Jason Ferguson (American football) facts for kids
Ferguson with the Miami Dolphins in 2009
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| Position: | Nose tackle | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | November 28, 1974 Nettleton, Mississippi, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 310 lb (141 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Nettleton (MS) | ||||||||
| College: | Georgia | ||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1997 / Round: 7 / Pick: 229 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||
Jason O. Ferguson (born November 28, 1974) is a former professional football player. He played as a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). Ferguson played for the New York Jets, Dallas Cowboys, and Miami Dolphins. The Jets chose him in the seventh round of the 1997 NFL draft. He played college football at the University of Georgia.
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Early Life and High School Sports
Jason Ferguson grew up in Nettleton, Mississippi. He went to Nettleton High School. There, he was a talented athlete in many sports. He played football, basketball, and was on the track and field team. In high school football, he was named "All-South" twice. He was also an "All-District" player three times.
College Football Career
Ferguson started his college journey at Itawamba Community College. He was a top player there, earning "All-Area" honors twice. He was also named "All-State." In 1994, as a sophomore, he became a Junior College All-American. That year, he made 88 tackles and 2.5 sacks.
He then decided to play for the Georgia Bulldogs. He played for them in 1995 and 1996. He was a strong player on their defensive line. In one exciting game against Auburn, Ferguson made a game-winning play. He sacked the quarterback in the fourth overtime. This helped Georgia win the game 56–49.
Professional Football Journey
Jason Ferguson was picked by the New York Jets in the 1997 NFL Draft. He was the 229th player chosen overall. The Jets' coach, Bill Parcells, saw his potential.
Playing for the New York Jets
When Ferguson joined the Jets, he played as a nose tackle. This position is very important in a 3-4 defense football strategy. He shared playing time in his first year. By 1998, he became the main starter. In 1999, he was suspended for four games. This happened because he failed a league drug test. After signing a big contract in 2000, he got a serious shoulder injury. This injury made him miss the entire 2001 season. However, he came back strong. He played in all games during the 2002, 2003, and 2004 seasons.
Time with the Dallas Cowboys
After the 2004 season, Ferguson became a free agent. Many teams wanted him. He decided to join the Dallas Cowboys in 2005. This meant he would play for Bill Parcells again. He signed a five-year contract with the Cowboys. He started three games in 2005. In 2006, he became the full-time starter for the team. In 2007, he got a season-ending arm injury. This caused him to lose his starting spot. After that season, he was traded to the Miami Dolphins.
Joining the Miami Dolphins
In 2008, Ferguson joined the Miami Dolphins. This was the third team where he played for Bill Parcells. He became the Dolphins' starting nose tackle. He played in all games that year. The Dolphins' defense was very good at stopping running plays. In 2008, opponents only gained about 101 rushing yards per game against them.
In November 2009, Ferguson hurt his right knee. This injury made him miss the rest of the 2009 season. Many thought this injury might end his 13-year NFL career. He was planning to either re-sign with the Dolphins or retire. On March 6, 2010, Ferguson was suspended again. This was for the first eight games of the 2010 season. It was because he failed another league drug test. Three days later, he re-signed with the Dolphins. However, on July 15, 2010, Jason Ferguson announced his retirement from the NFL.
Images for kids
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Jason Ferguson playing for the Miami Dolphins.
