Phillip Eugene Ward (born November 1, 1974) is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Indianapolis Colts, St. Louis Rams and New Orleans Saints. He also was a member of the Berlin Thunder in NFL Europe. He was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 1997. He played college football at UCLA.
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| Position: | Linebacker | ||||
| Personal information | |||||
| Born: | November 1, 1974 Gardena, California, U.S. | ||||
| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||
| Weight: | 235 lb (107 kg) | ||||
| Career information | |||||
| High school: | Pius X (CA) | ||||
| College: | UCLA | ||||
| Undrafted: | 1997 | ||||
| Career history | |||||
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||
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Early life
editWard attended Pius X High School. As a senior, he broke his wrist and only played in 4 games. He also practiced baseball and basketball.[1]
He accepted a football scholarship from UCLA.[2] As a redshirt freshman, he was a backup at linebacker. As a sophomore, he was named a starter at outside linebacker, tallying 56 tackles (sixth on the team), 7.5 sacks (second on the team) and 12.5 tackles for loss (second on the team).
As a junior, the team changed to a 4-3 defense and he became a starter at defensive end. He was limited with a knee injury and missed 2 games. The change wasn't a good position fit and his stats dropped to 27 tackles and one sack.
As a senior, he was a starter at outside linebacker, posting 60 tackles (second on the team) and 11 tackles for loss. Against the University of Michigan, he had 8 tackles and 2 interceptions, one of them was Tom Brady's first college football pass, which he returned for a 42-yard touchdown.[3]
Professional career
editIndianapolis Colts
editWard was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Indianapolis Colts after the 1997 NFL draft. He spent the first 9 games of the season on the injured reserve list. He was waived on November 4.
Detroit Lions
editOn March 26, 1998, he was signed as a free agent by the Detroit Lions.[4] He was released on August 30.[5]
St. Louis Rams
editOn November 30, 1998, he was signed to the St. Louis Rams practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster on November 30.[6] He was released on December 17. In 1999, he was allocated to the Berlin Thunder of NFL Europe. He registered 39 defensive tackles (second on the team) and 7 special teams tackles (led the team). He was released by the Rams on September 3.[7]
New Orleans Saints
editOn April 7, 2000, he was signed as a free agent by the New Orleans Saints. He was released on August 27.[8] He was signed to the practice squad. He was later promoted to the active roster. He was released on December 13.[9]
References
edit- ^ "Testing the waters". Retrieved June 3, 2020.
- ^ "Tom Brady's first pass at Michigan had the worst possible result". February 4, 2018. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
- ^ "Brady named honorary captain for Wolverines". Retrieved June 3, 2020.
- ^ "Transactions". March 27, 1998. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
- ^ "NFL Cuts". August 31, 1998. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
- ^ "Transactions". December 1998. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
- ^ "Transactions". September 4, 1999. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
- ^ "Transactions". August 28, 2000. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
- ^ "Transactions". December 14, 2000. Retrieved June 3, 2020.