{{Short description|American football player (born 1979)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2022}} {{for-multi|the Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil character|Joe Odom (attorney)}} {{Infobox NFL biography | image = | number = 59 | position = Linebacker | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1979|12|14}} | birth_place = Alton, Illinois, U.S. | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 1 | weight_lbs = 240 | high_school = Civic Memorial {{avoid wrap|(Bethalto, Illinois)}} | college = Purdue | draftyear = 2003 | draftround = 6 | draftpick = 191 | teams = * Chicago Bears ({{NFL Year|2003}}–{{NFL Year|2005}}) * Buffalo Bills ({{NFL Year|2006}}) | highlights = | statlabel1 = Tackles | statvalue1 = 58 | statlabel2 = Fumble recoveries | statvalue2 = 2 | statlabel3 = Passes defended | statvalue3 = 1 | pfr = OdomJo20 }}
'''Joseph Edward Odom''' (born December 14, 1979) is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Chicago Bears in the sixth round of the 2003 NFL draft. He played college football for the Purdue Boilermakers.
==Early life and college== Odom attended Civic Memorial High School in Bethalto, Illinois. He played college football at Purdue University from 1999 to 2002.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Joe Odom College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/joe-odom-1.html |access-date=2025-05-11 |website=College Football at Sports-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>
==Professional career== ===Chicago Bears=== Odom was selected by the Chicago Bears in the sixth round, with the 191st overall pick, of the 2003 NFL draft.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2003 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2003/draft.htm |access-date=2023-03-27 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> He officially signed with the team on June 9, 2003. He played in 10 games, starting three, for the Bears in 2003, recording 21 solo tackles, seven assisted tackles, one pass breakup and one fumble recovery. Odom was placed on injured reserve on November 21, 2003.<ref name="pfr">{{cite web | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/O/OdomJo20.htm | title=Joe Odom | publisher=pro-football-reference.com | accessdate=June 4, 2024}}</ref>
He played in 16 games, starting five, in 2004, totaling 23 solo tackles and six assisted tackles.<ref name="pfr"/> He appeared in two games in 2005, recording one solo tackle and one fumble recovery, before being placed on injured reserve on October 8, 2005.<ref name="pfr"/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/O/OdomJo20/gamelog/ | title=Joe Odom Career Game Log | publisher=pro-football-reference.com | accessdate=June 4, 2024}}</ref> He was waived on August 21, 2006.<ref name="pfr"/>
===Buffalo Bills=== On August 22, 2006, Odom was claimed off of waivers by the Buffalo Bills. He was waived/injured on September 2 and reverted to injured reserve the next day.<ref name="pfr"/>
==Personal life== Odom was later an account executive for Stephen Gould Corporation.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.thetelegraph.com/sports/article/PETE-HAYES-Odom-flashes-the-same-intensity-and-12576263.php | title=PETE HAYES: Odom flashes the same intensity - and love of his hometown | publisher=thetelegraph.com | date=August 20, 2017 | accessdate=June 4, 2024 | author=Hayes, Pete}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{Bears2003DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Odom, Joe}} Category:1979 births Category:Living people Category:American football linebackers Category:Purdue Boilermakers football players Category:Chicago Bears players Category:Sportspeople from Alton, Illinois Category:Players of American football from Illinois Category:Buffalo Bills players