Will Witherspoon

{{Infobox NFL biography | name = Will Witherspoon | image = Will Witherspoon Al Anbar cropped.jpg | caption = Witherspoon at Al Asad Airbase in 2009 | number = 54, 51, 50, 92 | position = Linebacker | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1980|8|19}} | birth_place = San Antonio, Texas, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 1 | weight_lbs = 240 | high_school = Rutherford {{nowrap|(Panama City, Florida)}} | college = Georgia (1998–2001) | draftyear = 2002 | draftround = 3 | draftpick = 73 | pastteams = * Carolina Panthers ({{NFL Year|2002}}–{{NFL Year|2005}}) * St. Louis Rams ({{NFL Year|2006}}–{{NFL Year|2009}}) * Philadelphia Eagles ({{NFL Year|2009}}) * Tennessee Titans ({{NFL Year|2010}}–{{NFL Year|2012}}) * St. Louis Rams ({{NFL Year|2013}}) | highlights = | statlabel1 = Total tackles | statvalue1 = 951 | statlabel2 = Sacks | statvalue2 = 26.0 | statlabel3 = Forced fumbles | statvalue3 = 11 | statlabel4 = Fumble recoveries | statvalue4 = 8 | statlabel5 = Interceptions | statvalue5 = 14 | statlabel6 = Defensive touchdowns | statvalue6 = 3 | pfr = WithWi20 }}

'''William Cordell Witherspoon''' (born August 19, 1980) is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the third round of the 2002 NFL draft. He played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs. He also played for the St. Louis Rams, Philadelphia Eagles, and Tennessee Titans.

==Early life== Witherspoon's father served in the US Air Force, and so Witherspoon moved around as a child. However, his family never lived on the military bases, instead deciding to live in the community so the children could experience the culture. In addition to speaking English, he knows how to speak German, and is learning both Arabic and Swedish. He attended Good Shepherd Lutheran School in middle school. He played running back for Rutherford High School in Panama City, Florida, but switched to linebacker before his senior year. He was chosen as the USA Today Florida Player of the Year for his efforts as a senior, where he posted 112 tackles, 3 sacks, and three interceptions.

Witherspoon and his ex-wife, Rebecca, have three daughters.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stlouisrams.com/team/players/53230/|title=ST. Louis Rams Bio|access-date=September 5, 2008|archive-date=July 1, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100701115655/http://www.stlouisrams.com/team/players/53230/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==College career== He played college football at the University of Georgia, where he was a starter for three years. After playing every game as a true freshman, he started most of the Bulldogs' games for the remainder of his time at Georgia, switching between the middle, strong-side, and weak-side linebacker positions. He graduated with 211 tackles, 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. He was a landscape architecture major.

==Professional career== {{NFL predraft | height ft = 6 | height in = 1 1/2 | weight = 231 | dash = 4.67 | ten split = 1.67 | twenty split = 2.75 | shuttle = 4.21 | cone drill = 7.09 | vertical = 38 | broad ft = 10 | broad in = 2 | bench = 25 | wonderlic = | arm span = 32 | hand span = 9 | note = All values from NFL Combine<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=2081&DraftYear=2002 |title=Will Witherspoon College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=August 26, 2009}}</ref> }}

===Carolina Panthers=== Witherspoon was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the third round (73rd overall) of the 2002 NFL draft.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2002 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2002/draft.htm |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> He was the latest addition to new coach John Fox's overhaul of the defense, and Witherspoon's versatility at linebacker helped the Panthers total the second-best defense in the league. He replaced Dan Morgan at middle linebacker halfway through the season after Morgan went down with injury. He finished the season with 71 tackles and 1.5 sacks, his first half sack coming at the Cleveland Browns on December 1.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Will Witherspoon 2002 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WithWi20/gamelog/2002/ |access-date=2025-05-11 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> During the 2003 NFL season, Witherspoon was the only Panther linebacker to start every game, where he once again filled in for an injured Morgan at middle linebacker.

