26
DESHEA TOWNSEND
2007 (16-16/1-0):
Started all 16
regular-season games and appeared as a reserve in the playoff loss to
Jacksonville…registered a career-high 63 tackles…led the team with 18 pass
defenses, also a career high…recorded two interceptions…had three tackles in the
playoff loss to Jacksonville...9/9 at
Cleveland: Started at RCB and registered one solo tackle, one defensed
passed and one interception, with a return of 21 yards...9/16 vs. Buffalo: Started his second
consecutive game of the season at RCB…logged 52 snaps despite having a minor
groin injury…had a career-high 11 solo tackles...9/23 vs. San Francisco: Started at
RCB…registered 60 snaps and had two solo tackles...9/30 at Arizona: Made his
63rd start at RCB and had a team-high seven solo tackles, while being
in on 46 snaps...10/7 vs. Seattle:
Had his 64th career start at RCB and registered two solo
tackles...part of a defensive unit that allowed only 144 total yards, 38 rushing
yards, 106 passing yards and only eight first downs...10/21 at Denver: Started at RCB for his
65th consecutive time…logged 52 defensive snaps…had three solo
tackles…part of a defensive unit that allowed the Denver running backs to gain
only 54 rushing yards...10/28 at
Cincinnati: Started his 66th consecutive game at RCB and saw
action on 51 defensive plays…logged six solo tackles and one pass defensed...11/5 vs. Baltimore: Made his
67th start at RCB…finished the game with three solo tackles and one
pass defensed…part of a defensive unit that allowed the Ravens only 104 total
yards, with 64 coming on the ground and 40 yards by air…the Baltimore offense
managed only five first downs all night...11/11 vs. Cleveland: Played in his
147th career game and made his ninth consecutive start at RCB…tallied
three solo tackles and one pass defensed while logging 53 defensive snaps…part
of a defensive unit that allowed only 163 total yards, including 40 rushing and
123 passing yards...11/18 at N.Y. Jets:
Made his 10th consecutive start at RCB and saw action on 68
defensive plays…posted his second interception of the season and the
18th of his career, which he returned for 23 yards…also tallied four
solo tackles and two passes defensed...11/26 vs. Miami: Tallied his
70th career start at RCB…finished the game with two solo tackles…part
of a defense that gave up only 159 total yards, including 49 rushing, 110
passing and only nine first downs…12/2
vs. Cincinnati: Played in his 150th career game and registered 69
defensive snaps, while starting at RCB…finished the game with six solo tackles
and one pass defensed...12/9 at New
England: Tallied his 151st career game, while starting at
RCB…recorded four solo tackles...12/16
vs. Jacksonville: Made his 73rd career start at RCB…finished with
four tackles (three solo) with two passes defensed...12/20 at St. Louis: Made his
15th consecutive start at RCB…saw action on 60 defensive plays and
finished with a team high six passes defensed, five solo tackles and one hit on
the quarterback...12/30 at Baltimore:
Made his 16th consecutive start at RCB and finished the game with
no tackles and three passes defensed...AFC WILD CARD 1/5/08 vs. Jacksonville:
Saw action at RCB, while playing in his 11th consecutive
postseason game and tallied three solo tackles.
2006
(16-12): Started
12 games while seeing action in all 16…finished with 47 tackles, including two
sacks…also had two interceptions and forced two fumbles…9/7 vs. Miami: Started at RCB and
logged 59 snaps…did not record a tackle…9/18 at Jacksonville: Started at RCB
and registered six solo tackles and two pass defenses while logging 65 plays…9/24 vs. Cincinnati: Had one of the
best games of his career…recorded eight solo tackles and a pass defense while
logging 56 snaps…forced a fumble when he sacked Bengals QB Carson Palmer for a
loss of nine yards…collected his 15th career interception…10/8 at San Diego: Registered four solo
tackles while logging 72 snaps…started his 50th career game at
RCB…10/15 vs. Kansas
City: Did not
start…logged 20 plays despite suffering a hamstring injury early in the
week…logged three solo tackles and two pass defenses…10/22 at Atlanta: Saw 19 snaps in the
nickel package and recorded one solo tackle…10/29 at Oakland: Returned as RCB
starter after a hamstring injury limited him to play in the nickel
packages…logged 46 plays and recorded one solo tackle and a pass
defense...tipped a pass that would be intercepted by teammate Joey Porter...held
the Raiders to 17 yards passing…11/5 vs.
