Jason Pierre-Paul


Jason Andrew Pierre-Paul, nicknamed "JPP", is an American football outside linebacker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League. He played college football at South Florida and was drafted by the New York Giants in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft. With the Giants, Pierre-Paul made two Pro Bowls and won Super Bowl XLVI over the New England Patriots.

Early life

Pierre-Paul was born in Deerfield Beach, Florida to Haitian immigrants, Jean, and Marie, who arrived in the United States in 1983. At Deerfield Beach High School, Pierre-Paul lettered in basketball for four years. After a serious leg injury while playing basketball, he took up football his junior year.

College career

Pierre-Paul tallied 51 tackles and 19 tackles for a loss in his freshman year at College of the Canyons. He also had 14 sacks and earned First-team All-WSC and All-America honors. In 2008, Pierre-Paul played at Fort Scott Community College, where his 70 tackles, 10.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries earned him First-Team Little All-American honors.
Pierre-Paul transferred to the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida. In 2009, he played thirteen games for the Bulls with seven starts and totaled 45 tackles, 6.5 sacks, one interception, broke up three passes, and forced two fumbles. He was named First-team All-America by Pro Football Weekly for his efforts, and was also first team All Big East. He earned the nickname Haitian Sensation. In the fourth week of the season, he was named the Defensive Lineman Performer of the Week in the College Performance Awards. After his junior year, he decided to forgo his senior season and enter the 2010 NFL Draft.

Professional career

Pre-draft

New York Giants

2010 season

Pierre-Paul was drafted by the New York Giants in the first round with the 15th overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. On July 31, 2010, Pierre-Paul and the Giants agreed to a five-year, $20.05 million deal with $11.629 million guaranteed. He made his NFL debut on September 12, 2010 in the New York Giants' season opener, and recorded two tackles. He finished the season playing a total of 16 games, totaling 24 solo tackles and recording 4.5 sacks. He was named to 2010 All-NFL Draft Team by Pro Football Rosters.

2011 season

With injuries plaguing the Giants' starting defensive ends, Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck, Pierre-Paul received a significant amount of playing time, including 12 starts. He led the team with 16.5 sacks and was selected to his first Pro Bowl. Pierre-Paul was also named a First-team All-Pro.
Pierre-Paul recorded 65 tackles, 16.5 sacks, one safety, and two forced fumbles during the 2011 season. On December 11, 2011, after already compiling two sacks and a forced fumble, Pierre-Paul blocked Dan Bailey's 47-yard field goal attempt in the final seconds of the Giants' game against the Dallas Cowboys, and the Giants won 37–34. Pierre-Paul became the first player in NFL history to record a sack, forced fumble, and blocked field goal in the same game. On December 13, 2011, he was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week. On December 27, 2011, it was announced that Pierre-Paul was voted to his first Pro Bowl, despite not being on the ballot.
Pierre-Paul played a big role in the Giants' playoff run where they competed against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI and won by a score of 21–17.

2012 season

On October 28, 2012, against the Dallas Cowboys, Pierre-Paul caught his first career interception and returned it for a touchdown. He finished the 2012 season with 6.5 sacks and 43 total tackles.

2013 season

On June 3, 2013, Pierre-Paul underwent back surgery to remove a herniated disc. He returned for Week 1 for the game against Dallas and recorded a solitary sack. Against the Packers, he caught another interception of a pass by Scott Tolzien, which he returned for another touchdown.

2014 season

Pierre-Paul finished the season with 12.5 sacks, 77 tackles, three forced fumbles, and six passes defended.

2015 season

On March 3, 2015, the New York Giants placed the franchise tag on Pierre-Paul. Reports indicated that the tag was non-exclusive, which meant that Pierre-Paul could negotiate with other teams, and the Giants had the right to match any offer, or receive two first-round picks as compensation. On July 4, 2015, Pierre-Paul sustained a serious hand injury in a fireworks accident at his home, and four days later he had his right index finger amputated. He signed a one-year deal with the team on October 27. He was placed on the Giants' active roster on November 7. Pierre-Paul lost substantial weight in the hospital following the injury and had to play the season with a "monstrous padded club" on his injured hand, both of which adversely affected his play.

2016 season

On March 8, 2016, Pierre-Paul turned down an offer from the Arizona Cardinals to remain with the New York Giants. Before the 2016 season, Pierre-Paul underwent further surgery on his hand which allowed him to wear a glove instead of the cumbersome club which he wore in 2015. In Week 12, he registered three sacks including a fumble that he took back 43 yards for his third career touchdown against the Browns in a 27–13 win. Pierre-Paul was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in Week 12. On December 7, 2016, he underwent surgery for a sports hernia and was expected to be out six weeks but ended up missing the rest of the season due to the Giants losing in the Wild Card Round to the Green Bay Packers. Without Pierre-Paul and injured cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, the Giants allowed a season-high 38 points en route to a 38–13 loss.

2017 season

On February 27, 2017, the Giants placed the franchise tag on Pierre-Paul for the second time. On March 17, 2017, Pierre-Paul signed a four-year, $62 million contract with the Giants with $40 million guaranteed.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2018 season

On March 22, 2018, the Giants traded Pierre-Paul to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a third round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft and a swap of fourth round picks. He started all 16 games, recording 58 combined tackles and a team-leading 12.5 sacks.

2019 season

In May 2019, Pierre-Paul was involved in a single-car accident and suffered a neck fracture that put his season in jeopardy. However, he was cleared for football activities in late August and was placed on the reserve/non-football injury list to start the season. He was activated off NFI on October 26, 2019 prior to Week 8.
In week 12 against the Atlanta Falcons, Pierre-Paul recorded a strip sack on quarterback Matt Ryan which was returned by teammate Ndamukong Suh for an 11 yard touchdown in the 35–22 win. In Week 16 during a 23–20 loss to the Houston Texans, Pierre-Paul sacked quarterback Deshaun Watson 3 times.
In week 17 against the Atlanta Falcons, Pierre-Paul sacked Matt Ryan 2 times, one of which was a strip sack that was recovered by teammate Devin White who returned it for a 91 yard touchdown, during the 28–22 overtime loss.

2020 season

On March 17, 2020, Pierre-Paul signed a two-year, $27 million contract extension with the Buccaneers.

NFL career statistics

;Legend

Regular season

Postseason

Buccaneers franchise records