Atari Bigby life and biography

Atari David Bigby is a Jamaican player of American football with the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League.

• Returned from injury-plagued 2008 campaign to post four interceptions in 2009. Along with teammate Nick Collins, became first Packers safety tandem since Darren Sharper and Marques Anderson (2002) to each post four or more interceptions in the same season.
• Led team in interceptions with five in 2007, his first as a starter, and named NFC Defensive Player of the Month in December, when he had four of his five INTs.
• Ranked third on the team with 121 tackles in 2007, the most by a Packers defensive back since safety Mark Murphy recorded 128 in 1990.
• “Atari” is Japanese for a form of the word “attack.”
• Attended Miami (Fla.) Senior High School with several future professional athletes, including former Green Bay safety Marquand Manuel and Miami Heat forward Udonis Haslem.

PRO CAREER: Aggressive, hard-hitting safety bounced back from injury-plagued 2008 campaign to post four interceptions and 54 tackles in ’09 as part of defense that ranked No. 2 in the league... Played in 13 games with 10 starts after appearing in only seven contests the previous season... Took on more responsibilities as a signal caller in Dom Capers’ 3-4 scheme... Along with teammate Nick Collins, became first Packers safety tandem since Darren Sharper and Marques Anderson (2002) to each post four or more interceptions in the same season... Now has 206 career tackles (159 solo) with 10 interceptions and 28 passes defensed in his career... Battled ankle, hamstring and shoulder injuries at different times throughout the 2008 season, eventually landing on injured reserve in the final month... Sustained an ankle injury during training camp and then pulled a hamstring at Detroit in Week 2, forcing him to miss five games... Returned to the lineup but was less than full strength and eventually injured his shoulder in Week 13 vs. Carolina, ending his season... In his first season as a starter in ’07, led the team with five interceptions and 13 passes defensed, tied for the team lead with three forced fumbles, and ranked third with 121 tackles (95 solo)... His tackle total was the highest by any Packers defensive back since safety Mark Murphy recorded 128 in 1990... Beat out incumbent starter Marquand Manuel midway through training camp in 2007 with a series of big plays in the second preseason game vs. Seattle (Aug. 18) and never relinquished the job, playing 94.9 percent of the defensive snaps in 2007, tops on the team... Enjoyed the chance to show what he could do in training camp after missing much of it in 2006 with a broken hand suffered in the annual ‘Family Night’ scrimmage... Began that season on the practice squad with a cast, but eventually had it removed and showed how much he benefited from his NFL Europe experience the previous spring... Earned a midseason promotion to the active roster, playing in five games and contributing consistently on special teams with five tackles... Made his NFL debut on Christmas Day 2005 vs. Chicago, playing in one game after a promotion from the practice squad, and then was allocated to NFL Europe in spring 2006... Started all 10 games for the Amsterdam Admirals, who earned a berth in the World Bowl... Played with former Packers teammate Tory Humphrey and led the team with 61 tackles, solidifying his reputation as a hard hitter... At Central Florida, registered 296 tackles, three interceptions and one sack during four letterman seasons... As a prep player at Miami (Fla.) Senior High School, played every position on the field other than lineman... Attended high school with Manuel, not to mention other professional athletes, such as Miami Heat forward Udonis Haslem... Originally entered the league as a non-drafted free agent signed by the Dolphins in 2005... Spent most of ’05 training camp with the Jets and was waived in the final preseason roster reduction, before the Packers signed him to their practice squad two months later.

