Sean Gilbert facts for kids

Sean Gilbert, born on April 10, 1970, is a football coach and former professional player. He is currently the head football coach at Livingstone College, a job he started in 2020. Gilbert played as a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). The Los Angeles Rams picked him third overall in the 1992 NFL draft. He played college football at the University of Pittsburgh.

Early Life and High School Football

Sean Gilbert grew up playing football for the Aliquippa Quips. In his final year of high school, he was a top player. Parade Magazine named him an All-American. USA Today also called him the Prep Defensive Player of the Year.

The Associated Press chose him for their First-team All-state. He helped his team achieve a great 14–1 record. They also won a championship in Western Pennsylvania. As a senior, he made 91 tackles. He even scored two touchdowns by recovering fumbles. Gilbert also played as a guard on offense.

College Football Career

Gilbert played as a defensive tackle at the University of Pittsburgh. In 1991, he was chosen as an All-America player. During his last two seasons at Pitt, he made 99 tackles. He also had 6 sacks, which means he tackled the opposing quarterback.

In a game against Penn State in 1991, Gilbert had 11 tackles and 1 sack. People said he played with incredible energy. In his senior year, he had 17 tackles for a loss and 4 sacks. He played in 6 games that year. He missed almost half the season due to a knee injury. He did not play in his first year because of an NCAA rule.

While at the University of Pittsburgh, he played with many talented teammates. Some of his coaches later became NFL head coaches. These included Jon Gruden, Mike McCarthy, and Marvin Lewis. His teammates included future NFL stars like Curtis Martin and Keith Hamilton.

Sean Gilbert's NFL Journey

Before the 1992 NFL Draft, Sean Gilbert showed impressive skills. He was 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighed 315 pounds. He could run fast and was very strong. Gilbert decided to enter the NFL Draft after only two years in college. The Los Angeles Rams chose him as the third overall pick.

Playing for the Los Angeles / St. Louis Rams

On April 27, 1992, Gilbert signed a big contract with the Rams. He started playing as a rookie. He recorded 5 sacks in his first year. The Pro Football Writers Association named him to their All-Rookie team.

In 1993, Gilbert was chosen for his first Pro Bowl. He had 10.5 sacks that season. He was also named an All-NFC player by UPI and Pro Football Weekly. He was even named to the "All-Madden" team. He was the NFC Defensive Player of the Week after getting 4 sacks against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

In 1995, Gilbert moved to play right defensive end. He was an alternate for the Pro Bowl. He recorded 5.5 sacks that year. The Rams later signed another Pro Bowl player, which made Gilbert available for trade.

Time with the Washington Redskins

On April 8, 1996, the Rams traded Gilbert to the Washington Redskins. The Redskins gave up a first-round draft pick for him. With the Redskins, Gilbert was again an alternate for the Pro Bowl. He made 113 tackles and 3 sacks. He was very strong at stopping running plays.

One opposing quarterback said, "Sean Gilbert is playing like a monster." He also helped the defense by making opponents use two players to block him. He sprained his knee during a game against the Dallas Cowboys.

The Redskins wanted to keep Gilbert. They made him their "franchise player." This meant they could offer him a one-year contract. However, Gilbert did not sign the offer. He sat out the entire 1997 season. After that season, the Redskins again tried to make him a franchise player. Gilbert disagreed and asked for a special hearing.

Moving to the Carolina Panthers

The Carolina Panthers offered Sean Gilbert a large contract. The Redskins decided not to match the offer. Instead, they received two first-round draft picks from the Panthers as compensation. Gilbert returned to playing right defensive end in 1998. He started all 16 games. He had 81 tackles and 6 sacks.

In 1999 and 2000, Gilbert played his favorite position, right defensive tackle. He averaged about 50 tackles and 3 sacks each season. In 2001, he switched to left defensive tackle. He played in only nine games due to an injury.

Gilbert broke his right hip on October 27, 2002, during a game. This injury caused him to miss the last eight games of the season. He made 5 tackles before his injury. On March 10, 2003, the Panthers released Gilbert from their team.

Final Season with the Oakland Raiders

The Oakland Raiders signed Sean Gilbert on October 29, 2003. He finished that year with 7 tackles. After the season, Gilbert became a free agent. No team picked him up, so he decided to retire from playing football.

Coaching Career

After his playing career, Sean Gilbert became a football coach. He was an assistant coach at South Mecklenburg High School and West Charlotte High School in Charlotte, North Carolina. In January 2020, he was hired as the head football coach at Livingstone College in Salisbury, North Carolina.

Family Life

Sean Gilbert is married to Nicole. They have four children: Deshaun, A'lexus, Zaccheaus, and A'lea. Sean Gilbert is also the uncle of two other NFL cornerbacks. His nephews are former NFL player Darrelle Revis and current player Mark Gilbert.

Coaching Record