Stephen Weatherly facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Stephen Weatherly

Weatherly with the Denver Broncos in 2021
Position:	Defensive end
Personal information
Born:	(1994-03-19) March 19, 1994 (age 31) Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight:	265 lb (120 kg)
Career information
High school:	Shiloh (Snellville, GA) North Atlanta (Atlanta, GA)
College:	Vanderbilt
NFL Draft:	2016 / Round: 7 / Pick: 227
Career history
Minnesota Vikings (2016–2019) Carolina Panthers (2020) Minnesota Vikings (2021) Denver Broncos (2021) Cleveland Browns (2022)
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles: 106 Sacks: 8.5 Forced fumbles: 2 Pass deflections: 1
Player stats at PFR

Stephen Dian Weatherly, born on March 19, 1994, is an American football player. He plays as a defensive end. He is currently a free agent, meaning he is not signed with a team right now. Stephen played college football for Vanderbilt University. After his junior year, he decided to enter the NFL draft early. The Minnesota Vikings picked him in 2016. He has also played for the Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, and Cleveland Browns.

Stephen Weatherly's Early Life

Stephen Weatherly went to North Atlanta High School. He was a key player there for three years. He played outside linebacker, defensive end, and wide receiver. In his junior year, he made 66 tackles and 14 sacks. He was also a star in high school basketball, helping his team win two titles.

Later, he moved to Shiloh High School for his senior year. He became the team captain. He had 79 tackles, 8.5 sacks, and caused two fumbles. On offense, he caught eight passes and scored two touchdowns. His team made it to the postseason. He was also chosen for the All-Gwinnett County team. Stephen was the first and only player from Gwinnett County invited to play in the first Georgia High School Senior Allstar Bowl.

Beyond Football: Robotics and Track

While at North Atlanta, Stephen was also a leader on the school's robotics team. His team won the Georgia regional championship. They even went to the world championships in St. Louis, competing against teams from all over the world.

Stephen also did very well in track and field. He was a sprinter and a long jumper. In his junior year, he ran the 100-meter dash in 11.13 seconds. He ran the 200-meter dash in 22.98 seconds. He also jumped 5.87 meters (about 19 feet, 3 inches) in the long jump.

College Football Career

Stephen Weatherly was a highly rated recruit by ESPN. He was ranked as the 24th best defensive end in the country. He started his college career playing defensive end for Vanderbilt. This was under coach James Franklin. In his first game as a freshman in 2013, he got his first college sack. This was against Bo Wallace. For his last two years at Vanderbilt, he played as an outside linebacker. This was under the new coach, Derek Mason.

Professional Football Career

Stephen Weatherly was chosen by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2016 NFL draft. He was the 227th player picked overall, in the seventh round. He was the first defensive lineman or linebacker from Vanderbilt drafted since 2012. He was also the second Vanderbilt player ever drafted by the Vikings.

On September 3, 2016, the Vikings released him. But the next day, they signed him to their practice squad. After spending 11 weeks on the practice squad, Stephen was added to the main team on November 21, 2016.

Playing for the Vikings

In his first two seasons, Stephen did not start any games or get any sacks. But in 2018, he got a bigger role. He started six games and recorded three sacks. This happened when his teammate Everson Griffen was not playing.

In 2019, Stephen started only one game. However, he still got three sacks during the regular season. He also had one sack in the postseason. This came in a loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

Carolina Panthers

Stephen signed a two-year contract with the Carolina Panthers on March 23, 2020. He was one of the Panthers' starting defensive ends for the 2020 season. He started the first nine games. On November 13, 2020, he was placed on injured reserve after having finger surgery. The Panthers released him on February 19, 2021.

Back to the Vikings

Stephen re-signed with the Minnesota Vikings on March 8, 2021. This was his second time playing for the team.

Denver Broncos

On October 23, 2021, Stephen Weatherly was traded to the Denver Broncos. The Vikings also sent a 2023 seventh-round pick to the Broncos. In return, the Vikings received a 2022 seventh-round pick.

Cleveland Browns

On April 18, 2022, Stephen signed with the Cleveland Browns. However, on August 6, 2022, he was placed on injured reserve because of a knee injury.

Stephen's Life Off the Field

Stephen Weatherly studied sociology at Vanderbilt University. His first and middle names honor his grandmother. She earned degrees from both MIT and Harvard.

Stephen was part of the Fulton County Youth Commission. This group worked to solve problems for young people in the community. They helped make policies and did community service. While in high school, he traveled throughout Germany with this program.

Stephen enjoys chess and math. He can solve a Rubik's Cube. He also likes puzzles and skateboarding. He can play six different musical instruments!

Stephen is a hobbyist glass-blower. He even appeared as a guest judge on the Netflix show Blown Away in 2021. In the show, he talked about his football experiences. He related them to how artists deal with mental health and physical challenges for their passion.

Stephen is known for wearing sunglasses under his helmet during games. He also had a relationship with Olympic volleyball player Jordan Thompson.