Leigh Bodden facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Leigh Bodden

Bodden with the Patriots in 2009
No. 28, 23
Position:	Cornerback
Personal information
Born:	(1981-09-24) September 24, 1981 (age 43) Hyattsville, Maryland, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:	193 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school:	Northwestern (Hyattsville, Maryland)
College:	Duquesne
Undrafted:	2003
Career history
Cleveland Browns (2003–2007) Detroit Lions (2008) New England Patriots (2009–2011)
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles: 367 Forced fumbles: 7 Fumble recoveries: 7 Pass deflections: 83 Interceptions: 18 Defensive touchdowns: 1
Player stats at PFR

Leigh Edmond Bodden (born September 24, 1981) is a former American football player. He played as a cornerback. Leigh was not chosen in the NFL draft in 2003. But he was signed by the Cleveland Browns. He also played for the Detroit Lions and the New England Patriots.

Early Life and High School Football

Leigh Bodden was born in Hyattsville, Maryland. He went to Northwestern High School there. In 1998, his last year, he helped his team, the Wildcats, get a great record. They won 10 games and lost only 2.

College Football Career

Leigh Bodden played college football at Duquesne University. He set many records for interceptions there. An interception is when a defensive player catches a pass meant for an offensive player. In 2002, his senior year, he caught seven passes. He even caught three in one game against Iona College.

Duquesne's defense was one of the best in college football that year. It was ranked number one in total defense and scoring defense. Leigh was also a champion in the long jump for the Atlantic 10 Conference in 2002.

In his last season, Leigh was named an All-American player. He was also the Defensive Player of the Year for his conference. He caught 28 interceptions during his time at Duquesne. This was the second-highest number in the country during that period.

Professional Football Career

Even though Leigh had a strong college career, he was not picked in the 2003 NFL draft. But the Cleveland Browns signed him as a free agent. He earned a spot on their 53-player team.

Playing for the Cleveland Browns

In his first year (2003), Leigh played in 13 games. He was a key player on special teams. He also played as a nickel cornerback, which is a defensive position. He got his first NFL interception against the Arizona Cardinals.

In 2004, Leigh continued to be a strong player on special teams. He led the team with 18 special tackles. He also forced his first fumble. A forced fumble is when a defensive player makes an offensive player drop the ball. His season ended early due to a shoulder injury.

The 2005 season was a big one for Leigh. He became a starting cornerback for the Browns. He played well, even after missing some games due to injury. He had seven tackles and an interception against the Cincinnati Bengals. He also had interceptions in games against Houston and Oakland. His strong play helped the Browns win against the Baltimore Ravens. Because of his good performance, he signed a four-year contract extension.

In 2006, Leigh dealt with more injuries. He played in nine games and had two interceptions. In 2007, he started all 16 games. He had a career-high six interceptions and 88 tackles.

Time with the Detroit Lions

In 2008, Leigh Bodden was traded to the Detroit Lions. He started all 16 games for the Lions that season. He recorded 73 tackles and one interception. The Lions released him in February 2009.

Joining the New England Patriots

Leigh signed a one-year contract with the New England Patriots in March 2009. He played in 15 games and started 14 of them. In a game against the New York Jets, he had an amazing performance. He intercepted the Jets quarterback, Mark Sanchez, three times! One of those interceptions he returned 56 yards for a touchdown. He finished the season with five interceptions, which was the most on his team. He also had 55 tackles.

In 2010, Leigh signed a new four-year contract with the Patriots. However, he was placed on injured reserve in August 2010 because of a shoulder injury. This meant he missed the entire 2010 NFL season. Leigh was released by the Patriots in October 2011. After that, he decided to retire from playing football.

NFL Career Statistics

Regular Season Stats

Playoff Stats

Political Career

After his football career, Leigh Bodden became involved in politics. In 2022, he ran for the position of Prince George's County Executive. This is a top leadership role in Prince George's County, Maryland. He ran in the Democratic primary election but did not win. The current County Executive, Angela Alsobrooks, won the primary.

Images for kids

• 

  Leigh Bodden with the Patriots in 2009