Richard Seymour facts for kids
Seymour with the Oakland Raiders in 2010
|
|||||||||||||
| No. 93, 92 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Defensive end | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born: | October 6, 1979 Gadsden, South Carolina, U.S. |
||||||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 317 lb (144 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | Lower Richland (Hopkins, South Carolina) |
||||||||||||
| College: | Georgia (1997–2000) | ||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2001 / Round: 1 / Pick: 6 | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||||
|
Pro Football Hall of Fame
|
|||||||||||||
Richard Vershaun Seymour (born October 6, 1979) is a former American football star who played as a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL). He is best known for his time with the New England Patriots and the Oakland Raiders. Before turning pro, he played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs. The Patriots chose him as the sixth overall pick in the 2001 NFL draft.
During his amazing career, Seymour was known as one of the best defensive linemen in the entire league. He played in seven Pro Bowls, was named to five All-Pro teams, and helped the Patriots win three Super Bowl championships. Because of his incredible talent and success, Seymour was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2022.
Seymour was so versatile that he was selected to the Pro Bowl as both a 3-4 defensive end and a 4-3 defensive tackle. He even sometimes played fullback in special situations near the goal line. After retiring from football, he found a new passion and became a professional poker player.
Contents
Early Life and High School
Richard Seymour grew up in Hopkins, South Carolina, where he attended Lower Richland High School. He was a standout football player from the beginning. As a senior, he was named the team's best defensive lineman and served as a team captain. He finished his final high school season with an impressive 83 tackles and 8 sacks.
College Football Career
Seymour played for the University of Georgia from 1997 to 2000. He was a key part of a very strong defensive line that included three other players who would also become first-round NFL draft picks.
Over his four years with the Georgia Bulldogs, Seymour played in 41 games and started 25 of them. He recorded 223 tackles, 9.5 sacks, and 35 quarterback pressures. His excellent performance earned him a spot on the first-team All-Southeastern Conference in both 1999 and 2000. In his senior year, he was named a first-team All-American, one of the highest honors for a college player.
Professional NFL Career
Seymour's talent was clear to everyone, and he was one of the top players chosen in the 2001 NFL draft. His professional career was filled with championships and personal awards.
New England Patriots (2001–2008)
The New England Patriots drafted Seymour with the sixth overall pick. In his first year, he helped the team win Super Bowl XXXVI against the St. Louis Rams. This was just the beginning of a successful run for Seymour and the Patriots.
From 2003 to 2004, Seymour was a dominant force on defense. The Patriots switched to a 3-4 defense, and Seymour moved to the defensive end position. He was named a team captain and had a career-high eight sacks in 2003. The team went on to win Super Bowl XXXVIII. For his efforts, Seymour was named a first-team All-Pro and was elected to the 2004 Pro Bowl.
The next year, the Patriots won again, defeating the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX. This gave Seymour his third Super Bowl ring in just four years. He was again named a first-team All-Pro and selected for the Pro Bowl.
Over the next few seasons, Seymour continued to play at a high level, earning more Pro Bowl selections. Even when dealing with injuries, he remained a key leader on the Patriots' defense. By the end of his time in New England, he was recognized as one of the franchise's all-time greatest players.
Oakland Raiders (2009–2012)
In 2009, the Patriots traded Seymour to the Oakland Raiders. He continued to be an impact player for his new team. In his first game with the Raiders, he recorded six tackles and two sacks.
Seymour played four seasons with the Raiders, providing veteran leadership and strong play on the defensive line. He was selected to the Pro Bowl and the 2012 Pro Bowl during his time in Oakland. In 2010, he was involved in an on-field incident with Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and was fined by the league.
After the 2012 season, Seymour became a free agent. Although several teams were interested in him, he eventually decided to retire from professional football.
Life After Football
After his football career ended, Seymour didn't slow down. He turned his focus to another competitive field: professional poker.
| Richard Seymour | |
|---|---|
| Residence | Gadsden, South Carolina, United States |
| Born | October 6, 1979 |
| World Series of Poker | |
| Bracelet(s) | None |
| Money finish(es) | 1 |
| Highest ITM Main Event finish |
131st |
| World Poker Tour | |
| Title(s) | None |
| Final table(s) | None |
| Money finish(es) | None |
Seymour plays poker as a hobby and has competed in major tournaments. He participated in the 2019 World Series of Poker main event, where he finished in 131st place. He also played in the 2023 World Series of Poker main event.
In October 2024, Seymour became a part-owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, the team he once played for.
Awards and Honors
Seymour's career was filled with many achievements.
NFL
- 3× Super Bowl champion (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX)
- 3× First-team All-Pro (2003–2005)
- 2× Second-team All-Pro (2006, 2011)
- 7× Pro Bowl selection (2002–2006, 2010, 2011)
- NFL 2000s All-Decade Team
- New England Patriots Hall of Fame
College
- First-team All-American (2000)
- 2× First-team All-SEC (1999, 2000)
