LaVar Arrington

Linebacker known for 'The LaVar Leap' and a seven-year NFL career with the Washington Redskins and New York Giants.

LaVar RaShad Arrington (born June 20, 1978) is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for seven seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions and was selected with the second overall pick by the Washington Redskins of the 2000 NFL draft. He was also a member of the New York Giants.

Quick Facts

Position: Linebacker
Born: 20 June 1978
Birthplace: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
High school: North Hills (Pittsburgh)
College: Penn State (1997–1999)
Draft year: 2000
Draft round: 1
Draft pick: 2

Lore & Background

Arrington was born in Pittsburgh. He played linebacker and running back at North Hills High School in Pittsburgh. After his senior year, he was named the 1996 Parade National Player of the Year, Bobby Dodd National High School Back of the Year, the Gatorade Player of the Year, and USA Today Pennsylvania Player of the Year. He became the second player in Pennsylvania Class 4-A history to rush for more than 4,000 career yards, with 4,357 on 711 carries and 72 touchdowns. He played in the 1997 Big 33 Football Classic. In basketball, he was recruited to play for Georgetown, UMass, and North Carolina. Also a standout sprinter, he recorded personal-best times of 10.85 seconds in the 100 meters and 23.14 seconds in the 200 meters, and had top jumps of 1.96 meters in the high jump and 6.76 meters in the long jump. He was inducted into the WPIAL Hall of Fame on June 24, 2011. At Penn State, he played for coach Joe Paterno from 1997 to 1999. His signature play, 'The LaVar Leap,' came against Illinois when he jumped over the offensive line on a fourth-and-short play. He was a Heisman Trophy candidate, finished ninth in 1999 balloting, and won the Chuck Bednarik Award, Dick Butkus Award, and Lambert Award in 1999. He was an All-Big Ten selection, first-team All-American in 1998, and consensus first-team All-American in 1999. He left Penn State after his junior season. On December 11, 2014, the Big Ten Network included him on 'The Mount Rushmore of Penn State Football' alongside John Cappelletti, Jack Ham, and Shane Conlan. The Washington Redskins chose him with the second overall pick in the 2000 NFL draft. After four seasons with the Redskins, he signed an eight-year, $68 million contract extension. His agent Carl Poston was accused of neglecting to inspect the final revision of the contract, in which $6.5 million worth of bonuses were missing; Poston was suspended for two years by the NFLPA. Arrington's final two seasons with the Redskins were marred by knee injuries and conflicts with coaches Joe Gibbs and Gregg Williams. In March 2006, he paid the Redskins $4.4 million to buy his free agency. In April 2006, he agreed to a seven-year, $49 million contract with the New York Giants. He was injured in week 7 against the Dallas Cowboys and missed the rest of the season with a ruptured Achilles tendon. On February 12, 2007, he was released by the Giants.

Reader's Guide

LaVar Arrington was a standout linebacker for the Washington Redskins (2000–2005) and New York Giants (2006). Known for his athleticism and 'LaVar Leap,' he was a three-time Pro Bowler and won the Butkus Award in college. His career was cut short by injuries and a motorcycle accident.

Did You Know?

Arrington was named after actor LeVar Burton, who played Kunta Kinte in the miniseries 'Roots.'
Arrington opened a restaurant called The Sideline in Landover, Maryland, in 2008; it closed in December 2009 after a fatal shooting.