Jairus Byrd life and biography

PRO: Drafted in the second round (42nd overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft…fifth draft pick taken from Oregon in Bills history.

NFL AWARDS:
* NFL Defensive rookie of the month – October
* Selected to the 2010 AFC Pro Bowl team as a reserve free safety
* Pro Football Weekly/Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie Team Selection
* Sporting News All-Rookie Team Selection
* Football Outsiders All-Rookie Team Selection
* Dallas Morning News All-Rookie Team Selection

CAREER

* Tied for the NFL-lead in interceptions with nine (Charles Woodson-GB, Darren Sharper-NO, Asante Samuel-PHI)
* First Bills rookie defensive back selected to the Pro Bowl
* Third Bills rookie selected to the Pro Bowl (RB Joe Cribbs – 1980, RB Greg Bell – 1984)
* First Bills DB to represent the Bills in the Pro Bowl since Nate Clements in 2004
* Holds the following Buffalo Bills interception records
o Most consecutive games with an interception – 5 (weeks 5, 6, 7, 8 and 10, 2009)
o Most interceptions by a rookie/first year : 9
* First NFL player to record three consecutive multi-interception games since Dave Baker of San Francisco (1960)

2009:
* At NE (9/14) In first NFL game, saw action both defensively and on special teams. Posted three solo tackles on defense.
* vs. NO (9/27) Made his first career NFL start as the team’s fifth defensive back. Totaled five tackles.
* vs. CLE (10/11) Posted his first career interception. Led Bills defensive backs with seven tackles.
* at NYJ (10/18) Posted his first multi-interception game (2). Second interception led to Buffalo’s game-tying touchdown in the third quarter. Became the first Bills rookie with interceptions in consecutive games since Nate Clements in 2001 (games 14-15). Also became the first Bills rookie with three interceptions in a season since Clements in 2001.
* at CAR (10/25) Recorded two interceptions which led to both Buffalo touchdowns. Became the fifth Buffalo Bill to post multiple interceptions in consecutive weeks and first since Kurt Schultz in 1996 (2 vs. Cin., 11/17/96; 2 vs. N.Y.J., 11/24/96). Became first Bills rookie to post five interceptions in a season since Jeff Nixon (6) in 1979. The first NFL rookie to post two-plus interceptions in consecutive games since Everson Walls (Dallas) in 1981. Also became the first NFL rookie with five interceptions in a calendar month since Mark Carrier (Chicago) in 1990.
* vs. HOU (11/1) Totaled two interceptions, two passes defensed and five tackles. Became first rookie and second NFL player to have three consecutive multi-INT games (joining Dave Baker (SF) 1960, games 8-10). Tied a team record with his fourth consecutive game with an interception. Became the fourth Bill with three multi-INT games in one season (Archie Matsos (4-1960), Billy Atkins (4-1961) and Tom Janik (3-1966)).
* at TEN (11/15) Recorded an interception for the fifth consecutive game setting a new Buffalo Bills team record. Became the second NFL player since 1970 to record an interception in five consecutive games in his first NFL season (Kansas City’s Eric Harris, 1980). Tied the team rookie record with his eighth interception of the season.
* at KC (12/13) Posted his ninth interception of the season and set the team’s rookie interception record.
* Place on injured reserve on December, 23, 2009.

COLLEGE:

Byrd started each of his final 37 contests during a 39-game career at left cornerback, recording 203 tackles (143 solos) with six stops for losses of 17 yards, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries...Deflected 53 passes, ranking fourth in school history…Gained 113 yards on 17 interception returns (6.6 avg)…His 17 interceptions tied Jake Leicht (1945-47) for second on the school career-record list.

* 2008: All-Pac 10 Conference first-team selection... won Defensive MVP award at the Holiday Bowl... started all 13 games at left cornerback and also handled the bulk of the punt return duties... Finished fourth on the team with 83 total tackles…Tied for the league lead with five interceptions...Led the Ducks and ranked second in the league and third in the nation with 26 passes defended.
* 2007: All-Pac 10 Conference honorable mention... Started all 13 games at left cornerback ... Led the league and ranked ninth in the nation with seven INTs...Led the Pac-10 with 22 pass deflections, tied for the second-best season total in school history.
* 2006: Freshman All-American second-team pick by The Sporting News... All-Pac 10 Conference honorable mention…named the league's co-Freshman Player of the Year…started the last 11 games at left cornerback... Recipient of the Lou Casanova Award, given to the team's top newcomer...Deflected 12 passes and ranked third in the conference with five interceptions.
* 2005: Redshirted as a freshman.

PERSONAL:

Political Science major... Son of Marilyn and Gill Byrd, Sr... Father was a 1983 first-round draft pick out of San Jose State and a two-time Pro Bowl selection while playing cornerback for the San Diego Chargers (1983-1992)…Gill Sr. went on to join the coaching ranks, serving as the secondary coach for the St. Louis Rams (2003-05) before joining the Chicago Bears staff as a defensive quality control coach in 2006... Jairus' older brother, Gill, Jr. was a defensive back at New Mexico State (2004-06)... Born Jairus Keelon Byrd in San Diego, California.

COMMUNITY:

In 2009, Jairus participated in the Toyota Rookie Club appearing at numerous community events throughout Western New York and Southern Ontario. The Toyota Rookie Club helps the franchises newest players become more involved in the Western New York community. Each month, Jairus and all first year players did one community appearance as a group. The Toyota Rookie Club events included a visit to Dave & Buster’s to play video games and host a pizza party with pediatric cancer patients hosted by Brian Moorman’s PUNT Foundation, a visit to the Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute Panthers in Toronto, Ontario to discuss the importance of sport and activity with the student-athletes and to present the football team with $3,000 in new equipment for the school’s football program, and a trip to the Northwest Buffalo Community Center in November 2009 where the Rookie Club Members served Thanksgiving Dinner to approximately 300 children and families. In addition to serving food, the players introduced themselves to the community members during a brief ceremony, sat and ate with them, and signed autographs.

The final Rookie Club appearance of 2009 took place at the Annual Bills Holiday Party. The Rookie Club and Bills veterans hosted nearly 100 children from a number of different local community organizations. The Annual Holiday Party gives children from the organizations an opportunity to celebrate the holidays with the Bills players, Jills cheerleaders, Billy Buffalo, and Santa Claus. The children received a holiday dinner, pictures and autographs and gifts from a wish list that they had previously submitted.

In April of 2010, Jairus also hosted the Call to Courage Breakfast. Jairus presented the Call to Courage Award for an outstanding high school football player. In addition to being involved with the community of Buffalo, Jairus went to Toronto to participate in the 2010 Conn Symthe Dinner where he sat at the head table signing autographs and posing for pictures in support of the kids that were honored at the dinner. This dinner is meant to raise money and awareness for youth and young adults in Ontario with physical disabilities.

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