 Merriman in 2023 | |||||||||||||||
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| Position | Linebacker | ||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
| Born | (1984-05-25)May 25, 1984 (age 41) Washington, D.C., U.S. | ||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||||||||||
| Weight | 261 lb (118 kg) | ||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||
| High school | Douglass(Upper Marlboro, Maryland) | ||||||||||||||
| College | Maryland (2002–2004) | ||||||||||||||
| NFL draft | 2005: 1st round, 12th overall pick | ||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||||
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Shawne DeAndre Merriman[1] (born May 25, 1984), nicknamed "Lights Out", is an American former professionalfootball player who was alinebacker in theNational Football League (NFL). He playedcollege football for theMaryland Terrapins and was selected 12th overall by theSan Diego Chargers in the2005 NFL draft. He earnedNFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in his first season and recorded39+1⁄2quarterback sacks in his first three seasons, also making threePro Bowls as well as twoAll-Pro selections. He was hampered by injuries his next three seasons, and the Chargers waived Merriman midseason in 2010. He was picked up throughwaivers by theBuffalo Bills that season, but he only played minimally with the Bills due to continued injuries. He was released by the Bills before the 2012 season however, they re-signed him midseason. He retired at the end of the 2012 season.
Merriman grew up inUpper Marlboro, Maryland. He earned his nickname "Lights Out" atFrederick Douglass High School, where he rendered four opposing players unconscious in one game, three in the first half and one in the second half.[2][3]
Merriman started three years on both the varsity football and basketball teams. On the hardwood, Merriman was named one of the top five basketball defenders in the D.C. area byThe Washington Post. For his football performance during his senior year, he was selected to the first team all-state and named Maryland Defensive Player of the Year by the Associated Press.[4] He also played some tight end in high school.
Despite being heavily recruited, Merriman stayed in-state for college and attended theUniversity of Maryland, where he played for the Maryland Terrapins football team. During his freshman campaign in 2002, Merriman appeared in 13 games and finished third on the team with 5 sacks.
He battled injuries for the bulk of his sophomore season, but never missed a game. He broke onto the national scene his junior year, in which he was named to the ACC All-Conference team and earned the Iron Terp award for the "strongest pound for pound player" on the Maryland football roster.[4]
His 41.5" vertical jump in 2003 was the best ever by a Maryland defensive lineman to that point.[4]
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft4+3⁄8 in (1.94 m) | 272 lb (123 kg) | 33+5⁄8 in (0.85 m) | 9+1⁄2 in (0.24 m) | 4.64 s | 1.59 s | 2.67 s | 4.21 s | 40 in (1.02 m) | 10 ft 1 in (3.07 m) | 25 reps | ||
| All values fromNFL Combine/Pro Day[5][6][7] | ||||||||||||
Merriman was selected in the first round (12th overall) in the 2005 NFL Draft out of the University of Maryland by the San Diego Chargers. He was selected using a pick acquired from theNew York Giants as part of theRivers-Manning trade during the2004 NFL draft.[8]
The Giants tradedPhilip Rivers (selected 4th overall in the 2004 Draft), and their 1st round selection for thefollowing year (amongst others) for the rights to signEli Manning, who had been selected by the San Diego Chargers with the 1st overall pick that year. Manning had made it clear he was not interested in playing for the Chargers, in a similar fashion toJohn Elway in 1983 when selected by theBaltimore Colts.
The Giants draft pick ended up being the 12th overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft. The Chargers used that selection to take Merriman.
On August 1, after a long holdout period, Merriman signed a 5-year, $11.5 million contract that included $9 million in guarantees and $4 million in incentives.[9]
Merriman started off his 2005 rookie year on the inactive list and completed a 10-day hold out from training camp. He did not break the starting lineup until week 7, but recorded 6 sacks in his first 4 starts. He was voted into the Pro Bowl as an OLB after playing the position for the San Diego Chargers in their 3–4 defensive scheme which is the same position he played at theUniversity of Maryland. Merriman's best game of the year came in week 15 when the Chargers handed theIndianapolis Colts their first loss of the season.[10] Merriman recorded 2 sacks and 2 tackles for a loss, one of which stoppedPeyton Manning for a 6-yard loss on 4th and goal. It was during this game that Shawne Merriman garnered much national media coverage and in the following week made thePro Bowl.
