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Joe Webb
refer to caption
Webb with the Carolina Panthers in 2016
No. 14, 5, 19
Position: Quarterback
Personal information
Born: (1986-11-14) November 14, 1986 (age 38)
Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.
Height: 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight: 231 lb (105 kg)
Career information
High school: Wenonah (Birmingham, Alabama)
College: UAB (2005–2009)
NFL Draft: 2010 / Round: 6 / Pick: 199
Career history
Career highlights and awards
  • C-USA Offensive Player of the Year (2009)
  • Second-team All-C-USA (2009)
Career NFL statistics
Passing yards: 888
TDINT: 3–6
Passer rating: 63.1
Receiving yards: 74
Rushing yards: 326
Rushing touchdowns: 4
Return yards: 401
Player stats at PFR

Joseph "Joe" Webb III (born November 14, 1986) is an American athlete who used to play professional American football. He was mainly a quarterback, but he also played as a wide receiver (someone who catches passes) and a kick returner (someone who runs back kickoffs). Joe Webb played college football for the UAB Blazers. He was then chosen by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2010 NFL draft. He also played for other teams like the Carolina Panthers, Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans, and New York Giants. Joe Webb holds an NFL record for the most tackles made by a quarterback.

Early Life and High School Football

Joe Webb was born to Joseph and Wanda Webb. He went to Ensley High School from 2001 to 2004. Later, he moved to Wenonah High School in 2004.

At Wenonah, he was recognized as an honorable mention for Class 5A All-State. He helped his team reach the first round of state playoffs. Joe also set a school record by throwing four touchdowns in one game. He gained 415 passing yards in that game. Besides football, Joe Webb also played basketball and baseball. He was also a member of the National Honor Society, showing he was a good student.

College Football Career

Joe Webb started his college journey at the UAB in 2005. He spent his first year as a redshirt, meaning he practiced with the team but didn't play in games.

Starting at UAB

In 2006, Joe got his first chance to play in the 11th game of the season. He started the last two games. In the final game against the University of Central Florida, he completed 33 of 51 passes. This was 64.7 percent of his throws, for 426 yards and one touchdown. This was the most passing yards for any UAB quarterback that year.

For the 2007 season, Joe played a lot as a wide receiver. He started seven games and caught 30 passes for 459 yards. He also scored three touchdown catches.

Becoming a Star Quarterback

The 2008 season was Joe Webb's first full year as UAB's starting quarterback. He started all 12 games. He broke a C-USA record for rushing yards by a quarterback in one season, with 1,021 yards. He was also ranked fourth in the nation for rushing yards among quarterbacks. His teammates voted him a permanent team captain.

As a junior, Joe Webb made history. He became the first player in NCAA history to pass for over 2,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards in two years in a row. He was ranked among the top 12 players nationally in three areas:

  • Total offense (5th)
  • Rushing (10th)
  • Passing efficiency (12th)

In his senior year (2009), Joe finished with 2,299 passing yards and 1,427 rushing yards. He was named the Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year for 2009.

Overall, in his college career, Joe Webb had 5,771 passing yards and 2,774 rushing yards. This added up to an amazing 8,545 total offensive yards. He also scored 37 passing touchdowns, 24 rushing touchdowns, and four receiving touchdowns.

Pro Day Performance

Even though Joe wasn't invited to the NFL Combine, he showed off his skills at UAB's Pro Day. He worked out as a wide receiver. His numbers were better than many receivers at the NFL Combine:

  • His vertical jump was 42.5 inches (108 cm).
  • His standing long jump was 11 feet 5.5 inches (3.5 meters).
  • He did 21 reps on the bench press at 225 pounds (102 kg).
  • He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.43 seconds.

College Statistics

Season Team Passing Rushing Receiving
Cmp Att Pct Yds Y/A TD Int Rtg Att Yds Avg TD Rec Yds Avg TD
2006 UAB 33 51 64.7 426 8.4 1 0 141.3 24 38 1.6 1 0 0 0.0 0
2007 UAB 65 117 55.6 679 5.8 5 1 116.7 67 288 4.3 1 30 459 15.3 3
2008 UAB 208 353 58.9 2,367 6.7 10 16 115.5 198 1,021 5.2 11 0 0 0.0 0
2009 UAB 162 271 59.8 2,299 8.5 21 8 150.7 227 1,427 6.3 11 2 12 6.0 1
Career 468 792 59.1 5,771 7.3 37 25 129.4 516 2,774 5.4 24 32 471 14.7 4

Professional Football Career

Joe Webb was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL draft. He was the 199th player chosen overall.

Minnesota Vikings (2010–2013)

Joe Webb at Vikings training camp 2011 (cropped)
Webb at the Vikings training camp in 2011.

