Ryan Pickett life and biography

Ryan Pickett is a National Football League defensive tackle/nose tackle for the Green Bay Packers of the NFL.

• Key component of Packers’ No. 1-ranked rushing defense in 2009 (franchise-record 83.3 yards allowed per game), the first time in team history that Green Bay led the league in that category.
• Has played in 134 of a possible 144 regular-season games during his nine-year career, missing just five contests due to injury.
• On Monday Night Football in Denver in 2007, his heads-up tackle of QB Jay Cutler on a draw play at the 4-yard line in the final seconds of the fourth quarter forced the Broncos to kick a game-tying FG. One snap into overtime, Brett Favre hit Greg Jennings for an 82-yard TD for the Green Bay win.
• A first-round draft choice (29th overall) in 2001 who turned pro after his junior year at Ohio State, and became a starter in his second season in St. Louis.
• Came to Green Bay off a career year in 2005, when he led all NFL defensive linemen with 115 tackles, 10 more than former Packers’ linemate and runner-up Aaron Kampman.
• An All-American at Zephyrhills (Fla.) High School who did not stay close to home like older brother Booker, who played at Miami (Fla.).

PRO CAREER:
Begins his 10th NFL season and fifth in Green Bay as a primary run-stuffer and unsung leader on the defensive line... Made the transition to the nose tackle position in the defense’s new 3-4 scheme in 2009, continuing his role as a quiet, reliable anchor on the defensive interior... Was a key part of the Packers’ No. 1-ranked rushing defense in ’09 (team-record 83.3 yards allowed per game), the first time in franchise annals that Green Bay led the league in run defense... Part of a defense that held opponents to under 90 net rushing yards a league-high 12 times on the season, also a franchise record... Was designated as the team’s franchise player on Feb. 24, but agreed to a long-term extension with the Packers on March 12... Though many of his contributions don’t always show up on the stat sheet, does have 283 tackles (146 solo) in 59 regular-season games in Green Bay over four seasons, posting five or more tackles 31 times (33 including playoffs)... Now has 691 tackles (316 solo) with 8½ sacks and 30 passes defensed for his career... Battled through hamstring and tricep injuries to start every game in ’08 and has played in 134 of a possible 144 regular-season games during his career... Has missed only five contests due to injury... Prior to Week 16 of 2007, had not missed a game since midway through his rookie season, and had not missed a start since Week 4 of 2003... Took over Grady Jackson’s old starting job after signing as an unrestricted free agent on March 17, 2006, coming over from St. Louis, where he spent his first five seasons and was a first-round draft choice (29th overall) in 2001, turning pro after his junior year at Ohio State... Came to Green Bay off his best NFL season statistically in 2005 in which he led all of the league’s defensive linemen with 115 tackles, 10 more than runner-up Aaron Kampman... Having appeared in three playoff games with Green Bay, has the experience of playing in nine postseason contests, including Super Bowl XXXVI while a rookie with St. Louis.

2009 : Played in 13 games with nine starts at NT; only non-starts came when team opened up in nickel... Also played in team’s playoff contest... Part of top-ranked rushing defense in the NFL (a franchise-best 83.3 yards per game), the first time in franchise history that the team was No. 1 against the run... Posted 47 tackles (25 solo) and a pass defensed... Inactive for three games late in the season due to a hamstring injury... At St. Louis (Sept. 27): Led line with six tackles (two solo), including a stop of RB Steven Jackson for a 2-yard loss on first-quarter run... At Minnesota (Oct. 5): Didn’t start as team opened in nickel, but led the defensive line with season-high seven tackles (six solo). Helped limit Pro Bowl RB Adrian Peterson to just 55 yards on 25 carries (2.2 avg.)... Vs. Minnesota (Nov. 1): Led the line with seven tackles (five solo) to match his career high. Along with LB A.J. Hawk, stopped Peterson for a 1-yard loss on 4th-and-1 from Green Bay’s 7 midway through the second quarter... Vs. Baltimore (Dec. 7): Posted four tackles (two solo) and a QB hit, but sustained a hamstring injury with under nine minutes remaining in the game and did not return. Injury would go on to sideline him for three of final four regular-season games... At Arizona (NFC Wild Card, Jan. 10): Didn’t start as team opened in nickel, but registered two tackles (one solo).

