Jonathan Vilma

Former NFL linebacker and Super Bowl champion.

Jonathan Polynice Vilma, born April 16, 1982, is a former NFL linebacker and current color analyst for Fox. A three-time Pro Bowler, he played college ball at Miami, won a national title in 2001, and was a first-round pick by the Jets in 2004. Vilma later won a Super Bowl with the Saints and has worked as a commentator for ESPN and the Orange Bowl Committee.

Quick Facts

Number: 51
Position: Linebacker
Born: 16 April 1982
Birthplace: New York City, U.S.
High school: Coral Gables Senior (Coral Gables, Florida)
College: Miami (FL) (2000–2003)
Draft year: 2004
Draft pick: 12

Facts from the source article.

Did You Know?

Vilma was born in East Harlem, New York City, to Haitian immigrant parents.
He started the Jonathan Vilma Foundation after the 2010 Haiti earthquake to help with rebuilding efforts, including a charter school.
Vilma was interviewed for the ESPN documentary The U, which premiered December 12, 2009.

College career

Vilma received an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Miami, playing for coaches Butch Davis and Larry Coker from 2000 to 2003. In 2000, he appeared in all 11 games as a reserve middle linebacker, recording 38 tackles and a pass deflection. He started 11 of 12 regular-season games and earned First-team All-Big East honors. The following year, Vilma led Miami in tackles with 133, adding two sacks, a forced fumble, two recovered fumbles (one for a touchdown), and five pass breakups; he was a unanimous first-team All-Big East selection and a semifinalist for the Dick Butkus Award.

In his final season, he again led the team in tackles with 127, with one sack, one forced fumble, and three fumble recoveries, becoming a finalist for the Butkus Award. Vilma was a three-time Academic All-Big East honoree and earned a bachelor's degree in finance from the University of Miami's School of Business Administration.

Professional career

Vilma was selected by the New York Jets in the first round of the 2004 NFL draft, 12th overall. In his rookie season, he was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year by the Associated Press after recording 107 tackles, two sacks, and three interceptions, one returned for a touchdown. In 2005, he led the NFL with 169 tackles, forced four fumbles, recovered one, had half a sack, and one interception, replacing Zach Thomas at the 2006 Pro Bowl. The next season, he compiled 114 tackles, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and one interception.

On October 27, 2007, Vilma was placed on injured reserve after suffering a season-ending knee injury in a week 7 game against the Cincinnati Bengals. On February 29, 2008, the Jets traded him to the New Orleans Saints for a fourth-round pick in the 2008 draft and a conditional pick that became a third-rounder in 2009. In his first Saints season, he played all 16 games, recording 132 tackles and one sack. On February 27, 2009, he signed a five-year, $34 million contract.

He was elected a defensive captain, led the team in tackles, had three interceptions, and was chosen for his second Pro Bowl. In Super Bowl XLIV on February 7, 2010, Vilma made a key defensive audible and deflected a pass on third-and-11 in the fourth quarter as the Saints beat the Indianapolis Colts 31–17. He again led the team in tackles in 2010, started every game, and was selected to the Pro Bowl, ranking 37th on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2011.

In 2011, he started 11 games but was inactive for five with a knee injury, ranking 58th on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2012.