When he was drafted, the Vikings thought he could play both quarterback and wide receiver. However, the head coach decided Joe would only play quarterback for the team.

2010 Season Highlights

  • Joe Webb's first NFL game was on December 5, 2010. He returned the opening kickoff, becoming the first Vikings quarterback to do so.
  • He made his quarterback debut on December 13, 2010.
  • On December 20, 2010, he scored his first professional touchdown as a quarterback. He filled in for an injured player and rushed for 38 yards and a touchdown.
  • On December 28, 2010, Joe Webb made his first career start. He helped the Vikings win 24–14 against the Philadelphia Eagles. He rushed for one touchdown and threw for 195 yards.

2011 Season Highlights

In 2011, the Vikings sometimes used a special "blazer package" for Joe. This package was designed for his unique skills.

  • In a game against the Detroit Lions, Joe came into the game when his team was losing. He almost led a comeback victory.
  • He threw his first professional touchdown pass and rushed for 109 yards. This included a 65-yard touchdown run, which was a record for Vikings quarterbacks.
  • On December 24, 2011, Joe helped the team win 33–26 against the Washington Redskins. He threw for 84 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for another touchdown.

2012 and 2013 Seasons

In 2012, Joe Webb's role as a quarterback was limited. He started a playoff game against the Green Bay Packers. He threw for 180 yards and one touchdown, but the Vikings lost.

In 2013, the Vikings considered having Joe play other positions. On May 15, it was confirmed he would switch to wide receiver. He caught five passes for 33 yards that year.

Carolina Panthers (2014–2016)

Cam Newton, Joe Webb Dec 2016
Webb and Cam Newton in 2016

Joe Webb signed with the Carolina Panthers on March 21, 2014. Even though he said he didn't want to play quarterback again, he was the third-string quarterback for the Panthers. He didn't throw any passes but sometimes played as a wide receiver. His main job with the Panthers was returning kickoffs.

  • In 2015, he continued to be a kick returner.
  • On January 3, 2016, he recovered a fumble against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
  • On February 7, 2016, Joe Webb played in Super Bowl 50 as the team's kick returner. The Panthers lost to the Denver Broncos 24–10.
  • He was released by the Panthers on September 2, 2017.

Buffalo Bills (2017)

Joe Webb joined the Buffalo Bills on September 4, 2017. He played in special formations and on special teams. He also played quarterback in a snowy game against the Indianapolis Colts on December 10. The Bills won that game 13–7 in overtime.

Houston Texans (2018–2019)

On April 5, 2018, Joe Webb signed with the Houston Texans. He was released but then re-signed the next day. He signed again with the Texans on March 21, 2019. On August 31, 2019, he was placed on injured reserve.

Detroit Lions (2020)

On September 23, 2020, Joe Webb was signed to the Detroit Lions practice squad as a wide receiver. He was released a month later.

New York Giants (2020–2021)

On December 8, 2020, Joe Webb was signed to the New York Giants' practice squad. He was moved to the active roster on December 19, 2020. He was later released by the Giants on May 18, 2021.

NFL Career Statistics

Year Team GP Passing Rushing Receiving Kick return
Cmp Att Pct Yds Avg TD Int Rtg Att Yds Avg Lng TD Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Ret Yds Avg Lng TD
2010 MIN 5 54 89 60.7 477 5.4 0 3 60.9 18 120 6.7 16 2 0 0 0.0 0 0 1 30 30.0 30 0
2011 MIN 11 34 63 54.0 376 6.0 3 2 74.6 22 154 7.0 65 2 1 9 9.0 9 0 0 0 0.0 0 0
2012 MIN 1 0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0 0.0 1 −1 −1.0 −1 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0
2013 MIN 16 0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0.0 0 0 5 33 6.6 15 0 1 9 9.0 9 0
2014 CAR 7 0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0.0 0 0 1 16 16.0 16 0 2 53 26.5 27 0
2015 CAR 16 0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0 0.0 1 −1 −1.0 −1 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 8 178 22.3 27 0
2016 CAR 14 0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0.0 0 0 1 3 3.0 3 0 6 131 21.8 37 0
2017 BUF 16 2 7 28.6 35 5.0 0 1 8.3 8 54 6.8 22 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0
2018 HOU 16 0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0
2020 NYG 2 0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0
Career 104 90 159 56.6 888 5.6 3 6 63.1 50 326 6.5 65 4 10 74 7.6 16 0 18 401 22.3 37 0

Boxing Career

Joe Webb also tried professional boxing. He made his boxing debut on Saturday, August 5, 2023, at Bartow Arena. His first fight ended in a majority draw, which means most of the judges thought it was a tie.

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