || 1 || 1 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2005 NFL season|2005]] !! [[2005 Carolina Panthers season|CAR]]
| 15 || 15 || 81 || 66 || 15 || 2.5 || 5 || 2 || 35 || '''1''' || 35 || '''14''' || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2006 NFL season|2006]] !! [[2006 St. Louis Rams season|STL]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || '''116''' || '''102''' || 14 || 3.0 || 8 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 9 || '''3''' || 1 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2007 NFL season|2007]] !! [[2007 St. Louis Rams season|STL]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 110 || 92 || 18 || '''7.0''' || '''14''' || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 7 || 2 || 1 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2008 NFL season|2008]] !! [[2008 St. Louis Rams season|STL]]
| '''16''' || 12 || 72 || 57 || 15 || 1.0 || 3 || 1 || 2 || 0 || 2 || 3 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0
|-
! rowspan="2" | [[2009 NFL season|2009]] !! [[2009 St. Louis Rams season|STL]]
| 6 || 6 || 32 || 28 || 4 || 0.0 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2009 Philadelphia Eagles season|PHI]]
| 11 || 10 || 58 || 51 || 7 || 1.0 || 3 || 1 || 9 || '''1''' || 9 || 5 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2010 NFL season|2010]] !! [[2010 Tennessee Titans season|TEN]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || 92 || 63 || '''29''' || 3.0 || 6 || 2 || 11 || 0 || 9 || 8 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2011 NFL season|2011]] !! [[2011 Tennessee Titans season|TEN]]
| '''16''' || 14 || 56 || 41 || 15 || 2.0 || 5 || 1 || 7 || 0 || 7 || 3 || 1 || '''2''' || '''2''' || 0
|-
! [[2012 NFL season|2012]] !! [[2012 Tennessee Titans season|TEN]]
| 14 || 5 || 48 || 29 || 19 || 1.0 || 1 || 1 || 40 || '''1''' || '''40''' || 2 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2013 NFL season|2013]] !! [[2013 St. Louis Rams season|STL]]
| '''16''' || 3 || 13 || 12 || 1 || 0.0 || 1 || 1 || 20 || 0 || 20 || 1 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0
|-
! colspan="2"| !! 189 !! 153 !! 951 !! 755 !! 196 !! 26.0 !! 64 !! 14 !! 182 !! 3 !! 40 !! 76 !! 11 !! 8 !! 2 !! 0
|}


===Second stint with Rams===
===Playoffs===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
On July 18, 2013, Witherspoon signed with the St. Louis Rams.<ref>http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000218663/article/will-witherspoon-reportedly-rejoins-st-louis-rams</ref>
|-
!rowspan="2"| Year
!rowspan="2"| Team
!colspan="2"| Games
!colspan="5"| Tackles
!colspan="5"| Interceptions
!colspan="4"| Fumbles
|-
! GP !! GS !! Cmb !! Solo !! Ast !! Sck !! TFL !! Int !! Yds !! TD !! Lng !! PD !! FF !! FR !! Yds !! TD
|-
! [[2003 NFL season|2003]] !! [[2003 Carolina Panthers season|CAR]]
| '''4''' || '''4''' || '''27''' || '''18''' || '''9''' || '''1.0''' || '''3''' || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || '''1''' || '''1''' || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2005 NFL season|2005]] !! [[2005 Carolina Panthers season|CAR]]
| 3 || 3 || 20 || 16 || 4 || '''1.0''' || '''3''' || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || '''1''' || '''1''' || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! [[2009 NFL season|2009]] !! [[2009 Philadelphia Eagles season|PHI]]
| 1 || 1 || 8 || 7 || 1 || 0.0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || '''1''' || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! colspan="2"| !! 8 !! 8 !! 55 !! 41 !! 14 !! 2.0 !! 7 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 3 !! 2 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0
|}


==After football==
==After football==
Line 90: Line 183:


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
Withespoon is passionate about producing healthy and nutritious food. He owns the sustainable Shire Gate Farm near [[Owensville, MO]].<ref>http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andrew-gunther/sustainable-food-super-bowl-snacks_b_2583198.html</ref> He's vocal about the benefits of grass fed, high welfare meat. Witherspoon says "My cattle are raised as nature intended, on grass, and aren't fed growth hormones, antibiotics or other unnatural additives. I can't take over-the-counter cold medicine without letting my trainer know about it. So why would I want my kids eating beef from cattle fed hormones or routine antibiotics?"
Witherspoon owns the sustainable Shire Gate Farm near [[Owensville, MO]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andrew-gunther/sustainable-food-super-bowl-snacks_b_2583198.html|title=A Meat-Free Superbowl Party? Not for Me...|first=Andrew|last=Gunther|website=[[HuffPost]]|date=February 1, 2013|access-date=February 3, 2013|archive-date=February 5, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130205072957/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andrew-gunther/sustainable-food-super-bowl-snacks_b_2583198.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Witherspoon has multiple children, including 3 children with ex-wife, Rebecca, and 2 children with ex-girlfriend, Tori Darling.


