John Antonio Abraham (born May 6, 1978) is a former
American football
American football (referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada), also known as gridiron, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular field with goalposts at each end. The offense, the team wi ...
defensive end
Defensive end (DE) is a defensive position in the sport of gridiron football.
This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations over the years have substantially changed how the position is ...
and
outside linebacker who played 15 seasons in the
National Football League
The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the ...
(NFL). He played
college football at
South Carolina
)'' Animis opibusque parati'' ( for, , Latin, Prepared in mind and resources, links=no)
, anthem = " Carolina";" South Carolina On My Mind"
, Former = Province of South Carolina
, seat = Columbia
, LargestCity = Charleston
, LargestMetro = ...
, and was drafted by the
New York Jets in the first round of the
2000 NFL Draft
The 2000 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur U.S. college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 15– 16, 2000, at the Thea ...
. Abraham also played for the
Atlanta Falcons and
Arizona Cardinals.
Early years
Abraham was born in
Timmonsville, South Carolina
Timmonsville is a town in Florence County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 2,320 at the 2010 census, an increase of five persons from 2000. It is part of the Florence Metropolitan Statistical Area.
History
Timmonsville was fou ...
. In his high school years at
Lamar High School in
Lamar, South Carolina
Lamar is a town in Darlington County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 989 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Florence, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area.
History
In March of 2019, the Mayor of Lamar, Darnell Byrd McPherson, ca ...
, he was primarily an athlete in the
track program, where he set the current
South Carolina
)'' Animis opibusque parati'' ( for, , Latin, Prepared in mind and resources, links=no)
, anthem = " Carolina";" South Carolina On My Mind"
, Former = Province of South Carolina
, seat = Columbia
, LargestCity = Charleston
, LargestMetro = ...
record for the
200-meter dash
The 200 metres, or 200-meter dash, is a sprint running event. On an outdoor 400 metre racetrack, the race begins on the curve and ends on the home straight, so a combination of techniques is needed to successfully run the race. A slight ...
, at 22.6 seconds, and ran the
100 meters
The 100 metres, or 100-meter dash, is a sprint race in track and field competitions. The shortest common outdoor running distance, the dash is one of the most popular and prestigious events in the sport of athletics. It has been contes ...
in 11.26 seconds. He also competed in the throwing events, recording top-throws of 13.61 meters in the
shot put and 43.05 meters in the
discus. He played organized football for the first time as a senior in high school.
College career
While Abraham played just one season of high school football, he was nonetheless recruited to play for coach
Brad Scott's
South Carolina Gamecocks football team at the
University of South Carolina. While he was a Gamecock, he amassed 23.5
quarterback sacks, ranking second on South Carolina's career list, and was a first-team All-
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference (SEC) is an American college athletic conference whose member institutions are located primarily in the South Central and Southeastern United States. Its fourteen members include the flagship public universities o ...
(SEC) selection.
Professional career
New York Jets
Drafted in the first round (13th overall, via pick acquired from the
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football team based in Tampa, Florida. The Buccaneers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) South division. The cl ...
in exchange for
Keyshawn Johnson
Joseph Keyshawn Johnson (born July 22, 1972) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for eleven seasons.
He played college football for the University of Southern Calif ...
) of the
2000 NFL Draft
The 2000 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur U.S. college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 15– 16, 2000, at the Thea ...
, he made an immediate impact for the
New York Jets; in his
rookie
A rookie is a person new to an occupation, profession, or hobby. In sports, a ''rookie'' is a professional athlete in their first season (or year).
In contrast with a veteran who has experience and expertise, a rookie is usually inexperienced ...
season, he recorded 12
tackles
Tackle may refer to:
* In football:
** Tackle (football move), a play in various forms of football
** Tackle (gridiron football position), a position in American football and Canadian football
** Dump tackle, a forceful move in rugby of picking u ...
and 4.5 sacks in only six games before being injured. In 2001, he recorded 58 tackles and 13 sacks, and was named to the
AFC Pro Bowl
The National Football League All-Star Game (1939–1942), Pro Bowl (1951–2022), or Pro Bowl Games (starting in 2023) is an annual event held by the National Football League (NFL) featuring the league's star players.
The format has changed thro ...
. In 2002, he recorded 48 tackles, with 10 sacks, and was again named to the Pro Bowl. In 2003, he only recorded 37 tackles and six sacks, due to being injured mid-season.
Abraham tied a franchise record set by
Joe Klecko
Joseph Edward Klecko (born October 15, 1953) is an American former football player, of Polish descent, best remembered for his days as a defensive lineman, a member of the New York Jets' famed " New York Sack Exchange."
