Age: 23 (Oct.
7)
1st
season in pro football
College: Oregon
Height: 5’10” Weight: 200
Prelude:
Byrd, the son
of former NFL cornerback Gill Byrd, was a first-team All-Pac 10 selection in
2008 and Defensive MVP of Oregon’s Holiday Bowl win over Oklahoma State.
Overall, he intercepted 17 passes in college and opted to forego his final year
of eligibility to enter the ’09 NFL draft. Byrd was chosen by the Bills in the
second round and exceeded expectations, moving into the starting lineup at free
safety. What he lacked in speed he made up for with good overall skills and keen
instincts.
2009 Season Summary
Appeared in 14
of 16 games
[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Interceptions
– 9 [1, tied with Asante Samuel, Darren Sharper & Charles Woodson]
Most
interceptions, game – 2 at NY Jets 10/18, at Carolina 10/25, vs. Houston 11/1
Int. return
yards – 118 [11]
Most int.
return yards, game – 67 (on 2 int.) at Carolina 10/25
Int. TDs – 0
Fumble
recoveries – 0
Tackles – 30
Assists – 12
Awards & Honors:
2nd
team All-NFL: Sporting News
Pro Bowl
Bills went 6-10
to finish fourth in the AFC East while leading the conference in interceptions
(28).
Aftermath:
Having performed
well as a rookie, Byrd had problems with consistency in 2010 and, together with
the team playing poorly against the run, intercepted just one pass. His play
improved in 2011 and he was credited with 75 tackles in addition to three
interceptions, and in 2012 he topped the AFC with five interceptions and
returned to the Pro Bowl for the first of two straight years. Byrd also
received first-team All-NFL honors from Pro Football Focus in 2012 and
second-team recognition from the Associated Press after both 2012 and ‘13.
Having intercepted 22 passes with Buffalo, he moved on to the New Orleans
Saints as a free agent in 2014 where he missed all but four games with a knee
injury. Through 2015, Byrd has accumulated 23 interceptions, two of which were
returned for touchdowns, and six fumble recoveries along with over 300 tackles.
He has received at least some first-team All-NFL recognition once, second-team
honors after three other seasons, and been chosen to three Pro Bowls.
--
Highlighted Years features players who were consensus
first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the
following statistical categories:
Rushing:
Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Passing:
Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating
Receiving:
Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Scoring: TDs,
Points, Field Goals (min. 5)
All-Purpose:
Total Yards
Defense:
Interceptions, Sacks
Kickoff
Returns: Average
Punt Returns:
Average
Punting:
Average
*Leagues
include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL
(1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)
**NFC/AFC
since 1970
