Heath Farwell life and biography

Heath Farwell is an American football linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League

GAMES/STARTS

2005 (7/0), 2006 (16/0), 2007 (16/0), 2008 (IR), 2009 (16/0, 2/0). Total- 55/0, 2/0.
• Earned Pro Bowl honors for his play in 2009 after being sidelined by knee injury in 2008.
• Selected by teammates as the Special Teams Player of the Year for the Vikings in 2006 and 2007.
• Set Vikings record with 7 special teams tackles at NY Giants (11/25/07) and had 57 special teams tackles between 2006 and 2007.

OFF THE FIELD

One of the most conscientious players during his 5 Vikings seasons about community involvement, working closely with the RT Autism Foundation and with visits to the University of Minnesota Children’s Hospital and the annual Vikings Arctic Blast snowmobile ride to benefit the Vikings Children’s Fund...Active with RT Autism Foundation…Commits time to Vikings Victory Visits to local hospitals and the Salvation Army...Has embraced the Minnesota outdoors since joining the Vikings, becoming an active hunter and fisherman...Participated in 2009 Minnesota Governor’s Fishing Opener events to promote outdoor activities to young people…Criminal justice major who earned his bachelor’s degree in spring 2005…Aspires to career in law enforcement following football…Former Vikings’ Pro Bowl offensive lineman Ed White served on the coaching staff at SDSU when Farwell played there…Has struck up a friendship with Vikings Hall of Famer Ron Yary, a fellow southern California native...Married in 2008 offseason...Married to Julie...Has a mini-schnauzer named Cooper.

PRO
Earned Pro Bowl honors for his 2009 play, the 1st Viking to earn a Pro Bowl trip as a special teamer since Joey Browner in 1985....Has led or tied for team lead in special teams tackles in each of the past 3 seasons he has played (2006, 2007, 2009)...Twice honored by teammates as Special Teams MVP in 2006 and 2007...Is the only Viking to recover 2 onside kicks in a season (2007) and tied a Vikings career record with 2 held by Terry LeCount...Has been on special teams units that have returned 4 kickoffs for TDs and 1 punt return TD in his 5 Vikings seasons...Originally signed as a rookie free agent and has grown into one of the NFL’s top special teamers…Has played in 55 games during his 5-year career, notching 94 special teams tackles, 2 onside kick recoveries and a fumble recovery…Finished behind only Dovonte Edwards in 2005 to rank 2nd on the team with 13 special teams tackles in only 7 games...Signed immediately following the 2005 NFL Draft and moved from the Vikings practice squad to the active roster on 10/22/05.

HONORS
Selected to Pro Bowl in 2009...Voted Vikings Special Teams MVP by teammates in 2006 and 2007.

2009
Named to Pro Bowl for the NFC as the special teams player...Became 1st Viking to be named to Pro Bowl as a special teamer since Joey Browner in 1985...Tied for Vikings lead with 24 special teams tackles and added 3 in playoffs...Recovered a pair of fumbles on kickoff coverage, jumping on fumbles vs. Seattle (11/22) and vs. Chicago (11/29) in consecutive weeks that led to 10 Vikings points...Notched season-best 4 special teams tackles in regular season finale vs. NY Giants (1/3/10)...Notched career-high 3 tackles and a pass breakup on defense vs. Clevleand (9/13) in season opener to go along with 2 special teams stops in his 1st game back after knee injury that cost him the 2008 season...Was an unrestricted free agent during 2009 offseason but returned to the Vikings.

2008
Spent season on injured reserve with knee injury suffered in preseason opener vs. Seattle.

2007
Named the Vikings Special Teams MVP for the 2nd straight season by teammates...Set Vikings records with 7 special teams tackles in a game at NY Giants (11/25) and by recovering 2 onside kicks in a season...Broke Vikings record for special teams tackles in a game with 7, snapping the mark of 6 by Wymon Henderson in 1988...Recovered onside kicks vs. Philadelphia (10/28) and vs. Washington (12/23)...Onside recovery vs. Philadelphia (10/28) was the 1st in team history in the 1st quarter of a game...His onside recoveries were the 13th and 14th in Vikings history.

2006
Named Special Teams MVP as voted on by teammates...Led team with 25 special teams tackles…Played in all 16 games after playing in 7 the previous season…Recorded his 1st career fumble recovery off a special teams fumble vs. Arizona (11/26)...Helped spring Mewelde Moore for a 71-yard punt return TD vs. New England (10/30/06) on Monday Night Football.

2005
Made most of playing time when he got on the field as a special teams standout...Began season on practice squad for the opening 5 weeks...Promoted to active roster and made NFL debut vs. Green Bay (10/23)...Played in 7 straight games before being sidelined with knee injury suffered at Detroit (12/4)...Averaged nearly 2 special teams tackles in each game he played...Posted Vikings’ season-high with 4 stops at NY Giants (11/13) on special teams...Provided blocking for both Mewelde Moore’s punt return TD and Koren Robinson’s kickoff return TD at NY Giants (11/13), only the 2nd time in team history returning a punt and kickoff for TD in the same game...His blocking helped earn Robinson a Pro Bowl berth as a kick returner and lead the NFC in average while Moore ranked 2nd in the NFC in punt returns.

COLLEGE

Was Freshman of the Year at San Jose State in 2000…Transferred to San Diego State following the 2000 season…Led the Mountain West in forced fumbles in 2002…Earned SDSU Defensive MVP in 2004, Special Teams Player of the Year in 2004 and Honorable Mention All-Mountain West Conference in 2004…Sat out 2001 under NCAA transfer rules...Played in all 12 games for San Jose State as a true freshman en route to earning SJSU Freshman of the Year honors.

A 3-year letterwinner and defensive MVP at Corona (CA) High…Recorded 129 tackles and 10 sacks as a senior, earning 1st-Team All-Mountain View League…Had 96 tackles and 12 sacks as a junior en route to all-league honors…Lettered in baseball and track & field.

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