Desmond Bishop life and biography

Desmond Bishop is an American football linebacker for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League.

• Led the team with a career-high 22 special teams tackles in 2009, and his 49 tackles on special teams from 2007-09 lead the team over that span.
• Posted team-leading three forced fumbles in 2008.
• Led the Pacific-10 in tackles in 2006 with 126, the first Cal player to lead the conference in 13 years.
• Physically strong and powerful, having bench-pressed 225 pounds 33 times at the NFL Scouting Combine.
• Father, Dennis, played football collegiately at Illinois and professionally in the USFL.

PRO CAREER: Sixth-round pick in 2007 has become a core member of the Packers’ special teams, posting 49 tackles in 41 career games... Led the team with a career-high 22 tackles on special teams in 2009, and his 49 stops from 2007-09 were the most by a Packer over that span... Saw limited action on the inside as a backup at ‘Buck’ linebacker last season, but also got time as the fifth linebacker when the team employed its ‘Psycho’ package... Started to see more extensive action in 2008 as his duties expanded from strictly middle linebacker to include some work at the weak-side spot as well... Got one start at WLB in Week 14 vs. Houston and posted career highs with 12 tackles, including eight solo, and two forced fumbles, along with his first career sack... Led the Packers with three forced fumbles in 2008... After battling an Achilles injury during training camp in ’08, came on strong in the final two preseason games to keep his roster spot and stayed relatively healthy in his second season, unlike his first when he missed six games because of a shoulder injury... Began coming into his own late in his rookie year, making four special teams tackles in one game at St. Louis (Dec. 16, 2007)... Had a notable rookie preseason, leading the team with 18 tackles and starting once in the middle for Nick Barnett (coach’s decision)... Productivity was evident in college at Cal, leading the team in tackles both his seasons there... Also led the Pacific-10 Conference in 2006 with 126 tackles, the most tackles recorded by a Cal player since Jerrott Willard in 1993 and the first player to lead the conference in tackles since then... Most likely fell to the sixth round in the draft because of less-than-ideal speed for his position, but makes up for that with instincts and strength... Did 33 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press at the Combine... Started all 25 games he appeared in at Cal (after transferring from junior college), collecting 215 tackles (125 solo), 21 stops for loss, three sacks, three interceptions, four passes defensed, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries... Ninth player from Cal drafted by the Packers and second in three-year period, joining QB Aaron Rodgers (D1-05).

2009 SEASON: Played in all 16 games for the first time in his career and led the team with a career-high 22 tackles on special teams... Also played in team’s playoff game... On the field for more than 76 percent of team’s special-teams plays, second most on the team... Recorded 14 tackles (11 solo) in limited time on defense, backing up A.J. Hawk at ‘Buck’ LB and seeing limited action as fifth LB in ‘Psycho’ package... Vs. Chicago (Sept. 13): Tied for team lead with two special teams tackles... Vs. Cincinnati (Sept. 20): Led the team with three stops on special teams... At St. Louis (Sept. 27): Saw first action of season on defense and recorded a season-high four tackles (three solo). Brought down FB Mike Karney for a 2-yard loss on a pass early in the fourth quarter. Added two stops on special teams... Vs. Minnesota (Nov. 1): Filled in for an injured Brandon Chillar (hand) in nickel for the rest of the game after Chillar left late in the first half. Posted three tackles (all solo) and a pass defensed. Tied for the team lead with two special teams tackles. Forced a fumble by DE Brian Robison, who was returning a squib kick on third-quarter kickoff; S Nick Collins recovered fumble at the Minnesota 41 to set up a Spencer Havner 16-yard TD catch... Vs. Dallas (Nov. 15): Tied for team lead and matched career high with four special teams tackles... At Chicago (Dec. 13): Got a few snaps on defense in team’s five-LB ‘Psycho’ package and recorded two tackles (one solo)... At Arizona (Jan. 3): Saw limited time on defense and posted two tackles (one solo). Added two stops on special teams, including a big hit on RB LaRod Stephens-Howling at Arizona’s 13 on first-quarter kickoff return... At Arizona (NFC Wild Card, Jan. 10): Registered a tackle on special teams and saw limited action on defense in ‘Psycho’ package.

2008: Played in 15 games with one start and made 27 tackles on defense (18 solo) with one sack, taking on work at weak-side LB in addition to his customary duties backing up the middle...Led team with three forced fumbles...Finished third on the team with 15 special teams tackles...On the field for over 71 percent of team’s special teams plays, second most on the team... Vs. Minnesota (Sept. 8): On Will Blackmon’s 76-yard punt return for a score, took out a Vikings player on the sideline to allow Blackmon to cut back across the field... Vs. Dallas (Sept. 21): Took some snaps on defense when Barnett left game briefly late in first quarter with elbow injury...At Tampa Bay (Sept. 28): Saw action at WLB when Hawk went out with groin injury and posted three tackles... Vs. Indianapolis (Oct. 19): Tied for team lead with two special teams tackles, including one stop of WR Pierre Garcon on a kickoff return at the Indianapolis 14... At Minnesota (Nov. 9): Saw extensive action in second half at MLB after Barnett left on the first series of the second half with a knee injury and recorded nine tackles. Forced RB Adrian Peterson to fumble on a 4th-and-1 run in the fourth quarter that the Vikings recovered, but gave the Packers possession on downs at the Minnesota 41 to set up a Mason Crosby FG. Added a season-high three special teams tackles and made a key block on Nick Collins’ 59-yard INT return for a TD to allow him to cut across the field... Vs. Houston (Dec. 7): Started first career game, opening up at WLB in place of an injured Chillar (groin), and posted a career-high 12 tackles and a career-best two forced fumbles. Registered his first career sack when he brought down Matt Schaub for a 6-yard loss in the second quarter, broke into the backfield to stop FB Cecil Sapp for a 3-yard loss on a 3rd-and-1 in the first quarter, forced a fumble early in the second quarter by TE Owen Daniels at the Green Bay 1 that CB Tramon Williams recovered at the 3, and forced another fumble by Daniels in the fourth quarter that went out of bounds... At Chicago (Dec. 22): Matched his season high with three special teams tackles and made one stop in limited action on defense.

