 McClellin with the Chicago Bears in 2015 | |||||||||||
| No. 99, 50, 58 | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Linebacker | ||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born | (1989-08-01)August 1, 1989 (age 36) Caldwell, Idaho, U.S. | ||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||||
| Listed weight | 250 lb (113 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school | Marsing (Marsing, Idaho) | ||||||||||
| College | Boise State (2008–2011) | ||||||||||
| NFL draft | 2012: 1st round, 19th overall pick | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||
| |||||||||||
Shea Keegan McClellin (born August 1, 1989) is an American former professionalfootball player who was anoutside linebacker in theNational Football League (NFL). He playedcollege football for theBoise State Broncos. He was selected by theChicago Bears with the 19th overall pick in the2012 NFL draft.
McClellin was born on August 1, 1989, inCaldwell, Idaho, and lived inMarsing. McClellin was adopted by his maternal grandparents, Terry and Jerry McClellin, when he was 18 months old. He grew up on a farm in Caldwell, where he helped his parents raise various farm animals and animals in distress.[2]
McClellin went to Marsing High School, where he was aletterman in football, basketball, and baseball. As a linebacker, he finished with 126 tackles, six interceptions and seven defensive touchdowns. McClellin also playedrunning back, running for 1,893 yards and 22 touchdowns. In his junior year, he was named to the second-team all-conference team after rushing for 998 yards and leading his team in touchdowns with 17. In his senior year, he was named Western Idaho Conference Offensive Player of Year and Defensive Player of Year, as well as first-team all-state. In basketball, he averaged 16.7 points and 11.6 rebounds per game, and in baseball he had a .453batting average, with 21 RBI and 10 stolen bases as a junior.[3]
| Name | Hometown | School | Height | Weight | 40‡ | Commit date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shea McClellin Defensive end | Marsing, Idaho | Marsing High School | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 228 lb (103 kg) | 4.81 | Dec 17, 2006 |
Recruit ratings:Scout:  Rivals: | ||||||
| Overall recruit ranking: Scout: 57 Rivals: 68 | ||||||
Sources:
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McClellin attendedBoise State University from 2008 to 2011. During his career he had 130 tackles, 20.5sacks, fourinterceptions and twotouchdowns.
After he was drafted, a dispute arose about hisconcussion history during his time with theBroncos, triggered by anNFL Network report claiming that he had three concussions during his college career and McClellin claiming that he only had one. When asked about this, McClellin stated that he had concussion-like symptoms, rather than a concussion.[4]
In his second freshman year, after redshirting his first, McClellin played in 10 games before injuring his leg againstIdaho. During his first year, he recorded 14 tackles and 3 forced fumbles. McClellin recorded a sack and forced a fumble againstHawaii, as well as blocking a field goal attempt againstOregon. The Broncos would finish undefeated, but would lose toTCU in the2008 Poinsettia Bowl.[5]He played in all 13 games for the Broncos, including starts in the final 11 in 2009. McClellin recorded 36 tackles, six tackles-for-loss and three sacks, as well as recording an interception and two pass break-ups. McClellin recorded at least one tackle in 12 games. His lone interception of the season came againstUtah State. Like the year before, the Broncos went undefeated, and ultimately avenged their loss to TCU the year before, this time in the2010 Fiesta Bowl.[6]
In McClellin's junior year, he recorded 30 tackles on the season, including 13.5 tackles-for-loss – tied for the most on the team – and a team-high 9.5 sacks. He tied his career high with six tackles againstVirginia Tech in the team's 2010 season opener. McClellin also forced one fumble and recovered two, one of which was returned for a touchdown againstWyoming, and returned an interception 36 yards for a touchdown againstthe Toledo Rockets, becoming the first Bronco defensive player to score on a fumble recovery and an interception in the same season since 1999. Boise State would ultimately go to the2010 Maaco Bowl Las Vegas, and triumph over theUtah Utes.In his final season, McClellin registered 50 tackles, 7 sacks and 12.5 tackles-for-loss. He intercepted two passes, one each againstColorado State andSan Diego State, as well as having blocked a kick against the Rams. He recorded a career-high eight tackles againstUNLV, as well as a career-high 2.5 sacks againstGeorgia in the season-opener. In his final game of his college career, McClellin recorded 3 tackles for losses in the victory against theArizona State Sun Devils in the2011 Maaco Bowl Las Vegas.[7] He completed the season tied for 15th among active players in career sacks (20.5). McClellin eventually participated in the2012 Senior Bowl.[8]
| Season | Games | Defense | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Tkl | FF | FR | Sck | Int | TD | |
| 2008 | 10 | 1 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 | 13 | 11 | 36 | 2 | 0 | 3.0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2010 | 13 | 13 | 30 | 0 | 2 | 9.5 | 1 | 1 |
| 2011 | 13 | 13 | 50 | 1 | 1 | 7.0 | 2 | 0 |
| Totals[9] | 49 | 38 | 130 | 6 | 3 | 20.5 | 4 | 1 |
| External videos | |
|---|---|
 McClellin's NFL Combine workout | |
| McClellin gets drafted by Chicago |
| 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+3⁄8 in (1.91 m) | 260 lb (118 kg) | 32+3⁄4 in (0.83 m) | 10+1⁄8 in (0.26 m) | 4.63 s | 1.59 s | 2.69 s | 4.33 s | 7.07 s | 31.5 in (0.80 m) | 9 ft 10 in (3.00 m) | 19 reps | |
| All values from theNFL Combine[10][11][12] | ||||||||||||
Before the draft, McClellin was projected as a mid-round pick, but after the Combine, McClellin emerged as a first-round draft pick, with mock drafts having him going to a team that runs the3–4 defense like theGreen Bay Packers or theNew England Patriots,[13][14][15] praising his work ethic and size, but questioned his strength.[16]Chicago Bears general managerPhil Emery stated that he intended on drafting McClellin as an outside linebacker during his time with theKansas City Chiefs.[17] McClellin later worked out for 11 teams, including the Patriots, Chiefs,Buffalo Bills,Tennessee Titans,Indianapolis Colts and theCleveland Browns. Analysts believed that he could go to the Bears, Packers,San Diego Chargers,Baltimore Ravens,Houston Texans,Pittsburgh Steelers or theNew York Jets.[18]
Ultimately, he ended up going to the Bears with the 19th pick in the first round of the draft.[19] According to the Bears website, NFL analystMichael Lombardi was the lone analyst to project McClellin going to the Bears.[20][21]
"He's one of the two fastest risers I've had in the last month. I didn't think a4–3 team would take him. He's got so much versatility, but I love the football player. … He can put his hand in the dirt, and across fromJulius Peppers, he will get a lot of one-on-one opportunities."
