Lawrence Alexander Izzo (; born September 26, 1974) is an American professional
football coach and former player who is the
special teams coordinator
In American football, the specific role that a player takes on the field is referred to as their "position". Under the modern rules of American football, both teams are allowed 11 players on the field at one time and have "unlimited free substitu ...
for the
Seattle Seahawks of 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 as a
linebacker
Linebacker (LB) is a playing position in gridiron football. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage and the defensive linemen. They are the "middle ground" of defenders, ...
and special teamer in the NFL. He played
college football for the
Rice Owls
Rice University athletic teams are known as the Rice Owls. The name comes from the owls in Rice's crest. Rice participates in NCAA Division I athletics. A member of Conference USA, Rice sponsors teams in seven men's and seven women's NCAA sanct ...
, and was signed by the
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a professional American football team based in the Miami metropolitan area. They compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member team of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) East division. The team p ...
as an
undrafted free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises; i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term is also used in reference to a player who is under contract at present but who is a ...
in 1996. A three-time
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 ...
selection and three-time
All-Pro
All-Pro is an honor bestowed upon professional American football players that designates the best player at each position during a given season. All-Pro players are typically selected by press organizations, who select an "All-Pro team," a list t ...
selection, Izzo has also played for the
New England Patriots. He won three
Super Bowls during his time with the Patriots and one as an assistant special teams coordinator for the
New York Giants.
Early years
Izzo attended
Broad Run High School
Broad Run High School is a public secondary school in Ashburn, an unincorporated area in Loudoun County, Virginia, United States. Broad Run is part of the Loudoun County Public Schools system (LCPS). It was ranked as the #1 Best Public High Sch ...
in
Ashburn, Virginia for his Freshman and Sophomore year. As a sophomore, he started as a linebacker and running back, becoming the first sophomore in school history to lead the team in rushing yards and TDs. When his family relocated to Texas, he attended McCullough High School in
The Woodlands, Texas
The Woodlands is a special-purpose district and census-designated place (CDP) in the U.S. state of Texas in the Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land metropolitan statistical area. The Woodlands is primarily located in Montgomery County, with p ...
, and won two varsity letters in football where he was coached by Weldon Willig as a
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 ...
/
safety
Safety is the state of being "safe", the condition of being protected from harm or other danger. Safety can also refer to the control of recognized hazards in order to achieve an acceptable level of risk.
Meanings
There are two slightly dif ...
, as well as
baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each, taking turns batting and fielding. The game occurs over the course of several plays, with each play generally beginning when a player on the fielding t ...
. During his senior year, Izzo led McCullough with 1,081 yards rushing, while totaling 131 tackles for the Texas 5A semi-finalists. He was selected as the ''
Houston Chronicle
The ''Houston Chronicle'' is the largest daily newspaper in Houston, Texas, United States. , it is the third-largest newspaper by Sunday circulation in the United States, behind only ''The New York Times'' and the ''Los Angeles Times''. With i ...
''s Two-Way Player of the Year, and was a finalist for the Houston Touchdown Club's Player of the Year.
College career
Izzo attended
Rice University
William Marsh Rice University (Rice University) is a private research university in Houston, Texas. It is on a 300-acre campus near the Houston Museum District and adjacent to the Texas Medical Center. Rice is ranked among the top universities ...
, where he wore the number 26, and was a four-year
letterman and standout and finished fourth on the school's all-time tackles list with 301 tackles, setting a school-record 46 tackles for losses, and a season record of 18 tackles for losses in 1995.
In 1994 an underdog Rice beat top 10 ranked
Texas
Texas (, ; Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2020, it is the second-largest U.S. state by ...
on national television by the score of 19–17, as Izzo was selected player of the game with two key sacks (sharing the honor with teammate
N. D. Kalu). It was the first time in over 30 years that Rice had beaten its in-state rival, and would help Rice win a share of the
Southwest Conference
The Southwest Conference (SWC) was an NCAA Division I college athletic conference in the United States that existed from 1914 to 1996. Composed primarily of schools from Texas, at various times the conference included schools from Oklahoma ...
title for the first time in 37 years.
As a senior, Izzo was voted defensive team captain and earned consensus All-Southwest Conference honors after registering 121 tackles, he won the George Martin Award as the team's MVP and won the Jess Neely Defense Award as the team's top linebacker. Izzo was also selected as an Honorable Mention
All-America
The All-America designation is an annual honor bestowed upon an amateur sports person from the United States who is considered to be one of the best amateurs in their sport. Individuals receiving this distinction are typically added to an All-Am ...
n.
Professional career
Miami Dolphins
Izzo went undrafted in the
1996 NFL Draft and was later signed by the
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a professional American football team based in the Miami metropolitan area. They compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member team of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) East division. The team p ...
as a
free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises; i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term is also used in reference to a player who is under contract at present but who is a ...
in April 1996. He first came to local notoriety based on a sound byte that circulated during the pre-season of Izzo's rookie year, where Miami coach
Jimmy Johnson told the team that only two players were guaranteed to make the team: one was
Dan Marino and the other the then-unknown Izzo. He spent most of his time on
special teams
In American football, the specific role that a player takes on the field is referred to as their "position". Under the modern rules of American football, both teams are allowed 11 players on the field at one time and have "unlimited free substitu ...
