Jason Trusnik

{{Short description|American football player (born 1984)}} {{Use American English|date=December 2024}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}} {{Infobox NFL biography | name = Jason Trusnik | image = Jason Trusnik 2014.JPG  | caption = Trusnik with the Miami Dolphins in 2014 | current_team = | number = 57, 96, 93, 59 | position = Linebacker | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1984|6|6|mf=y}} | birth_place = Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 4 | weight_lbs = 241 | high_school = Nordonia (Macedonia, Ohio) | college = Ohio Northern | undraftedyear = 2007 | pastteams = * New York Jets ({{NFL Year|2007}}–{{NFL Year|2009}}) * Cleveland Browns ({{NFL Year|2009}}–{{NFL Year|2010}}) * Miami Dolphins ({{NFL Year|2011}}–{{NFL Year|2014}}) * Carolina Panthers ({{NFL Year|2015}})* * Minnesota Vikings ({{NFL Year|2015}}) * New Orleans Saints ({{NFL Year|2016}}) | status = | highlights = * 2× Division III All-American (2006) * 2× All-OAC (2005, 2006) | statlabel1 = Total tackles | statvalue1 = 232 | statlabel2 = Sacks | statvalue2 = 3.5 | statlabel3 = Forced fumbles | statvalue3 = 2 | statlabel4 = Fumble recoveries | statvalue4 = 4 | statlabel5 = Interceptions | statvalue5 = 1 | pfr = TrusJa99 }} '''Jason Trusnik''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|t|r|ʌ|z|n|ɪ|k}} {{Respell|TRUZZ|nik}}; born June 6, 1984) is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker and special teamer in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Ohio Northern Polar Bears before being signed by the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2007.

==College career== Trusnik played college football at Ohio Northern. He was twice named a Division III All-American and twice named All-Ohio Athletic Conference. Additionally, he played in the Texas vs. The Nation Game for 'The Nation' team and was named a co-captain for Team United States in the Aztec Bowl.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.onusports.com/Football/Releases/jets.html |title=Jason Trusnik signed to 53-man roster with New York Jets in ’07 |access-date=December 3, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071106002021/http://www.onusports.com/Football/Releases/jets.html |archive-date=November 6, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/historical/1226373 |title=Jason Trusnik, Ohio Northern, NFL Draft |work=CBS Sports |access-date=January 15, 2016}}</ref>

==Professional career==

===New York Jets=== [[File:US Navy 070526-N-3235P-044 Navy Fleet Week 2007.jpg|thumb|left|Trusnik signing autographs in 2007 with the Jets.]]

Trusnik was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2007 by the New York Jets. As a rookie, he appeared in six games and recorded six tackles on special teams after spending the first nine weeks on their practice squad. He made his NFL debut in a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on November 18. Trusnik was placed on injured reserve on December 26.

In 2008, Trusnik played in seven games and was inactive for two. He also had spent the first seven games of the season on the Physically Unable to Perform list. Trusnik made five tackles and a fumble recovery on defense as well as 11 tackles on special teams.

In 2009, Trusnik played in the first four games of the season with the Jets. He was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week after his game against Tennessee on September 27, where he had two tackles, a forced fumble, and fumble recovery. Trusnik was then traded to the Cleveland Browns.

===Cleveland Browns=== [[File:Alleman Browns.jpg|thumb|right|Trusnik (left) with the Cleveland Browns in 2009]]

On October 7, 2009, Trusnik was traded to the Cleveland Browns by the New York Jets in exchange for wide receiver Braylon Edwards. <ref>[https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=4538498 Cleveland Browns trade wide receiver Braylon Edwards to New York Jets], ESPN. Published October 7, 2009. Retrieved October 7, 2009.</ref> He played the remainder of the 2009 season with the Browns, where he started 10 games and played in 12. During this time, Trusnik registered 54 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and one pass defensed. His first start of his NFL career came on October 18 in a game at Pittsburgh. Trusnik made a career-high 10 tackles on November 29 in Cincinnati. The Browns finished the season with the best kickoff return average starting position (31.4) in the NFL with Trusnik as a blocker.

In 2010, Trusnik played in all 16 games for the Browns, starting five. He registered 15 tackles, one sack, and one pass defensed. He played mostly on special teams where he had nine tackles.

===Miami Dolphins=== On July 27, 2011, the Miami Dolphins signed Trusnik to a 2-year deal.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dolphins retain Tony McDaniel, add Jason Trusnik|url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/07/27/dolphins-retain-tony-mcdaniel-add-jason-trusnik/|publisher=Pro Football Talk |last=Alper |first=Josh |date=July 27, 2011}}</ref> He was with the Dolphins for four seasons, starting 10 games and playing in 64.

In 2014, Trusnik caught his first career interception from a Tom Brady pass on December 14. He also scored his first touchdown off of a fumble recovery against the Jets on December 28.

