Jonathan Stewart facts for kids
Stewart with the Carolina Panthers in 2013
|
|||||||||||||
| No. 28 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Running back | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born: | March 21, 1987 Fort Lewis, Washington, U.S. |
||||||||||||
| Height: | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 245 lb (111 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | Timberline (Lacey, Washington) | ||||||||||||
| College: | Oregon (2005–2007) | ||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2008 / Round: 1 / Pick: 13 | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||||
Jonathan Creon Stewart (born March 21, 1987) is a former professional football player. He was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). Jonathan played college football for the Oregon Ducks. He was recognized as an All-American player.
The Carolina Panthers picked Stewart in the first round of the 2008 NFL draft. He was the 13th player chosen overall. He played for the Panthers for 10 seasons. During this time, he was selected for the 2016 Pro Bowl. After his time with the Panthers, he played one season with the New York Giants. Jonathan Stewart officially retired as a Panther in 2019.
Contents
Early Life and High School Football
Jonathan Stewart grew up to become the top rusher in Washington state high school football history. He played for Timberline High School in Lacey, Washington. From 2001 to 2004, he ran for an amazing 7,755 yards. He also scored 105 touchdowns.
As a freshman in 2001, he rushed for 1,279 yards. He scored 15 touchdowns that year. Even with an ankle injury as a sophomore in 2002, he still gained 1,609 yards. He scored 14 touchdowns. In 2003, his junior year, he rushed for 2,566 yards and scored 45 touchdowns. During his senior year in 2004, he ran for 2,301 yards and scored 32 touchdowns. In one game against Centralia High School in 2002, Stewart rushed for 422 yards and scored nine touchdowns!
After his senior season, Jonathan received many awards. He was named to the Parade High School All-American team. He was also on the USA Today All-USA team. He was named the Washington Gatorade Player of the Year.
Track and Field Skills
Besides football, Jonathan Stewart was also a talented track & field athlete. He mainly competed as a sprinter. In 2003, he placed third in the 100 meters at a championship event. He ran his fastest 100-meter time in 2005, finishing in 10.78 seconds. This time is still the fastest ever at his high school.
When he went to the University of Oregon, Stewart also competed in the 60-meter dash. He set a personal best time of 6.88 seconds in 2007.
Choosing a College Team
Many top colleges wanted Jonathan Stewart to play for them. He chose the University of Oregon. Other schools that wanted him included USC, Notre Dame, and Ohio State.
College Football Career
Jonathan Stewart played college football for the Oregon Ducks. He showed his amazing talent right away.
Freshman Year: 2005 Season
In his first year, Stewart made a big impact. He returned two kickoffs for touchdowns. This made him the first player in Oregon's history to do that more than once. He led the entire nation in kickoff return average.
Stewart scored nine touchdowns in his freshman year. Six were from rushing, one from receiving, and two from kickoff returns. He scored five touchdowns in his first 20 times touching the football!
Sophomore Year: 2006 Season
Stewart became the team's leading rusher in his second year. He almost reached 1,000 rushing yards, even though he had some ankle injuries. He had five games where he rushed for over 100 yards. The Ducks won all five of those games. He also caught 20 passes for 144 yards and a touchdown. He finished the season with 10 rushing touchdowns and one receiving touchdown.
Junior Year: 2007 Season
The 2007 season was a huge year for Stewart. He helped the Ducks start with a 4–0 record. In a game against Michigan, he ran for 111 yards and a touchdown. Against Fresno State, he had 165 rushing yards and two touchdowns. One of his touchdowns was an 88-yard run, the longest ever at Autzen Stadium!
Against Stanford, Stewart gained a career-best 310 all-purpose yards. This included 160 rushing yards. In a game against Washington, he set a career high with 251 rushing yards and two touchdowns. This was the second-highest single-game total in Oregon's history.
Stewart finished his amazing season with a record-setting performance in the 2007 Sun Bowl. He rushed for a career-high 253 yards. This set a Sun Bowl record for rushing yards. He was named the C.M. Hendricks Most Valuable Player. For the 2007 season, he had 1,722 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns. He also had 22 receptions for 145 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns.
