Ryan Pickett

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Ryan Pickett
Nose tackle
Personal information
Born: (1979-10-08) October 8, 1979 (age 44)
Zephyrhills, Florida, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:340 lb (154 kg)
Career information
High school:Zephyrhills
College:Ohio State (1998–2000)
NFL draft:2001 / Round: 1 / Pick: 29
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Pass deflections:
33
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Ryan Lamonte Pickett Sr. (born October 8, 1979) is an American former professional

nose tackle for 14 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes
. Pickett was selected with the 29th pick of the first round in the
2001 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams. He also played for the Green Bay Packers and Houston Texans. With the Packers, he beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLV
.

High school career

Pickett was a consensus All-American selection, named one of the top 25 players in the country by the National Recruiting Advisor and earned All-State honors at Zephyrhills High. He recorded 119 tackles with seven sacks as a senior.

Pickett was also a force for the Zephyrhills basketball team, averaging 10 points and 10 rebounds per game. He also was the school's first baseman on the baseball team until his senior season.

College career

Pickett played

NFL Draft
.

Professional career

Measurables

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight 40-yard dash
20-yard shuttle
Vertical jump
6 ft 2+18 in
(1.88 m)
309 lb
(140 kg)
4.98 s 4.48 s 30 in
(0.76 m)
All values from Ohio State Pro Day, except for height and weight, which were measured at the NFL Combine[1][2]

St. Louis Rams (2001-2005)

Pickett was selected with the 29th pick of the first round in the

2001 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams.[3] On July 28, 2001, Pickett signed a five-year, $5.995 million contract with the Rams.[4] Pickett's contract includes a $2.615 million signing bonuses. His base salaries were $504,000 in 2001, $530,000 in 2002, $656,000 in 2003, $782,000 in 2004 and $908,000 in 2005.[5]

In his rookie season with the Rams, Pickett took a backup role on the defensive front along with playing some special teams. He played 11 games during his rookie year with 19 tackles and half a sack. He helped the Rams into Super Bowl XXXVI, eventually to lose to the New England Patriots 17–20. In 2002, Pickett had a breakout year starting 14 games at left defensive tackle and finishing the season second on the team in tackles with 67 (45 solo). In 2003 and 2004 he maintained his above average play at the defensive tackle and nose tackle positions for the St. Louis Rams and was a vital part of their defense both in the regular season and in playoff contests. In 2005, Pickett had his highest statistical season to date. He started all 16 of the Rams games and racked up a career high 65 tackles (47 solo), which was the highest total for any defensive lineman in the NFL that season.[citation needed] After the 2005 season Pickett became a highly touted unrestricted free agent.

Green Bay Packers (2006-2013)

Ryan Pickett (right) with B. J. Raji and A. J. Hawk.

On March 17, 2006, the

nose tackle position with Dom Capers
using the new 3-4 defense style. Pickett started 13 games with 33 tackles and 2 passes defended.

On February 25, 2010, the Packers applied their

Franchise Tag on Pickett, but eventually signed him to a 4-year, $28 million deal on March 12, 2010. With B. J. Raji gaining playing time, Pickett transition to defensive end
as the Packers mostly used a 3-4 type defense but sometimes played defensive tackle during 4-3 scheme usages. During the 2010 year, Pickett played 14 games with 32 tackles, 1 sack, 1 pass defended, and 1 fumble recovery.

Pickett trailed only

NFL player on the Packers' defense. He started and had two tackles in Super Bowl XLV but, more importantly, was instrumental in one of the game's biggest plays. On the first play of the fourth quarter, the Pittsburgh Steelers were trailing the Packers 21–17, but had a second-and-two at the Packers' 33-yard-line. Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall took a handoff and was immediately met in the backfield by Pickett. Pickett had Mendelhall wrapped up, allowing Clay Matthews to force a fumble by sandwiching Mendenhall between himself and Pickett. Packers' linebacker Desmond Bishop recovered the fumble and the Packers offense would march down the field to extend their lead to 28–17. The Packers would go on to a 31–25 victory, bringing Green Bay their first championship title in fourteen years.[7][8]

In the 2011 season, Pickett continued his role at defensive end while B. J. Raji took over as the sole nose tackle. Pickett finished the year starting 14 games with 33 tackles and 2 passes defended. The Packers finished the season with a 15–1 record for an NFC North pennant, but lost to the New York Giants by a score of 20–37 in the divisional round.

