PRO (67-3/7-1): Re-signed
by the Steelers on October 1, 2008…released by the Steelers on June 28,
2008…signed
with Pittsburgh on Sept. 8, 2006...played a major role throughout the
2007
season as a backup to Willie Parker...started the final two games of 2007 and
the AFC Wild Card Game after Parker went down with a season-ending injury in
Week 16...was on his way to a storybook performance in October 2005, having
already punched in two first-half touchdowns against New Orleans, when a broken
ankle abruptly halted his season in its tracks...possesses tailback speed in a
traditional fullback frame...has the ability to pop a long run once he gets out
into the open field...a big man who runs with power, also has quick feet and
good speed...a north-south type runner who also can get outside and become tough
to tackle in the open field...staked his own claim to being a starting-caliber
runner in the NFL with an impressive performance late in 2004...in his first
professional start under the bright lights of Monday Night Football, ran for 178
yards and a score on 19 carries vs. the Rams (11/29/04)...his production ranked
third highest among league runners making their initial start over the prior 20
years, along with being the fifth-best one-game total in Green Bay Packers
history...originally selected by Green Bay in the fourth round of the 2002 draft
(135th overall) with a free agency compensatory pick.
2007 (15-1/1-1): Set a career
high with 499 rushing yards on 107 attempts (4.7 avg.)...his 107 attempts were
also a career high...finished second on team behind Willie Parker in rushing
yards...led the team with five rushing touchdowns...caught a career-high 18
passes for 184 yards (10.2 avg.) and two touchdowns....his seven combined
touchdowns established a new single-season high...was 8-of-9 (88.9%) in
converting third-and-one opportunities...recorded eight special teams
tackles...his 15 appearances tied a personal high...missed the Week 13 game
against Cincinnati due to injury...had a season-long run of 45 yards against
Seattle in Week 5...ran for a Steelers’ career-high 123 yards on 24 attempts
(5.1 avg.) against the Rams in Week 16 after Parker left the game with a
season-ending injury...that game marked his second career 100-yard rushing
performance...his two touchdowns in the playoff loss to Jacksonville marked his
first postseason multi-touchdown performance...returned five kicks, which tied a
franchise mark for a single playoff game, for 83 yards (16.6 avg.) in that same
game...9/9
at Cleveland: Came in primarily as the third-down back
and picked up 43 yards on eight carries...also had one catch for 17
yards...recorded one special teams tackle...9/16
vs. Buffalo: Had six rushing attempts for 46 yards with a
13-yard long...also had two catches for 11 yards with a nine-yard long...9/23
vs. San Francisco: Logged five rushes for 47 yards (9.4
avg.) including a 39-yard TD run...part of a backfield that picked up 205
rushing yards...also had a 12-yard kickoff return...9/30
at Arizona: Had two rushes for 15 yards (7.5 avg.) with a
long of eight yards...10/7
vs. Seattle: Saw extensive play at RB and logged seven
rushes for 58 yards (8.3 avg.), including a long of 45 yards...recorded two
rushing TDs, which was his first time having a multi-TD game with the Steelers
and just the second time of his career...10/21
at Denver: Had two carries for six yards (3.0 avg.) while
also returning a kickoff for 19 yards...10/28
at Cincinnati: Played in his 20th consecutive game at
HB...registered eight carries for 23 yards (2.9 avg.) including a long of eight
yards...11/5
vs. Baltimore: Saw extensive action at RB...logged 11
carries for 34 yards (3.1 avg.) including a 14-yard long...11/11
vs. Cleveland: Played in his 22nd consecutive game while
seeing extensive action as a third-down RB...rushed four times for seven yards
(1.8 avg.) and caught one pass for 10 yards...also managed to tally two special
teams tackles...11/18
at New York Jets: Played in his 23rd consecutive game as
the third-down RB...finished with eight carries for 39 yards (4.9 avg.)