Denver: Logged 54 snaps…recorded three solo tackles and two pass defenses…11/12 vs. New Orleans: Logged 33 snaps
before suffering a concussion and ankle injury…left the game and did not
return…finished with one solo tackle, giving him 300 on his career…11/19 at Cleveland: Logged 23 snaps and
recorded one solo tackle and one pass defense…11/26 at Baltimore: Started at LCB for
the first time on the season…logged 55 snaps and recorded two solo tackles…12/3 vs. Tampa Bay: Started at RCB and
collected five solo tackles and one pass defense…recorded one sack for a loss of
eight yards…logged 58 snaps…12/7 vs.
Cleveland: Collected three solo tackles in 44 snaps…12/17 at Carolina: Played 56 snaps and
collected five solo tackles and one pass defense…12/24 vs. Baltimore: Helped the
Steelers record two turnovers with a forced fumble and an interception, which
led to the Steelers' late touchdown at the end of the first half…posted two solo
tackles and one pass defense…12/31 at
Cincinnati: Logged 30 plays and recorded two tackles (one solo) and one pass
defense.
2005
(16-15/4-4):
Finished with 55 tackles (43 solo), which was the second-highest total in his
eight-year career…had 13 pass breakups to rank second behind only Ike Taylor on
the team…totaled three sacks…also posted a sack in the Super Bowl and finished
the postseason with 17 tackles…9/11 vs. Tennessee: Started at
cornerback and played 47 defensive snaps…made six tackles (four solo)…9/18
at Houston: Played 58
defensive snaps and recorded five tackles (three solo) and one sack…9/25
vs. New England: Started at
cornerback and played 72 snaps…finished with two solo tackles…10/10 at San Diego: Started and
played 61 snaps…defensed two passes…10/16 vs. Jacksonville: Started at right corner before leaving
the game with a hamstring injury…had two solo tackles in 24 snaps…10/23 at Cincinnati: Saw limited play due to a hamstring
injury…logged 25 snaps and recorded three tackles (two solo) and a pass
defense…10/31 vs. Baltimore: Totaled two
tackles (one solo) and forced a fumble on the Ravens' Jamal Lewis deep in
Baltimore's territory, which led to a field goal by K Jeff Reed…registered 75
plays…11/6 at Green Bay: Played 66 snaps and recorded five
tackles (four solo) and a pass defense…11/13 vs. Cleveland: Logged 55 snaps and recorded four
tackles (three solo) and two passes defensed…11/20 at Baltimore: Had his biggest game of the season…had
his first interception of the season and returned it 26 yards…recovered a fumble
and defensed two passes…finished with three tackles (two solo) on 81 snaps…11/28 at Indianapolis: Posted his
second sack of the season and finished with four tackles on 62 snaps…12/4
vs. Cincinnati: Recorded a
season-high seven tackles (six solo) on 64 snaps…12/11 vs. Chicago: Logged 30 snaps and recorded two solo
tackles and a game-high three passes defensed in the first half...left the game
late in the second quarter with a neck injury…12/18 at Minnesota: Started at RCB and recorded two solo
tackles and two passes defensed…logged 50 defensive snaps…had a key interception
in the end zone to prevent a Vikings' score at the end of the first half…12/24 at Cleveland: Recorded three solo tackles…had one
sack for a loss of 12 yards…logged 48 plays…1/1
vs. Detroit: Started at RCB
and played 59 snaps…recorded five tackles (three solo)…AFC
Wild Card Game 1/8 at Cincinnati: Recorded six tackles (five solo) and
defensed two passes…AFC Divisional Game 1/15 at
Indianapolis: Recorded two
solo tackles…AFC Championship Game 1/22 at
Denver: Started at RCB and recorded three tackles (two solo)…Super Bowl XL 2/5 vs. Seattle: Started at RCB and recorded six
tackles (five solo)…also recorded his first career postseason sack of Seahawks'
quarterback Matt Hasselbeck for a loss of five yards to end a late Seattle
drive.
