Takeo Spikes facts for kids
Spikes with the San Diego Chargers in 2012
|
|||||||||||||
| No. 51 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Linebacker | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born: | December 17, 1976 Augusta, Georgia, U.S. |
||||||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 242 lb (110 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | Washington County (Sandersville, Georgia) | ||||||||||||
| College: | Auburn (1995–1997) | ||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1998 / Round: 1 / Pick: 13 | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||||
Takeo Gerard Spikes (born December 17, 1976) is a former professional football player. He was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). Takeo played college football for the Auburn Tigers. The Cincinnati Bengals chose him as the 13th pick in the 1998 NFL draft.
Spikes was chosen for the Pro Bowl two times. He was also named an All-Pro once. He played for several teams, including the Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, and San Diego Chargers.
Takeo Spikes is one of only seven linebackers to start over 200 NFL games. He was a team captain for 13 of his 15 seasons. Spikes played in 219 games, which is the most in NFL history without making a playoff appearance. After he left the Eagles, 49ers, and Chargers, each team made the playoffs the next year.
After retiring from the NFL, Spikes became a media personality. He works as a football analyst for NBC Sports Network and Sky Sports in the United Kingdom. He also co-hosts shows on SiriusXM and the SEC Network.
Contents
Early Life and High School Football
Takeo Spikes was born in Augusta, Georgia. He went to Washington County High School in Sandersville, Georgia. While there, he earned All-American honors from Parade and USA Today. As a senior, state coaches named him Georgia's "Mr. Football." He was also named "Georgia Player of the Year" in his senior year.
College Football Career
Takeo Spikes attended Auburn University and studied liberal arts. In the 1997 season, he led Auburn with 136 tackles. Auburn reached the SEC Championship game. They lost a close game, 30–29, to the Tennessee Volunteers, led by Peyton Manning. Spikes was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) for his great performance in this game. He was college teammates with the talented running back Stephen Davis.
Takeo Spikes earned his degree from Auburn in 2016.
Professional Football Journey
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand size | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft 0+7⁄8 in (1.85 m) |
234 lb (106 kg) |
32+3⁄4 in (0.83 m) |
9+3⁄4 in (0.25 m) |
4.14 s | 7.84 s | 37.0 in (0.94 m) |
10 ft 4 in (3.15 m) |
27 reps | ||||
| All values from NFL Combine | ||||||||||||
Playing for the Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals drafted Spikes in the first round of the 1998 NFL draft. In his first year, he started every preseason and regular season game. He was the first rookie since 1990 to lead the Bengals in tackles. He also played the most snaps (plays) on offense and defense for the team.
In 1999, he became a team captain. He played every game as a Right Inside Linebacker and Right Linebacker. He forced four fumbles and recovered four, leading the team in fumble recoveries.
In 2000, he played every game as a Right Linebacker. He recorded 128 tackles, passing the 100-tackle mark for the third year in a row. He led the team in tackles and fumble recoveries again.
In 2001, Spikes started at Right Linebacker for 15 games. He led the team in solo and total tackles once more. Spikes missed one game because his father passed away. He dedicated the rest of his career to his father. He wrote his dad's name on his wrist tape for the remaining 12 games.
The 2002 season was his last with the Bengals. He played all 16 games that year. During his time with the Bengals, he played 79 out of 80 possible games. He only missed one game for his father's funeral. He led the team in tackles again and scored his second defensive touchdown. After the season, Spikes wanted to join a team that could make the playoffs.
Time with the Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills signed Spikes to a new contract. In 2003, he earned his first Pro Bowl selection. He had 126 tackles, two sacks, two interceptions, and two fumble recoveries.
On September 25, 2005, Spikes suffered a serious injury to his right Achilles' tendon. This happened while tackling Michael Vick during a game against the Atlanta Falcons. The injury ended his season early. In 2006, while recovering, Spikes played in 12 games. He missed four games early in the season due to a hamstring injury. In the first game of the year, Spikes sacked Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. He forced a fumble that led to a touchdown for the Bills.
Playing for the Philadelphia Eagles
On March 26, 2007, Spikes was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles. He had an effective first season as an Eagle. However, his season was cut short in week 14. He suffered a torn rotator cuff injury in a game against the Dallas Cowboys. The Eagles won that game 10–6.
The Eagles decided not to keep him for the next season. They had other young linebackers ready to play. The Eagles had made the playoffs often before he joined them. They also made the playoffs for the next three years after he left. But in his one season in Philadelphia, Spikes did not make the playoffs. This meant he went eight seasons without being on a playoff team.