including a 15-yard long...also had four receptions for 22 yards (5.5 avg.) with
a 9-yard long...11/26
vs. Miami: Saw action at RB for the 24th consecutive
game...finished with three carries for two yards (0.7 avg.) and one catch for
four yards...12/2
vs. Cincinnati: Was inactive...12/9
at New England: Finished with six carries for 33 yards
(5.5 avg.), including a long of 14 yards...caught a 32-yard TD pass from QB Ben
Roethlisberger in the second quarter, which ties his career long...12/16
vs. Jacksonville: Had one rush for a loss of four
yards...registered two catches for six yards (3.0 avg.), while also returning
two kickoffs for 42 yards (21.0 avg.), including a long of 29 yards...12/20
at St. Louis: Played in his 3rd consecutive game and was
the primary RB after Parker went down with an injury early in the first
quarter...finished the game with 24 carries for 123 yards (5.1 avg.), including
a long of 18 yards...also had two catches for 44 yards (22.0 avg.), including a
32-yard long, which came on a fake punt for a fourth-down conversion...12/30
at Baltimore: Made his first start with the Steelers in
place of injured Parker...finished with 12 carries for 27 yards (2.3 avg.),
including a long of seven yards...AFC
Wild Card Game 1/5 vs. Jacksonville: Made his fourth
appearance in the playoffs, while making his first postseason start at
RB...finished with 25 yards rushing on 16 carries (1.6 avg.) with two
TDs...scored his second career postseason TD on the Steelers’ first drive of the
game...caught two passes for 23 yards (11.5 avg.), including a long 18
yards...also returned five kickoffs for 83 yards (16.6), including a 20-yard
long.
2006 (13-0): Signed with the
Steelers on Sept. 8...saw action in the final 13 games and finished second on
the team in rushing with 221 yards with one touchdown...used primarily on third
downs...9/18
at Jacksonville: Dressed but did not play...9/24
vs. Cincinnati: Dressed but did not play...10/8
at San Diego: Saw his first action as a Steeler...caught
a 32-yard pass, the longest catch of his career...10/15
vs. Kansas City: Rushed 12 times for 78 yards (6.5 avg.)
with a TD and a long of 48...48-yard run tied a Heinz Field record for longest
running play by Pittsburgh (Jerome Bettis, 10/7/01 vs. Cincinnati) at the
time...bulled his way in for a one-yard score on fourth-and-goal...10/22
at Atlanta: Rushed once for minus-(-1) yard...saw action
as a kick returner but did not record a return...10/29
at Oakland: Returned two kickoffs for 40 yards (20.0
avg.) and a long of 25...rushed four times for one yard with a long of
four...11/5
vs. Denver: Rushed twice for 17 yards with a long of
nine...recorded new career game highs with five receptions for 57 yards (11.4
avg.) and a long of 19...returned one kickoff for 23 yards...also recorded one
solo special teams tackle...11/12
vs. New Orleans: Accounted for 104 total yards...returned
four kickoffs for 97 yards (24.3), including a 40-yarder...rushed twice for
three yards and caught one pass for four yards...11/19
at Cleveland: Rushed twice for 11 yards with a long of
eight...caught two passes for 16 yards (8.0 avg.) and a long of nine...had two
kick returns for 40 yards with a long of 20...had a 48-yard return but it was
called back because of a penalty...left the game with a groin injury and did not
return...11/26
at Baltimore: Returned four kickoffs for 60 yards (15.0
avg.) and a long of 27...caught one pass for 10 yards...12/3
vs. Tampa Bay: Rushed six times for eight yards (1.3
avg.) with a long of six...caught two passes for 22 yards with a long of
14...returned one kickoff for 21 yards...12/7
vs. Cleveland: Rushed 14 times for 62 yards (4.4 avg.)
and a long of 14...caught one pass for 21 yards...12/17
at Carolina: Rushed 11 times for 14 yards (1.3 avg.) with
a long of six...caught two passes for 31 yards with a long of 18...caught a
screen pass and raced 13 yards for a touchdown late in the first half to give
the Steelers a 17-0 lead, his first career receiving touchdown...returned one
kickoff for 21 yards...added three special teams tackles (one solo)...12/24
vs. Baltimore: Rushed once for one yard...returned three
kickoffs for 85 yards (28.3 avg.) with a game long of 32...added one solo
special teams tackle...12/31
at Cincinnati: Rushed three times for 27 yards (9.0
avg.), with a long of 20...returned two kickoffs for 35 yards.