2009 SEASON: Played in 13 games with 11 starts at SS, and registered 54 tackles (44 solo), four INTs, and 12 passes defensed... Also played in team’s playoff contest... Inactive for three games – vs. Cincinnati (Sept. 20), at St. Louis (Sept. 27) and at Minnesota (Oct. 5) – with injured knee... Vs. Chicago (Sept. 13): Posted five tackles (two solo), but left the game midway through the fourth quarter after sustaining a knee injury when he collided with CB Al Harris as they broke up a deep pass intended for WR Earl Bennett... Vs. Detroit (Oct. 18): Returned from knee injury and posted first interception since Week 1 of 2008 when he picked off Drew Stanton’s pass intended for WR John Standeford in the middle of the end zone midway through the fourth quarter; the INT helped preserve the Packers’ first shutout since ’07. Also led the team with two passes defensed. Didn’t start as team opened up in ‘Big Okie’ package... At Chicago (Dec. 13): Recorded season-high eight tackles (seven solo), which tied for the team lead. In the third quarter with Packers trailing 14-13, stopped RB Kahlil Bell along with LB Nick Barnett for no gain on 3rd-and-1 carry at the Green Bay 45 to force a punt... At Pittsburgh (Dec. 20): Posted seven tackles (all solo) and tied for the team lead with two passes defensed... Vs. Seattle (Dec. 27): Matched his career high with two INTs, the second multi-INT game of his career (at St. Louis, Dec. 16, 2007). First INT came on 3rd-and-6 at Green Bay’s 8 early in the second quarter when he stepped in front of WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh to pick off QB Matt Hasselbeck’s pass that was tipped at the line by DE Johnny Jolly. Picked off Hasselbeck again in the third quarter as his deep pass over the middle sailed over the head of WR Deion Branch. Finished afternoon with career-high four passes defensed and seven tackles (six solo)... At Arizona (Jan. 3): Posted four tackles (all solo) and an INT. Picked off Matt Leinart’s deep pass down the middle that went over the head of WR Early Doucet; intercepted pass at the Arizona 2 and returned the pick 14 yards... At Arizona (NFC Wild Card, Jan. 10): Started and registered four tackles (two solo), but injured hamstring as he chased after RB Beanie Wells on long run late in the third quarter and did not return.

2008: Played in seven games with six starts at SS, and posted 31 tackles (20 solo) and an INT...Was bothered all year by a left ankle injury originally suffered in preseason game at Denver (Aug. 22), and then pulled a hamstring in Week 2 at Detroit, forcing him to miss five games... Sustained a shoulder injury in Week 13 vs. Carolina and was placed on injured reserve Dec. 18... Vs. Minnesota (Sept. 8): Intercepted a Tarvaris Jackson pass with just over a minute remaining to seal the 24-19 win...At Detroit (Sept. 14): Left game late in first half after straining a hamstring trying to break up a pass in the end zone, and missed the next five contests... At Tennessee (Nov. 2): Returned to starting lineup and registered seven tackles, which tied him for the lead in the secondary... At Minnesota (Nov. 9): Led secondary with season-high eight tackles, including a tackle for loss when he stopped TE Visanthe Shiancoe on a reception for a 3-yard loss in the second quarter... Vs. Chicago (Nov. 16): Tied for lead in secondary with six tackles and broke up Kyle Orton’s deep pass intended for WR Marty Booker late in the first half... Vs. Carolina (Nov. 30): Did not start after being on injury report all week with ankle injury and saw very limited time in the first half before leaving the game with a sprained shoulder, which ended his season.

2007: Started all 16 games in his first year as the starter (plus both playoff games), winning the job with an impressive run of big plays during preseason games... Playing a team-best 94.9 percent of the defensive snaps, ranked third on the team with 121 tackles (95 solo), tied for a team high with three forced fumbles, and led the team with five INTs and 13 passes defensed... Recorded double-digit tackles in five games, and his season total was the highest by any Packers defensive back since Murphy recorded 128 in 1990... Earned NFC Defensive Player of the Month for December, picking off four passes in a span of four games... His five INTs ranked ninth in the NFL and fourth in the NFC... Vs. San Diego (Sept. 23): Posted a team- and career-high 14 tackles (11 solo)... At Minnesota (Sept. 30): In the first quarter, stripped the ball from FB Jeff Dugan (recovered Jolly); Brett Favre threw his record-setting 421st career TD pass to Greg Jennings on the following drive to give Green Bay a 7-0 lead. Made his first career INT in the fourth quarter, diving for a tipped pass with 1:06 left, sealing the Packers’ 23-16 victory. Also recorded five solo tackles... Vs. Oakland (Dec. 9): In the third quarter, intercepted a deep pass and returned it 22 yards; actually ran the pick back 70 yards for a TD, but the score was negated by an unnecessary roughness penalty... At St. Louis (Dec. 16): Had a career-high two INTs, plus four solo tackles, and was named ‘GMC Defensive Player of the Week.’ In the second quarter, picked off a long Marc Bulger throw and made an 18-yard return. In the third quarter, caught a tipped pass on a Rams’ third-and-4 and returned it 8 yards; Green Bay converted a field goal on the ensuing drive... Vs. Seattle (NFC Divisional, Jan. 12): Led the team with seven tackles (six solo), with one forced fumble and one pass defensed. Stopped RB Shaun Alexander for a 1-yard loss in the first quarter and then, on the Seahawks’ first play of the second quarter, forced TE Marcus Pollard to fumble (recovered by Aaron Kampman); Green Bay scored three plays later on a 2-yard Jennings TD catch and took a 21-14 lead.