2004
(15-15/2-2):
Recorded
59 tackles (47 solo), four sacks, four interceptions and 14 passes
defensed...forced and recovered a fumble...his four interceptions were a career
high while his 15 passes defensed led the team…9/12 vs. Oakland: Finished with four total
tackles (two solo)…recorded his first interception of the season and the ninth
of his pro career…also was credited with one pass defense…played 64 defensive
snaps...9/19 at
Baltimore:
Played all 64 defensive snaps…recorded his first sack of the
season…finished with seven total tackles (five solo)...9/26 at Miami: Recorded his second interception of
the season, the 10th of his career…finished with five total tackles (four
solo) and his second sack of the season…also
was credited with two passes defensed...played all 61 defensive snaps...10/3 vs. Cincinnati: Finished with five total
tackles—all solo…also was credited with two passes defensed…logged 66 defensive
plays...10/10 vs.
Cleveland: Led
the team with three passes defensed…finished with three solo tackles…was
credited with one quarterback hurry/pressure…played 58 defensive snaps...10/17 at Dallas: Finished with six total tackles
(four solo)…also registered his third sack of the season…played all 63 defensive
snaps...10/31 vs. New
England:
Recorded his team leading third interception of the season and
returned it 39 yards for his second career TD…finished with two total tackles
(one solo)…also was credited with three passes defensed….played 54 defensive
snaps...11/7 vs.
Philadelphia: Finished
with two solo tackles…logged 37 defensive plays...11/14 at Cleveland: Registered his fourth sack of the
season…finished with four total tackles (three solo) and caused a fumble...also
recovered a fumble (forced by James Farrior)...11/21 at Cincinnati: Finished with three solo tackles
and one quarterback hurry/pressure…logged all 46 defensive plays...11/28 vs. Washington: Recorded his fourth interception of
the season, matching a career high…finished with four total tackles (three
solo)…also was credited with two passes defensed...12/5 at Jacksonville: Finished with seven total tackles
(six solo)…played 65 defensive snaps...12/12 vs. N.Y. Jets: Registered two solo tackles
and one pass defense...12/18 at N.Y.
Giants: Finished
with one solo tackle…played 45 defensive snaps...12/26 vs. Baltimore: Registered four total tackles
(three solo)…suffered a broken hand late in the fourth quarter…logged 49
defensive snaps...1/2 at
Buffalo: Missed his
first game of the season because of a broken hand...AFC
Divisional Playoff Game 1/15 vs. N.Y.
Jets:
Returned to action despite his broken hand and made his second
postseason start (2002)…finished with four total tackles (two solo)...AFC
Championship Game 1/23 vs. New
England:
Finished with two solo tackles…also led the team with two passes
defensed and a forced fumble.
2003
(16-8):
Ended the
season as the team's starting right corner and performed superbly…moved to left
corner when Chad Scott was placed on the reserved/injured list…started the final
eight games (four at each corner)…finished the season with 42 total tackles (36
solo) and a team-high 12 passes defensed…established a new career mark with
three interceptions, all in the last two games…also was credited with a sack,
one forced fumble, a fumble recovery and five special teams tackles (two
solo)...11/9 vs. Arizona: Earned his first start of
the season—the ninth of his career…had his first sack of the season…registered
his first forced fumble on a sack that was recovered by Kimo von Oelhoffen and
led to a Steelers TD…finished with five total tackles—all solo…also was credited
with a quarterback hurry/pressure and one pass defense...12/14 at N.Y. Jets: Was credited with four total
tackles (all solo)…played all 62 defensive snaps...led the team with three
passes defensed…12/21 vs. San
Diego: Produced
the best day of his pro career...led the team with nine total tackles (eight
solo) and accounted for three turnovers—two interceptions and a fumble
recovery…returned his second interception of the game 25 yards for his first
career TD…played all 66 defensive snaps...12/28 at Baltimore: Collected his third
interception in two games in season finale...finished with two solo tackles and
two passes defensed…played all 63 defensive snaps.
