Jonathan Vilma life and biography

Jonathan Polynice Vilma 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.

CAREER TRANSACTIONS

Re-signed by Saints to a five-year contract (UFA), 3/3/09; Acquired by Saints from New York Jets for a fourth-round selection in the 2008 NFL Draft (teams also exchanged conditional 2009 draft choices), 2/29/08; Placed on Injured Reserve, 10/27/07; Selected in first round by the Jets (12th overall) in 2004 NFL Draft.

HONORS – 2009: Pro Bowl. 2008: Ed Block Courage Award (vote by teammates); 2005: Pro Bowl; 2004: Associated Press NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year; Football Digest Defensive Rookie of the Year; Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie Team; AFC Defensive Rookie of the Month (November).

2009 - Started 15 games before being rested in the season finale and notched 130 tackles (102 solo) for the fifth 100-tackle season in his six-year career, also matching career-highs with two sacks, three interceptions and eight pass defenses in earning the second Pro Bowl selection of his career and first as a Saint. Selected by his teammates as one of three season-long captains. vs. Detroit (9/13): Started at MLB and made four tackles, including a seven yard sack of QB Matthew Stafford and added a pass defense. at Philadelphia (9/20): Made eight tackles (six solo) from his starting MLB position with a pass defense. at Buffalo (9/27): Started at MLB and recorded five tackles (three solo). vs. NY Jets (10/4): Recorded eight tackles (three solo) from his starting middle linebacker spot. vs. NY Giants (10/18): Started at MLB and made three solo tackles. at Miami (10/25): Led the team with 11 solo tackles from his starting MLB spot, including three behind the line of scrimmage. vs. Atlanta (11/2): Made nine tackles (seven solo) from his starting middle linebacker position and recorded two pass defenses, including a pass he deflected that was intercepted near the goal line by CB Tracy Porter that led to a New Orleans touchdown. vs. Carolina (11/8): Posted a season-best 12 tackles (10 solo) with two of them coming behind the line of scrimmage from his starting MLB spot. at St. Louis (11/15): Started at MLB and tied for the team-lead with 12 tackles (11 solo). at Tampa Bay (11/22): Made six solo tackles from his starting middle linebacker position with a pass defense along with his first interception of the season, picking off a QB Josh Freeman pass to help set up a Saints touchdown. vs. New England (11/30): Was one of the two linebackers that started in the team’s dime defense and posted a team-best 10 tackles (eight solo) in the victory. at Washington (12/6): Made nine tackles (six solo) from his starting MLB position and intercepted a QB Jason Campbell pass near the end of regulation to help send the game to overtime. at Atlanta (12/13): Led the team with eight tackles (seven solo) from his starting middle linebacker spot, making two big plays in the fourth quarter with an interception of QB Chris Redman and tackled RB Jason Snelling short of the first down marker on a critical fourth-and-two reception, the final offensive play of the day for the Falcons. vs. Dallas (12/19): Started at MLB and posted a season-high 15 tackles (11 solo) with a four-yard sack of QB Tony Romo and added a pass defense. vs. Tampa Bay (12/27): Notched 10 tackles (seven solo) from his starting MLB spot. at Carolina (1/3): Dressed but did not play as the team rested players heading into the postseason. vs. Arizona (1/16 – Divisional Playoff): Started at middle linebacker and made one solo tackle. vs. Minnesota (1/24 – NFC Championship Game): Made a huge impact from his starting MLB position, recording five solo tackles and a pass defense, intercepting a QB Brett Favre pass, forcing a fumble by RB Adrian Peterson and later recovering another fumble by WR Bernard Berrian deep in New Orleans territory that had been forced by CB Tracy Porter. vs. Indianapolis (2/7 – Super Bowl XLIV): Recorded eight tackles (seven solo) from his starting MLB spot, including one behind the line of scrimmage and added a pass defense in the victory...

2008 – Led or shared the team lead in tackles in 10 contests, and recorded double-digit tackle totals in eight games…With 151 stops (100 solo), had the most tackles for a Saints defender since LB Winfred Tubbs had 160 in 1997…Set a career-high with two fumble recoveries, and added three forced fumbles, an interception, a sack and deflected a career-best eight passes…In Saints debut, had a team-high 12 tackles vs. Tampa Bay, Sept. 7…Posted a season-high 17 tackles (12 solo) at Washington, Sept. 14, and two pass defenses, playing every defensive snap…Set up the Saints’ first TD with a recovered fumble and notched eight stops vs. San Francisco, Sept. 28…In Weeks 5-7, would post 32 tackles and deflect a pair of passes…Oct. 26 vs. San Diego had 10 tackles (eight solo) and an interception with an eight-yard return. Interception of QB Phillip Rivers at the New Orleans 10 ended a Chargers’ scoring opportunity…Had a dominating performance at Tampa Bay, Nov. 30, with seven stops (six solo), a sack, a tipped pass, a sack, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery…Recovered a fumble and added nine tackles at Chicago, Dec. 11…Closed season with 13 stops (10 solo) vs. Carolina, Dec. 28.