At the end of 2007, Stewart was chosen for the All-Pacific-10 Conference first-team. He also received All-America honors.
College Awards and Honors
- First-team All-Pac-10 (2007)
- Second-team All-Pac-10 (2006)
- Pac-10 All-Freshman Team (2005)
- Sun Bowl Champions (2007)
- Sun Bowl MVP (2007)
- 2005 NCAA leader in kick return touchdowns (2 TDs)
- 2006 NCAA leader in kick return yards (646 yds)
- 2007 Pac-10 leader in rushing yards (1,722 yds)
College Statistics
| Oregon Ducks | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | GP | Rushing | Receiving | Kick Returns | |||||||||||
| Att | Yds | Avg | 100+ | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | Ret | Yds | Lng | TD | ||
| 2005 | 10 | 53 | 188 | 3.5 | 0 | 33 | 6 | 7 | 45 | 6.4 | 1 | 12 | 404 | 97 | 2 |
| 2006 | 13 | 183 | 981 | 5.4 | 5 | 63 | 10 | 20 | 144 | 7.2 | 1 | 23 | 646 | 68 | 0 |
| 2007 | 13 | 280 | 1,722 | 6.2 | 9 | 88 | 11 | 22 | 145 | 6.6 | 2 | 23 | 614 | 64 | 0 |
| Career | 36 | 516 | 2,891 | 5.6 | 14 | 88 | 27 | 49 | 334 | 6.8 | 4 | 58 | 1,664 | 97 | 2 |
Professional Football Career
Jonathan Stewart decided to enter the NFL Draft after his junior year of college. He was considered one of the top running backs available.
Carolina Panthers: A Decade of Play
The Carolina Panthers drafted Jonathan Stewart in the first round of the 2008 NFL draft. He was the 13th player picked overall. He signed a big contract with the team.
Rookie Season: 2008
Stewart shared playing time with another running back, DeAngelo Williams. In his first game, he ran for 53 yards. In his second game, he scored his first two NFL touchdowns. He finished his rookie season with 10 rushing touchdowns, a new record for a Panthers rookie. He also had 836 rushing yards.
Dynamic Duo: 2009
Stewart and Williams became a powerful running back duo. In one game, Stewart rushed for 206 yards, a team record. This performance helped him reach over 1,000 rushing yards for the season. He and Williams became the first running back pair in NFL history to each rush for over 1,100 yards in a single season. Stewart finished with 1,133 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Later Seasons with Panthers
Stewart continued to be a key player for the Panthers. He often shared carries with other running backs. In 2011, with rookie quarterback Cam Newton, the Panthers had one of the best rushing attacks in the NFL.
In 2012 and 2013, Stewart faced challenges with injuries. He missed several games during these seasons.
Strong Comeback: 2014
Stewart had a strong season in 2014. He rushed for 155 yards in a game against the New Orleans Saints. He also had a career-long 69-yard touchdown run. He finished the regular season with 809 rushing yards and three touchdowns. In the playoffs, he rushed for 123 yards and a touchdown in a win against the Arizona Cardinals.
Super Bowl Appearance: 2015
The 2015 season was a memorable one for Stewart and the Panthers. He had several impressive games, including two touchdowns against the Seattle Seahawks. He finished the season with 989 rushing yards and six touchdowns. He was ranked eighth in the NFL for rushing yards.
In the playoffs, Stewart rushed for 106 yards and two touchdowns against the Seahawks. He also helped the Panthers win the NFC Championship game. The Panthers made it to Super Bowl 50. In the Super Bowl, Stewart scored the Panthers' only touchdown. However, the Panthers lost to the Denver Broncos.
Final Seasons with Panthers: 2016-2017
Stewart continued to be a strong runner for the Panthers in 2016. He had three games where he scored two touchdowns. He led the team with 824 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns.
In 2017, the Panthers drafted another talented running back, Christian McCaffrey. Stewart still had a great game against the Minnesota Vikings, rushing for 103 yards and three touchdowns. He finished the season with 680 rushing yards and six touchdowns.
