Lito Sheppard life and biography

Lito Sheppard is an American professional football cornerback for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL).

• Joined Vikings the day before the 2010 NFL Draft as a free agent.
• Played under Vikings coaches Brad Childress and Leslie Frazier during his tenure with the Philadelphia Eagles.
• Has returned 3 career INTs for TDs, including an NFL-record 2 INT returns of 100+ yards, both against the Dallas Cowboys.
• Played in Super Bowl XXXIX with Philadelphia and named to Pro Bowl in 2004 and 2005.

OFF THE FIELD

Majored in sociology...Married to Nicole, has daughters Reighan and Mya and sons, Terrell and Boston...Avid car collector, lists his ‘73 Caprice as his favorite...Works with disadvantaged and at-risk kids through his Good Sheppard Foundation...Has the name of his slain cousin, Terrell, tattooed on his chest and named his son after his close friend he considered a brother...Influenced heavily as a child by his grandfather, Lovell Sheppard...Cousin of Florida and NFL WR Jabar Gaffney.

HONORS
Tabbed as 1st-Team Associated Press All-Pro in 2004...Named to Pro Bowl following 2004 and 2006 seasons...NFC Defensive Player of the Month in October 2004...Earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week vs. Dallas (11/4/07), vs. Dallas (10/8/06), vs. Carolina (10/17/04).

PRO

Seasoned veteran has most the 2nd-most career INTs among any active Vikings with 19...Holds NFL record with 2 INT returns of 100+ yards, a 102-yarder for a TD off Drew Bledsoe vs. Dallas (10/8/06) and a 101-yarder for a TD off Vinny Testaverde at Dallas (11/15/04)...Has 3 career INT-return TDs...Has been named to a pair of Pro Bowls, going to the all-star game following the 2004 and 2005 seasons...Started in Super Bowl XXXIX for Philadelphia...Ranked 2nd in NFL with 157 INT return yards in 2006, trailing only Champ Bailey’s 162...Ranked 3rd in the NFL with career-best 172 INT return yards in 2004...Started 6 of the 12 playoff games he has been in...Played in 2008 NFC Championship game for Philadelphia and 2009 AFC Championship Game for NY Jets...Selected with the #26 overall pick by Philadelphia in 2002.

2009
Started 9 of his 11 games during the regular season and 2 of 3 in the playoffs in his lone season with the Jets...Helped team advance to AFC Championship game against Indianapolis...Grabbed an INT and ranked 4th on team with 9 passes defensed...Acquired by NYJets in trade with Philadelphia on 2/28/09.

2008
Played in all 16 games in the regular season and all 3 playoff contests, starting 3 games in the regular season...Helped Eagles advance to NFC Championship game at Arizona...Helped preserve win vs. Atlanta (10/26) when he intercepted Rookie of the Year Matt Ryan in the end zone.

2007
Started all 11 games he played in...Grabbed an INT off Tony Romo at Dallas (12/16) that set up an Eagles TD in the 10-6 win...Earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors for his game at Dallas...Had both INTs during the season off Romo.

2006
Earned 2nd trip to the Pro Bowl...Had career-best 6 INTs during the season and ranked 2nd in the NFL with 157 INT return yards, trailing only Champ Bailey’s 162...Started all 13 games he played in during the regular season and 1 playoff contest...Had longest INT return of his career and longest in the NFL in 2006 with 102-yard TD return vs. Dallas (10/8), scoring with :16 remaining in the game to give Philadelphia a 38-24 win...Earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors for game vs. Dallas when he had a pair of INTs off Drew Bledsoe...Preserved an Eagles win vs. Carolina (12/4) when he picked off Jake Delhomme in the end zone with seconds remaining to seal a 27-24 win.

2005
Had promising season cut short by injury after 10 games when he led the team with 3 INTs...Posted 1st career game with a sack and INT vs. San Francisco (9/18)...Forced a fumble on WR Keyshawn Johnson at Dallas (10/9) that was recovered by fellow DB Sheldon Brown and returned 80 yards for a TD...Had season-long 33-yard INT return of a Drew Brees pass vs. San Diego (10/23).

2004
Earned 1st career Pro Bowl honors and tabbed as a 1st-Team All-Pro by Associated Press and Pro Football Weekly...Started all 15 games he played during the regular season and all 3 playoff games, culminating in starting Super Bowl XXXIX against New England...Led team with 5 INTs and posted career-best 172 INT return yards and had career-best 2 INT return TDs...Named NFC Defensive Player of the Month for October...Garnered 1st career NFC Defensive Player of the Week when he had 2 INTs off Jake Delhomme vs. Carolina (10/17), including his 1st career TD on a 64-yard INT return... Returned 2nd TD of the season at Dallas (11/15) with a 101-yard return TD.

2003
Started 9 games and played in all 16 during the regular season and played in both post-season games...Had 1st career INT and returned it 34 yards at Atlanta (11/2) off Kurt Kittner...Posted a forced fumble vs. New Orleans (11/23).

2002
Played in 12 games during rookie campaign during regular season but was inactive for playoff game...Notched career-best 13 special teams tackles...Selected #26 overall in the NFL Draft.

COLLEGE
Twice earned All-America honors during his 3 seasons at Florida...Was only the 4th UF sophomore to be named All-America in 2000...Declared for NFL draft after his junior season...Returned a pair of kickoff returns for TDs...Started 22 games for the Gators.

Standout DB at Jacksonville’s Raines High...USA Today and Parade All-America...Named nation’s top DB by Parade...Earned Class 4A All-State as a junior and senior...Notched 18 picks in final 2 seasons...Competed in track and field.

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