Darnell Dockett facts for kids
Dockett at Super Bowl XLIV Media Day
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| Position: | Defensive end Defensive tackle |
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
| Born: | May 27, 1981 Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 290 lb (132 kg) | ||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||
| High school: | Paint Branch (Burtonsville, Maryland) |
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| College: | Florida State (1999–2003) | ||||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2004 / Round: 3 / Pick: 64 | ||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||||||
Darnell Maurice Dockett (born May 27, 1981) is a former professional football player. He played as a defensive end for 11 seasons. All of his seasons were with the Arizona Cardinals in the National Football League (NFL). The Cardinals picked him in the third round of the 2004 NFL draft. Before joining the NFL, he played college football for the Florida State Seminoles.
Dockett started his career as a defensive tackle. After five seasons, the Cardinals changed their defense strategy. This move led him to switch to playing as a defensive end.
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Early Life and High School Football
Darnell Dockett began playing football a bit later than some. In his very first youth game, he accidentally ran the wrong way with the ball. This mistake gave points to the other team!
He went to Paint Branch High School in Burtonsville, Maryland. There, he set an amazing school record. He made 47 sacks during his high school career. A sack happens when a defensive player tackles the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage.
In his senior year, he was a star player. He made 171 tackles and 15 sacks. He also blocked three punts and scored a touchdown from an interception. Because of his great performance, he was named Maryland Player of the Year. He was also chosen as an All-American by USA Today and Parade magazines.
Many colleges wanted Dockett to play for them. He was considered one of the top high school players in the country. He chose to play for Florida State University.
College Football Career
Dockett played for the Florida State Seminoles football team. Their coach was Bobby Bowden. In his first year, 1999, he took a "redshirt" year. This means he didn't play in games but still practiced with the team. That year, the Seminoles won the national championship.
In 2000, Dockett became a starter. He played in 10 games as a defensive tackle. He made 66 tackles, which was the most for any freshman on the team. He also led the team in tackles that stopped plays for a loss. He was named the freshman defensive player of the year.
As a sophomore, Dockett became one of the best defensive linemen in college football. He started all 12 games. Even though opposing teams often used two players to block him, he still made 68 tackles. He also set a new Florida State record with 22 tackles that stopped plays for a loss. He was chosen for the first-team All-ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference).
In his junior year, Dockett continued to be a key player. He started all 13 games. He broke a 22-year-old school record for career tackles for loss. He finished his college career as a four-year starter. He had 10.5 sacks and 247 tackles. He also set a school record with 65 tackles for loss.
Professional Football Journey
The Arizona Cardinals picked Darnell Dockett in the third round of the 2004 NFL draft. Some teams were hesitant to draft him. This was because of some challenges he faced off the field.
He had a quiet start to his NFL career. He made six sacks in his first three seasons. But in the 2007 season, he had a breakout year. He recorded nine sacks in 16 games.
In the 2008-2009 season, the Cardinals won their division. They then made a surprising run in the playoffs. They reached Super Bowl XLIII. They lost a close game to the Pittsburgh Steelers. In that Super Bowl, Dockett made three sacks. This tied a record set by the famous player Reggie White.
The Cardinals changed their defensive strategy. Dockett then often played as a defensive end. He was chosen to start in the 2010 Pro Bowl as a defensive tackle.
On September 1, 2010, the Cardinals signed Dockett to a big contract. It was a 6-year deal worth $56 million. He said he wanted to "retire an Arizona Cardinal."
In 2014, Dockett suffered a serious injury. He tore his ACL (a knee ligament), which ended his 2014 season. The Cardinals released him on February 27, 2015.
San Francisco 49ers
On March 5, 2015, Dockett signed a two-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers. However, he was released by the 49ers on September 4, 2015.
Retirement from Football
On July 24, 2016, Darnell Dockett announced he would retire from professional football. The next day, he signed a special one-day contract. This allowed him to officially retire as a member of the Arizona Cardinals, just as he had hoped.
Personal Life
Darnell Dockett faced great sadness when he was young. His mother was murdered in her home when he was thirteen years old. No one was ever arrested for this crime. Just four months later, his father died from cancer. After these tragedies, Darnell was raised by his uncle, Kevin Dockett.