He intercepted his first pass off New Orleans Saints quarterback Aaron Brooks. During Super Bowl XXXVIII, Witherspoon posted a career-high 16 tackles. He ended the campaign with a total of 99 tackles, one sack and one interception. The following year, "Spoon" was one of the few defensive players to start every game for the Panthers, who were wracked with injuries. Despite the loss of key personnel like defensive tackle Kris Jenkins, the Panthers led the league in interceptions. Witherspoon set personal bests with three sacks and four interceptions and a then career-high of 103 tackles. In 2005, his final year with the Panthers, Witherspoon played in 15 games and finished the season 81 tackles, 2.5 sacks and two interceptions. thumb|Witherspoon at the Panthers training camp in 2005.

===St. Louis Rams (first stint)=== On March 12, 2006, as an unrestricted free agent, he signed a six-year, $33 million contract (including $15 million guaranteed) with the St. Louis Rams In his first season (2006) with the Rams, he played in all 16 games and recorded a career-high 113 tackles and three sacks. In 2007, he recorded 110 tackles and a career-high seven sacks and was named Team MVP for 2007.<ref>[http://www.nfl.com/players/willwitherspoon/careerstats?id=WIT150248 NFL.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091224012924/http://www.nfl.com/players/willwitherspoon/careerstats?id=WIT150248 |date=December 24, 2009 }} Stats courtesy of NFL.com</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/rams/story/FC153562E3B1B0F3862573BD005FFC84?OpenDocument |title=STLtoday - Sports - Rams |access-date=December 27, 2007 |archive-date=December 30, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071230040741/http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/rams/story/FC153562E3B1B0F3862573BD005FFC84?OpenDocument |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Philadelphia Eagles=== On October 20, 2009, Witherspoon was traded from the Rams to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for wide receiver Brandon Gibson and a fifth round draft pick in 2010. In his first game as an Eagle against the Washington Redskins on October 26, 2009, he recorded six tackles, an interception (returned for a touchdown), sack, and a forced fumble. During the season, he played in 17 games, becoming the fifth player since bye weeks were reintroduced in 1990 to do so, as he was traded prior to St. Louis's bye week to the Eagles after the Eagles bye week.<ref>{{cite news |title=Former Eagle Witherspoon Producing for Titans |url=https://www.titansonline.com/news/former-eagle-witherspoon-producing-for-titans-2940798 |website=TitansOnline.com |date=October 20, 2010 |access-date=December 15, 2019 |archive-date=December 16, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191216000103/https://www.titansonline.com/news/former-eagle-witherspoon-producing-for-titans-2940798 |url-status=live }}</ref>

He was released on March 5, 2010. thumb|left|Witherspoon during second stint with Rams. 2013

===Tennessee Titans=== Witherspoon was signed by the Tennessee Titans on March 9, 2010. He was voted by his teammates as the Titans Ed Block Courage Award recipient <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.edblock.org/content/ed-block-courage-award-recipients |title=Ed Block Courage Award Recipients | the ed Block Courage Award Foundation |access-date=June 28, 2012 |archive-date=July 7, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120707022705/http://www.edblock.org/content/ed-block-courage-award-recipients |url-status=live }}</ref>