— Mike Mayock, former NFL safety,NFL Network analyst, and formergeneral manager of theOakland Raiders
After getting drafted by Chicago, Emery stated that McClellin would play opposite Julius Peppers at left defensive end,[22] withChicago Sun-Times writer Sean Jensen saying that McClellin could replace middle-linebackerBrian Urlacher in the event that he leaves the team or retires.[23]McClellin was signed to a four-year contract on May 11.[24] McClellin made his NFL debut in week one of the preseason against theDenver Broncos, recording three tackles, one sack (on former BearCaleb Hanie), one tackle-for-loss, and two quarterback hits. McClellin was penalized for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Hanie, setting up a Broncos field goal; even though the kick missed, the Bears would lose 31-3.[25] McClellin recorded his first official sack onGreen Bay Packers quarterbackAaron Rodgers, as McClellin recorded 1.5 sacks and four tackles.[26] In the opening minutes of Week 10 against theHouston Texans, McClellin went out with a concussion.[27] McClellin was later injured again when he sprained his MCL against theMinnesota Vikings in Week 14.[28]
In Week 9 of 2013 against the Packers, McClellin recorded three sacks, one of which knocked Rodgers out of the game. McClellin was eventually named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week.[29] However, McClellin suffered a hamstring injury on November 7 during practice, and missed the next two games.[30]After the 2013 season ended, the Bears announced plans to start McClellin at strong-side linebacker.[31] Chicago Bears senior writer Larry Mayer confirmed the switch on March 24, 2014, and stated that McClellin will switch to #50 in conjunction with the position switch.[32]On April 29, 2015, the Bears announced that they would not be picking up the fifth-year option of McClellin's contract.[33] McCellin recorded a career-high in tackles in 2015 with 81, one more than he had recorded in his previous three seasons put together.[34]
On March 16, 2016, McClellin signed a three-year contract with theNew England Patriots.[35] The contract had a total value of approximately $9 million with $3.5 million guaranteed.[36] On December 12, 2016, duringMonday Night Football, McClellin leaped over Ravens long snapperMorgan Cox to block aJustin Tucker kick, causing the first and only missed field goal of the season for Tucker. On January 1, 2017, he returned a fumble 69 yards in the Week 17 victory over theMiami Dolphins, the longest return in Patriots franchise history.[37] On February 5, 2017, McClellin started at linebacker in the Patriots'Super Bowl LI 34–28 overtime victory over theAtlanta Falcons.[38] During the game, McClellin jumped over the line during an extra point attempt, as he had against the Baltimore Ravens, blocking the kick, but was called for jumping over the center, which on video review seemed to be incorrect, as he appeared to jump over the guard.[39]
On September 4, 2017, McClellin was placed on injured reserve.[40] Without McClellin, the Patriots reachedSuper Bowl LII, but were defeated by thePhiladelphia Eagles.
On March 19, 2018, McClellin was released by the Patriots.[41] On May 29, 2018,Yahoo Sports published an article detailing the possible retirement of McClellin.[42] McClellin decided to retire due toconcussion issues.[42]
| Year | Team | GP | Comb | Solo | Ast | Sack | Sfty | FF | PD | Int |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | CHI | 14 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 2.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2013 | CHI | 14 | 30 | 14 | 16 | 4.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | CHI | 12 | 36 | 24 | 12 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2015 | CHI | 12 | 81 | 53 | 28 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2016 | NE | 14 | 41 | 16 | 25 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 66 | 202 | 114 | 88 | 8.5 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | |
In 2012, McClellin became a partner withAllstate and Give Your Sole, and attended the Chicago 13.1 Marathon on June 9 to encourage runners to donate athletic shoes. On June 8, McClellin and the rest of the 2012 Bears draft class planted trees and shrubs at LaFollette Park as part of the team'sSave Da Planet program.[43]