Years with the San Francisco 49ers
On August 10, 2008, the San Francisco 49ers signed Spikes. He was given the jersey number 51. On February 27, 2009, Takeo signed a new two-year contract. Spikes was a team captain for all three years he played in San Francisco.
In 2008, Spikes recorded 1 sack and 3 interceptions. In 2009, he had 4 sacks and missed one game due to an injury. In San Francisco, Spikes became well-known for his "sack dance." In 2010, Spikes was very good at making tackles. He missed only four tackles over his three seasons with San Francisco.
Spikes and fellow linebacker Patrick Willis were called the "dynamic duo." Spikes said that Willis always wanted to be great. He would ask Spikes many questions, like a "sponge" soaking up water. This made their friendship strong, like brothers.
The 49ers had told Spikes they would re-sign him. But then they fired their coach, Mike Singletary. The team decided to start a rookie, NaVorro Bowman, instead. This made Spikes a free agent again.
Time with the San Diego Chargers
Spikes signed a three-year contract with the San Diego Chargers on July 26, 2011. He was a team captain for both seasons he played with San Diego.
On September 11, 2012, Spikes played his 200th career start. This is a big achievement for a linebacker. On September 30, 2012, he forced Jamaal Charles to fumble in a game against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chargers won that game 37–20. The Chargers released Spikes on March 7, 2013.
NFL Career Statistics
| Year | Team | GP | Tackles | Fumbles | Interceptions | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Comb | Solo | Ast | Sack | FF | FR | Yds | Int | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | PD | |||
| 1998 | CIN | 16 | 112 | 95 | 17 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1999 | CIN | 16 | 103 | 80 | 23 | 3.0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 3.5 | 7 | 0 | 6 |
| 2000 | CIN | 16 | 128 | 109 | 19 | 2.0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 6.0 | 7 | 0 | 4 |
| 2001 | CIN | 15 | 109 | 80 | 29 | 6.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 66 | 66.0 | 66 | 1 | 5 |
| 2002 | CIN | 16 | 112 | 80 | 32 | 1.5 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2003 | BUF | 16 | 126 | 70 | 56 | 2.0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0.5 | 1 | 0 | 8 |
| 2004 | BUF | 16 | 96 | 61 | 35 | 3.0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 122 | 24.4 | 62 | 2 | 16 |
| 2005 | BUF | 3 | 17 | 11 | 6 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2006 | BUF | 12 | 70 | 43 | 27 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 2007 | PHI | 14 | 86 | 64 | 22 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 2008 | SF | 16 | 96 | 61 | 35 | 1.0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 4.7 | 13 | 0 | 6 |
| 2009 | SF | 15 | 75 | 57 | 18 | 4.0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2010 | SF | 16 | 109 | 82 | 27 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 3 | 9 | 3.0 | 6 | 0 | 9 |
| 2011 | SD | 16 | 106 | 64 | 42 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 45 | 45.0 | 45 | 0 | 3 |
| 2012 | SD | 16 | 78 | 53 | 25 | 0.5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Career | 219 | 1,423 | 1,010 | 413 | 29.0 | 15 | 17 | 8 | 19 | 276 | 14.5 | 66 | 3 | 69 | |
Personal Life and Education
Spikes was named after Japan's 66th Prime Minister Takeo Miki. His parents saw a news report about the Japanese prime minister. Takeo's younger cousin, Brandon Spikes, also played as a linebacker in the NFL. He played for the New England Patriots and the Buffalo Bills.
Spikes dedicated his entire career to his father after he passed away. Spikes said his father taught him to work hard and not expect things to be given to him. He hopes to live his life as successfully as his father did.
Takeo Spikes received his degree from Auburn in 2016. In the same year, he earned a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Miami Business School.
Amazing Neck Strength
Takeo Spikes is well-known for the size and strength of his neck. Bleacher Report once called him "the most jacked linebacker in the NFL." Spikes' neck measured 21 inches around. At one point in his career, he could lift 490 pounds on the bench press. He was featured in ESPN The Magazine's "The Body Issue" in 2012. The article focused on his strong neck and shoulder muscles.
Giving Back to the Community
Spikes helps young people through his annual TKO camp. At this camp, he mentors boys and girls to help them achieve their goals. The camp's main goal is to help participants turn their dreams into reality. This day-long event allows middle and high school students to join basketball, football, and cheerleading camps. Professional athletes give motivational speeches and answer questions. The annual event also gives money to the local athletic department in Washington County, Georgia.