The Chargers would go 9–7 in 2005, taking down both the defending Super Bowl championNew England Patriots and the 14–0Indianapolis Colts.
On January 4, 2006, Merriman was awarded withThe Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year award. He received 281⁄2 votes of a panel of 50NFL sportswriters and broadcasters. He beatSeattle Seahawks linebackerLofa Tatupu, who received 161⁄2 votes,Cincinnati linebackerOdell Thurman, with 4, andDallas linebackerDeMarcus Ware, with one. On February 12, 2006, Merriman participated in the2006 NFL Pro Bowl inHonolulu, Hawaii. Although in a losing effort, Merriman made 3 tackles and forced one fumble. "I enjoyed myself the whole entire week", said Merriman. "I topped it off today by playing the entire game with all the guys I grew up watching. It's going to be my first of many if I just keep working hard."
On October 22, 2006, reports were made public by CNN that Merriman would face a 4-game suspension for violating the NFL's steroid policy.[11]ESPN'sChris Mortensen cited a source that claimed the suspension was "definitely for steroid use and not a 'supplement-type' suspension." Mortenson's report later came under scrutiny from Merriman's attorney, David Cornwell, who called the report "irresponsible and erroneous." Under NFL league policy, no player's suspension proceedings are to be announced before the suspension takes place. Subsequently, Cornwell stated that he believed the substance his client tested positive for was theanabolic steroidnandrolone, and that Merriman claimed it must have been in a taintednutritional supplement he took regularly.[12] Merriman never identified the supplement.[13]
The incident led to the passage of a rule that forbids a player who tests positive for steroids from being selected to the Pro Bowl or winning any performance awards in the year in which they tested positive. The rule is commonly referred as the "Merriman Rule".[14][15] However, NFL CommissionerRoger Goodell has tried to distance the policy from being associated with the player, stating that Merriman tested clean on 19 of 20 random tests for performance-enhancing drugs since entering the league.[16]
At the start of his 2006 season after the 4-game suspension, Merriman again began his season with success, recording 3 sacks and an interception in his first 2 games. Merriman went on to record 8.5 sacks and make ESPN's midseason All-pro team,[17] prior to dropping an appeal against an NFL enforced 4-week suspension due to testing positive for steroids. In the 2006 regular season, Merriman led the league in sacks with 17.5 while playing only 12 games. He also added 4 forced fumbles to his career (2 against both the Buffalo Bills and theDenver Broncos). Merriman finished third in the balloting for 2006 Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year, behindJason Taylor andChamp Bailey, after having tested positive for using steroids which is against the league's drug abuse policy. Taylor commented that Merriman should not have been considered for the award because of his suspension. Merriman reportedly responded by sending Taylor a "Lights Out"t-shirt and a box ofpopcorn with a note saying enjoy watching him in the playoffs. Merriman, nicknamed "Lights Out", performed a dance to celebrate each of his 17.5 sacks in 2006–2009. After the Chargers were eliminated in the playoffs by theNew England Patriots that season, members of the Patriots began performing Merriman's "Lights Out" dance on the field in celebration. Merriman's Chargers teammateLaDainian Tomlinson, referred to the act as showing no class and being disrespectful.[18]
In 2007, he announced that he would no longer perform this celebration.[19] In week 4, however, Merriman performed the dance after sacking Kansas City Chiefs quarterbackDamon Huard. After the Chargers' slow 1–3 start to the season, Merriman exclaimed that he decided to do the sack dance again due to the urge of his teammates and to help revive the spirits of the Charger fans.[20]
Merriman finished the season with 68 total tackles, with 54 solo and 14 assisted tackles, performing to his usual caliber by tallying 12.5 sacks. His prowess was shown during the season when it was said that his 9.5 sacks through to week 13 was seen as a decline in performance, a quote to which Merriman took a great compliment.[21] The Chargers finished the season with a loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship game.
Merriman was named to the Pro Bowl for a third consecutive year. At that point had a total of 39.5 sacks in three seasons.[22] His 39.5 sacks are the most for any player from 2005 to 2007, edging outJason Taylor by just one full sack. He had also been named First-Team All-Pro in his first 2 seasons, while earning a Second-Team All-Pro selection in his 3rd season.
