Brandon Meriweather facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Brandon Meriweather

Meriweather with the Washington Redskins in 2012
No. 31, 22
Position:	Safety
Personal information
Born:	(1984-01-14) January 14, 1984 (age 41) Apopka, Florida, U.S.
Height:	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:	197 lb (89 kg)
Career information
High school:	Apopka
College:	Miami (FL) (2002–2006)
NFL Draft:	2007 / Round: 1 / Pick: 24
Career history
New England Patriots (2007–2010) Chicago Bears (2011) Washington Redskins (2012–2014) New York Giants (2015)
Career highlights and awards
2× Pro Bowl (2009, 2010) First-team All-American (2005) 2× Second-team All-ACC (2005, 2006)
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles: 414 Sacks: 6.0 Forced fumbles: 9 Fumble recoveries: 3 Interceptions: 17 Defensive touchdowns: 1
Player stats at PFR

Brandon Meriweather (born January 14, 1984) is a former American football player. He played as a safety in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Miami Hurricanes. The New England Patriots chose him in the first round of the 2007 NFL draft. Meriweather also played for the Chicago Bears, Washington Redskins, and New York Giants.

Brandon Meriweather's Early Life

Brandon Meriweather grew up in Apopka, Florida. He started living with his adopted parents when he was 11 years old. He went to Apopka High School and was a great high school football player. In 2001, he helped his team win the Florida Class 6A state championship. He was also a talented kick returner, scoring four touchdowns in his senior year. Besides football, he also played basketball and ran track.

College Football Career

Brandon Meriweather earned a scholarship to play football at the University of Miami. He joined the Miami Hurricanes football team.

Starting Out at Miami

In 2002, he played in three games. He had three tackles before he hurt his ankle. The NCAA gave him a medical redshirt. This meant he could play another year later on.

In 2003, Meriweather mostly played on special teams. He also played in specific defensive formations. He got his first start against West Virginia. He finished the year with 22 tackles, one interception, and five pass break-ups.

Making a Name for Himself

Meriweather played in all 12 games in 2004. He started seven games despite a shoulder injury. He made 62 tackles, forced two fumbles, and had two interceptions. He won the team's "Hard Hitter Award" that year.

In 2005, Meriweather was named to the All-America team. This is a big honor for college players. He was also chosen for the first-team All-ACC. He was a semi-finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, given to the best defensive back. He led his team with 115 tackles, three interceptions, and two forced fumbles. He won the "Hard Hitter Award" again.

He left Miami with a record for defensive backs. He had 293 tackles, which was the most by a defensive back for the team. After his final season, he was invited to the Senior Bowl. This is a special game for top college players.

Brandon Meriweather's NFL Journey

New England Patriots

Meriweather with the Patriots, 2010

The New England Patriots picked Brandon Meriweather in the first round of the 2007 NFL draft. He was the 24th player chosen overall.

Rookie Season and Early Success

In his first year, Meriweather mostly played on special teams. He finished with 28 tackles. He even played in Super Bowl XLII with the Patriots.

In 2008, he got his first interception against the New York Jets. After a teammate got injured, Meriweather started the last 11 games. He finished the season with 83 tackles, two sacks, and four interceptions.

In 2009, he had two interceptions in one game. He even returned one for a touchdown! He was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week. He started all 16 games and had 83 tackles and five interceptions. He was chosen for his first Pro Bowl. This is an all-star game for the best players.

Challenges and Player Safety

In 2010, Meriweather was sometimes not a starter. He worked to get his starting spot back.

During a game, he was penalized for a hit that involved helmets. The NFL has rules to keep players safe. The league fined Meriweather $50,000 for this hit. The NFL also announced that they would start suspending players for dangerous hits, especially those involving helmets.

He played in 16 games and had 68 tackles and three interceptions. He was chosen for his second Pro Bowl after this season. The Patriots released him in September 2011.

Chicago Bears

Meriweather signed with the Chicago Bears in September 2011. He played for them for one year.

The NFL continued to focus on player safety. Meriweather was fined for hits in two different games. These fines were for hits that the league considered unsafe.

Washington Redskins

Meriweather with the Washington Redskins, 2012

Meriweather with the Redskins, 2014

Meriweather signed a two-year contract with the Washington Redskins in 2012.

Injuries and League Rules

He hurt his knee before the 2012 season started. He tried to play in Week 4 but re-injured his knee during warmups. He finally played his first game for the Redskins in November. He had an interception and made some good tackles. However, he left the game with another knee injury. It was a serious injury, and he missed the rest of the 2012 season.

In 2013, he was fined for a helmet-to-helmet hit on an opposing player. The NFL suspended him for two games because of repeated violations of the league's safety rules. His suspension was later reduced to one game.

Meriweather talked about how he would need to change his playing style because of the new rules. He said players might have to tackle lower to avoid helmet hits.

The Redskins re-signed him in 2014. He was suspended for two games at the start of the season for another illegal hit. In a game against the Dallas Cowboys, he played very well. He had two sacks, forced two fumbles, and recovered one fumble. He was later placed on injured reserve in December 2014.

New York Giants

Meriweather joined the New York Giants in August 2015. He was released in December but then re-signed a week later.

NFL Career Statistics