Aaron Ross facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Aaron Ross

Ross with the Giants in 2010
No. 31, 20
Position:	Cornerback
Personal information
Born:	(1982-09-15) September 15, 1982 (age 42) San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:	190 lb (86 kg)
Career information
High school:	John Tyler (Tyler, Texas)
College:	Texas (2002–2006)
NFL Draft:	2007 / Round: 1 / Pick: 20
Career history
New York Giants (2007–2011) Jacksonville Jaguars (2012) New York Giants (2013) Baltimore Ravens (2014) Cleveland Browns (2015)*
Career highlights and awards
2× Super Bowl champion (XLII, XLVI) BCS national champion (2005) Jim Thorpe Award (2006) First-team All-American (2006) Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year (2006) First-team All-Big 12 (2006)
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles: 250 Sacks: 2.5 Pass deflections: 41 Interceptions: 11 Defensive touchdowns: 2
Player stats at PFR

Aaron Jermaine Ross (born September 15, 1982) is a former American football player. He played as a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). He was a star player in college, winning a national championship with the Texas Longhorns in 2005. In 2006, he won the Jim Thorpe Award as the best defensive back in the country.

The New York Giants picked Ross in the first round of the 2007 NFL draft. He helped the Giants win two Super Bowls, Super Bowl XLII and Super Bowl XLVI. He also played for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Baltimore Ravens, and Cleveland Browns.

Early Life and High School Football

Aaron Ross grew up in Texas. He went to John Tyler High School in Tyler, Texas. There, he was a very versatile player. He played many different positions on the football field. These included quarterback, wide receiver, defensive back, and running back.

In his senior year (2001), he was named one of the best players in his class. He made six interceptions, recovered three fumbles, and blocked three kicks. He was so good that only one touchdown was scored against him all season. He also played sprinter in track & field and played basketball.

College Career at Texas

Ross during his time with the Texas Longhorns in 2006

Aaron Ross joined the University of Texas in 2002. He couldn't play his first year because of academic rules. In 2003, he started playing as a cornerback. He made 27 tackles and helped break up two passes.

In 2004, he continued to play cornerback. He made 36 tackles and caught one interception. He also returned punts, averaging 7.6 yards per return. At the end of that season, his team won the Rose Bowl Championship.

As a junior, Ross became even better. He was recognized as an honorable mention for the Big 12 Conference. He returned two punts for touchdowns. He also had three interceptions and broke up nine passes. He helped the Longhorns win the National Championship in 2005.

In 2006, Ross became a full-time starter. He was named an All-American and the best defensive player in the Big 12 Conference. He won the Jim Thorpe Award, which goes to the nation's top defensive back. He had 80 tackles, a sack, and 19 pass deflections. He also caused three fumbles, recovered two, and caught six interceptions. He even scored a touchdown on a punt return.

Aaron Ross played 51 games for Texas. He made 205 tackles and caught 10 interceptions. He also returned 76 punts for 893 yards and three touchdowns. He finished his college career by winning the 2006 Alamo Bowl. He was named the defensive Most Valuable Player (MVP) of that game.

Professional Football Career

New York Giants (First Time)

Ross and Corey Webster at training camp in 2010

The New York Giants chose Aaron Ross as the 20th overall pick in the 2007 NFL draft. He was one of seven players from the Texas Longhorns picked in that draft.

In his first year (2007), Ross had 42 tackles and three interceptions. He returned one of his interceptions for a 43-yard touchdown. He helped the Giants win Super Bowl XLII against the New England Patriots. He started at cornerback in the playoffs and made 12 tackles.

In 2008, his second season, Ross had 52 tackles and three more interceptions. He returned one of these for a 50-yard touchdown. The Giants had a great season, winning 12 games. However, they lost in the playoffs to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Ross missed many games in 2009 due to a hamstring injury. He played only four games that season. In 2011, his teammate Terrell Thomas got injured. This made Ross the main starting cornerback for the season. The Giants had another amazing year. They won Super Bowl XLVI again, beating the Patriots for a second time.

Jacksonville Jaguars

In 2012, Aaron Ross signed a three-year contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars. This was a big change for him. The Jaguars had a tough season, finishing with only two wins.

Ross struggled with injuries during his time in Jacksonville. He also had some difficulties playing well. He once said that his time there was "a nice paid vacation to Florida." He later apologized for this comment. The Jaguars released him in March 2013.

New York Giants (Second Time)

Just a few days after leaving the Jaguars, Ross signed back with the New York Giants in March 2013. However, his season ended early. He was placed on injured reserve after Week 4 because of a back injury.

Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns

In 2014, Ross signed with the Baltimore Ravens. Sadly, he tore his Achilles tendon in July, which meant he missed the entire season.

He then signed with the Cleveland Browns in August 2015. But he was released by the Browns later that month.

NFL Statistics

Personal Life

Aaron Ross started dating Sanya Richards-Ross in 2003. She was also a track and field star at the University of Texas. Sanya is a very famous athlete. She has won four Olympic Gold Medals!

Aaron and Sanya got engaged in 2007 and married on February 26, 2010. Their wedding was even shown on a TV show called Platinum Weddings. They had their first child, Aaron Jermaine Ross II, in 2017. In 2023, they announced they were expecting their second child, another boy.

Their life together was shown in a reality TV series called Sanya's Glam and Gold. Sanya also appeared on The Real Housewives of Atlanta for two seasons.

See Also

• List of Texas Longhorns football All-Americans
• List of New York Giants first-round draft picks