Warren Sapp facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Warren Sapp

Sapp in 2023
Colorado Buffaloes
Position:	Pass rush coordinator
Personal information
Born:	(1972-12-19) December 19, 1972 (age 52) Orlando, Florida, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:	300 lb (136 kg)
Career information
High school:	Apopka (Apopka, Florida)
College:	Miami (FL) (1991–1994)
NFL Draft:	1995 / Round: 1 / Pick: 12
Career history
As player:
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1995–2003) Oakland Raiders (2004–2007)
As coach:
Colorado (2024) Senior quality control analyst Colorado (2025–present) Pass rush coordinator
Career highlights and awards
Super Bowl champion (XXXVII) NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1999) 4× First-team All-Pro (1999–2002) 2× Second-team All-Pro (1997, 1998) 7× Pro Bowl (1997–2003) NFL 1990s All-Decade Team NFL 2000s All-Decade Team PFWA All-Rookie Team (1995) Tampa Bay Buccaneers Ring of Honor Tampa Bay Buccaneers No. 99 retired Lombardi Award (1994) Bronko Nagurski Trophy (1994) Bill Willis Trophy (1994) Big East Defensive Player of the Year (1994) Unanimous All-American (1994) Second-team All-American (1993) 2× First-team All-Big East (1993–1994)
Career NFL statistics
Games played: 198 Tackles: 573 Sacks: 96.5 Forced fumbles: 19 Interceptions: 4 Total touchdowns: 3
Player stats at PFR
Pro Football Hall of Fame

Warren Carlos Sapp (born December 19, 1972) is a former American football player. He played as a defensive tackle for 13 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He spent most of his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Sapp played college football for the Miami Hurricanes. He won several awards, including the Lombardi Award. The Buccaneers picked him in the first round of the 1995 NFL draft. He played nine seasons with the Buccaneers and four seasons with the Oakland Raiders. Since 2024, he has been a coach for the Colorado Buffaloes.

With the Buccaneers, Sapp was chosen for seven Pro Bowl games. He was named first-team All-Pro four times. He helped his team win their first Super Bowl title in Super Bowl XXXVII. He had 96.5 sacks in his career. This is one of the highest totals for a defensive tackle. Sapp is one of three players whose jersey number was retired by the Buccaneers. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2013.

Early Life and High School Football

Sapp was born in Orlando, Florida. He grew up in Plymouth, Florida, with his mother. In high school, he was a star football player at Apopka High School. He played different positions like linebacker and tight end. He still holds school records for sacks and tackles.

Warren Sapp was also a good basketball player in high school. In 2007, he was named to the FHSAA's All-Century Team. This team includes the top 33 high school football players in Florida's history.

College Football Career

Many top college football teams wanted Warren Sapp. He chose to play for the University of Miami's Hurricanes. He became a standout defensive player. In 1994, he won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy for best defensive player. He also won the Lombardi Award for best lineman and the Bill Willis Award for best defensive lineman.

As a junior in 1994, he made 84 tackles. He led the Hurricanes with 10.5 sacks. He was also ranked sixth in the voting for the Heisman Trophy that year.

Professional Football Journey

Warren Sapp was known for his amazing power and speed. One former college player said he had "the power of a Cortez Kennedy and the quickness of a Russell Maryland."

Joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

While with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sapp visited U.S. Navy members at the Tokyo Dome, 2002.

Sapp with the Buccaneers, 2003

Before the 1995 NFL draft, Sapp ran the fastest 40-yard dash time for a defensive tackle. He was expected to be picked very early. However, some rumors about his past caused teams to hesitate. The NFL denied these rumors. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers chose him as the 12th overall pick in the first round.

Early Years with the Bucs (1995–1999)

Sapp quickly became the starting right defensive tackle for the Buccaneers. He played this position for all nine years he was with the team. He was a perfect fit for the team's "Tampa 2" defense. His mix of size and speed made it hard for opposing teams to block him.

In his first season, he had 27 tackles and one interception. He continued to make many tackles and sacks. In 1997, he had 58 tackles and 10.5 sacks. That year, he was chosen for his first of seven straight Pro Bowls. In 1999, he was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

Super Bowl Victory (2002)

In the 2002 season, the Buccaneers had the best defense in the league. They went on to win Super Bowl XXXVII against the Oakland Raiders. Sapp played a key role in this victory. He made five tackles and two sacks during the playoffs.

Controversial Moments

Warren Sapp was known for his strong playing style. In 2002, during a game against the Green Bay Packers, he made a hit on Chad Clifton that caused an injury. The NFL later changed rules to make such hits illegal.

In 2003, before a game against the Indianapolis Colts, Sapp was seen disrupting the Colts' warmups. This caused some discussion. Later that year, he accidentally bumped an NFL referee while running onto the field. He was fined for this incident.

Time with the Oakland Raiders

Sapp with the Oakland Raiders, 2007

In 2004, Warren Sapp signed a seven-year contract with the Oakland Raiders. He had helped defeat them in the Super Bowl just a year before. In his first season with the Raiders, he started all 16 games. He played both defensive end and defensive tackle.

In 2005, he returned to his defensive tackle position. He had five sacks before a shoulder injury ended his season early. He returned to his top form in 2006, recording 10 sacks. In 2007, he lost a lot of weight and continued to play well.

On December 23, 2007, Sapp was ejected from a game after an argument with officials. He was fined for this incident. On January 3, 2008, Warren Sapp told the Raiders' owner that he would retire. His retirement became official in March 2008.

Warren Sapp's Legacy

Sapp's jerseys on display at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio

When he retired, Warren Sapp was one of only 12 defensive players in NFL history to achieve three major honors. These were making the Pro Bowl, being named Defensive Player of the Year, and winning a Super Bowl. He is now seen as the ideal "three-technique" defensive tackle. This means he was great at rushing the passer from the inside.

He was selected for seven Pro Bowls and was named first-team All-Pro four times. He was also chosen for both the 1990s and 2000s NFL All-Decade Teams. He earned Defensive Player of the Year honors in 1999 after a season with 12.5 sacks.

NFL Career Statistics

Personal Life and Other Activities

In January 1998, Warren Sapp married Jamiko Vaughn. They have two children, a daughter named Mercedes and a son named Warren Sapp II. In 2023, Sapp earned a degree in Christian sports management. This degree helped him join the Colorado Buffaloes football staff.

Community and Media Work

In 2006, Sapp worked with others to create a group called Urban Solutions Group. Their goal was to build affordable housing in Fort Pierce, Florida.

After retiring from football, Sapp became a studio analyst for Inside the NFL on Showtime. He held this job until 2011. In 2008, he was a contestant on Dancing with the Stars. He and his partner, Kym Johnson, made it to the finals and finished as runner-up.

Sapp also tried stand-up comedy. He worked for NFL Network as an analyst until 2015. In 2012, he released a book called Sapp Attack. He also appeared on a dating game show called The Choice.

In 2013, Sapp worked to raise awareness about sleep apnea. He was also a judge on the reality show BBQ Pitmasters. In 2016, he was bitten by a shark while lobstering off the coast of Florida. Since 2020, he has co-hosted a weekly podcast called "BetUS Unfiltered."

See also

In Spanish: Warren Sapp para niños