Josh Norman facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Josh Norman

Norman with the Washington Redskins in 2018
Position:	Cornerback
Personal information
Born:	(1987-12-15) December 15, 1987 (age 37) Greenwood, South Carolina, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:	200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High school:	Greenwood
College:	Coastal Carolina (2008–2011)
NFL Draft:	2012 / Round: 5 / Pick: 143
Career history
Carolina Panthers (2012) Washington Redskins (2016) Buffalo Bills (2020) San Francisco 49ers (2021) Carolina Panthers (2022) Buffalo Bills (2023)
Career highlights and awards
First-team All-Pro (2015) Pro Bowl (2015) First-team FCS All-American (2011) 3× first-team All-Big South (2009–2011)
Career NFL statistics as of 2023
Total tackles: 501 Forced fumbles: 20 Fumble recoveries: 7 Pass deflections: 88 Interceptions: 16 Defensive touchdowns: 3
Player stats at PFR

Joshua Ricardo Norman (born December 15, 1987) is an American professional football player. He is known for playing as a cornerback, a defensive position. Josh played college football for the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers. He was picked by the Carolina Panthers in the 2012 NFL draft. Norman also played for the Washington Redskins, Buffalo Bills, and San Francisco 49ers. At one point, he was considered one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL. He also appeared on the TV show Dancing with the Stars in 2018, where he finished as the runner-up.

Early Life and High School

Josh Norman grew up in Greenwood, South Carolina. He went to Greenwood High School. There, he played football with other future NFL players like Armanti Edwards and D. J. Swearinger. In 2006, Josh was the only player on his high school team who played both offense and defense. That year, his team won the South Carolina State Championship.

He was named an All-State football player. He also got to play in the North-South All-Star Game. Besides football, Josh played basketball, baseball, and ran track in high school. Even with all his success, he didn't get any scholarship offers from big Division I colleges.

College Football Journey

Josh started his college studies at Horry Georgetown Tech. He lived with his brother, Marrio Norman, who had a football scholarship at Coastal Carolina. In 2008, Josh was offered a chance to join the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers team as a "walk-on." This means he joined without a scholarship at first. He later earned a scholarship and studied communications and dramatic arts.

In his first year at Coastal Carolina (2008), Josh played in all 12 games. He started 7 of them. In his first start, he made his first interception. He ended the year with 35 tackles and 2 interceptions. He was named Big South Freshman of the Week once.

In his second year, Josh became a third-team All-American. He set a league record with 8 interceptions, which was second-best in the nation. He also led the league with 15 pass breakups. He was named Big South Defensive Player of the Week after getting 3 interceptions in one game.

Josh continued to excel in his junior year, earning first-team All-Big South again. By the end of his college career, he had 11 interceptions and 23 pass breakups. These numbers tied for second-best in Coastal Carolina history.

Starting His NFL Career

Getting Drafted

After college, Josh Norman was invited to play in special games where NFL scouts watch players. He impressed them by intercepting many passes during practices. Even though his speed test results were just okay, he was still seen as a good player. NFL teams started to consider him for the draft.

The Carolina Panthers picked Josh Norman in the fifth round of the 2012 NFL draft. He was the 143rd player chosen overall. He was only the third player ever drafted from Coastal Carolina.

Carolina Panthers: First Time (2012-2015)

Early Years (2012-2014)

In 2012, Josh signed a four-year contract with the Panthers. He became a starting cornerback right away. In his first game, he had 4 tackles. Later that season, he made his first NFL interception against the Chicago Bears. However, he struggled towards the end of his rookie year and played less.

In 2013, Josh was benched for most of the season. This happened after a misunderstanding on the field led to an opponent scoring a touchdown. He played in only 7 games that year.

In 2014, Josh worked hard to earn his spot back. He became a starting cornerback again. He started to show his talent as a "shutdown corner." This means he was very good at guarding the other team's best wide receiver. He limited top receivers like Jeremy Maclin, Julio Jones, and Mike Evans. He finished the season with 48 tackles and 2 interceptions. The Panthers made it to the playoffs, and Josh played well in those games too.

Breakout Season (2015)

The 2015 season was amazing for Josh Norman. He started strong, getting an interception and a touchdown in the first game. He continued to play incredibly well, making it very hard for opposing quarterbacks to complete passes against him. He was named the NFC's Defensive Player of the Month for September.

He had a memorable game against the New Orleans Saints, sealing a win with an interception in the end zone. He also had a famous matchup with Odell Beckham Jr. of the New York Giants. This game was very intense, with both players getting penalties. The NFL even made a new rule because of it!

For the 2015 season, Josh had 56 tackles, 4 interceptions, and 3 forced fumbles. He helped the Panthers win 15 games and reach Super Bowl 50. He was named First-team All-Pro, which means he was one of the best players in the league at his position. He was also ranked 11th among all NFL players by his peers.

After the 2015 season, the Panthers decided not to keep Josh Norman on a special contract, making him a free agent.

Washington Redskins (2016-2019)

In 2016, Josh Norman signed a big five-year contract with the Washington Redskins. This made him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history at the time. He continued to play well, recording 67 tackles and 3 interceptions in his first year with the team. He was ranked 59th among all NFL players by his peers.

Norman covering Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant in 2017

In 2017, Josh suffered a lung and rib injury during a game, which kept him out for a few weeks. He returned later in the season.

Norman making an interception against the Panthers in 2018

In 2018, he had 3 interceptions, including one against his former team, the Panthers.

Norman in a game against the New York Jets

In 2019, Josh had a sack and an interception early in the season. However, he later lost his starting spot due to his performance. In February 2020, he was released by the Redskins.

Later Career (2020-2023)

Buffalo Bills: First Time (2020)

In March 2020, Josh signed with the Buffalo Bills. He made an immediate impact, forcing and recovering a fumble in his first game that helped seal a win. He also scored his first touchdown as a Bill with an interception return.

San Francisco 49ers (2021)

In 2021, Josh joined the San Francisco 49ers. He had a career-high 7 forced fumbles that season.

Carolina Panthers: Second Time (2022)

In December 2022, Josh returned to the Carolina Panthers on their practice squad. He played in the final two games of the season.

Buffalo Bills: Second Time (2023)

In October 2023, Josh was signed to the Buffalo Bills practice squad again. His contract ended when the Bills' season finished in January 2024.

NFL Career Statistics

Postseason

Beyond Football

Josh Norman is part Native American. He has also been involved in charity work. In 2017, he donated $100,000 to help with recovery efforts in Puerto Rico after a hurricane.

In 2018, Josh appeared on the TV show Dancing with the Stars. He danced with professional dancer Sharna Burgess and finished as the runner-up. He also played in a celebrity softball game during the 2018 Major League Baseball All-Star Game event. Josh is a big fan of soccer and supports teams like Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain.

During the George Floyd protests in 2020, Josh Norman and another NFL player, Demario Davis, attended a press conference in Buffalo. They were there to support changes to the Buffalo Police Department.

See also

In Spanish: Josh Norman para niños