2008: Started all 16 games for the fourth time in the last five seasons, opening up every game at LDT... Was third on the defensive line with 81 tackles (38 solo), the sixth time in his career he posted 80-plus stops...Tied for lead on the line with five passes defensed...Posted 1½ sacks, his most in a single season as a Packer... Vs. Minnesota (Sept. 8): Returned to starting lineup after missing entire preseason with hamstring injury suffered just prior to the start of training camp...Vs. Atlanta (Oct. 5): Led defensive line with seven tackles, including a stop of RB Michael Turner for a 3-yard loss in the first quarter... At Seattle (Oct. 12): Registered three tackles, but left game midway through third quarter with tricep injury and did not return... Vs. Indianapolis (Oct. 19): Started after being limited all week in practice with tricep injury, which required a harness for protection during game. Registered three tackles and batted down a Peyton Manning pass on third down in the second quarter to force a Colts punt... At Tennessee (Nov. 2): Finished second on the defensive line with seven tackles, registered his first sack of the season when he brought down QB Kerry Collins for a 4-yard loss early in the third quarter, and batted down a Collins pass intended for TE Bo Scaife in overtime...Vs. Houston (Dec. 7): Tied for lead on defensive line with season-high nine tackles... At Chicago (Dec. 22): Shared a sack of QB Kyle Orton in the third quarter with DE Michael Montgomery for a 4-yard loss on a third down. Tied for lead on defensive line with seven tackles.

2007: Started 14 games, plus both playoff contests, recording 63 tackles (38 solo), with one sack and one pass defensed... Inactive for final two regular-season games with a groin injury, snapping a string of 74 consecutive starts (77 including playoffs) dating back to early 2003 and 101 straight games played (107 including playoffs) dating back to midway through his rookie season... Didn’t even miss the preseason opener, having arrived in Pittsburgh (Aug. 11) the morning of the game following the birth of his son, Ryan Jr. ... At Minnesota (Sept. 30): Made his first sack of the season and first as a Packer, felling QB Kelly Holcomb for a 6-yard loss in fourth quarter; made a season-high seven total tackles (six solo)... At Denver (Oct. 29): With time running out, stopped Jay Cutler for no gain at the Green Bay 4-yard line on a QB draw. Denver was forced to kick a FG that tied the score 13-13 and led to an OT period; QB Brett Favre connected with WR Greg Jennings on the first play for an 82-yard score and the victory... At St. Louis (Dec. 16): Made six tackles but missed a good part of the second half after suffering a groin injury and then missed the next two games... Vs. Seattle (NFC Divisional, Jan. 12): Returned to starting lineup for postseason and made six tackles, including stop of RB Shaun Alexander for a 1-yard loss in third quarter.

2006: An unrestricted free agent signed from St. Louis, started all 16 games in his first year with the Packers and was often called by coaches the most consistent defensive lineman... Collected 92 tackles (45 solo), one fumble recovery and a career-best seven passes defensed... Was held to fewer than five tackles just four times all season and had six-or-more on eight occasions... At Philadelphia (Oct. 2): Played in spite of an ankle injury suffered the week prior at Detroit... At Seattle (Nov. 27): Tied a regular-season career high with 12 tackles, including three for loss. Also helped to end the Seahawks’ first possession by tipping a pass that was intercepted by CB Charles Woodson, setting up a Packers TD... Vs. N.Y. Jets (Dec. 3): Combined with LB Nick Barnett to stop RB Cedric Houston for minus-1 yard; on the next play, nearly intercepted a pass, his sixth pass breakup of the year... At Chicago (Dec. 31): Recovered a QB Rex Grossman fumble, his first career fumble recovery.

2005: Assembled the finest season statistically in his NFL career in his final year in St. Louis... Started all 16 games for a second straight season and posted a career-high 115 tackles (61 solo), which led all NFL defensive linemen... Also tied his career high with two sacks... At Arizona (Sept. 18): Joined with DE Leonard Little to share a fourth-quarter sack of Kurt Warner... Vs. New Orleans (Oct. 23): Led team in tackles with 11... Vs. Jacksonville (Oct. 30): Led team in tackles for second straight week with nine and shared a sack of QB Byron Leftwich with LB Chris Claiborne... At Houston (Nov. 27): Got a sack of his own, dropping QB David Carr on a key third down to force the Texans to settle for a FG in the Rams’ eventual 33-27 win... Vs. Washington (Dec. 4): Tied career high with 12 tackles.