On February 28, 2018, Stewart was released by the Panthers. He left as the team's all-time leading rusher.
Panthers Franchise Records
As of 2017, Jonathan Stewart holds many records for the Carolina Panthers:
- Most career rush attempts (1,501)
- Most career rush yards (7,318)
- Most rushing touchdowns in playoffs (5)
- Most rushing touchdowns in a playoff season (3 in 2015)
- Most rushing touchdowns in a playoff game (2 vs. Seahawks in 2016)
- Most 100+ rushing yard games in playoffs (2)
New York Giants: 2018 Season
In March 2018, Stewart signed a contract with the New York Giants. He played in three games before a foot injury placed him on injured reserve. He had 17 rushing yards for the Giants. The Giants decided not to keep him for the next season.
Retirement from Football
On April 23, 2019, Jonathan Stewart signed a special one-day contract. This allowed him to officially retire as a member of the Carolina Panthers.
NFL Career Statistics
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Bold | Career high |
Regular Season
| Year | Team | Games | Rushing | Receiving | Kickoff Returns | Fumbles | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Ret | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2008 | CAR | 16 | 0 | 184 | 836 | 4.5 | 41 | 10 | 8 | 47 | 5.9 | 15 | 0 | 15 | 349 | 23.3 | 38 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 2009 | CAR | 16 | 3 | 221 | 1,133 | 5.1 | 67 | 10 | 18 | 139 | 7.7 | 19 | 1 | 2 | 17 | 8.5 | 17 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| 2010 | CAR | 14 | 7 | 178 | 770 | 4.3 | 48 | 2 | 8 | 103 | 12.9 | 55 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 4 |
| 2011 | CAR | 16 | 3 | 142 | 761 | 5.4 | 32 | 4 | 47 | 413 | 8.8 | 26 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| 2012 | CAR | 9 | 6 | 93 | 332 | 3.6 | 21 | 1 | 17 | 157 | 9.2 | 30 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 |
| 2013 | CAR | 6 | 1 | 48 | 180 | 3.8 | 16 | 0 | 7 | 44 | 6.3 | 16 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| 2014 | CAR | 13 | 8 | 175 | 809 | 4.6 | 69 | 3 | 25 | 181 | 7.2 | 22 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 |
| 2015 | CAR | 13 | 13 | 242 | 989 | 4.1 | 44 | 6 | 16 | 99 | 6.2 | 15 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 2 |
| 2016 | CAR | 13 | 13 | 218 | 824 | 3.8 | 47 | 9 | 8 | 60 | 7.5 | 25 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 2 |
| 2017 | CAR | 15 | 10 | 198 | 680 | 3.4 | 60 | 6 | 8 | 52 | 6.5 | 21 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 3 |
| 2018 | NYG | 3 | 0 | 6 | 17 | 2.8 | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 134 | 64 | 1,705 | 7,335 | 4.3 | 69 | 51 | 162 | 1,295 | 8.0 | 55 | 7 | 17 | 366 | 21.5 | 38 | 0 | 24 | 15 | |
Postseason
| Year | Team | Games | Rushing | Receiving | Fumbles | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2008 | CAR | 1 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 4.0 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 39 | 13.0 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2013 | CAR | 0 | 0 | did not play due to injury | |||||||||||
| 2014 | CAR | 2 | 2 | 37 | 193 | 5.2 | 35 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0.5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 2015 | CAR | 3 | 3 | 50 | 218 | 4.4 | 59 | 3 | 4 | 9 | 2.3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | CAR | 1 | 1 | 11 | 51 | 4.6 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 7 | 6 | 101 | 474 | 4.7 | 59 | 5 | 9 | 49 | 5.4 | 18 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
Personal Life
Jonathan Stewart is married to Natalie Hills. They welcomed their first child, a daughter named Kaia Grey, on March 9, 2017.
Music Career
Jonathan Stewart is also an aspiring music producer. He enjoys making music and playing instruments like the piano. He sees music as a passion, not just a way to make money. He wants his music to be positive and uplifting. He believes that both football and music are gifts that he loves to share.
