Jerrell Freeman facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Jerrell Freeman

Freeman with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2010
No. 50
Position:	Linebacker
Personal information
Born:	(1986-05-01) May 1, 1986 (age 39) Waco, Texas, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:	236 lb (107 kg)
Career information
High school:	Waco (TX) University
College:	Mary Hardin-Baylor
Undrafted:	2008
Career history
Tennessee Titans (2008)* Saskatchewan Roughriders (2009–2011) Indianapolis Colts (2012–2015) Chicago Bears (2016–2017)
Career highlights and awards
Norm Fieldgate Trophy (2011) CFL All-Star (2011) CFL West All-Star (2011) D3Football.com Defensive Player of the Year (2007)
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles: 597 Sacks: 12.0 Interceptions: 4 Forced fumbles: 8 Fumble recoveries: 3 Defensive touchdowns: 2
Career CFL statistics
Total tackles: 144 Sacks: 13 Interceptions: 3
Player stats at PFR
Player stats at CFL.ca (archive)

Jerrell Alexander Freeman (born May 1, 1986) is a former American football player. He was a linebacker in both the National Football League (NFL) and the Canadian Football League (CFL).

Jerrell played college football for the Mary Hardin-Baylor Crusaders. Even though he was not chosen in the NFL draft, the Tennessee Titans signed him in 2008. After that, he played three seasons in the CFL for the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He was the top tackler in the CFL in 2011. In 2012, he joined the NFL's Indianapolis Colts, and later played for the Chicago Bears.

College Football Journey

Jerrell Freeman played four seasons of college football for the Mary Hardin-Baylor Crusaders. His coach was Pete Fredenburg. He was named an All-American twice by D3football.com. In 2007, he was even named the D3Football.com Defensive Player of the Year.

When he finished college, he was the school's all-time leader in tackles. In his final year, he made 59 tackles, stopped opponents for a loss 18 times, and had six quarterback sacks.

Professional Football Career

Jerrell Freeman had an exciting career playing professional football. He played for teams in both the NFL and the CFL.

Starting with the Tennessee Titans

Even though Jerrell was not picked in the 2008 NFL draft, the Tennessee Titans signed him right after the draft ended. This made him the first player from Mary Hardin-Baylor to reach the NFL. However, the Titans released him before the 2008 NFL season began.

Playing in the CFL with the Saskatchewan Roughriders

In March 2009, Freeman signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the CFL. During the 2009 CFL season, he mostly played on special teams. He led his team with 25 special teams tackles. He was even nominated as the team's Most Outstanding Rookie.

In his second year with the Riders, Freeman played more as a regular linebacker. He started one game in the regular season. He also started two playoff games and the Grey Cup. Jerrell won the CFL Defensive Player of the Week award in week 7. He had three sacks against the BC Lions in that game. By the end of the season, he led his team with seven sacks.

The 2011 season was a huge year for Freeman. He led the entire CFL in tackles with 106. He won CFL Defensive Player of the Week in week 10. He also earned CFL Defensive Player of the Month for September.

Joining the Indianapolis Colts

In January 2012, Freeman signed with the Indianapolis Colts in the NFL. In his first game against the Chicago Bears, he caught an interception from Jay Cutler. He then ran it back for a touchdown in the first quarter.

Freeman had a great first season with the Colts. He finished with 145 tackles, which was the fifth-highest total in the league. He also had two sacks. In 2013, he won the AFC Defensive Player of the Week award. This was for his strong play in a 23–7 win over the Kansas City Chiefs. In that game, he had seven tackles, one sack, one forced fumble, and one interception.

For the 2013 season, he had 5.5 sacks and 126 total tackles. He also had two interceptions and six forced fumbles. In 2014, he made 95 tackles in 12 games. In Week 17 of the 2015 season, Freeman scored another touchdown. He returned an interception 23 yards in a win against the Tennessee Titans. He finished the 2015 season with three sacks and 112 total tackles in 13 games.

Time with the Chicago Bears

On March 12, 2016, Freeman signed a three-year contract with the Chicago Bears. He played in 12 games during the 2016 season. He finished with 110 total tackles.

On September 12, 2017, Freeman was placed on injured reserve. This happened after he got a pectoral injury and a concussion in Week 1. Later in 2017, Jerrell faced issues with league policies.

On May 2, 2018, Freeman announced he was retiring from the NFL. He mentioned that his playing career might be at risk due to injuries.

Career Statistics

Jerrell Freeman's career statistics show his performance in both regular season and playoff games.

Regular Season Stats

Postseason Stats