2007: Served as the backup MLB and made an impact as a special-teams regular after earning a roster spot with a productive preseason that included a team-high 18 tackles... Played in 10 games and was inactive for the other six, mostly due to a shoulder injury... Posted 12 special teams tackles and six on defense (four solo)... At Detroit (Nov. 22): Saw his first career action on defense, playing one snap... At St. Louis (Dec. 16): Registered a team- and career-high four special teams tackles... Vs. Detroit (Dec. 30): Saw his most extensive action of the season on defense, entering the game for Barnett in the second quarter and tallying six tackles (four solo), the first tackles from scrimmage of his career... Vs. N.Y. Giants (NFC Championship, Jan. 20): Made two special teams tackles... 2007 Draft: Selected in the sixth round with the 192nd overall pick, the 27th LB chosen. Was the second of three consecutive choices the Packers had in the round. Selected with pick acquired from Pittsburgh along with the Steelers’ fourth-round choice (No. 119) for Green Bay’s fourth-round pick (No. 112). First defensive player drafted by the Packers out of California since DB Jerry Scattini in 1962 (19th round).

COLLEGE: After transferring from junior college, started all 25 games he appeared in at Cal, collecting 215 tackles (125 solo), 21 stops for loss, three sacks, three INTs, four passes defensed, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries... Led Cal in tackles both his seasons there... Majored in interdisciplinary studies... Senior season (2006): Led the Pac-10 with 126 tackles (63 solo), the most tackles recorded by a Cal player since Willard in 1993 and the first player to lead the conference in tackles since then... A third-team All-American choice by Rivals.com, earned honorable mention from The NFL Draft Report and garnered All-Pac-10 first-team accolades... In 13 games, also had three sacks, a team-high 15 stops for loss (fourth in Pac-10), two pass break-ups, three INTs, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries... Ranked 14th nationally, averaging 9.69 tackles per game... Had at least seven tackles in 11 of 13 contests, and was in double digits five times... In perhaps his best collegiate performance, posted a career-high 16 tackles (seven solo), with 3½ tackles for loss, a forced fumble, and a game-clinching INT vs. Washington (Oct. 21) that he returned 79 yards in overtime to seal 31-24 win... Junior season (2005): Immediately won a starting job at Cal upon his arrival and picked up second-team All-Pac-10 honors... Started all 12 games at MLB and led the team with 89 tackles (62 solo), with six stops for loss, one QB pressure, one forced fumble, and two pass deflections... Tallied 12 tackles, including a career-high 11 solo, vs. USC (Nov. 12)... Junior college: A two-year letterman at City College of San Francisco (2003-04), where he was a teammate of future Cal quarterback, Joe Ayoob... Ranked by SuperPrep as the fourth-best community college player in the nation and was voted California’s 2004 Junior College Defensive Player of the Year by the JC Athletic Bureau/California Community College Football Coaches Association... Named the Northern California Conference Defensive Most Valuable Player... First-team JC Gridwire All-American, averaging almost 12 tackles per game with 118 stops in 10 regular-season contests in 2004... Was virtually unstoppable in the state’s championship game with 14 tackles (including eight solo stops), one sack and two tackles for loss vs. College of the Canyons... Also played on CCSF’s undefeated (13-0) team that won the national championship in 2003.

PERSONAL: Given name Desmond Lamont Bishop... Nicknamed ‘Dez’... Born in San Francisco, Calif. ... Single... Father, Dennis, played football collegiately at Illinois and professionally in the USFL... High school: Attended Fairfield (Calif.) High School, earning second-team all-state honors from Calhisports.com... Played in the California North-South Shrine All-Star Game as a senior in 2002... Played FB and LB... Also lettered in basketball... Played against fellow Packers defender Jarrett Bush, as the two were from rival schools... Community involvement: Hosted the 3rd Annual Desmond Bishop Football Camp at his high school alma mater... as participated in the Brett Favre and Donald Driver Celebrity Softball Games, Al Harris’ Stars and Strikes Celebrity Bowling Event, and in the United Way’s NFL Hometown Huddle, making improvements to the facilities at Golden House, a local shelter... Attended dinner and signed autographs at the Boys and Girls Club of the Fox Valley... Also attended a Halloween party for at-risk kids of the local Pals Program and their mentors... Along with several Cal teammates, served food to the homeless... Hobbies/interests: Enjoys reading James Patterson and Lee Child, writing poetry, short stories, and is near completion on a movie script... Also enjoys playing Halo, Madden and watching movies... Residence: Vacaville, Calif.

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