Warren Sapp facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Warren Sapp

Sapp in 2023
Colorado Buffaloes
Position:	Senior quality control analyst
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–present) Senior quality control analyst
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 was a defensive tackle for 13 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played mostly for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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

With Tampa Bay, Sapp went to the Pro Bowl seven times. He was named first-team All-Pro four times. He also 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 numbers for a defensive tackle. Sapp's career was also known for his strong playing style. He is one of only three players to have his jersey number retired by the Buccaneers. He was added to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2013.

Early Life and High School Football

Warren Sapp was born in Orlando, Florida. He grew up in Plymouth, Florida, with his mother. In high school, he played football at Apopka High School in Apopka, Florida. He was a great player at linebacker, tight end, place-kicker, and punter. He still holds school records for sacks, tackles, and longest field goal.

He was also a good basketball player in high school. In 2007, Sapp was named to the Florida High School Association 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 Sapp to play for them. He chose to play at the University of Miami. He became a standout defensive player there. He switched to playing defensive lineman. In 1994, he won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy for best defensive player. He also won the Lombardi Award for best lineman or linebacker. He received the Bill Willis Award for best defensive lineman.

As a junior in 1994, he had 84 tackles. He led the Hurricanes with 10.5 sacks. He also finished 6th in the Heisman Trophy voting that year.

Professional Football Career

Playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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

Sapp with the Buccaneers, 2003

1995 NFL Draft

Before the 1995 NFL Draft, Warren Sapp showed amazing speed for a defensive tackle. He ran the 40-yard dash very quickly. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers chose him as the 12th overall pick in the first round.

Early Years with the Buccaneers (1996–1999)

Sapp quickly became the starting right defensive tackle for the Buccaneers. He kept this position for all nine years he played in Tampa. He was excellent in the team's "Tampa 2" defense. This defense also included his teammates Derrick Brooks and John Lynch. Sapp was very strong and fast. This 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 for the Buccaneers. He had 51 tackles and nine sacks in 1996. In 1997, he had 58 tackles and 10.5 sacks. His selection to the Pro Bowl in 1997 was the first of seven in a row. In 1998, he signed a big contract extension. He was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1999.

Super Bowl Victory in 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 had five tackles and two sacks during the playoffs that year.

Controversial Moments

Warren Sapp was known for his strong play. Sometimes, his actions on the field led to discussions. In November 2002, during a game against the Green Bay Packers, Sapp made a hit that caused an injury to a player. This play led to new rules about "unnecessary roughness" in the NFL. These rules made similar hits illegal.

Later that season, Sapp was seen skipping among the Pittsburgh Steelers during their warmups. This caused a heated argument between the two teams. He was not fined for this incident. However, it added to his reputation for being a controversial player.

In 2003, during a game against the Indianapolis Colts, Sapp again disrupted the opposing team's warmups. He was later fined $50,000 for bumping into an NFL referee while running onto the field.

Playing for the Oakland Raiders

Sapp with the Oakland Raiders, 2007

In 2004, Warren Sapp signed a contract with the Oakland Raiders. This was the same team he had helped defeat in the Super Bowl a year earlier.

In his first season with the Raiders, he started all 16 games. He played both defensive end and defensive tackle. He recorded 30 tackles and 2.5 sacks.

His 2005 season started well. He played his familiar defensive tackle position. He had 29 tackles and five sacks before a shoulder injury sidelined him.

He returned to his top form in 2006. He had 10 sacks, 32 tackles, and one forced fumble.

2007 Season and Retirement

Before the 2007 season, Sapp lost a lot of weight. He recorded 37 tackles, 2 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles.

On December 23, 2007, Sapp was ejected from a game against Jacksonville. This happened after a disagreement with the officials. He was fined $75,000 by the league for his actions.

On January 3, 2008, Sapp told the Raiders owner that he would retire. His retirement became official on March 4, 2008.

Warren Sapp's Legacy in Football

When Warren Sapp retired, he was one of only a few defensive players in NFL history to achieve several major honors. He made the Pro Bowl, was named Defensive Player of the Year, and won a Super Bowl. He is now seen as the perfect example of a "three-technique" defensive tackle. This is a specific position on the defensive line.

NFL teams looking for defensive tackles often search for players like him. He was chosen for seven Pro Bowls. He was named a first-team All-Pro four times. He was also voted to the NFL All-Decade Teams for both the 1990s and 2000s. He earned Defensive Player of the Year honors in 1999 after a season with 12.5 sacks.

NFL Career Statistics

Personal Life and 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 Bachelor of Arts degree in Christian Sports Management. This degree helped him become a staff member for the Colorado Buffaloes football team.

Other Activities

Warren Sapp has been involved in many different activities outside of football. In 2006, he worked with others to create a group called Urban Solutions Group. This group aimed to build affordable housing in Fort Pierce, Florida.

In 2008, Sapp became a studio analyst for a TV show called Inside the NFL. He held this job until 2011.

In the fall of 2008, Sapp was a contestant on Dancing with the Stars. He danced with professional dancer Kym Johnson. They made it to the finals and finished as the runner-up.

He also tried stand-up comedy in 2009. He worked for NFL Network as an analyst until 2015. In 2012, he released a book called Sapp Attack.

In June 2012, Sapp worked with a YouTube channel to create a show called "Judge Sapp". He also appeared on a dating game show called The Choice.

In 2013, Sapp helped raise awareness about sleep apnea. He was also a judge on the reality show BBQ Pitmasters.

In 2016, Sapp was bitten by a shark while fishing for lobsters off the coast of Florida.

In 2020, Warren Sapp started hosting a weekly podcast called "BetUS Unfiltered" with Brian Jones. They have interviewed many famous people on their show.

Images for kids

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

See also

In Spanish: Warren Sapp para niños