 Joseph with the Minnesota Vikings in 2015 | |||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born: | (1988-10-10)October 10, 1988 (age 36) Christiansted,Saint Croix,U.S. Virgin Islands | ||||||||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 329 lb (149 kg) | ||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||
| High school: | Santa Fe (Alachua, Florida) | ||||||||||||||
| College: | East Carolina (2007–2009) | ||||||||||||||
| Position: | Defensive tackle | ||||||||||||||
| NFL draft: | 2010: 2nd round, 46th pick | ||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics as of 2024 | |||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
Linval Clement Joseph (born October 10, 1988) is an American professionalfootballdefensive tackle who is currently a free agent. He playedcollege football for theEast Carolina Pirates. He was selected by theNew York Giants in the second round, 46th overall of the2010 NFL draft. He has also played for theMinnesota Vikings,Los Angeles Chargers,Philadelphia Eagles,Buffalo Bills andDallas Cowboys.
Joseph was born inSaint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.[1] He attendedSanta Fe High School inAlachua, Florida, where he was a four-yearletterman infootball for the Raiders.[2][3] He was a two-time All-state selection (Class AAA) as a junior and senior, as well as an All-region selection.
In addition to football, Joseph also lettered three-times in bothpowerlifting and track, earning a total of 10 varsity letters. In powerlifting, Joseph recorded lifts of 415 (bench press) and 560 (squat). As a junior, he captured the Florida State Bench Press Championship with 415 pounds and the Florida StateWeightlifting Championship with a 320-pound clean jerk. Intrack & field, Joseph was one of the state's top performers in the throwing events with personal-bests of 17.13 meters (56'2.75") in theshot put and 48.41 meters (158'10") in thediscus. In 2005, he captured the district and regional titles in the shot put and the discus.[4][5] He advanced to the state finals in the shot put and discus as a junior and senior; in 2006, he placed 3rd in the shot put and 2nd in the discus,[6] and as a senior, he won the state title in the shot put.[7] He was also timed at 5.0 seconds in the40-yard dash.
Regarded as a three-star recruit byRivals.com,[8] Joseph was featured in the 2007 Rivals Recruiting Yearbook. He was rated as the 44th-rankeddefensive tackle nationally and 59th-ranked recruit out of the state ofFlorida. He was considered among the region's top prospects and among the top 500 overall prospects in the country (deemed to have pro potential and ability to make an impact on a college team). He was viewed as the 76th-ranked overall recruit in Florida bySuperPrep Magazine.
Joseph attendedEast Carolina University from 2007 to 2009. During his collegiate career, he totaled 143 tackles, including 29.5 for loss and 6.5 sacks.[9] He was named first-team All-Conference USA (C-USA) as a junior in 2009.
As atrue freshman, Joseph played in all 13 games with four starts, recording 40 overall total tackles (13 solo, 27 assists).[10] His 8.5 tackles for a loss of 23 yards ranked fourth on the team, while his five quarterback hurries ranked fourth. He was part of a defensive front that held four opponents to 80 rushing yards or less. He notched his first career start against #5West Virginia in the fourth week of the season, finishing with four total tackles. He made his collegiate debut on national television in the season opener atVirginia Tech but was not credited with any statistics in the game. His first career sack (half) came againstSouthern Miss for a 3-yard loss. He also recovered a fumble in that game against the Eagles. On November 10, he collected a season-high eight tackles (three solo, five assists) in the Pirates' loss atMarshall.[11] He was named to the 2007 Conference USA All-Freshman Team by the media and coaches.