2002
(16-3/2-1): Had
another solid season for the Steelers...finished with 31 total tackles (26
solo)...also had three interceptions...collected the first postseason
interception of his career...also registered 15 special teams tackles (11 solo)
and had eight passes defensed...9/9
at New England:
Had one solo tackle in season-opener...9/15 vs. Oakland: Played 46 defensive
snaps…finished with three solo tackles and one pass defense…was credited with
one special teams tackle...9/29 vs.
Cleveland:
Played 31 defensive snaps…finished with two solo tackles…also had one
pass defense...10/6 at New
Orleans: Logged
19 defensive plays…finished with one solo tackle…also was credited with one pass
defense...10/13 at
Cincinnati:
Collected his first interception of the season…played 44 defensive
snaps…finished with one defensive tackle and two solo special teams tackles...10/21 vs. Indianapolis: Finished with five solo
tackles…also was credited with a quarterback hurry/pressure and one special
teams assist...10/27 at
Baltimore:
Collected his second interception of the season…finished with one
tackle…also was credited with two quarterback hurries/pressures and two passes
defensed...11/3 at
Cleveland:
Finished with two solo tackles…also was credited with a quarterback
hurry/pressure and one solo special teams tackle...11/10 vs. Atlanta: Registered three total
tackles (one solo)…nailed Michael Vick for a 14-yard loss…logged 39 defensive
plays...11/17 at
Tennessee:
Finished with one tackle…was credited with two quarterback
hurries/pressures...11/24 vs.
Cincinnati:
Recorded two solo tackles…played 36 defensive snaps...12/1 at Jacksonville: Had one quarterback
hurry/pressure…played 26 defensive snaps...12/23 at Tampa Bay: Had increased playing time
due to the injury to Chad Scott…finished with three solo tackles…also was
credited with one pass defense...12/29 vs. Baltimore: Earned his first start of
the season and responded admirably…recorded a big interception in end zone
during the first quarter to thwart a potential Baltimore scoring drive…finished
with four total tackles (three solo) and one pass defense...AFC
Wild Card Game 1/5 vs.
Cleveland:
Earned his first start in the postseason…finished with seven total
tackles (six solo)…also was credited with two passes defensed...AFC
Divisional Playoff Game 1/11 at
Tennessee:
Collected his first career postseason interception…finished with
three solo tackles.
2001
(16-1/2-0):
Had one
of the best games of his pro career in the last game of the season when he
collected the first two interceptions of his career…finished with 21 total
tackles (19 solo)...also recorded two sacks and nine passes defensed...9/9 at Jacksonville: Started the fifth game of
his NFL career for the injured Chad Scott in season-opener…logged 53 defensive
plays…finished with three solo tackles, one pass defense, and a quarterback
hurry/pressure...10/14 at Kansas
City: Logged 21
defensive plays…had one tackle...10/21 at Tampa Bay: Registered his first sack of
the season…logged 35 defensive plays…finished with one solo tackle...10/29 vs. Tennessee: Logged 21 plays…finished
with one solo tackle…also was credited with one pass defense...11/4 vs. Baltimore: Played eight defensive
snaps…was credited with two tackles, including his second sack of the season,
which forced a fumble...11/11 at
Cleveland:
Logged 19 defensive plays…finished with one tackle…was credited with
one quarterback hurry/pressure and one pass defense...11/18 vs. Jacksonville: Played 24 defensive
snaps…was credited with one tackle, one quarterback hurry/pressure and two
passes defensed…1/6 vs.
Cleveland:
Collected the first two interceptions of his career…also registered
four total tackles (three solo)...AFC Divisional Playoff Game 1/20 vs. Baltimore: Finished with one solo
tackle...AFC Championship Game 1/27 vs. New England: Recorded one solo
tackle…also was credited with one special teams tackle.
2000
(16-0):
Finished
the season with 20 total tackles, including 18 solo stops…also recorded a then
career high 3.5 sacks…was credited with nine pass defenses and 14 special teams
tackles…9/3 vs.