, and was rewarded with his first trip to the
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 2000.
New England Patriots
Izzo signed with Miami's divisional rival
New England Patriots in 2001, and played on three of the six Patriots'
Super Bowl championship teams (2001, 2003 and 2004), defeating the
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams were a professional American football team of the National Football League (NFL). They played in St. Louis from 1995 to the 2015 season, before moving back to Los Angeles, where the team had played from 1946 to 1994.
The arr ...
,
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Panthers compete in the National Football League (NFL), as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) South division. ...
, and
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia. The Eagles compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) East division. The team play ...
, respectively. Izzo was also part of the
2007 Patriots, who were the only undefeated team in the regular season since the NFL expanded to a 16-game schedule; they lost
Super Bowl XLII, 17–14, to the
New York Giants. He also had two more trips to Hawaii as the
AFC special team representative in
2002, and
2004. Izzo gained notoriety in 2002 in the Patriots Super Bowl parade by leading the crowd in a "''
Yankees
The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. They are one of ...
suck!''" chant, in reference to the
Yankees–Red Sox rivalry
The Yankees–Red Sox rivalry is a Major League Baseball (MLB) rivalry between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox. Both teams have competed in MLB's American League (AL) for over 120 seasons and have since developed what is arguably ...
.
In 2008, Izzo hosted an interview segment on the
NESN
New England Sports Network, popularly known as NESN , is an American regional sports cable and satellite television network owned by a joint venture of Fenway Sports Group (which owns a controlling 80% interest, and is the owner of Boston Red So ...
dating show ''
Sox Appeal''.
New York Jets
Izzo joined his third
AFC East team, the
New York Jets on March 11, 2009. On December 10, 2009, the Jets placed Izzo on IR after tests revealed a spine injury.
Coaching career
New York Giants (2011–2015)
On June 24, 2011, Izzo joined the
New York Giants as assistant special teams coach. Izzo was credited with helping turn around the Giants special teams during their Super Bowl run in 2011-12. In the pivotal 2011-12 NFC Championship game, the Giant's special teams changed the momentum of the game when rookie linebacker Jacquian Williams caused a fumble on a punt return to set up Lawrence Tynes' game-winning field goal in overtime against the 49ers. The Giants went on to win the Super Bowl, and Izzo received his fourth Super Bowl ring.
Houston Texans (2016–2017)
On January 15, 2016, the
Houston Texans hired Izzo as special teams coordinator. During Izzo's tenure with Houston the Special Teams unit improved its DVOA ranking from dead last (ranked 32 in 2015) to 26 in 2017, including finishing in the top 10 in two critical statistical areas related to coverage teams (Opponent Kickoff Return Average and Net Punt Average, which was 41.3 yds). On January 2, 2018 Texans reached a mutual parting of the ways with Izzo.
Seattle Seahawks (2018–present)
On February 1, 2018, the
Seattle Seahawks hired Izzo as assistant special teams coach.
On September 11, 2020, Izzo became the interim special teams coordinator for the Seahawks after their coordinator Brian Schneider left the team indefinitely due to personal reasons; Izzo subsequently led the Seahawks into the top 3 for Special Teams DVOA rankings. He was promoted to full-time special teams coordinator on March 3, 2021.
During the 2021 season, Izzo's second full season as Special Teams Coordinator, Seattle's special teams ranked as the third strongest unit in the league by ''SI''s Rick Gosselin
Accomplishments
* In 14 NFL seasons, Izzo recorded more special teams tackles than any other NFL player in history (298). Izzo racked up 275 ST Tackles in 200 career regular-season games plus 23 tackles in 21 postseason games. While the NFL does not publish official statistics on ST tackles, that ranks Izzo ahead of Buffalo's
Mark Pike
Mark Harold Pike (December 27, 1963 – December 8, 2021) was an American professional football player who was a linebacker, defensive end, and special teamer for twelve seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the Buffalo Bills. He pl ...
(283). He also ranks ahead of
Keith Burns (231),
Gary Stills
Gary Stills (born July 11, 1974) is a former American football linebacker who played ten seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for West Virginia University. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third ...
(218), former
Dallas Cowboy Bill Bates
William Frederick Bates (born June 6, 1961) is a former American football safety who played for fifteen seasons in the National Football League, all of which were spent with the Dallas Cowboys. A fan favorite, he was a Pro Bowl selection in ...
(216) and former Bill
Steve Tasker (186).
* In 14 NFL seasons, Izzo never played on a team with a losing record. That included 9 playoff appearances, 5 AFC Championship appearances, 4 Super Bowl appearances, and 3 Super Bowl victories.
* Izzo was the
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a professional American football team based in the Miami metropolitan area. They compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member team of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) East division. The team p ...
recipient of the
Ed Block Courage Award
The Ed Block Courage Award is an annual award presented to a player from each team in the National Football League (NFL) who are voted for by their teammates as role models of inspiration, sportsmanship, and courage. Named in memory of Ed Block, a ...
in 1998, following his recovery from a season-ending achilles tendon injury.* * Izzo recorded his highest special teams tackle total in 1999 when he led the Dolphins with 33 special teams stops. In 2003, he tallied 31 special teams tackles to lead the Patriots.
* As a Miami Dolphin, Larry Izzo was Named to Football Digest's 1999 All-Tough Guy Team.
* Izzo was named to ESPN's
John Clayton John Clayton may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Writing
*John Clayton (architect) (died 1861), English architect and writer
*John Bell Clayton and Martha Clayton, John Bell Clayton (c. 1907–1955), American writer
*John Clayton (sportswriter) ( ...
's "The Best Team Money Can Buy" roster in July 2006 as a back-up linebacker and special teams coverage player.
* Izzo played in 103 consecutive games for the Patriots (2000-2008).
* In 2008, Izzo was selected by his teammates as special teams captain of the New England Patriots for the 8th consecutive season.
* Was awarded a game ball by Bill Belichick for managing to defecate on the sideline of an NFL game without anyone noticing.
* In 2020, the New England Patriots Hall of Fame named Larry Izzo to their all-dynasty team.
* In 2021, Tom Curran from NBC Sports/Patriots Insider named Larry Izzo to the list of "Top 50 Patriots of the Belichick era".
Community activism
* For his charity work and community activism, Izzo was honored by
Bob Kraft
Robert Kenneth Kraft (born June 5, 1941) is an American billionaire businessman. He is the chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Kraft Group, a diversified holding company with assets in paper and packaging, sports and entertainmen ...
and the New England Patriots Organization with the Ron Burton Community Service Award at the team's annual Kickoff Gala in August 2008. To date, his Larryoke events have raised over $600,000 for U.S. Military veterans and their families.
* Izzo represented the NFL during a 2005 "The USO and NFL Salute the Troops Tour," which visited soldiers in
Afghanistan
Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,; prs, امارت اسلامی افغانستان is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. Referred to as the Heart of Asia, it is bordere ...
and
Iraq
Iraq,; ku, عێراق, translit=Êraq officially the Republic of Iraq, '; ku, کۆماری عێراق, translit=Komarî Êraq is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered by Turkey to the north, Iran to the east, the Persian Gulf and K ...
. During the tour, Izzo and
Warrick Dunn
Warrick De'Mon Dunn (born January 5, 1975) is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for twelve seasons. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 12th overall in the 1997 ...
officially opened the USO
Pat Tillman
Patrick Daniel Tillman Jr. (November 6, 1976 – April 22, 2004) was an American professional football player in the National Football League (NFL) who left his sports career and enlisted in the United States Army in May 2002 in the afterma ...
Center at Bagram, a center that serves thousands of troops transitioning to and from
Kuwait
Kuwait (; ar, الكويت ', or ), officially the State of Kuwait ( ar, دولة الكويت '), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated in the northern edge of Eastern Arabia at the tip of the Persian Gulf, bordering Iraq to the nort ...
,
Qatar
Qatar (, ; ar, قطر, Qaṭar ; local vernacular pronunciation: ), officially the State of Qatar,) is a country in Western Asia. It occupies the Qatar Peninsula on the northeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula in the Middle East; it ...
, Iraq and
Europe
Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a subcontinent of Eurasia and it is located entirel ...
.
* In October 2006, Izzo hosted a charity event in Boston "Karaoke with Larry Izzo and the New England Patriots." The 2nd annual event raised over
$200,000 for charities which included The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, Operation Ensuring Christmas, the USO of New England, and Fallen Patriot. Participating at the fundraiser over the past two years were celebrities and athletes including
Mark Cuban
Mark Cuban (born July 31, 1958) is an American billionaire entrepreneur, television personality, and media proprietor whose net worth is an estimated $4.8 billion, according to ''Forbes'', and ranked No. 177 on the 2020 ''Forbes'' 400 list ...
,
Tom Brady
Thomas Edward Patrick Brady Jr. (born August 3, 1977) is an American football quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He spent his first 20 seasons with the New England Patriots organization, with which ...
, and other members of the
New England Patriots.
* While at the 2002 Pro Bowl, Izzo visited 8,500 crew members aboard the
USS ''Carl Vinson'' at Pearl Harbor, and the ship left the next day to participate in Operation Enduring Freedom.
* In October 2008, Izzo spoke at the Light the Night Walk in Boston, a charity walk that benefits the
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), a 501(c)(3) charitable organization founded in 1949, is the largest voluntary health organization dedicated to fighting blood cancer in the world. The LLS's mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's l ...
Personal life
Izzo and his wife Mara were married on February 21, 2004.
New England Patriots bio
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Izzo, Larry
Sportspeople from Fairfax County, Virginia
Houston Texans coaches
New York Giants coaches
Seattle Seahawks coaches
American football linebackers
Rice Owls football players
Miami Dolphins players
New England Patriots players
New York Jets players
American Conference Pro Bowl players
1974 births
Living people
Players of American football from Virginia
People from The Woodlands, Texas
Players of American football from Texas
Sportspeople from Harris County, Texas
People from Fort Belvoir, Virginia
People from Ashburn, Virginia
Ed Block Courage Award recipients