Jameel McClain facts for kids
McClain practicing at M&T Bank Stadium in 2011
|
|||||||||||||
| Baltimore Ravens | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Director of player engagement | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born: | July 25, 1985 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
||||||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 245 lb (111 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | George Washington (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) | ||||||||||||
| College: | Syracuse | ||||||||||||
| Undrafted: | 2008 | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||||
Jameel Lashawn McClain (born July 25, 1985) is a former American football player. He played as a linebacker in the NFL. After his playing career, he became the director of player engagement for the Baltimore Ravens.
Jameel played college football for Syracuse University. He then joined the Ravens in 2008 as an undrafted free agent. He also played for the New York Giants.
Contents
Early Life and High School Football
Jameel McClain was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He grew up with his mother, Barbara Flood, and five siblings. For some time, Jameel and his family stayed at a Salvation Army shelter.
When he was 14, his aunt and uncle took him and his siblings in. This helped them get a better education and a brighter future. Before playing football, Jameel was a boxer. He trained at a city gym and competed in Gold Glove events.
Jameel went to George Washington High School in Philadelphia. There, he became a star football player. During his high school career, he made 230 tackles and 22 sacks. He also forced 8 fumbles and recovered 13 fumbles. In his senior year, Jameel was the captain of his football team.
College Football Career
Jameel McClain played college football at Syracuse University. He played as a defensive end. He also studied communications and sociology.
During his time at Syracuse, he made 177 tackles. He also had 11 sacks and recovered 3 fumbles. Jameel was ranked 7th on Syracuse's list for tackles by a defensive lineman. He was also on the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll several times.
Professional Football Career
Playing for the Baltimore Ravens
In 2008, Jameel McClain signed with the Baltimore Ravens. He was an undrafted free agent. He was the only rookie free agent to make the Ravens' 53-man roster that year.
In his first season, he played on special teams. He made 16 tackles and blocked a punt. He also set a team record with 2 safeties in one season.
In 2009, Jameel started his first NFL game. He played against the Indianapolis Colts. He finished that season with 30 tackles. In 2010, he started all 16 games and had 71 tackles.
The 2011 season was a great one for McClain. He had a career-high 84 tackles. He also recovered 2 fumbles and had 1 sack.
In 2012, McClain continued to be a key player for the Ravens. He made 79 tackles. That year, he helped the Ravens win the Super Bowl XLVII championship. During a game in Week 14, he suffered a serious spinal cord injury. Doctors told him he might not play football again.
After his injury, Jameel worked hard to recover. He spent 10 months in rehabilitation. He returned to play in Week 7 of the 2013 season. He played 13 games and made 52 tackles. On February 27, 2014, the Ravens released him.
Playing for the New York Giants
On March 13, 2014, Jameel McClain signed with the New York Giants. In his first season with the Giants, he played in all 16 games. He started 14 of those games.
He led the Giants with a career-high 117 tackles. He also had 2.5 sacks and forced a fumble. On September 5, 2015, he was released by the Giants.
Personal Life and Community Work
.jpg)
Jameel McClain is very active in helping his community. He remembers his own tough childhood. He and his family sometimes relied on the Salvation Army for food and shelter. These experiences made him want to help others.
He earned a scholarship to Syracuse University and later joined the NFL. Since 2008, he has worked closely with the Salvation Army in Baltimore. He is their spokesperson and speaks at their annual Red Kettle Campaign.
In 2009, Jameel and other Ravens players helped distribute gifts to families in need. He also worked with the United Way on "Extreme Makeover" projects. These projects helped fix up community centers.
Jameel started a Thanksgiving event called the "53 Families Dinner." This event provides a hot Thanksgiving meal to people in need at the Salvation Army. This dinner continues to be a success each year. He also helps organize the "Jameel McClain Coat Drive." This drive gives new winter coats to about 300 children in Baltimore.
Jameel has been honored for his community work. The NAACP recognized his efforts to help youth and disadvantaged people. In 2013, he received the Ed Block Courage Award for his charitable work in Baltimore.
On July 2, 2016, Jameel married Keisha Nichole Sullivan in Baltimore, Maryland.
Images for kids
-
McClain practicing at M&T Bank Stadium in 2011
-
McClain at the CIAA Welcome Reception in Baltimore in 2023.