2005 (5-1): Started
the year as Green Bay’s No. 2 running back before suffering a broken ankle vs.
New Orleans (Oct. 9)…was placed on injured reserve the next day, after having
surgery earlier that morning…wound up playing in five games with one
start…finished with 30 carries for 105 yards and two touchdowns, two catches for
three yards, and 10 kickoff returns for 189 yards (18.9-yard avg.)…reported to
training camp after shedding more than 20 pounds using a combination of YMCA
basketball and an offseason Jenny Craig program…9/18 vs. Cleveland: Carried eight times
for 36 yards and returned three kickoffs for 54 yards…picked up first downs on
two third-and-one situations, each time gaining 5 yards…9/25 vs. Tampa Bay: Became the 38th
player in team history to gain 1,000 yards rushing in a Packers uniform, joining
a list that includes Hall of Famers Clarke Hinkle, Jim Taylor, Tony Canadeo,
Bart Starr and Paul Hornung…10/3 at
Carolina: Had four rushes for 10 yards and caught one pass for one yard…took
over for Ahman Green when the starter left with a knee injury in the third
quarter…also matched his career high with four kickoff returns for 86 yards in
Panthers contest, and ran for four yards and an important first down on a
fourth-quarter touchdown drive, as Green Bay battled back in an eventual 32-29
loss…10/9 vs. New Orleans: Made his
second career start, at running back for an inactive Green
(knee/quadricep)…carried 12 times in Saints contest for a season-high 54 yards
and two touchdowns, the first two-TD game of his pro career…also caught one pass
for two yards…punched in a one-yard touchdown for the Packers’ first points and
their first 2005 rushing touchdown…his early 24-yard run, in which he burst
through the hole and broke S Dwight Smith's tackle to gain extra yards, was the
Packers' longest carry since the previous Dec. 19…three plays later, ran off
right tackle and scored a four-yard touchdown, wrestling past DE Charles Grant
for the final push into the end zone…ran for a 10-yard gain in the second
quarter, stiff-arming CB Mike McKenzie and getting around the edge for the first
down…just before halftime after catching his only pass, suffered a season-ending
broken ankle when he got his right leg caught underneath him during LB Courtney
Watson’s tackle.
2004 (11-1/1-0):
Though
limited by several different injuries over the course of the year, still
finished second on the team in rushing with 359 yards and two touchdowns on 71
carries (5.1 avg.) as the primary backup…also returned kickoffs, averaging 20.4
yards on 14 runbacks, and made four receptions for 33 yards…played in 11
regular-season games, starting once…was inactive for the other five
contests…also saw action in NFC Wild Card battle with Minnesota (Jan.
9)…contributed three special teams tackles in the regular season…9/13 at Carolina: In the opening game,
a Monday night matchup, aggravated a training camp pull of his right hamstring
while returning a second-quarter kickoff…initially pulled the muscle in practice
Aug. 24…subsequently was inactive for contests against Chicago (Sept. 19), at
Indianapolis (Sept. 26) and vs. the N.Y. Giants (Oct. 3)…10/11 vs. Tennessee: Limited to special
teams duty…returned to the field for Monday night game, bulldozing a pair of
Titan defenders on Antonio Chatman’s 35-yard kickoff return up the right
sideline…10/17 at Detroit: Barreled
into the line 10 times for 62 yards (6.2 avg.)…production included a 13-yard TD
run around left end late in the third quarter that gave Green Bay a 31-10 lead
in its eventual 38-10 victory…11/14 vs.
Minnesota: Exited in the first half with a left hamstring injury (opposite
of the one injured earlier in the year), causing him to be inactive for ensuing
contest at Houston (Nov. 21)…11/29 vs.