As a sophomore in 2008, Joseph was among East Carolina top 10 tacklers, finishing with a total of 43 stops, with eight of those coming behind the line of scrimmage for a loss of 34 yards. He played in all 14 games and opened the last nine consecutive contests on the inside of the Pirates' defensive front. He posted six or more stops in three of the last four games and was an honorable mention All-Conference USA selection by the league coaches. He helped the Pirates' defensive unit hold three opponents to under 100 rushing yards and two opponents to less than 100 passing yards, while forcing a total of 33 turnovers that ranked seventh in the nation. He opened the year as a preseason All-Conference USA selection by analystPhil Steele, despite missing much of fall camp due to a back injury, which came after losing +70 pounds following the 2007 campaign. He made his first start of the year againstVirginia on October 11 and never left the starting lineup for the remainder of the year. On December 6, he enjoyed a career-high nine-tackle performance againstTulsa in the Conference USA Championship Game, which also included a forced fumble and a batted pass.[12] In the third quarter, he dropped Golden Hurricane quarterbackDavid Johnson behind the line on a rush where he forced his first career fumble on a third-and-five play. He then followed with seven stops againstKentucky in theAutoZone Liberty Bowl, a career-best three resulting in lost yardage. He was also credited with a pair of blocked extra-point attempts against the Wildcats.[13][14]
In the 2009 season, Joseph appeared in all 14 games. He recorded 60 tackles, three sacks, 13 tackles-for-loss, and one pass defended.[15] Following his junior season in 2009, Joseph announced his intention to forgo his remaining eligibility at East Carolina and enter the2010 NFL draft.[16]
| Regular season statistics | Tackles | Interceptions | Fumbles | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | GP | GS | Comb | Total | Ast | Sck | Tfl | PDef | Int | Yds | Avg | Lng | TDs | FF | FR | FR YDS |
| 2007 | East Carolina | 13 | 4 | 40 | 13 | 27 | 1.0 | 8.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 | East Carolina | 14 | 9 | 43 | 22 | 21 | 2.5 | 8.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 | East Carolina | 14 | 14 | 60 | 22 | 38 | 3.0 | 13.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 41 | 27 | 143 | 57 | 86 | 6.5 | 29.5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| External videos | |
|---|---|
 Joseph performs at the NFL Combine |
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft4+1⁄2 in (1.94 m) | 328 lb (149 kg) | 34+1⁄2 in (0.88 m) | 10 in (0.25 m) | 5.04 s | 1.74 s | 2.86 s | 4.52 s | 7.62 s | 31.5 in (0.80 m) | 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m) | 39 reps | |
| All values fromNFL Combine andPro Day[17][18] | ||||||||||||
Joseph was selected by theNew York Giants with the 46th overall pick in the second round of the2010 NFL draft.[19] He signed with the Giants on July 31, 2010.[20] He started all four of the Giants’ victories in their 2011Super Bowl run when they held theAtlanta Falcons,Green Bay Packers,San Francisco 49ers andNew England Patriots to an average of 14 points per game.[21]
Joseph was inactive in 10 games as a rookie in 2010 and only played in six games. He played his first NFL game against theChicago Bears in Week 4, and was credited with a tackle in the game.[22] On December 26, he had a season-best five solo stops versus the Packers.[23] Joseph finished his first season as a Giant with eight combined tackles, six of them solo.[24]
Joseph was moved into a full-time starter role in his second year, starting 15 games and playing in all 16 contests. He opened all four playoff games en route toSuper Bowl XLVI title. On October 30, he notched his first career sack onMiami Dolphins quarterbackMatt Moore.[25] In Week 13, he had a season-high nine solo tackles in the Giants' loss to the Packers.[26] He had three tackles each in the opening three playoff games of the Giants' run to the Super Bowl.[27]
Joseph started in Super Bowl XLVI as the Giants defeated the Patriots by a score of 21–17.[28]
On October 21 against theWashington Redskins, he forced a fumble and recovered it, helping the Giants prevail over the Redskins 27–23.[29] In Week 8 against theDallas Cowboys, Joseph had two sacks as his team's defense picked up a total of four sacks ofTony Romo and forcing six turnovers, as the Giants won the game 29–24.[30] In the 2012 season, Joseph started all 16 games for the Giants for the first time in his career, recording a career-high 59 tackles that ranked fifth on the team while also posting four sacks and a forced fumble.[31]
In the Giants' Week 3 loss against theCarolina Panthers, he posted a season-high eight tackles.[32] He missed thePhiladelphia Eagles game with an injury in Week 5.[33] On December 15, he notched seven tackles and a sack against the eventualSuper Bowl championSeattle Seahawks.[34] Joseph finished his last season as a Giant with 59 tackles, three sacks, and a forced fumble in 15 starts.[35]
On March 11, 2014, Joseph signed a five-year, $31.5 million deal with theMinnesota Vikings, including a $3 million signing bonus, $12.5 million guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $6.25 million. In 2015, Joseph will earn a base salary of $3.9 million and a workout bonus of $100,000. Joseph has a cap hit of $4.6 million while his dead money value is $6.1 million.[36]
