Dexter McCleon

Dexter McCleon
No. 24, 21, 22, 20
Position: Safety / cornerback
Personal information
Date of birth: (1973-10-09) October 9, 1973
Place of birth: Meridian, Mississippi
Height: 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight: 195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
College: Clemson
NFL Draft: 1997 / Round: 2 / Pick: 40
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Tackles: 372
Sacks: 4.5
Passes Defended: 50
Interceptions: 31
Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR

Dexter Keith McCleon (born October 9, 1973) is a former American football safety who played in the National Football League. He played for the St. Louis Rams, Kansas City Chiefs, and Houston Texans in his ten-year career that started in 1997. In addition to his career in the NFL, McCleon was a volunteer assistant football coach at Meridian High School in his hometown of Meridian, Mississippi.

Early years

McCleon was an All-American quarterback at Meridian High School in Meridian, Mississippi and was also a star baseball player there and got drafted in the 13th-round by the Minnesota Twins in the 1993 Major League Baseball Draft but decided to play college football in Clemson University as a cornerback and also played baseball at Clemson.

College career

At Clemson, McCleon was a 2 sport star as a quarterback in his early years and also a baseball player. He also was a First-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference as a senior and got drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the 2nd round, 40th pick, of the 1997 NFL Draft. McCleon is the only player in ACC Football history to be named ACC Player of the Week on Offense, Defense, and Special Teams all in the same season

Professional career

St. Louis Rams

McCleon played with the Rams for six seasons, helping them reach Super Bowl XXXIV in 2000 in which McCleon had seven tackles vs the Tennessee Titans. McCleon also started at cornerback for the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI vs the New England Patriots. McCleon is famously seen on camera during Super Bowl XXXVI saying to his Rams' teammate, Dre Bly, while both were sitting on the bench: "Tom Brady…overrated." referring to Patriots now legendary, but then very new quarterback. In 2001, McCleon lead the NFL with 7 interceptions. McCleon was a starter for the Rams in Super Bowls XXXIV and XXXVI at cornerback.

Kansas City Chiefs

McCleon signed with the Chiefs as a free agent in 2003 and started for two seasons. In 2003, McCleon lead the NFL with 8 interceptions. In 2005, McCleon played in eleven games as a nickleback, making twenty-one tackles and two interceptions. On March 10, 2006 the Chiefs cut McCleon in a salary cap cut move.

Houston Texans

McCleon was signed by the Houston Texans on April 1, 2006. There he had a good season as a corner for the Texans. He was released on Aug 24, 2007.

NFL stats

Year Team GP COMB TOTAL AST SACK FF FR FR YDS INT IR YDS AVG IR LNG TD PD
1997 STL 16 13 13 00 1.0 0 0 0 1 00 00 00 0 02
1998 STL 15 29 28 01 0.0 0 0 0 2 29 15 15 0 06
1999 STL 15 45 41 04 1.5 1 0 0 4 17 04 14 0 16
2000 STL 16 54 49 05 2.0 0 1 0 8 28 04 23 0 19
2001 STL 16 64 58 06 0.0 1 1 0 4 66 17 43 1 18
2002 STL 13 22 18 04 0.0 1 1 0 1 00 00 00 0 02
2003 KC 16 60 55 05 0.0 0 2 0 6 -3 -1 00 0 14
2004 KC 13 36 30 06 0.0 0 1 0 2 23 12 23 0 09
2005 KC 12 21 20 01 0.0 0 0 0 2 00 00 00 0 07
2006 HOU 16 29 22 07 0.0 1 0 0 1 19 19 19 0 01
Career 148 373 334 39 4.5 4 6 0 31 179 6 43 1 94

[1]

Key

Personal

McCleon finished a 10-year NFL career with 31 career interceptions. After a pro career, he went on to coach for his alma mater Meridian HS Wildcats. They were the team to end the Longest Streak in history, that was held by the South Panola Tigers at 89-1. McCleon is single and has 1 son, Dexter Jr., who is 5 years old. He currently resides in Hoover, AL.

References

  1. ↑ http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/stats/_/id/1226/dexter-mccleon
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