St. Louis: With Ahman Green (rib cartilage) sidelined, returned to the field
for Monday night start, enjoying the top performance of his professional
career…ran 19 times for 178 yards and a touchdown…output ranked as the NFL’s
third-highest total over the last 21 years for a player in his first league
start, in addition to being the fifth-highest one-game total in Packers
history…broke several long runs in the Packers’ 45-17 victory over St. Louis,
including 37 yards on a third-quarter counter play to put himself over 100 yards
on the night, breaking a pair of tackles in the process…on a fourth-and-one late
in Rams contest, darted through the St. Louis defensive line, broke away from
one defender and cruised in for a 40-yard TD run…earlier, had picked up 31 yards
on a second-quarter run to the left side…gains of 31 and 37 yards each set up
Green Bay touchdowns…12/24 at
Minnesota: In division-clinching triumph had 11 carries for 40 yards as well
as one kickoff return for 13 yards…1/2
at Chicago: Was listed as inactive, resting left shoulder injury initially
suffered vs. St. Louis and that later would require arthroscopic surgery during
the offseason (March 11, 2005)…NFC Wild
Card Game 1/9 vs. Minnesota: Had a one-yard TD run among 14 yards on five
carries…also returned three kickoffs for 69 yards in third meeting with the
Vikings.
2003 (15-0/2-0):
Healthy
for most of his second season after having his rookie year cut short by an eye
injury…served as a valuable and productive backup to Ahman Green, who set the
Packers’ single-season rushing record with 1,883 yards…saw reserve action in 15
regular-season games…was inactive for the other contest (Sept. 29 at Chicago)
with wrist and hamstring injuries suffered eight days earlier at Arizona…played
in both postseason games…finished second on the team in rushing with a
career-high 420 yards and two touchdowns on 77 carries…enjoyed the second-best
rushing average (5.45 yards per carry) among the NFL’s top 59 running backs,
being edged out by Portis (5.49), a 1,591-yard rusher that season…made six
receptions for 38 yards…became the Packers’ primary kickoff returner beginning
with the 10th game, averaging an impressive 31.6 yards per runback, including
four returns of over 40 yards…31.6-yard average (third highest in Green Bay
history) would have topped the NFL, but his 16 returns (for 505 yards) fell four
shy of the 20 necessary for qualification…was a regular on the coverage units,
ranking fourth among Packers with 15 special teams tackles…during the
postseason, carried 16 times for 63 yards, returned seven kickoffs for 139
yards, and added a pair of coverage stops…10/12 vs. Kansas City: Recorded a
18-yard touchdown on a draw over left guard…10/19 at St. Louis: Had a career-long
76-yard touchdown run down the left sideline late in game at St. Louis (Oct. 19),
giving him a season high 74 yards rushing…11/2 at Minnesota: Posted two coverage
stops…11/10 vs. Philadelphia: Had
recorded a career-best three special teams tackles in Monday night game…11/16 at Tampa Bay: Played a pivotal
role in the Packers’ 17-play, 98-yard drive for the game-winning touchdown (9:42
elapsed) in 20-13 triumph…picked up 46 yards on five carries during the drive,
including a 27-yard run to the Bucs’ 36 and a five-yard burst up the middle on
fourth-and-one at the Bucs’ 16…totaled 70 yards on 13 rushes…sparked a field
goal with a 56-yard kickoff return in which he avoided five tacklers…11/23 vs. San Francisco: Averaged a
season-best 5.6 yards per carry (min. 10 att.), running 11 times for 62 of the
Packers’ 243 yards on the ground…11/27
at Detroit: Averaged a career-best 34.0 yards per return (min. 3 att.) on
Thanksgiving Day, returning three kickoffs for 102 yards, including a 57-yarder
midway through the fourth quarter in which he bounced off the Lions’ Wali
Rainer…12/7 vs. Chicago: Ran through
Cameron Worrell to collar Pro Bowl kick returner Jerry Azumah at the 19-yard
line in win over the Bears…12/14 at San
Diego: Provided a huge momentum swing in key 38-21 victory…posted career
highs for kickoff returns (four) and kickoff return yards (125)…12/22 at Oakland: Had career-long
60-yard kickoff return to open the second half eight days later, following a
32-yard runback in the first quarter of win over Raiders…Wild Card Game 1/4 vs. Seattle:
Registered two coverage tackles.
