Jabaal Sheard

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Sheard was an All-Broward County defensive lineman at Hollywood Hills High School in Florida. He was rated the nation's No. 23 weakside defensive end by Rivals.com and was a PrepStar All-Southeast Region selection. He also competed in track and field, placing fourth in the shot put at the 2007 FHSAA Outdoor State Championships. In college at Pittsburgh, he earned first-team American Football Coaches Association All-American honors in 2010 and was a finalist for the Ted Hendricks Award. He was suspended briefly after a July 2010 arrest but was restored to the team after charges were reduced. In the NFL, he led the Browns in sacks and forced fumbles as a rookie, won Super Bowl LI with the Patriots, and later played for the Colts, Jaguars, Giants, and Dolphins.

In Their Own Story

Selected 37th overall in the second round of the 2011 NFL draft by the Cleveland Browns, Sheard started all 16 games as a rookie and led the team in sacks (8.5) and forced fumbles (5). He and teammate Phil Taylor were chosen for the Pro Football Weekly 2011 All-Rookie Team. He recorded his first career sack and forced fumble against the Indianapolis Colts in week 2 and a career-high 2 sacks against the Arizona Cardinals in week 15. After four seasons in Cleveland, he signed a two-year, $11 million contract with the New England Patriots on March 11, 2015. He made an immediate impact, collecting four sacks in his first four games, and finished the season with 37 tackles, 8 sacks, and two passes defensed. On February 5, 2017, Sheard was part of the Patriots team that won Super Bowl LI, recording two tackles and 0.5 sacks as the Patriots defeated the Atlanta Falcons 34–28 in overtime after trailing 28–3 in the third quarter.

Reader's Guide

Jabaal Sheard played defensive end and occasionally outside linebacker. He was known for his explosive first step, balance, and closing speed. He started all 16 games in multiple seasons and recorded career highs of 8.5 sacks and 5 forced fumbles as a rookie. His most notable play came in Week 12 of 2020 with the Giants, when he stripped Bengals quarterback Brandon Allen to secure a 19–17 victory.

Did You Know?

• Sheard was selected 37th overall in the 2011 NFL draft by the Cleveland Browns.
• He won Super Bowl LI with the New England Patriots in 2017.
• Sheard recorded a career-high 8.5 sacks as a rookie in 2011.
• He was a finalist for the Ted Hendricks Award in 2010.