Jonathan Vilma
 Vilma at the 2010 Tulane University commencement ceremony |
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| No. 51 New Orleans Saints | |
| Linebacker | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Date of birth: April 16, 1982 | |
| Place of birth: Coral Gables, Florida | |
| Height: 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | Weight: 230 lb (104 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College: University of Miami | |
| NFL Draft: 2004 / Round: 1 / Pick: 12 | |
| Debuted in 2004 for the New York Jets | |
| Career history | |
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| Roster status: Active | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career NFL statistics as of Week 15, 2011 | |
| Tackles | 826 |
| Sacks | 9.5 |
| INTs | 11 |
| Stats at NFL.com | |
Jonathan Polynice Vilma (born April 16, 1982 in Coral Gables, Florida) is an American football linebacker for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the New York Jets 12th overall in the 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Miami.
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[edit] Early years
Vilma was born in Coral Gables, Florida to Haitian immigrant parents.[1][2] attended Coral Gables High School where he was a teammate of Pro Bowl running back Frank Gore and received scholarship offers from the University of Miami, Florida State, Florida, Pittsburgh and Iowa. He eventually chose the University of Miami.
[edit] University of Miami
[edit] 2000 season
In 2000, Vilma played in all 11 games as a reserve middle linebacker and compiled 38 tackles (29 solo) and a pass deflection.
[edit] 2001 season
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.
[edit] 2002 season
Vilma led the team 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 semi-finalist for the Dick Butkus Award, along with teammate D.J. Williams.
[edit] 2003 season
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.
[edit] Professional career
[edit] Combine
- 4.54 40 Yard Dash
- 37 Inch Vertical
- 23 Bench Reps
- 6.67 Three-Cone Drill
- 4.20 Short Shuttle
- 10-foot-1 Broad Jump
[edit] New York Jets
Vilma was drafted by the Jets with the 12th selection in the 2004 NFL Draft.
[edit] 2004
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, including one which was returned for his first NFL touchdown.
[edit] 2005
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.
[edit] 2006
In 2006, Vilma put together another solid season. He compiled 114 tackles, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and one interception.
[edit] 2007
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.[3] Vilma was diagnosed with osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) in high school, a bone defect that can cause instability and loose particles in the joint, and this is a possible cause behind his season-ending injury in 2007.[4]
[edit] New Orleans Saints
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-dollar contract with the New Orleans Saints.[5]
On February 7, 2010, Vilma and the Saints defeated the Indianapolis Colts to become Super Bowl XLIV Champions. Vilma made a key defensive audible and deflected a pass on 3rd and 11 in the fourth quarter to lead the Saints to their victory.
In the first game of the season, Jonathan Vilma intercepted a pass from Minnesota Vikings quarterback, Brett Favre. The Saints later won the game 14–9.
[edit] Career statistics
| Year | Team | G | Tackles | Solo | Ast | Sacks | INT | INT YDS | FF | FR | PD | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | New York Jets | 16 | 107 | 77 | 30 | 2 | 3 | 58 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 |
| 2005 | New York Jets | 16 | 169* | 124 | 45 | 0.5 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 0 |
| 2006 | New York Jets | 16 | 114 | 67 | 47 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| 2007 | New York Jets | 7 | 43 | 32 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 2008 | New Orleans Saints | 16 | 132 | 98 | 34 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 0 |
| 2009 | New Orleans Saints | 16 | 110 | 87 | 23 | 2 | 3 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| 2010 | New Orleans Saints | 16 | 105 | 71 | 34 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Totals | 103 | 780 | 556 | 224 | 9.5 | 11 | 98 | 11 | 7 | 36 | 1 |
- *NFL Leader[6]
[edit] Personal life
Vilma is a spokesman for Under Armour and WaterBank of America USA Inc.[7]
On March 31, 2009 two Liberian men were killed in a Long Island condominium owned by Vilma. Police believe that the victims may have been part of a black money scam, where the perpetrators claim that cash smuggled from overseas—stained black to avoid detection—can be purchased at a discount; in reality, what they offer is a trunk full of worthless paper. Vilma is not considered a suspect.[8]
Vilma's parents, Fritz Vilma and Nelly Banatte, immigrated to the United States from Haiti in the 1970s. After the 2010 earthquake, he was active in relief efforts.[9]
Vilma started The Jonathan Vilma Foundation after the 2010 Haiti earthquake to help assist with the rebuilding efforts in Haiti, in particular a charter school to educate students from elementary school to high school. He is very committed to the relief effort.[10]
[edit] References
- ^ "Jonathan Vilma". NFL. http://www.nfl.com/players/jonathanvilma/profile?id=VIL582180. Retrieved January 14, 2011.
- ^ Corbett, Jim (January 21, 2010). "Once castoffs, Jeremy Shockey, Jonathan Vilma fueling Saints". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/saints/2010-01-19-jeremy-shockey-jonathan-vilma_N.htm. Retrieved January 14, 2011.
- ^ "Chicago Sun Times". http://www.suntimes.com/sports/football/624331,CST-SPT-nflnt28.article. Retrieved 2007-10-28.[dead link]
- ^ Litsky, Frank (2007-11-14). "Jets’ Vilma Speaks, a Little, About His Knee and Surgery". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/14/sports/football/14jets.html. Retrieved 2009-09-24.
- ^ http://blogs.nfl.com/2009/02/27/saints-reach-agreement-with-vilma/
- ^ [1]
- ^ http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Waterbank-Of-America-Usa-Inc-OTC-Bulletin-Board-WBKA-633442.html
- ^ 2 Slain in Vilma-Owned Condo ESPN, March 31, 2009
- ^ http://www.wdsu.com/sports/22242731/detail.html
- ^ "Error: no
|title=specified when using {{Cite web}}". http://www.mortons.com/events.php?id=1373&t=celebrity. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Jonathan Vilma |
| Awards and achievements | ||
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| Preceded by Terrell Suggs |
AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year 2004 |
Succeeded by Shawne Merriman |
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- 1982 births
- Living people
- American Conference Pro Bowl players
- American football linebackers
- American people of Haitian descent
- Miami Hurricanes football players
- New Orleans Saints players
- New York Jets players
- National Football League Defensive Rookie of the Year Award winners
- People from Coral Gables, Florida