During the 2008 training camp, Merriman had difficulty with his injured knee and sat out of practice for over two weeks. Initial reports were that his recovery would take a few weeks, but on August 23, Merriman reported that he had a tear in both hisposterior cruciate ligament andlateral collateral ligament. He was told by doctors that he could sustain a possible career-threatening injury should he choose to play without having surgery. Merriman withheld his decision whether or not to play while seeking several different professional opinions, including that of well-known surgeonJames Andrews ofBirmingham, Alabama. ESPN'sMike Tirico reported in the Chargers'Monday Night Football game that Merriman went toMiami, Florida to get a final opinion on his knee. On August 27, Merriman toldFox Sports that he would go against the advice of the doctors and will try to play through the injury, stating that he simply wants to play and that the career-ending possibilities were "misquoted."
On September 9, it was announced that Merriman would indeed go through with the reconstructive knee surgery to repair his torn knee ligaments and would be placed on the Injured Reserve, missing the rest of the 2008 NFL Season.[23]
In the 2009 season, Merriman was suffering from a painful foot injury as well as his troubled knees. He had only four sacks for the season.[24]
At the beginning of the calendar year, Merriman expressed concern that the Chargers may no longer want him, but said that his goal was to remain a Charger if possible.[24] On March 4, 2010, the San Diego Chargers announced that they would place their first and third round franchise tender on Merriman, thus retaining him as a Charger.[citation needed] On August 13, 2010, after two weeks of hold out, Shawne Merriman signed tender and reported to camp.[citation needed]
On October 13, the Chargers announced that Merriman was being placed oninjured reserve and, per NFL rules, would be released when he became healthy. Merriman had re-injured his calf against Oakland and had been limited in the first five weeks of the season.[25] Merriman was put on waivers by the Chargers on November 2, 2010. He had only four sacks in his last three seasons in San Diego.[13]
Merriman was claimed off waivers by the Buffalo Bills the day after his release from the Chargers.[26]
On November 10, Merriman suffered an Achilles injury during his first workout with his new team.[27] Subsequently, on November 27, the Bills placed Merriman on season-ending injury reserve.[28]
He signed a two-year contract extension worth $10.5 million with the Bills on January 1, 2011. The deal contained $5 million guaranteed, including $3 million of his 2012 salary.[13][22]
On October 25, 2011, Merriman was placed on Injured Reserve list for the second consecutive season after suffering a partially torn Achilles tendon.[22][29] Merriman finished the season with nine tackles and a sack in five starts.[22] During the 2012 offseason, Merriman was moved from outside linebacker to defensive end due to the switch of 3–4 to 4–3. On August 20, the team released Merriman.[30]
Merriman signed a contract to return to the Bills on October 15, 2012.[31]
On March 5, 2013, Merriman announced his retirement.[32]
| Year | Team | GP | Comb | Solo | Ast | Sack | FF | FR | Yds | Int | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | SD | 15 | 57 | 43 | 14 | 10.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 2006 | SD | 12 | 63 | 49 | 14 | 17.5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 10.0 | 10 | 0 | 8 |
| 2007 | SD | 15 | 68 | 54 | 14 | 12.5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 2008 | SD | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 | SD | 14 | 36 | 26 | 10 | 4.0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2010 | SD | 3 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2011 | BUF | 5 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2012 | BUF | 10 | 17 | 12 | 5 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Career | 75 | 258 | 197 | 61 | 46 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 10.0 | 10 | 0 | 17 | |
On September 6, 2009, Merriman was arrested and charged withbattery andfalse imprisonment. Merriman's former girlfriend, reality TV starTila Tequila, claimed in an arrest complaint[33] that hechoked andrestrained her when she tried to leave his home.[34] The charges were dismissed less than a week later on September 11, 2009.[35]
In December 2009, Merriman filed a civil suit against Tequila, alleging intentional interference with contract, unfair competition, and trademark infringement. He claimed that Tequila improperly used his own "Lights Out" logo and disrupted negotiations for T-shirts to be marketed byWal-Mart.[36] She failed to respond to the suit at all, and a default judgment was entered in his favor for $2 million. However, the default judgment was later set aside in January 2010.[37] In February 2010, both sides jointly moved the court to dismiss the claim, and the court dismissed the case on the same day.
