Junior Seau life and biography

Tiaina Baul Seau Jr., better known as Junior Seau, is an American football linebacker for the New England Patriots of the NFL.

Junior Seau was signed by the New England Patriots as a free agent on Friday, December 5, 2008 ... Originally selected by the San Diego Chargers in the first round (fifth overall) of the 1990 NFL Draft ... Traded to the Miami Dolphins on April 16, 2003 in exchange for a fifth-round selection in the 2004 NFL Draft ... Placed on injured reserve with a pectoral injury (11/03/04) ... Placed on injured reserve with an Achilles injury (11/24/05) ... Signed as a free agent with New England on August 18, 2006 ... Placed on injured reserve with an arm injury (11/27/06).

Career highlights:

* Seau was voted to 12 consecutive Pro Bowls (following each season from 1991-2002). His streak of 12 straight Pro Bowl seasons is tied for the third longest such streak since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger.
* Seau has been a first-team All-Pro pick by the Associated Press six times during his career (1992- 94, 1996, 1998, 2000), and was a second-team selection on two occasions (1995, 1999).
* Seau's 241 career games played rank as the third highest total by a linebacker in NFL history, trailing only Clay Matthews (278) and Bill Romanowski (243).
* Seau was named to the 1990s All-Decade Team by the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
* Seau has averaged 100 tackles a season and nearly seven tackles a game over his 17- year career.
* Seau has recorded 10 or more tackles in a game 63 times.
* Seau has led team in tackles in 92 of his 241 career regular season games.
* Seau led the Chargers in tackles in eight of his 13 seasons in San Diego.
* Seau is tied for first on San Diego's all-time list for games played with 200.
* With the Dolphins, Seau was voted by his teammates as the winner of the club's Leadership Award in 2003 and 2004.
* Seau was named the NFL Alumni Association's Linebacker of the Year in 2000.
* Seau was selected the Chargers' Most Valuable Player for five straight seasons (1997-01), while he shared the award with Leslie O'Neal in 1993.
* Seau was the Chargers' Defensive Player of the Year twice (1998-99).
* Seau was voted by his teammates as the Chargers' Most Inspirational Player in 1997.
* Seau has been a first-team All-Pro selection by College & Pro Football Newsweekly twice (1992, 1994) and a second- team pick three times (1993, 1995, 1999).
* Seau has been a first-team All-Pro pick by Pro Football Weekly on four occasions (1992, 1994-95, 1998).
* Seau has been a first-team All-Pro choice by the Pro Football Writers of America four times (1992-95).
* Seau was a first-team All-Pro selection by USA Today in 1996.
* Seau registered 47 sacks during his tenure with San Diego, third on the Chargers' all-time list.
* For his philanthropic efforts, Seau was named the NFL Man of the Year in 1994.
* Seau was selected by San Diego with the fifth overall pick of the 1990 NFL Draft. Of the 27 first-round draft choices that year, he is the only one currently active in the NFL.

2009 Season:
Played in seven contests after signing as a free agent on Oct. 14 ... Saw his first action of the season in the Patriots' 59-0 shutout victory over the Tennessee Titans (10/18).

Tennessee (10/18): Returned to NFL action, playing in reserve at inside linebacker as the Patriots tied the largest margin of victory by any team since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger in a 59-0 shutout over the Titans ... Registered his 18th career fumble recovery, pouncing on an Ahmard Hall fumble forced by Brandon McGowan in the fourth quarter ... Stuffed Javon Ringer for no gain on a fourth-quarter rush. at Tampa Bay (10/25): Played in reserve at inside linebacker in the Patriots' 35-7 win over the Buccaneers at Wembley Stadium ... Tallied two tackles. Miami (11/8): Suited up but did not play. at Indianapolis (11/15): Suited up but did not play. N.Y. Jets (11/22): Suited up but did not play. at New Orleans (11/30): Inactive. at Miami (12/6): Returned to action, playing in a reserve role at inside linebacker ... Tallied two solo tackles. Carolina (12/13): Played in reserve at inside linebacker in the Patriots' 20-10 win over the Panthers ... Teamed with Ty Warren to drop DeAngelo Williams for a 2-yard loss on a first-quarter carry ... Made four tackles. at Buffalo (12/20): Played in reserve at inside linebacker in the Patriots' 17-10 win over the Bills ... Teamed with Mike Wright to stack up Marshawn Lynch for a 3-yard loss in the second quarter ... Made three tackles. Jacksonville (12/27): Played in reserve at inside linebacker as the Patriots clinched the AFC East title with a 35-7 victory over the Jaguars ... Made one solo tackle along with one quarterback hit. at Houston (1/3): Played in reserve at inside linebacker, making two solo tackles at the Texans.

2009 Postseason :
Baltimore (1/10): Played in reserve at inside linebacker versus the Ravens ... Tallied six tackles ... Sniffed out a screen pass to Le'Ron McClain and dropped him in the backfield for a 4-yard loss in the second quarter.

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