Michael Peterson life and biography

Mike Peterson is an American professional football linebacker for the Atlanta Falcons of NFL. He has played eleven seasons in the National Football League .

TRANSACTIONS
Originally selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the second round (36th overall) of the 1999 NFL Draft. Signed by Jacksonville as an unrestricted free agent on March 13, 2003. Signed by Atlanta as a free agent on March 10, 2008.

CAREER
In 151 career games (143 starts), Peterson has totaled 1,505 tackles (890 solo), 20.5 sacks, 16 interceptions, 45 passes defensed, eight forced fumbles and seven fumbles recoveries. Scored his only NFL touchdown on a 26-yard interception return against the Baltimore Ravens in 2005. Collected 837 tackles in his Jaguars career, which ranks second in team history behind safety Donovin Darius (858). Has tallied double-digit tackles in 80 career games and 15-plus tackles in 24 games.

2009 (FALCONS)
In his first season with the Falcons, started all 16 games at linebacker and ranked second on the team with 140 tackles. Also contributed with one sack, one interception, two forced fumbles and five passes defensed. In his first career game as an Atlanta Falcon, collared 11 tackles, one interception and one forced fumble against Miami (9/13). Posted 11 tackles, one pass defensed and one forced fumble against Carolina (9/20). Tallied 13 tackles against Chicago (10/18), including two tackles for loss, one pass defensed and his first sack as a Falcon (three yards). Registered a season-high 15 tackles and one pass defensed at the New York Jets (12/20).

2008 (JAGUARS)
Started 15 games and led the Jaguars with 139 tackles, which marked his eighth season with 100-plus stops. Led the defense with nine tackles at Tennessee (9/7) and became the third player in franchise history to surpass 700 career tackles with the Jaguars. Led the team in tackles with 15 vs. Buffalo (9/14) Started at middle linebacker and posted a career-high with 16 tackles (12 solo) and one pass defensed against Cleveland (10/26). Surpassed 1,300 career tackles. Recorded 10 tackles and his lone sack of the season in his 125th career start at Cincinnati (11/2). Saw action at weakside linebacker at Houston (12/1) and notched six tackles while becoming only the second player in team history to have at least 800 career tackles. Started at middle linebacker and led the team with 15 stops (11 solo) at Baltimore (12/28).

2007 (JAGUARS)
Finished third on the team with 116 tackles (71 solo) along with two sacks, one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in 10 games. Was inactive for the final six games of the season and Jacksonville's playoff contest after undergoing surgery fro a broken right hand suffered against San Diego on November 18. Led the team with a season-high 16 tackles and one forced fumble in the season opener against Tennessee (9/9). Set a career-high and led the team with 12 tackles against Atlanta (9/16) becoming the third player in team history to surpass 600 career tackles. Recorded a team-high 15 tackles and registered his first interception and fumble recovery of the season at Tennessee (11/11). All surpassed 100 tackles for the seventh time in nine NFL seasons.

2006 (JAGUARS)
Started five games and posted 47 tackles (27 solo) before suffering a torn left pectoral muscle on October 8 against the New York Jets. Was placed on injured reserve on October 11. Led the team with 11 tackles (seven solo) and one interception in a season-opening victory against Dallas (9/10). Followed with a team-high 11 tackles in his 50th consecutive start with Jacksonville vs. Pittsburgh (9/18). Finished with 11 tackles (seven solo) at Washington (10/1).

2005 (JAGUARS)
Started all 16 games for the fourth consecutive season and produced career-best numbers with 190 tackles, six sacks and three interceptions. His tackle total that season ranked second among AFC linebackers and fourth among NFL linebackers.' Led the team in tackles in 13 games, including double-digit tackles in 12 games. Named to USA Today's All-Joe Team. Posted one of his top career games with 16 tackles (11 solo) and one interception at Indianapolis (9/18). Intercepted his second pass of the season while contributing with 10 tackles at Pittsburgh (10/16). Collected 14 tackles along with one sack and one forced fumble vs. Houston (11/6). Intercepted Ravens quarterback Kyle Boller and returned it 26 yards for his first career touchdown against Baltimore (11/13). Posted a sack for the third consecutive game and was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance. Surpassed 1,000 career tackles in his 100th game with eight stops at Arizona (11/27). Made a team-high 18 tackles along with one sack at Cleveland (12/4) Collected a season-high 19 tackles, the sixth-most in a game in team history vs. Indianapolis (12/11). In an AFC Wild Card Playoff meeting at New England (1/7/06) tied for the team-lead with 10 tackles and added a sack of Patriots quarterback Tom Brady while forcing a fumble.