2007 – Selected as a defensive captain by Jets teammates, he started seven games and made 39 tackles along with an interception and two pass defenses before suffering a knee injury that landed him on injured reserve…Led the team with nine tackles at Buffalo, Sept. 30…Picked off an Eli Manning pass the next week at New York Giants, Oct. 7…Notched four solo tackles and a pair of pass defenses Oct. 14 vs. Philadelphia…Placed on injured reserve with a knee injury, Oct. 27.

2006 – Started all 16 games at inside linebacker, recording 116 tackles, an interception and four pass defenses…Led the team in tackles with 12 in win at Tennessee, Sept. 10…Put up 10 tackles and returned a recovered fumble 12 yards Sept. 24 at Buffalo…Led the team with 11 tackles and notched two pass defenses and an interception in win vs. Detroit, Oct. 22…Forced a fumble and added nine tackles at Miami on Christmas night.

2005 – Earned team Most Valuable Player honors and a Pro Bowl berth as he led the NFL with 187 tackles (143 solo), intercepted a pass, forced four fumbles, recovered a fumble and had four pass defenses…In the Oct. 9 win vs. Tampa Bay, he led the team with 14 tackles (11 solo) and a forced fumble…Made nine stops (seven solo) and notched a pass defense and his first INT of the season at Atlanta, Oct. 24…Registered a career-high 18 tackles (14 solo), along with two pass defenses and a forced fumble Nov. 20 at Denver…Notched a team-best 14 tackles, including one for a loss and forced a fumble at New England, Dec. 4…His 17 tackles led the team for the fourth consecutive week vs. Patriots, Dec. 26.

2004 – Named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year as he notched 118 tackles, two sacks, three interceptions, four pass defenses, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery…Made first career start at Miami Oct. 3, tying for the team-high with seven tackles…Recorded his first career interception against San Francisco, Oct. 17, when he picked off a Tim Rattay pass with 1:44 left to play to seal the victory…Recorded seven tackles, two pass defenses and returned an interception 38 yards for a touchdown in regular-season finale at St. Louis…Started his first postseason game and led the team with 12 tackles and a sack in Wild Card victory at San Diego…Notched a postseason team-high 17 tackles in the Divisional Playoff loss at Pittsburgh.

COLLEGE

Played in 47 games for the Hurricanes, starting 37, and recorded 371 tackles (234 solo), three sacks, seven fumble recoveries, four forced fumbles and an interception…Three-time Academic All-Big East Conference and two-time Butkus Award nominee (semi-finalist in 2002 and finalist in 2003)…Selected first-team All-America by the American Football Coaches Association and Walter Camp, added second-team honors from the Associated Press. Also added first-team All-Big East Conference and Academic All-Big East honors as a senior… Unanimous All-Big East Conference and Academic All-Big East first-team choice and a semi finalist for the Butkus Award as a junior…Selected the University of Miami’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year for the 2002-03 academic year..All-Big East Conference and Academic All-Big East first-team choice as a sophomore.

PERSONAL

Three-year letter-winner and two-year captain at Coral Gables (Fla.) HS, where he notched 138 tackles and 11 sacks as a senior, and was a Miami Herald Class 5A-6A All-Dade first-team selection…Majored in Finance at Miami…Was honored as a Hometown Hero and 2006 National United Way spokesman for the NFL’s Lend a Hand campaign at the United Way Gridiron Gala in 2007…Hosts a financial conference for NFL players called “Jonathan Vilma’s Financial 51” to help players manage their money…Named a Board Member of the National Football Foundation's “Play It Smart” program, an educational program designed to use football as a vehicle to foster the academic, personal and career development of at-risk student athletes…Has given talks to numerous schools about success on the field and in the classroom, and the importance of a healthy lifestyle…Represented the Miami-Dade County Community Foundation and Jonathan Vilma Charitable Fund on an episode of Wheel of Fortune, which aired on Sept. 6, 2006.

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