==References==
==References==
Line 97: Line 190:
==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.stlouisrams.com/team/roster/Will-Witherspoon/2e4b8c75-c2dc-4630-9058-7bf5a9357132 St. Louis Rams profile]
* [http://www.stlouisrams.com/team/roster/Will-Witherspoon/2e4b8c75-c2dc-4630-9058-7bf5a9357132 St. Louis Rams profile]
*{{commons category-inline}}


{{Panthers2002DraftPicks}}
{{Panthers2002DraftPicks}}
{{Rams MVP}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Witherspoon, Will}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Witherspoon, Will}}
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[[Category:Philadelphia Eagles players]]
[[Category:Philadelphia Eagles players]]
[[Category:Tennessee Titans players]]
[[Category:Tennessee Titans players]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from San Antonio]]
[[Category:Players of American football from San Antonio]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Texas]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen]]
[[Category:African-American players of American football]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen]]

Latest revision as of 18:10, 23 December 2024

Will Witherspoon
refer to caption
Witherspoon at Al Asad Airbase in 2009
No. 54, 51, 50, 92
Position:Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1980-08-19) August 19, 1980 (age 44)
San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:240 lb (109 kg)
Career information
High school:Rutherford (Panama City, Florida)
College:Georgia (1998–2001)
NFL draft:2002 / round: 3 / pick: 73
Career history
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles:951
Sacks:26.0
Forced fumbles:11
Fumble recoveries:8
Interceptions:14
Defensive touchdowns:3
Stats at Pro Football Reference

William Cordell Witherspoon (born August 19, 1980) is an American former professional football linebacker. He was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the third round of the 2002 NFL draft. He played college football at Georgia. He also played for the St. Louis Rams, Philadelphia Eagles, and Tennessee Titans.

Early life

[edit]

Witherspoon's father served in the US Air Force, and so Witherspoon moved around as a child. However, his family never lived on the military bases, instead deciding to live in the community so the children could experience the culture. In addition to speaking English, he knows how to speak German, and is learning both Arabic and Swedish. He attended Good Shepherd Lutheran School in middle school. He played running back for Rutherford High School in Panama City, Florida, but switched to linebacker before his senior year. He was chosen as the USA Today Florida Player of the Year for his efforts as a senior, where he posted 112 tackles, 3 sacks, and three interceptions.

Witherspoon and his ex-wife, Rebecca, have three daughters.[1]

College career

[edit]

He played college football at the University of Georgia, where he was a starter for three years. After playing every game as a true freshman, he started most of the Bulldogs' games for the remainder of his time at Georgia, switching between the middle, strong-side, and weak-side linebacker positions. He graduated with 211 tackles, 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. He was a landscape architecture major.

Professional career

[edit]
Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 1+1⁄2 in
(1.87 m) 		231 lb
(105 kg) 		32 in
(0.81 m) 		9 in
(0.23 m)		 4.67 s 1.67 s 2.75 s 4.21 s 7.09 s 38 in
(0.97 m)		 10 ft 2 in
(3.10 m)		 25 reps
All values from NFL Combine[2]

Carolina Panthers

[edit]

Witherspoon was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the third round (73rd overall) of the 2002 NFL draft.[3] He was the latest addition to new coach John Fox's overhaul of the defense, and Witherspoon's versatility at linebacker helped the Panthers total the second-best defense in the league. He replaced Dan Morgan at middle linebacker halfway through the season after Morgan went down with injury. He finished the season with 71 tackles and 1.5 sacks, his first half sack coming at the Cleveland Browns on December 1. During the 2003 NFL season, Witherspoon was the only Panther linebacker to start every game, where he once again filled in for an injured Morgan at middle linebacker.

He intercepted his first pass off New Orleans Saints quarterback Aaron Brooks. During Super Bowl XXXVIII, Witherspoon posted a career-high 16 tackles. He ended the campaign with a total of 99 tackles, one sack and one interception. The following year, "Spoon" was one of the few defensive players to start every game for the Panthers, who were wracked with injuries. Despite the loss of key personnel like defensive tackle Kris Jenkins, the Panthers led the league in interceptions. Witherspoon set personal bests with three sacks and four interceptions and a then career-high of 103 tackles. In 2005, his final year with the Panthers, Witherspoon played in 15 games and finished the season 81 tackles, 2.5 sacks and two interceptions.

Witherspoon at the Panthers training camp in 2005.