Joseph was one of nine people who were shot by a gunman inside the Minneapolis nightclub 400 Soundbar on August 11, 2014.[37] A stray bullet struck him in the calf. The Vikings characterized the injury as "minor."[38] In Joseph's first regular season game with his new team, he was credited with five tackles and a sack in the Vikings' 34–6 victory on the road against theSt. Louis Rams.[39] Joseph finished the 2014 season with three sacks, 47 total tackles, and one pass defensed in 16 games and starts.[40]
Joseph was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week after his performance in the Vikings 21–18 overtime win over the Rams in Week 9.[41] Joseph was credited with ten tackles (seven solo), 0.5 sacks, three tackles for loss, and two pressures in the victory. The 10 combined tackles tied for the most by a defensive tackle in a game this season.[42] Joseph became the first Viking defensive tackle to win the award in over a decade (the last wasKevin Williams in 2004) and first Viking defender to receive the honor since linebackerAnthony Barr in 2014.[43] He was ranked 76th by his fellow players on theNFL Top 100 Players of 2016.[44]
In the Vikings' Week 1 win over theTennessee Titans, Joseph contributed with five tackles and sacked quarterbackMarcus Mariota for a 9-yard loss in the second half of the 25–16 victory.[45] Joseph finished third on the team in total tackles with 77, tied his career high with four sacks, and added seven tackles for loss and three forced fumbles.[46] Joseph became the fifth Vikings defensive tackle to have at least 100 tackles and 4.0 sacks in a season, joiningAlan Page,James White,Charlie Johnson andHenry Thomas. On January 12, 2017, Joseph was selected to his firstPro Bowl as an injury replacement forAaron Donald of theLos Angeles Rams, becoming the first Vikings defensive tackle to be selected sinceKevin Williams in 2010.[47][48][49]
On August 5, 2017, Joseph signed a four-year, $50 million contract extension with the Vikings with $31.5 million guaranteed.[50] He started all 16 games, finishing second in the league among defensive tackles with 68 tackles.[51][52] On January 22, 2018, Joseph was named to his second straight Pro Bowl.[53] He was ranked 83rd on theNFL Top 100 Players of 2018.[54]
In Week 5 against the Eagles, Joseph scored a 65-yard touchdown off a fumble recovery.[55] This was the first touchdown of his NFL career.[56][57] Joseph finished the 2018 season with 58 tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble.[58]
In the 2019 season, Joseph finished with three sacks, 44 total tackles, and one forced fumble in 13 games and starts.[59]
Joseph was released on March 13, 2020.[60]
On March 30, 2020, Joseph signed a two-year, $17 million contract with theLos Angeles Chargers.[61] In the 2020 season, Joseph appeared in and started all 16 games. He had 62 total tackles on the year.[62]
In the 2021 season, Joseph appeared in 14 games, of which he started 12, and had 57 total tackles and one sack.[63]
On November 16, 2022, Joseph agreed to a one-year deal with the Eagles.[64] Joseph appeared in eight regular season games for the Eagles in the 2022 season. He had 20 total tackles and .5 sacks.[65] During the first quarter of the 2022 seasonNFC Championship, Joseph recovered a key fumble forced by linebackerHaason Reddick, a play which led to significant injury of the arm of 49ers quarterbackBrock Purdy.[66][67] The Eagles lostSuper Bowl LVII to theKansas City Chiefs 38–35.[68]
On November 2, 2023, Joseph signed a one-year deal worth up to $3.72 million with theBuffalo Bills.[69] He played in seven games and had one sack in the 2023 season.[70]
On August 27, 2024, Joseph signed with theDallas Cowboys on a one-year contract worth $2.5 million.[71] In the 2024 season, he finished with two sacks, 19 tackles, and one forced fumble.[72]
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Won theSuper Bowl | |
| Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | Games | Tackles | Fumbles | Interceptions | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | Sfty | FF | FR | Yds | TD | PD | Int | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | ||
| 2010 | NYG | 6 | 0 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2011 | NYG | 16 | 15 | 49 | 34 | 15 | 2.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2012 | NYG | 16 | 16 | 59 | 33 | 26 | 4.0 | — | 1 | 2 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2013 | NYG | 15 | 15 | 59 | 34 | 25 | 3.0 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2014 | MIN | 16 | 16 | 47 | 28 | 19 | 3.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2015 | MIN | 12 | 12 | 56 | 42 | 14 | 0.5 | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2016 | MIN | 16 | 16 | 77 | 37 | 40 | 4.0 | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2017 | MIN | 16 | 16 | 68 | 40 | 28 | 3.5 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2018 | MIN | 15 | 15 | 58 | 36 | 22 | 1.0 | — | 1 | 1 | 64 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2019 | MIN | 13 | 13 | 44 | 26 | 18 | 3.0 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2020 | LAC | 16 | 16 | 62 | 33 | 29 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2021 | LAC | 14 | 12 | 57 | 30 | 27 | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2022 | PHI | 8 | 8 | 20 | 8 | 12 | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2023 | BUF | 7 | 0 | 12 | 7 | 5 | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2024 | DAL | 17 | 0 | 19 | 9 | 10 | 2.0 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Career | 203 | 170 | 695 | 403 | 292 | 28.5 | — | 9 | 5 | 80 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | |
