James J. Silva (born December 14, 1984) is an American former college and professional football player who was a

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 ...

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) for three seasons. He played college football for Boston College, and earned consensus All-American honors. He was signed by the Colts 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 2008.

Early years

Silva was born in

East Providence, Rhode Island East Providence is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 47,139 at the 2020 census, making it the fifth-largest city in the state. Geography East Providence is located between the Providence and Seekonk ...

. He attended

East Providence High School East Providence High School is a public high school located in East Providence, Rhode Island. It instructs grade levels 9 through 12 and is operated by the East Providence School Department. As of the 2014-15 year, there was an approximate studen ...

, and was a standout

high school football High school football (french: football au lycée) is gridiron football played by high school teams in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both countries, but its popularity is declining, part ...

player for the East Providence Townies.

College career

Silva attended Boston College, where he played for the

Boston College Eagles The Boston College Eagles are the athletic teams that represent Boston College, located in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. They compete as a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level (Football Bowl Subdivisi ...

from 2003 to 2007. He redshirted as a true freshman in 2003. As a senior in 2007, Silva recorded 125

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 ...

(82 unassisted) and eight

interception In ball-playing competitive team sports, an interception or pick is a move by a player involving a pass of the ball—whether by foot or hand, depending on the rules of the sport—in which the ball is intended for a player of the same team ...

s, being the only player in NCAA history to ever accomplish this. For this, he was named a consensus first-team

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 ...

selection, as well as one of three finalists for the

Jim Thorpe Award The Jim Thorpe Award, named in memory of multi-sport athlete Jim Thorpe, has been awarded to the top defensive back in college football since 1986. It is voted on by the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame. In 2017, the award became sponsored by Payco ...

, given annually to the nation's top defensive back. He was also named the most valuable player of the 2007 Champs Sports Bowl, in which the Eagles defeated the

Michigan State Spartans The Michigan State Spartans are the athletic teams that represent Michigan State University. The school's athletic program includes 23 varsity sports teams. Their mascot is a Spartan warrior named Sparty, and the school colors are green and wh ...

24-21; Silva gained 10 tackles and two interceptions. He played in the 2008 East/West Shrine game and was voted captain by his teammates. He majored in communications.

Professional career

Indianapolis Colts (2008-2011)

Silva went undrafted in the 2008 NFL Draft and was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an

on May 2. He recorded seventeen tackles during the 2008 season. Jamie was a member of the 2009 Indianapolis Colts. He served as a special team specialist as well as the second string free safety. Silva recorded 32 tackles and deflected 2 passes in his second season. As well as 4 post season tackles. Silva and the Colts advanced to

Super Bowl XLIV Super Bowl XLIV was an American football game between the National Football Conference (NFC) champions New Orleans Saints and the American Football Conference (AFC) champions Indianapolis Colts to decide the National Football League (NFL) champ ...

, where they faced 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 ...

. The Colts were defeated 31-17. During the first preseason game of the 2010 season, Silva sustained a torn ACL, MCL, and crushed knee joint causing him to miss the rest of the year. The doctors never cleared Silva to play again. On July 26, 2011, the Colts surrendered the rights to Silva making him an unrestricted free agent.

Personal life

Silva and his wife Theresa reside in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They have 4 daughters and a son. Silva was an assistant coach on the Mt. Lebanon High School football team in the fall of 2016. He is also a cousin of USA Women’s Hockey player

Kacey Bellamy Kacey Lee Bellamy (born April 22, 1987) is an American ice hockey defender for the Calgary section of the PWHPA, an Olympic Silver medalist, and seven-time IIHF World Women's Championship winner. She currently plays for the Boston Pride in the ...

References

External links

Boston College Eagles bioIndianapolis Colts bioNFL Draft Bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Silva, Jamie 1984 births Living people All-American college football players American people of Portuguese descent American football safeties Boston College Eagles football players People from East Providence, Rhode Island Indianapolis Colts players High school football coaches in Pennsylvania