===Carolina Panthers=== On March 31, 2015, the Carolina Panthers signed Trusnik to a 1-year deal as an unrestricted free agent.<ref>{{cite web|title=Panthers add linebacker, special teams depth in Jason Trusnik|date=March 31, 2015 |url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/03/31/panthers-add-linebacker-special-teams-depth-in-jason-trusnik/|publisher=ProFootballTalk.com}}</ref> On September 5, 2015, he was released by the Panthers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/09/05/panthers-cut-jordan-todman-jason-trusnik-in-moves-to-53/ |title=Panthers cut Jordan Todman, Jason Trusnik in moves to 53 |last=Gantt |first=Darin |date=September 5, 2015 |website=NBCSports.com |access-date=September 16, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906051704/http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/09/05/panthers-cut-jordan-todman-jason-trusnik-in-moves-to-53/ |archive-date=September 6, 2015 }}</ref>

===Minnesota Vikings=== On November 10, 2015, the Minnesota Vikings signed Trusnik. He had previously worked with Vikings defensive coordinator, George Edwards, while he was the linebackers coach at Miami from 2012 to 2013.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/minnesota-vikings/post/_/id/16438/vikings-sign-lb-jason-trusnik-place-audie-cole-on-ir |title=Vikings Sign LB Jason Trusnik, Place Audie Cole on IR |publisher=ESPN |last=Goessling |first=Ben |date=November 10, 2015 |access-date=January 15, 2016}}</ref>

===New Orleans Saints=== On December 14, 2016, Trusnik was signed by the New Orleans Saints.<ref>{{cite web|title=Saints Placing LT Terron Armstead On Injured Reserve, Sign LB Jason Trusnik|url=http://nfltraderumors.co/saints-signing-veteran-lb-jason-trusnik/|date=December 14, 2016}}</ref>

==NFL career statistics== {| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" ! colspan="2"| Legend |- | '''Bold''' | Career high |}

===Regular season=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- !rowspan="2"| Year !rowspan="2"| Team !colspan="2"| Games !colspan="5"| Tackles !colspan="5"| Interceptions !colspan="4"| Fumbles |- ! GP !! GS !! Cmb !! Solo !! Ast !! Sck !! TFL !! Int !! Yds !! TD !! Lng !! PD !! FF !! FR !! Yds !! TD |- ! 2007 !! NYJ | 6 || 0 || 8 || 4 || 4 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- ! 2008 !! NYJ | 7 || 0 || 10 || 7 || 3 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 |- ! rowspan="2" | 2009 !! NYJ | 4 || 0 || 6 || 4 || 2 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || '''1''' || 1 || 0 || 0 |- ! CLE | 12 || '''10''' || '''56''' || '''45''' || 11 || '''2.5''' || '''6''' || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || '''1''' || 0 || 0 || 0 |- ! 2010 !! CLE | '''16''' || 5 || 24 || 21 || 3 || 1.0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- ! 2011 !! MIA | '''16''' || 0 || 18 || 15 || 3 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- ! 2012 !! MIA | '''16''' || 2 || 25 || 17 || 8 || 0.0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- ! 2013 !! MIA | '''16''' || 2 || 25 || 20 || 5 || 0.0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- ! 2014 !! MIA | '''16''' || 6 || 49 || 33 || '''16''' || 0.0 || 3 || '''1''' || 0 || 0 || 0 || '''2''' || 0 || '''2''' || 0 || 0 |- ! 2015 !! MIN | 8 || 0 || 11 || 10 || 1 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- ! 2016 !! NOR | 3 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- ! colspan="2"| !! 120 !! 25 !! 232 !! 176 !! 56 !! 3.5 !! 12 !! 1 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 4 !! 2 !! 4 !! 0 !! 0 |}

===Playoffs=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- !rowspan="2"| Year !rowspan="2"| Team !colspan="2"| Games !colspan="5"| Tackles !colspan="5"| Interceptions !colspan="4"| Fumbles |- ! GP !! GS !! Cmb !! Solo !! Ast !! Sck !! TFL !! Int !! Yds !! TD !! Lng !! PD !! FF !! FR !! Yds !! TD |- ! 2015 !! MIN | '''1''' || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- ! colspan="2"| !! 1 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0.0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 |}

==Retirement== On April 10, 2018, Trusnik announced his retirement from the National Football League.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://nordoniahills.news/vics-corner-nordonia-alumni-jason-trusnik-officially-retires-after10-years-in-the-nfl/ |title=retirement |access-date=April 27, 2018 |archive-date=April 27, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180427184419/http://nordoniahills.news/vics-corner-nordonia-alumni-jason-trusnik-officially-retires-after10-years-in-the-nfl/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>[https://twitter.com/JasonTrusnik/status/983481464124788737 statement from Trusnik on twitter]</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20151112200657/http://www.vikings.com/team/roster/Jason-Trusnik/4c64eb80-f79f-4e04-a6fa-38927e9039f0 Minnesota Vikings bio] *{{commons category-inline}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Trusnik, Jason}} Category:1984 births Category:Living people Category:Players of American football from Summit County, Ohio Category:American football linebackers Category:Ohio Northern Polar Bears football players Category:New York Jets players Category:Cleveland Browns players Category:Miami Dolphins players Category:Carolina Panthers players Category:Minnesota Vikings players Category:New Orleans Saints players