2004: Started all 16 regular-season contests and two playoff games, finishing with 81 tackles (36 solo) and two sacks, and playing his best football late in the year and into the postseason... Led the team in tackles twice and led or tied for tackle lead among defensive linemen on three other occasions, all in final month of regular season and playoffs... At Carolina (Dec. 12): Led team in tackles with 11, one shy of regular-season career high... Vs. N.Y. Jets (Jan. 2): Posted 10 tackles, including a sack of QB Chad Pennington in OT of regular-season finale... At Atlanta (NFC Divisional, Jan. 15): Established postseason-high of 13 tackles, surpassing regular-season best by one.

2003: Started 13 games at NT and finished with 74 tackles (26 solo) and one sack... At Chicago (Nov. 16): Recorded a season-high 10 tackles... Vs. Carolina (NFC Divisional, Jan. 10): Had seven tackles, the seventh time on the season (six regular season) he posted seven or more.

2002: Started 14 games at LDT and turned in breakout year with 107 stops (59 solo) to lead St. Louis’ defensive line and finish second on the team... His six tackles for loss also were second on the Rams... At Denver (Sept. 8): Made his first career start in the season opener, leading the defensive line with 10 tackles and getting a half-sack of QB Brian Griese... At Washington (Nov. 24): Reached double figures in tackles again with 10... At Philadelphia (Dec. 1): Established regular-season career high with 12 tackles.

2001: Took a reserve role on the defensive line and played special teams... Saw action in 11 regular-season and three postseason contests, making 24 stops (10 solo) with ½ sack... At Atlanta (Dec 2): Tallied five tackles, his rookie high... At Carolina (Dec. 23): Matched rookie best with five stops... Vs. New England (Super Bowl XXXVI, Feb. 3): Posted two assisted tackles in Super Bowl loss to Patriots... 2001 Draft: Selected after his junior season by St. Louis Rams as the third of three first-round selections (29th overall). First Ohio State defensive lineman picked in the first round since Dan Wilkinson was selected first overall by Cincinnati in ’94.

COLLEGE:
A three-year starter at Ohio State (1998-2000), he played both DT positions... Totaled 109 tackles (72 solo), eight sacks and 20 stops for loss in 37 career games... Majored in general studies... Junior season (2000): Played LDT and had 39 tackles (21 solo), three sacks and two forced fumbles... Sophomore season (1999): Started every game at RDT and was named All-Big Ten honorable mention with a career-high 48 tackles (34 solo) and three sacks... Freshman season (1998): Played in every game and started the final nine contests at RDT, with 22 stops (17 solo), two sacks, and five tackles for loss.

PERSONAL:
Born Ryan Lamont Pickett in Zephyrhills, Fla., nicknamed ‘Big Grease’. Married to Jennifer, the couple has three daughters, Esther, 6, Abigail, 5, and Lydia, 2, and a son, Ryan Jr., 3... Older brother, Booker, played football at the University of Miami (Fla.)... High school: A consensus All-America selection and all-state player at Zephyrhills (Fla.) High School, he recorded 119 tackles and seven sacks as a senior... Named one of top 25 players in the nation by the National Recruiting Advisor... Community involvement: With his wife, partnered with Acts 1:8 Ministries to start the Tackle a Tower program in 2008, donating resources with each tackle he records to help build water towers in Ugandan villages and spread word of the gospel to the local people. Thus far the program has helped build more than 50 water towers in Uganda, with a goal of more than 100... Also spoke to a group of military troops in San Diego before their deployment to Afghanistan... Participated in the All-Pro Dad program, sharing pointers with other fathers, and the annual Families of Children with Cancer holiday party, playing games and singing songs with kids... Also served as a celebrity chef for the Big Brothers Big Sisters annual Taste of the Town event the past two years and has participated in dinners to benefit the Donald Driver Foundation...

As Hobbies/interests: Charlie enjoys playing with his kids, reading the Bible, and watching movies.

Read more