===St. Louis Rams (second stint)=== On July 18, 2013, Witherspoon signed with the Rams.<ref>{{cite web |last=Wesseling |first=Chris |date=July 18, 2013 |title=Will Witherspoon reportedly rejoining St. Louis Rams |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/will-witherspoon-reportedly-rejoining-st-louis-rams-0ap1000000218663 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130722002126/http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000218663/article/will-witherspoon-reportedly-rejoins-st-louis-rams |archive-date=July 22, 2013 |access-date=July 19, 2013 |website=NFL.com}}</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 |- ! 2002 !! CAR | 15 || 8 || 71 || 56 || 15 || 1.5 || 3 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 5 || 1 || 1 || 0 || 0 |- ! 2003 !! CAR | '''16''' || '''16''' || 99 || 74 || 25 || 1.0 || 8 || 1 || 10 || 0 || 10 || 5 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- ! 2004 !! CAR | '''16''' || '''16''' || 103 || 84 || 19 || 3.0 || 5 || '''4''' || '''48''' || 0 || 25 || '''14''' || 1 || 1 || 0 || 0 |- ! 2005 !! CAR | 15 || 15 || 81 || 66 || 15 || 2.5 || 5 || 2 || 35 || '''1''' || 35 || '''14''' || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- ! 2006 !! STL | '''16''' || '''16''' || '''116''' || '''102''' || 14 || 3.0 || 8 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 9 || '''3''' || 1 || 0 || 0 |- ! 2007 !! STL | '''16''' || '''16''' || 110 || 92 || 18 || '''7.0''' || '''14''' || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 7 || 2 || 1 || 0 || 0 |- ! 2008 !! STL | '''16''' || 12 || 72 || 57 || 15 || 1.0 || 3 || 1 || 2 || 0 || 2 || 3 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 |- ! rowspan="2" | 2009 !! STL | 6 || 6 || 32 || 28 || 4 || 0.0 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- ! PHI | 11 || 10 || 58 || 51 || 7 || 1.0 || 3 || 1 || 9 || '''1''' || 9 || 5 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- ! 2010 !! TEN | '''16''' || '''16''' || 92 || 63 || '''29''' || 3.0 || 6 || 2 || 11 || 0 || 9 || 8 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- ! 2011 !! TEN | '''16''' || 14 || 56 || 41 || 15 || 2.0 || 5 || 1 || 7 || 0 || 7 || 3 || 1 || '''2''' || '''2''' || 0 |- ! 2012 !! TEN | 14 || 5 || 48 || 29 || 19 || 1.0 || 1 || 1 || 40 || '''1''' || '''40''' || 2 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- ! 2013 !! STL | '''16''' || 3 || 13 || 12 || 1 || 0.0 || 1 || 1 || 20 || 0 || 20 || 1 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 |- ! colspan="2"| !! 189 !! 153 !! 951 !! 755 !! 196 !! 26.0 !! 64 !! 14 !! 182 !! 3 !! 40 !! 76 !! 11 !! 8 !! 2 !! 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 |- ! 2003 !! CAR | '''4''' || '''4''' || '''27''' || '''18''' || '''9''' || '''1.0''' || '''3''' || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || '''1''' || '''1''' || 0 || 0 || 0 |- ! 2005 !! CAR | 3 || 3 || 20 || 16 || 4 || '''1.0''' || '''3''' || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || '''1''' || '''1''' || 0 || 0 || 0 |- ! 2009 !! PHI | 1 || 1 || 8 || 7 || 1 || 0.0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || '''1''' || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- ! colspan="2"| !! 8 !! 8 !! 55 !! 41 !! 14 !! 2.0 !! 7 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 3 !! 2 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 |}

==After football== After not being signed by any NFL team during the 2013-2014 off-season, Witherspoon announced his retirement from professional football. He then took a job as the St. Louis Rams sideline reporter for Rams Radio Network.

==Personal life== Witherspoon owns the sustainable Shire Gate Farm near Owensville, MO.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andrew-gunther/sustainable-food-super-bowl-snacks_b_2583198.html|title=A Meat-Free Superbowl Party? Not for Me...|first=Andrew|last=Gunther|website=HuffPost|date=February 1, 2013|access-date=February 3, 2013|archive-date=February 5, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130205072957/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andrew-gunther/sustainable-food-super-bowl-snacks_b_2583198.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Witherspoon has multiple children, including 3 children with ex-wife, Rebecca, and 2 children with ex-girlfriend, Tori Darling.

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * [http://www.stlouisrams.com/team/roster/Will-Witherspoon/2e4b8c75-c2dc-4630-9058-7bf5a9357132 St. Louis Rams profile] *{{commons category-inline}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Witherspoon, Will}} Category:1980 births Category:Living people Category:American football linebackers Category:Carolina Panthers players Category:Georgia Bulldogs football players Category:St. Louis Rams players Category:Philadelphia Eagles players Category:Tennessee Titans players Category:Players of American football from San Antonio Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen Category:21st-century American sportsmen Category:20th-century American sportsmen