Ryan Pickett facts for kids
Pickett with the Green Bay Packers in 2011
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| Position: | Nose tackle | ||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born: | October 8, 1979 Zephyrhills, Florida, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight: | 340 lb (154 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school: | Zephyrhills | ||||||||||
| College: | Ohio State (1998–2000) | ||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2001 / Round: 1 / Pick: 29 | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||
Ryan Lamonte Pickett Sr. (born October 8, 1979) is a former American football player. He played as a nose tackle for 14 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). Ryan played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes.
The St. Louis Rams picked Ryan Pickett as the 29th player in the first round of the 2001 NFL draft. He also played for the Green Bay Packers and the Houston Texans. With the Packers, he helped his team win Super Bowl XLV against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
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Early Life and High School Sports
Ryan Pickett grew up in Zephyrhills, Florida. He was a very talented athlete in high school. Experts across the country named him one of the top 25 players. He also earned "All-State" honors at Zephyrhills High School.
As a senior, Ryan made 119 tackles and had seven sacks. This shows how strong he was on the football field.
But Ryan wasn't just good at football! He was also a star on the Zephyrhills basketball team. He scored about 10 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in each game. He even played first base for the school's baseball team until his senior year.
College Football Career
Ryan Pickett played college football at Ohio State University from 1998 to 2000. He was a starter for three years. He played in every game as a freshman. He started the last nine games as a right defensive tackle.
In his first year, he made 22 tackles and had two sacks. As a sophomore, Ryan started every game at right defensive tackle. He was named an "All-Big Ten" honorable mention. He had his best year with 48 tackles and three sacks.
In his junior year, he switched to left defensive tackle. He made 39 tackles and had three sacks. He also forced two fumbles. After his junior season, Ryan decided to leave college early. He entered the NFL Draft to become a professional player.
Playing in the NFL
St. Louis Rams Years
The St. Louis Rams chose Ryan Pickett as the 29th pick in the first round of the 2001 NFL draft. He signed a big contract with the Rams in July 2001.
In his first year, Ryan was a backup player. He also played on special teams. He played in 11 games and made 19 tackles. He helped the Rams reach Super Bowl XXXVI. However, they lost to the New England Patriots.
In 2002, Ryan had a great year. He started 14 games and was second on the team in tackles with 67. He continued to play well in 2003 and 2004. He was an important part of the Rams' defense. In 2005, Ryan had his best year yet. He started all 16 games and made a career-high 65 tackles. This was the most tackles for any defensive lineman in the NFL that season. After 2005, Ryan became a free agent, meaning he could sign with any team.
Green Bay Packers Years
On March 17, 2006, the Green Bay Packers signed Ryan Pickett to a four-year contract. In his first season with the Packers, Ryan started all 16 games. He made 92 tackles and defended seven passes.
In 2007, Ryan played in 14 games and made 39 tackles. He also got his first sack as a Packer. In 2008, he had 48 tackles and started all 16 games. In 2009, Ryan took on a new role as the main nose tackle. This was because the Packers started using a new defense style.
In 2010, the Packers kept Ryan by using a "Franchise Tag." This meant they could keep him for another year. Later, they signed him to a new four-year deal. With another player, B. J. Raji, getting more playing time, Ryan moved to defensive end. During 2010, Ryan played 14 games and made 32 tackles.
Ryan was one of the longest-serving players on the Packers' defense. He started and made two tackles in Super Bowl XLV. He was key in one of the biggest plays of the game. In the fourth quarter, the Pittsburgh Steelers were close to scoring. Ryan met Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall in the backfield. Ryan held Mendenhall, which allowed Clay Matthews to force a fumble. Another Packers player, Desmond Bishop, recovered the ball. This play helped the Packers win the Super Bowl 31–25. It was Green Bay's first championship in 14 years!
In 2011, Ryan continued as a defensive end. He started 14 games and made 33 tackles. The Packers had a great season with 15 wins and 1 loss. But they lost in the playoffs to the New York Giants.
In 2012, Ryan started all 16 games and made 51 tackles. The Packers won their division again. However, they lost in the playoffs to the San Francisco 49ers.
In 2013, many defensive linemen were hurt. So, Ryan became the main nose tackle again. He played all 16 games and made 19 tackles. The Packers won their division once more. But they lost to the 49ers again in the Wild Card round of the playoffs.
Houston Texans Years
On September 24, 2014, the Houston Texans signed Ryan Pickett. This happened because another player, Louis Nix III, was injured. Ryan started 13 games for the Texans. He made 20 tackles and defended 3 passes.
NFL Career Statistics
Ryan Pickett played 207 games in his NFL career. He made a total of 583 tackles. He also had 9.5 sacks, forced 1 fumble, and recovered 2 fumbles. He defended 33 passes.
Personal Life
Ryan Pickett lives in San Diego, California. He spends most of his time there when he is not playing football. He and his wife, Jennifer, have six children.
Ryan is a Christian.
In 2012, he started The Ryan Pickett Foundation. This foundation helps children in foster care. It gives emotional and financial support to kids in the foster care system. The money raised goes to two organizations: The American Foundation of Counseling Services in Green Bay and Casa de Amparo in San Diego.
In 2013, Ryan hosted his first "Celebrity Golf Classic" to raise money for his foundation. It took place at the Barona Creek Golf Course in Lakeside, California. Famous guests like Aaron Rodgers, Clay Matthews, Marshall Faulk, and Sterling Sharpe attended the event.