Baltimore:
Logged 10 defensive plays…was credited with a special teams
assist...10/1 at
Jacksonville:
Logged a season-high 51 defensive snaps…finished with three solo
tackles…also was credited with his first career sack...10/8 at N.Y. Jets: Logged 25 defensive
snaps…was credited with four solo tackles and two pass defenses...10/15 vs. Cincinnati: Had a particularly strong
game on special teams…led the team with three special teams tackles (two
solo)…logged 22 defensive plays…registered one tackle and one pass defense...11/26 at Cincinnati: Logged 17 plays…was credited
with a sack for seven yards...12/3
vs. Oakland:
Played 24 defensive snaps…finished with one tackle…was credited with
one quarterback hurry/pressure, one pass defense and two special teams
tackles...12/24 vs.
Washington:
Played 18 defensive snaps…finished with one tackle...12/24 at San Diego: Logged 20 defensive
plays...recorded 1.5 sacks.
1999
(16-4):
Started
four games for the Steelers in place of the injured Chad Scott…finished the
season with 31 total tackles, including 23 solo tackles…also had nine passes
defensed and a forced fumble…was a solid special teams player, contributing nine
special teams tackles…was a key component in the nickel and dime defenses…9/12 at Cleveland: Played mostly in passing
situations and special teams in the season-opener…was credited with one pass
defense...9/19 at
Baltimore:
Played in the Steelers nickel and dime defenses…tipped a pass that
was intercepted by Dewayne Washington on the Ravens' initial drive of the
game…finished with one total tackle, a pass defense and one special teams
tackle...9/26 vs.
Seattle: Played
on 18 snaps…credited with one solo tackle...11/14 vs. Cleveland: Was forced into active duty
when Scott suffered a right knee injury…suffered a concussion a few plays after
Scott's injury that forced him from the game…finished with two solo tackles...11/21 at Tennessee: Made his first career start
at left corner for the injured Scott...played on every defensive snap but
one…finished with four total tackles (three solo) and one pass defense...11/28 vs. Cincinnati: Started his second straight
game…finished with six total tackles, including three solo tackles...12/2 at Jacksonville: Finished with seven total
tackles, including five solo tackles…also downed a punt at the Jacksonville
one-yard line...12/12 vs.
Baltimore:
Started his fourth straight game but was replaced by Scott after
suffering a mild ankle sprain.
1998
(12-0):
Played in 12 games as a rookie and recorded 12 tackles (10 solo) and four
passes defensed. 9/6 at
Baltimore:
Looked
good early in his rookie debut in the season opener, but a sprained knee
ligament forced him out of action for the game...10/18 vs. Baltimore: Returned to active duty for
the first time since the season-opener...played 21 snaps, registering two
tackles and a pass defense...nearly intercepted an Eric Zeier pass on the
Ravens' final series of the game...11/1 vs. Tennessee: Registered two solo tackles,
while seeing his most action of the season due to an ankle injury to Carnell
Lake (33 plays)...11/9 vs. Green
Bay: Played
solidly in some key situations to help contain Green Bay's explosive passing
attack...was credited with one pass defense...also had one tackle...11/15 at Tennessee: Registered one assist in his
limited playing time...11/22 vs.
Jacksonville:
Was credited with one solo tackle and one special teams stop...12/6 vs. New England: Took 11 defensive snaps...12/20 vs. Cincinnati: Had two solo
tackles...played on 19 defensive downs...12/26 at Jacksonville: Registered one solo tackle
and a special teams tackle in the season finale.
COLLEGE:
Started
since his freshman year in college. 1997: Recorded 34 tackles and one
sack during his senior season. 1996: Recorded 39 tackles, one
sack, two interceptions and 14 passes defensed as a junior...named first-team
All-Southeast Conference by the Associated Press and The
Birmingham News...was voted second-team All-SEC in coaches' poll...returned
six punts for 25 yards. 1995:
Recorded 25 tackles and four interceptions as a sophomore...returned
13 punts for 75 yards...was a second-team All-SEC selection by the Associated Press...returned a blocked
field goal 90 yards for a touchdown vs. Georgia. 1994: Started every game during his
freshman year...had 31 solo tackles (39 total), one sack and one
interception...returned 12 punts for 151 yards...majored in business
management.
PERSONAL:
Played
both offense and defense in high school...accounted for 1,800 yards of offense
and 18 touchdowns as a senior quarterback while leading South Panola High School
to the 5A state championship in 1992...is the son of Willie and Lena
Townsend...Full name: Trevor Deshea Townsend.