St. Louis Rams (first stint)

[edit]

On March 12, 2006, as an unrestricted free agent, he signed a six-year, $33 million contract (including $15 million guaranteed) with the St. Louis Rams In his first season (2006) with the Rams, he played in all 16 games and recorded a career-high 113 tackles and three sacks. In 2007, he recorded 110 tackles and a career-high seven sacks and was named Team MVP for 2007.[4][5]

Philadelphia Eagles

[edit]

On October 20, 2009, Witherspoon was traded from the Rams to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for wide receiver Brandon Gibson and a fifth round draft pick in 2010. In his first game as an Eagle against the Washington Redskins on October 26, 2009, he recorded six tackles, an interception (returned for a touchdown), sack, and a forced fumble. During the season, he played in 17 games, becoming the fifth player since bye weeks were reintroduced in 1990 to do so, as he was traded prior to St. Louis's bye week to the Eagles after the Eagles bye week.[6]

He was released on March 5, 2010.

Witherspoon during second stint with Rams. 2013

Tennessee Titans

[edit]

Witherspoon was signed by the Tennessee Titans on March 9, 2010. He was voted by his teammates as the Titans Ed Block Courage Award recipient [7]

St. Louis Rams (second stint)

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On July 18, 2013, Witherspoon signed with the Rams.[8]

NFL career statistics

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Legend
Bold Career high

Regular season

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Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GP GS Cmb Solo Ast Sck TFL Int Yds TD Lng PD FF FR Yds TD
2002 CAR 15 8 71 56 15 1.5 3 0 0 0 0 5 1 1 0 0
2003 CAR 16 16 99 74 25 1.0 8 1 10 0 10 5 0 0 0 0
2004 CAR 16 16 103 84 19 3.0 5 4 48 0 25 14 1 1 0 0
2005 CAR 15 15 81 66 15 2.5 5 2 35 1 35 14 0 0 0 0
2006 STL 16 16 116 102 14 3.0 8 0 0 0 0 9 3 1 0 0
2007 STL 16 16 110 92 18 7.0 14 0 0 0 0 7 2 1 0 0
2008 STL 16 12 72 57 15 1.0 3 1 2 0 2 3 0 1 0 0
2009 STL 6 6 32 28 4 0.0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
PHI 11 10 58 51 7 1.0 3 1 9 1 9 5 1 0 0 0
2010 TEN 16 16 92 63 29 3.0 6 2 11 0 9 8 1 0 0 0
2011 TEN 16 14 56 41 15 2.0 5 1 7 0 7 3 1 2 2 0
2012 TEN 14 5 48 29 19 1.0 1 1 40 1 40 2 1 0 0 0
2013 STL 16 3 13 12 1 0.0 1 1 20 0 20 1 0 1 0 0
189 153 951 755 196 26.0 64 14 182 3 40 76 11 8 2 0

Playoffs

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Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GP GS Cmb Solo Ast Sck TFL Int Yds TD Lng PD FF FR Yds TD
2003 CAR 4 4 27 18 9 1.0 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0
2005 CAR 3 3 20 16 4 1.0 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0
2009 PHI 1 1 8 7 1 0.0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
8 8 55 41 14 2.0 7 0 0 0 0 3 2 0 0 0

After football

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After not being signed by any team in the 2013-2014 off season, Witherspoon announced his retirement and took a job as the St. Louis Rams sideline reporter for Rams Radio Network.

Personal life

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Witherspoon owns the sustainable Shire Gate Farm near Owensville, MO.[9] Witherspoon has multiple children, including 3 children with ex-wife, Rebecca, and 2 children with ex-girlfriend, Tori Darling.

References

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  1. ^ "ST. Louis Rams Bio". Archived from the original on July 1, 2010. Retrieved September 5, 2008.
  2. ^ "Will Witherspoon College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved August 26, 2009.
  3. ^ "2002 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  4. ^ NFL.com Archived December 24, 2009, at the Wayback Machine Stats courtesy of NFL.com
  5. ^ "STLtoday - Sports - Rams". Archived from the original on December 30, 2007. Retrieved December 27, 2007.
  6. ^ "Former Eagle Witherspoon Producing for Titans". TitansOnline.com. October 20, 2010. Archived from the original on December 16, 2019. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
  7. ^ "Ed Block Courage Award Recipients | the ed Block Courage Award Foundation". Archived from the original on July 7, 2012. Retrieved June 28, 2012.
  8. ^ "Will Witherspoon reportedly rejoining St. Louis Rams". NFL.com. Archived from the original on July 22, 2013. Retrieved July 19, 2013.
  9. ^ Gunther, Andrew (February 1, 2013). "A Meat-Free Superbowl Party? Not for Me..." HuffPost. Archived from the original on February 5, 2013. Retrieved February 3, 2013.
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