.JPG) Howard in 2009 | |||||||||||||||
| No. 51, 53 | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Linebacker | ||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
| Born | (1983-07-14)July 14, 1983 Lubbock, Texas, U.S. | ||||||||||||||
| Died | November 18, 2013(2013-11-18) (aged 30) Oakland, California, U.S. | ||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||||||||
| Weight | 245 lb (111 kg) | ||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||
| High school | Lubbock (TX) Estacado | ||||||||||||||
| College | UTEP | ||||||||||||||
| NFL draft | 2006: 2nd round, 38th overall pick | ||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||||
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Thomas Arquis Howard (July 14, 1983 – November 18, 2013) was an American professionalfootballlinebacker in theNational Football League (NFL). He was selected by theOakland Raiders in the second round of the2006 NFL draft.[1] He also played for theCincinnati Bengals andAtlanta Falcons. He playedcollege football for theUniversity of Texas at El Paso.
Thomas A. Howard began his college career as awalk-on at theUniversity of Texas at El Paso and was thenredshirted. He had a solid freshman season, being named toSporting News All-WAC Freshman team. He played in 11 games and made 4 starts at weakside linebacker. The following season, he played in 13 games and started 10 of them. He had a great junior season being named Second Team All-WAC and helping lead his team to their firstbowl game since 2001. He had a mediocre senior season after being named pre-season defensive player of the year in the state ofTexas.
| 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 ft3+1⁄4 in (1.91 m) | 239 lb (108 kg) | 32+1⁄2 in (0.83 m) | 10+1⁄4 in (0.26 m) | 4.44 s | 1.58 s | 2.62 s | 4.28 s | 6.96 s | 39.0 in (0.99 m) | 10 ft 4 in (3.15 m) | 21 reps | |
| All values fromNFL Combine[2][3] | ||||||||||||
Howard recorded 110tackles, 88 solo tackles, and 1 pass deflection in 2006.[4]
Howard's second season started off with aninterception in each of his first 4 games, 2 of them which were returned fortouchdowns. Since then he has also recorded aquarterback sack and 8passes defensed. In only his second NFL season, Howard led the NFL in linebacker interceptions with 6 for 172 yards and 2 touchdowns. At the end of 2007, Howard had 95 tackles, 77 solo, 11 pass deflections, 6 interceptions, 1 sack, and 2 touchdowns.
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In 2008, Howard recorded his first career forced fumble during a week 2 victory against the division rivalKansas City Chiefs. He recorded a second during a week 16 victory against theHouston Texans. At the end of the season, Thomas Howard had 97 tackles, 80 solo, 5 pass deflections, 1 interception, 1 sack, and 2 forced fumbles.
In 2009, while tallying a career low 79 tackles (72 of which were solo), Howard still came away with a career-high 2 sacks. He finished the season with 79 tackles, 72 solo, 6 pass deflections, 2 sacks, and 1 forced fumble.
In 2010, The Raiders waived him after 12 games.
In the 2011 offseason, Howard signed a 2-year deal with the Bengals worth $6.5 million.[5]
On September 13, 2012, Joe Reedy ofThe Cincinnati Enquirer reported that the Bengals had placed Howard on injured reserve after tearing his ACL in practice.[6]
Howard was signed by theAtlanta Falcons on October 22, 2013, and subsequently released on November 12, 2013, having appeared in two games.[7]
| Year | Team | GP | COMB | TOTAL | AST | SACK | FF | FR | FR YDS | INT | IR YDS | AVG IR | LNG | TD | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | OAK | 16 | 110 | 88 | 22 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2007 | OAK | 16 | 95 | 77 | 18 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 172 | 29 | 66 | 2 | 11 |
| 2008 | OAK | 16 | 97 | 80 | 17 | 1.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -3 | -3 | -3 | 0 | 5 |
| 2009 | OAK | 16 | 79 | 72 | 7 | 2.0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 2010 | OAK | 12 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2011 | CIN | 16 | 99 | 64 | 35 | 1.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 2012 | CIN | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Career | 93 | 492 | 391 | 101 | 6.0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 169 | 24 | 66 | 2 | 29 |
Key
Howard was born and raised inLubbock, Texas and attended LubbockEstacado High School. His father,Thomas Howard, Sr., also played in the NFL as a linebacker.[9] Howard's cousin is singerTerry Ellis, best known as a member ofEn Vogue.[citation needed]
In January 2010, Howard donated money to the Bay Area After-School All-Stars. The Bay Area After-School All-Stars is a program that provides free after school programming for underserved youth. The program currently serves 26 schools in San Jose and is looking to expand to more schools in the future. Students attend the program for four hours each day after school, doing their homework, creating art, and playing sports.[10]
Howard launched the Thomas Howard Foundation in September 2009 to build partnerships and programs to enhance students' academic and athletic goals. The Foundation benefits youth who seek to excel in both education and organized sports activities. The signature scholarships and programs of the Thomas Howard Foundation include: The Annual Walk-On Scholarship; YFL Football Uniforms Scholarship Fund; the Are You Smarter than a 4th Grader program for school curriculum enhancement; and supporting the After-School All-Stars, providing programs that include academic support, enrichment opportunities, and health/fitness activities. Howard returned to his college town of El Paso for special programs honoring Walk-On athletes.[11]
On November 18, 2013, Howard was one of two people killed in an Oakland, California high-speed crash onInterstate Highway 880.[12]