2002 (8-0):
Emerged
early in the regular season as the backup to Ahman Green at halfback after
beginning the year as the Packers reserve fullback…rushed for 184 yards (third
on team) and one touchdown on 39 carries – for an impressive 4.7-yard
average…also was an occasional deep man on kickoffs, returning six for a
21.7-yard average, before his season ended prematurely due to an eye
injury…additionally made five receptions for 33 yards and four special teams
tackles prior to being hurt…enjoyed his top two games of the year against
Detroit…finished rookie year with eight games played as a reserve…also was
inactive for two contests (Oct. 13 at New England and Oct. 20 vs. Washington)
after initially pulling his right hamstring in an Oct. 3 practice, then
aggravating the injury four days later in Monday night win over Chicago at
Champaign, Ill. (Oct. 7)…missed roughly three weeks of practice near the start
of training camp due to lingering pain and soreness associated with the left
foot surgery required following his final collegiate season…9/8 vs. Atlanta: Had carries of five
and three yards on consecutive plays immediately prior to Ryan Longwell’s
game-winning field goal in 37-34, overtime triumph over Atlanta in the season
opener, having entered the game with Green (cramps) and Rondell Mealey (hamstring) sidelined…9/22 at Detroit: With Green
(quadriceps) inactive, saw his first significant action as a pro when he split
time at halfback with Mealey in Ford Field’s dedication…ran for a season-best 84
yards (on a career-high 22 carries) and had career highs in both receptions
(four) and receiving yards (31) in a 37-31 victory…11/10 vs. Detroit: Had a team-high 73
yards rushing – including a season-long 43-yard run up the right sideline – on
just 10 attempts (7.3 avg.) in relief of Green, who had been forced out in the
second quarter by a mild concussion…also posted a season-high two coverage stops
before going out himself late in the third period, when he suffered a right
ankle strain after being bent backward over a pile…11/17 at Minnesota: Returned to the
field the next week for game, but his health was short-lived…fractured his left
eye socket while covering the opening kickoff, an injury that occurred when he
laid a heavy hit on Vikings return man Nick Davis…with surgery necessary (Nov.
20), was placed on injured reserve the same day…finished rookie year with eight
games played as a reserve.
COLLEGE: Was a four-time letterman (1998-2001) at the University of
Miami (Fla.) following a redshirt season in 1997…a highly recruited tailback
coming out of high school, initially split time with future high NFL draft
choices Edgerrin James (Colts, first round in ’99), James Jackson (Browns, third
round in ’01) and Clinton Portis (Broncos, second round in ’02) before moving to
fullback on a permanent basis for the last year-and-a-half of his
career…averaged 5.3 yards per carry, rushing 156 times for 830 yards and 13
touchdowns…also made 35 receptions for 381 yards and three TDs, in addition to
returning 14 kickoffs for 346 yards (24.7 avg.)…played in 32 games with 16
starts, including 11 as a senior…served as a captain on Miami’s 12-0, national
championship team in 2001, though he was forced to miss the blowout of Nebraska
in the Rose Bowl after breaking the fifth metatarsal bone in his left foot
during a Dec. 21 practice…playing fullback on a full-time basis for the first
time in ’01, he helped to pave the way for Portis’ 1,200 yards rushing and was
honored following the season with the school’s ‘Unsung Hero’ award in
recognition of his willingness to put team success ahead of individual goals. 2000: Had rotated between tailback and
fullback for much of his junior season, making a career-best 15 receptions (for
149 yards and one touchdown) to go along with his 308 yards and four TDs
rushing…scored twice in 37-20 victory over Florida in the Nokia Sugar Bowl to
cap ’00 campaign…received the school’s ‘Jessie Armstead Comeback Player of the