2004 (JAGUARS)
Started all 16 games for the Jaguars at middle linebacker and led the team with 178 tackles (102 solo) and five sacks. Totaled 10 or more tackles in a game on 10 occassions. In the season opener at Buffalo (9/12), recorded 15 tackles. Totaled 14 tackles and one sack at Tennessee (9/26). Received the defensive game ball with 15 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble and one pass defensed vs. Kansas City (10/17). Broke the Jaguars record for the most consecutive games leading the team in tackles (nine) with 12 while contributing with one sack vs. Detroit (11/14). Had a season-high of 18 tackles along with one sack against Houston (12/26).

2003 (JAGUARS)
Started all 16 games at middle linebacker for Jacksonville after signing as an unrestricted free agent from Indianapolis. Led the team with 167 tackles (87 solo) and three interceptions. Tallied back-to-back interception games at the New York Jets (11/23) and Tampa Bay (11/30). Finished with a team-high 18 tackles and one sack, his first as a Jaguar, at New England (12/14).

2002 (COLTS)
Started all 16 games at outside linebacker in his final season with the Colts and finished with a team-leading 173 tackles (99 solo), three interceptions and seven passes defensed. Led the team in tackles in nine games and had at least 10 tackles in nine games. Finished first on the team in tackles vs. Baltimore (10/13) with 10 while intercepting his fifth career pass. Grabbed his third interception of the season and returned it 53 yards to set up a touchdown at Denver (11/24). Also led the team with 10 stops. Registered a season-high 18 tackles at Tennessee (12/8).

2001 (COLTS)
Started the first eight games of the season before suffering a knee injury in the eighth game. Finished fifth on the team in tackles with 85 (51 solo) while adding 1.5 sacks, one fumble recovery, two interceptions, four passes defensed and four quarterback pressures. Had three games with 10 or more tackles and led the team in stops in four games. Notched a team-high 16 tackles and a half-sack vs. Buffalo (9/23). Totaled a team-high 12 tackles and one interception at Kansas City (10/25). Finished with nine tackles, one sack, two passes defensed and one fumble recovery at Buffalo (11/4).

2000 (COLTS)
Started all 16 games at right linebacker and contributed with a then-career-high 160 tackles (95 solo), two interceptions, three passes defensed and three special teams tackles. Intercepted his first career pass on Monday Night Football against Jacksonville (9/25) while adding six tackles. Posted a season-high 16 tackles at Buffalo (10/1). Recorded his fourth-consecutive double-digit tackle game with 15 stops at the New York Jets (12/3). In an AFC Wild Card contest at Miami (12/30), contributed with 14 tackles and two passes defensed.

1999 (COLTS)
Named to the Pro Football Writers of America, Pro Football Weekly, Football News and Football Digest All-Rookie team. Played in all 16 games (starting in 13) and ranked second on the team with 110 tackles (68 solo) while adding three sacks, one pass defensed, one fumble recovery and 15 special teams stops. Made 11 tackles in his first career NFL start vs. Miami (10/10). Tallied his first career sack while contributing with seven tackles vs. Cincinnati (10/24). Finished with a season-high 14 tackles against Kansas City (11/7) Logged a team-high 10 tackles and one sack vs. the New York Jets (11/28). Posted 10 tackles, his first fumble recovery and one pass defensed at Miami (12/5).

COLLEGE
Started 24 of 42 games while helping Florida to four consecutive bowl games over his collegiate career. Finished his Gators career with 249 tackles (141 solo), three forced fumbles, 13 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks. Named to the Associated Press All-SEC first-team as a senior.

PERSONAL
Attended Santa Fe High School (Florida) and was named to the Blue Chip Illustrated All-Southeast regional team as a defensive back on two occasions. Brother, Adrian, competed as a running back at Georgia Southern where he received the Walter Payton Award in 1999. Married to his wife, Chantal, and has one son, Mike Jr. Born Porter Michael Peterson on June 17, 1976 .

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