In the 2012 season, Pickett started all 16 games with 51 tackles and 1 pass defended. The Packers clinched another NFC North pennant with an 11–5 record, but lost in the divisional round to the San Francisco 49ers by a score of 31–45.

In the 2013 season, the defensive line was marred by various injuries, as Pickett regained his role as the sole nose tackle while B. J. Raji played defensive end. Pickett played all 16 games at nose tackle with 19 tackles and 2 passes defended. The Packers clinched yet another NFC North pennant with an 8-7-1 record, but again lost to the 49ers 20–23 in the Wild Card round.

Houston Texans (2014)

In response of

Louis Nix III going on injured reserve due to knee injuries, Pickett was signed by the Houston Texans on September 24, 2014.[9]
Pickett made 13 starts with 20 tackles and 3 passes defended.

NFL career statistics

Legend
Bold Career high

Regular season

Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GP GS Cmb Solo Ast Sck TFL Int Yds TD Lng PD FF FR Yds TD
2001 STL 11 0 24 13 11 0.5 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2002 STL 16 14 67 45 22 0.5 8 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0
2003 STL 16 13 42 30 12 1.0 4 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0
2004 STL 16 16 46 42 4 2.0 5 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0
2005 STL 16 16 65 47 18 2.0 14 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0
2006 GNB 16 16 64 31 33 0.0 1 0 0 0 0 5 0 1 0 0
2007 GNB 14 14 39 28 11 1.0 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0
2008 GNB 16 16 48 26 22 1.5 3 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0
2009 GNB 13 9 33 22 11 0.0 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0
2010 GNB 14 12 32 24 8 1.0 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0
2011 GNB 14 14 33 25 8 0.0 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0
2012 GNB 16 16 51 27 24 0.0 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
2013 GNB 16 16 19 15 4 0.0 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0
2014 HOU 13 13 20 11 9 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0
207 185 583 386 197 9.5 52 0 0 0 0 33 1 2 0 0

Playoffs

Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GP GS Cmb Solo Ast Sck TFL Int Yds TD Lng PD FF FR Yds TD
2001 STL 3 0 3 1 2 0.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2003 STL 1 1 4 3 1 0.0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
2004 STL 2 2 12 8 4 0.0 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
2007 GNB 2 2 7 6 1 0.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2009 GNB 1 0 2 2 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2010 GNB 4 4 9 9 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2011 GNB 1 0 4 3 1 0.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2012 GNB 2 2 6 4 2 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2013 GNB 1 1 5 4 1 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
17 12 52 40 12 0.0 6 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0

Personal life

Pickett's primary home is in

San Diego, California
, and he spends most of his time there when he's not in Green Bay or traveling with the team. He and his wife, Jennifer, are the parents to six children, the youngest of whom is six-years-old.

Pickett is a Christian.[10]

In 2012, he formed The Ryan Pickett Foundation, which addresses issues in foster care by providing emotional and monetary relief to children who were placed within the foster care system. Proceeds are split equally between The American Foundation of Counseling Services of Green Bay and Casa de Amparo in San Diego.[11]

Through his foundation, Pickett hosted his first Celebrity Golf Classic in 2013 at the Barona Creek Golf Course in Lakeside, California, just outside San Diego. His celebrity guests included Aaron Rodgers, Clay Matthews, Marshall Faulk and Sterling Sharpe among others.[12]

References

  1. ^ "Ryan Pickett". NFL Draft Scout.com. March 25, 2009. Retrieved April 16, 2009.
  2. ^ CNNSI.com
  3. ^ "2001 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  4. ^ St. Louis Post-Dispatch.com
  5. ^ Belleville News-Democrat July 29, 2001
  6. ^ "Green Bay Inks Unrestricted Free Agent Ryan Pickett". Archived from the original on February 21, 2008. Retrieved April 1, 2008.
  7. ^ "Mendenhall's fumble turned tide for Pack".
  8. ^ "Super Bowl XLV Box Score".
  9. ^ "Ryan Pickett - Houston Texans - news and analysis, statistics, game logs, depth charts, contracts, injuries".
  10. ^ "The Green Bay Packers and their history as a Christian Faith-based Team".
  11. ^ "The Ryan Pickett Foundation (About)". The Ryan Pickett Foundation.
  12. ^ "Ryan Pickett Celebrity Golf Classic". The Ryan Pickett Foundation.

External links