2006: Signed from the practice squad Nov. 15, played in five games and was inactive for the final three contests with a hamstring injury... A valuable contributor on special teams, where he collected five tackles, also played six snaps from scrimmage... Waived at the end of the preseason and re-signed two days later to the practice squad, where he spent the season’s first 10 weeks... Sidelined much of training camp after breaking his hand in the ‘Family Night’ intrasquad scrimmage (Aug. 5), underwent surgery and returned to practice early in the regular season with a cast... Signed to the active roster on Nov. 15... Vs. New England (Nov. 19): Saw his first 2006 action and collected two special teams tackles... Vs. N.Y. Jets (Dec. 3): Played on defense for the first time in his career, two snaps at free safety... At San Francisco (Dec. 10): Had two special teams tackles.

2005: Played in one game and was inactive for one other after joining the Packers’ practice squad on Nov. 1... Promoted to the active roster Dec. 22 after more than seven weeks on the practice squad... Vs. Chicago (Dec. 25): Made his NFL debut, playing on special teams and recording one coverage tackle... 2005 Draft: Initially signed by the Miami Dolphins as a non-drafted free agent May 16, was waived July 25... Signed by the N.Y. Jets Aug. 11, was one of the team’s final cuts in its preseason roster reduction Sept. 3.

COLLEGE: Was a four-year letterman at Central Florida (2001-04) and two-time first-team All-Mid-American Conference pick... Registered 296 tackles, three INTs and one sack... Earned a degree in liberal studies... Senior season (2004): Was injured for much of the season, but played in seven games and recorded 42 tackles and one INT... Junior season (2003): Collected 112 tackles and one sack, with a team-high 80 solo tackles... Sophomore season (2002): Had 104 tackles (58 solo) and an INT... Redshirt freshman season (2001): Played in 11 games and made 38 tackles (27 solo).

PERSONAL: Given name Atari David Bigby... Born in Jamaica, moved to the U.S. at age 4... Married to Jill, the couple has two daughters, Michelle, 9, and Leenah, 6... Named Atari by his grandmother, who liked the name... “Atari” is Japanese for a form of the word “attack”... High school: Attended Miami (Fla.) Senior High with former Packers teammate Manuel, as well as Danny “Blue” Adams (former NFL, now CFL), Jamaal Jackson (Philadelphia), Andre Johnson (Houston), Roscoe Parrish (Buffalo) and Miami Heat forward Haslem... Was a three-year football letterman, at one time or another playing every position on the field with the exception of lineman... As a senior, posted 72 tackles, four forced fumbles and one INT... On offense, recorded 500 yards receiving, 315 yards rushing and nine TDs... Earned second-team Class 6A all-state honors and also was named All-Dade County... Played in the Dade-Broward All-Star Game... Lettered two years in track and one in soccer... Community involvement: Taped a public service announcement for the American Red Cross to encourage blood donation... Has made several community appearances at juvenile detention centers and hospitals and appeared at events to benefit the Boys and Girls Club of the Fox Valley... Has taken part in the Edgar Bennett Celebrity Bowl-A-Thon, Al Harris’ Stars and Strikes Celebrity Bowling Event, and the Brett Favre and Donald Driver Celebrity Softball Games... Also participated in a softball game to benefit the Professional Firefighters of Wisconsin, attended a Halloween party for at-risk kids of the local Pals Program and their mentors, rang the Salvation Army bell during the holidays for donations, and finished shooting pictures for a billboard to support the Milwaukee Children’s Hospital... Hobbies/interests: After his football career, would like to be involved in housing development projects... Says soccer is his first love... In his free time, is learning how to play guitar and also enjoys bowling... Enjoys reggae music, especially Bob Marley... Residence: Miami.

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