On July 21, 2017, Kimberly Fattorini was found dead from an apparent overdose. Fattorini's parents, Deann and Ferdinand, filed the wrongful death lawsuit against Merriman, a nightclub, and others, alleging the girl was drugged and possibly assaulted before her death.[38] Merriman was present when Fattorini passed out and a friend of hers called 911. In the suit, Fattorini's parents claim their daughter sent texts earlier that night saying Merriman poured something in her drink. They now believe that something was GHB - a powerful depressant commonly referred to as “the date rape drug.”[39] When paramedics arrived midday July 21, 2017, they found Fattorini unresponsive on the floor, half-naked, “with her jeans unzipped and unbuttoned, as though someone had tried to pull her jeans on to her body before the police or paramedics arrived.” Her bra was twisted. She was not wearing underwear, though she had been earlier that night.[40] The coroner did not perform a sexual assault exam; by the time an LASD detective requested one, “in light of additional information he had received,” it was no longer possible.[41]
Merriman was featured on an episode ofMTV Exposed. On October 10, 2007, Merriman was chosen as the cover athlete forEA Sports'NFL Tourvideo game.[42] Merriman appears inKeri Hilson's "Knock You Down"music video and made a special appearance atWWE'sOne Night Stand 2008 on June 1, 2008, where he hit superstarChavo Guerrero with aSingapore Cane. He returned to WWE as aWrestleMania XXX pre-show analyst on April 6, 2014, and again the following night onMonday Night RAW's pre- and post-show on theWWE Network.
Merriman is featured in theNike football "Leave Nothing" advertisement.[43] Merriman made acameo in season 7 ofHBO'sEntourage. Merriman also appeared onCartoon Network'sDestroy Build Destroy along withAntonio Gates. Merriman appeared onGNC's Athlete Tour 2010 under hisMusclePharm sponsorship. Merriman appeared onWGR Sports Radio 550's "Schopp and the Bulldog" inBuffalo, New York on July 27, 2012. He visited the show's studio at Bills'training camp inRochester, New York.
He showed off histattoos inPETA's "Ink Not Mink" campaign, encouraging people not to wear animal furs.[44]
In 2017, he appeared on MTV'sThe Challenge: Champs vs. Pros, playing for his charity, the Lights On Foundation.
In 2018, he appeared as a guest on the popular sports and comedy podcast The Dirty Sports Podcast[45] hosted by comedians Andy Ruther and Joe Praino. He also appeared on FS1 as an NFL analyst.
Merriman made a few appearances forTotal Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA): On April 20, 2024 atRebellion, he initially showed support forJoe Hendry during his match againstRich Swann, but turned on the former by giving him a clothesline and allowed Swann to win the match.[46] On April 17, 2025 atUnbreakable, Merriman did commentary duringTNA X Division ChampionMoose's open challenge.[47]
In April 2014, Merriman appeared on the pre-show ofWrestleMania XXX. Shortly after, it was reported onThe JBL & Cole Show that Merriman had "joined theWWE family" and would report to theWWE Performance Center inOrlando, Florida.[48] On August 27, reports surfaced indicating Merriman was no longer contracted to WWE.[49]
In January 2015, Japanesemartial arts eventGANRYUJIMA announced that they were negotiating with Merriman for him to be a fighter, but they were unable to reach an agreement.[50]
In 2017, Merriman partnered withNASCARK&N Pro Series West driver and Naval officerJesse Iwuji, serving as the owner of Iwuji's No. 36 car. The two met during a fashion show in Los Angeles promoting Merriman's new clothing line, "Lights Out"; Merriman, a longtime motorsports fan, agreed to join Iwuji's Patriot Motorsports Group team.[51]
In August 2018, Merriman signed with theWorld Bare Knuckle Fighting Federation to appear in a fight later that year.[52] Merriman was expected to face Mike Bourke in the inaugural WBKFF event on November 9, 2018. According to the promotion's presidentBas Rutten, Wyoming athletic commission had suspicions that Bourke's previous fight inRomania was fixed and – him being from the same management team as Merriman – the commission would not license him to fight. In addition, Merriman and WBKFF had contract pay dispute and after the promotion allegedly agreed to pay the contracted sum, Merriman's management team wouldn't agree. The promotion eventually refused to pay Merriman fornot fighting, as his management demanded, leading Merriman to withdraw from the bout.[53]
In April 2019, Merriman announced that he is starting his own MMA promotion, Lights Out Xtreme Fighting, which is expected to have its inaugural event on May 11, 2019.[54]