Year’ award in 2000, recognizing his return from knee injury that limited his
’99 season to one game. 1999: Rushed
for 81 yards on 13 carries (6.2 avg.) in 1999 Kickoff Classic vs. Ohio State at the Meadowlands before tearing
the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. 1998: Enjoyed career highs in yards
rushing (387) and rushing TDs (six) as a redshirt freshman, leading all UM backs
with an average of 7.0 yards per carry…ran for a career-best 92 yards in
consecutive weeks, vs. East Tennessee State and at Cincinnati, to open the ’98
campaign…later started Miami on its comeback from a 17-point, second-half
deficit in 49-45 triumph over No. 3 UCLA at the Orange Bowl, scampering 23 yards
for a score that pulled the Hurricanes to within 38-28 in the final seconds of
the third quarter…set a Big East record with 208 kickoff return yards (on seven
runbacks) in 1998 contest at Syracuse. 1997: Worked with the scout team during
redshirt season…also won four letters (1998-2001) as a sprinter on the Miami
track team, competing in the 100-meter dash and 4x100 relay…was a member of the
Hurricanes’ 4x100 relay team that was the 1999 Big East champion…earned a B.A.
degree in theatre, with a minor in education.
PERSONAL: Born in Raleigh, N.C.…has two sons, Najeh Jr., (3), and
Ali, (1), and one daughter, Nailah, (2)…was a highly recruited tailback coming
out of Miami (Fla.) Central High School…rushed for 1,098 yards and 15 touchdowns
in just five games as a senior, including 200-plus yards in four of those
contests…named All-Dade (County) by the Miami Herald…had carried 100 times for
622 yards and seven TDs during his junior season…won four letters each in
football (also playing strong safety) and track…additionally received All-Dade
recognition as a track athlete…putting his undergraduate degree to practical use
in the offseason, in March of 2003 he spent one week in Los Angeles as an actor
in the movie Full Clip, starring Busta Rhymes, that was released on DVD in
August 2004…originally was set to appear in the movie as a henchman, but he
received a bigger role following his audition…ended up playing a nightclub owner
who is getting extorted…would like to do additional work as an actor in the
future…in the past two years alone, he has given time to the American Red Cross
(taping a pair of public service announcements, including one for ‘Super Donor
Days’), the Brown County PALS program (taking part in the organization’s
Halloween party), the Epilepsy Foundation of Western Wisconsin (taping a PSA as
well as playing with 60 kids at an organizational event), the Good Shepherd
Nursing Home in Seymour, Wis. (playing bingo with residents), March of Dimes
(signing autographs as a fundraiser), St. Vincent Hospital (taking part in the
Families of Children with Cancer Holiday Party) and the ‘Shop with a Jock’
program…earlier in his career, also lent an effort to the Salvation Army
(ringing the bell for the organization’s Christmas kettle at an area grocery
store), the NFL Hometown Huddle (doing landscaping and painting at the Green Bay
west-side Boys & Girls Club), Children’s Miracle Network (by signing
autographs at the Fox River Mall in Appleton, Wis., for donations to the
organization) and the Better Business Bureau (through the taping of a PSA)…began
work on a master’s degree in 2001…off-the-field interests include watching
cartoons, playing video games and paintball, as well as operating remote control
airplanes and cars…held a variety of jobs while in college: sold Cutco brand
cutlery during the summer of 2001 (receiving an award as salesperson of the
year) after having worked as a paralegal assistant at the Miami law firm of
McDermott, Will & Emery (handling filing and other paperwork) the prior
summer…also sold pagers for a short time while in college through his own
company, ‘Big Boy Inc.’…boyhood friends included fellow NFL players Santana Moss
(Redskins), Nate Webster (Broncos) and Marvin ‘Snoop’ Minnis (formerly of the
Chiefs and Dolphins)…nicknamed ‘Big Boy’…Full name: Najeh Trenadious Monté
Davenport.