Temple Owls
Before goin ...
and
Mark Gastineau
Marcus Dell Gastineau (born November 20, 1956) is an American former football player who was a defensive end for the New York Jets from 1979 to 1988. A five-time Pro Bowler, he was one of the quickest and most feared pass rushers of his generatio ...
with four sacks in a game on November 4, 2001 against the
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans. The Saints compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) South division. Since 1975, the te ...
.
Abraham was designated
Franchise Player
In professional sports, a franchise player is an athlete who is both the best player on their team and one that the team can build their " franchise" around for the foreseeable future.
Overview
In the United States, outstanding players were ref ...
by the Jets on February 21, 2006.
Atlanta Falcons
Abraham was traded to the
Atlanta Falcons in exchange for Atlanta's
2006 NFL Draft
The 2006 National Football League Draft, the 71st in league history, took place in New York City, New York, at Radio City Music Hall on April 29 and April 30, 2006. For the 27th consecutive year, the draft was telecast on ESPN and ESPN2, with add ...
first round pick (
No. 29), which was acquired from
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football franchise based in Denver. The Broncos compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) West division. The team is headquar ...
.
In 2008, he had a career high 16.5 sacks through the entire season and ranked 3rd in the league that year. Despite the great numbers he was not elected by voters to play in the 2009 Pro Bowl.
On December 12, 2010, Abraham recorded two sacks against the Carolina Panthers. The two sacks gave him 100.5 for his career, making him only the 25th player in NFL history to eclipse 100. On December 27, on Monday Night Football against the New Orleans Saints, Abraham recorded his first career interception after deflecting and catching a
Drew Brees
Drew Christopher Brees (; born January 15, 1979) is an American former American football, football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 20 seasons. A member of the New Orleans Saints for most of his career, Brees i ...
pass attempt.
In December 2010, Abraham was selected to his fourth Pro Bowl.
On June 21, 2012, Abraham signed a 3-year $16.72 million contract to remain in Atlanta.
On March 1, 2013, Abraham was released by the Atlanta Falcons.
Arizona Cardinals
Abraham signed with the
Arizona Cardinals on July 25, 2013. In his first season in Arizona, he recorded 11.5 sacks, which ranked seventh in the NFL, and 4 forced fumbles. After a productive first season with the Cardinals, Abraham left Arizona’s week one Monday Night Football game on September 10, 2014, after a concussion. After the game, he spoke with
Bruce Arians
Bruce Charles Arians (born October 3, 1952) is an American football executive and former coach in the National Football League (NFL). Since 2022, he has been a senior football consultant for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Arians was previously the he ...
for several hours discussing if he should retire. On September 19, 2014, Abraham's 2014 season prematurely ended as the Cardinals placed him on injured reserve, effectively ending his career.
NFL career statistics
Personal life
Abraham was raised by his mother, Maggie Abraham. Abraham has a daughter, Endraya.
Atlanta Falcons bio
He enjoys watching basketball in his spare time and his favorite team is the Los Angeles Lakers. He cites running back
A running back (RB) is a member of the offensive backfield in gridiron football. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback to rush the ball, to line up as a receiver to catch the ball,
and block. Ther ...
Walter Payton
Walter Jerry Payton (July 25, 1953Although most sources at the time of his death gave Payton's birth year as 1954, reliable sources subsequently state he was born in 1953. – November 1, 1999) was an American football running back who played ...
and wide receiver Jerry Rice
Jerry Lee Rice (born October 13, 1962) is an American former professional football wide receiver who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 20 seasons. Known primarily as a member of the San Francisco 49ers, winning three championsh ...
as his childhood heroes. He attended the Jets' May 5, 2003 blood drive to benefit hospitals throughout Queens
Queens is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Queens County, in the U.S. state of New York. Located on Long Island, it is the largest New York City borough by area. It is bordered by the borough of Brooklyn at the western tip of Long ...
, Nassau and Suffolk counties.
References
External links
Atlanta Falcons bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Abraham, John
1978 births
Living people
100 Sacks Club
American Conference Pro Bowl players
American football defensive ends
American football linebackers
Arizona Cardinals players
Atlanta Falcons players
National Conference Pro Bowl players
New York Jets players
People from Lamar, South Carolina
People from Timmonsville, South Carolina
Players of American football from South Carolina
South Carolina Gamecocks football players
Sportspeople from Florence, South Carolina
Unconferenced Pro Bowl players