Leon Washington - #29 - RB-KR - Florida State - Profile

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

◊ Named to his first Pro Bowl as a kick returner in 2008 as he ranked first in the NFL for most combined yards (2,332), setting a new Jets single-season record.

◊ Ranks fourth in kickoff return yardage in Jets history with 2,601 on 101 returns (25.8)...Averages 9.4 yards per punt return on 29 returns...Rushed for 1,451 yards and 13 touchdowns in his career, has caught 108 passes for 838 yards and two scores and is one-for-one passing for 36 yards.

◊ Registered four kickoff returns for touchdowns in his career, a franchise record.

◊ In 2007, set the Jets single-season record with three kickoff returns for touchdowns.

◊ Set a career high with 274 all-purpose yards vs. KC, 10/26/08.

◊ Recorded a career-high 198 yards on kickoff returns at SD, 9/22/08.

◊ At TEN, 61-yard touchdown run, 11/23/08, the longest by a Jet in 2008 and tied RB LaMont Jordan (SD, 11/3/02, for the fourth-longest touchdown run in Jets history.

◊ Started eight games at running back as a rookie in 2006, leading the Jets in rushing with 650 yards, the fourthhighest total by a Jets rookie in franchise history, and most since Clark Gaines had 724 yards in 1976.

◊ His 129 yards rushing vs. DET, 10/22/06, was the highest one-game total by a Jets rookie since Matt Snell had 180 yards vs. HOU (Oilers), 10/17/64.

◊ His 108 yards on four receptions at MIA, 12/25/06, made him the first Jets running back to surpass 100 yards receiving in a single game since Richie Anderson did it three times in the 2000 season.

CAREER TRANSACTIONS

◊ 4/30/06, NYJ, D4 (117)

SEASON-BY-SEASON REVIEW

◊ 2008 (JETS) Named to his first Pro Bowl as a kick returner... Led the NFL in most combined yards (2,332), setting a new Jets single-season record, scoring nine touchdowns total...Averaged 25.6 yards per kick return, scoring one touchdown, 10.4 yards per punt return...Rushed for 448 yards and six touchdowns, caught 47 passes for 355 yards and two touchdowns... Recorded three games with over 200 all-purpose yards (218, 9/22 at SD; 274, 10/26 vs. KC; 212, 11/13 at NE)…Tied for first with CAR RB DeAngelo Williams in the NFL for most 40-plus yard touchdown runs (three), tied for first in the NFL with 10 plays of 40-plus yards (six returns, three rushes, one reception). SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: (12/28 vs. MIA)…Led all receivers and rushers for the first time in his career…Rushed for 60 yards on 10 carries and one touchdown, a 10-yard rush. (12/14 vs. BUF)… Scored on a 47-yard touchdown run, giving the Jets a 21-17 lead going into halftime…Marks third rushing touchdown of 40-plus yards this season. (11/23 at TEN)…His 61-yard touchdown run was the longest rush of the season by a Jet and tied for fourth-longest in team history...also scored from four yards out…Named Jets Offensive Player of the Game. (11/13 at NE)…On the Jets opening drive connected with Brett Favre on a seven-yard touchdown pass to give the Jets an early lead…Helped extend the Jets lead with 9:44 remaining in the first half to 17-6 on a 92-yard kickoff return for a score, the fourth of his career on a kickoff return. (11/2 at BUF)… With 3:32 to go in the third quarter and the Jets holding a 16-10 lead, the Bills’ Rian Lindell kicked off and as the ball dribbled down the sideline, Washington put one foot out-of bounds and grabbed the ball, drawing a flag...By rule, that isa kickoff out-of-bounds and the Jets were awarded the ball onthe 40-yard line. Four plays and 60 yards later, Thomas Jones scored from seven yards out to extend the Jets lead, 23-10. (10/26 vs. KC)…Named Jets’ Special Teams Player of the Game...Set a career-high 274 all-purpose yards, including a 60-yard touchdown run and 18-yard touchdown reception…His 31-yard punt return set up game-winning score. (10/12 vs. CIN)…Returned a career-high five punts for 77 yards and two kickoffs for 65 yards, including a 46-yarder that led to the Jets first score. (9/22 at SD)…Returned five kicks for a career-high 198 yards…With 14:48 in the second quarter returned a kickoff 94 yards to the five, setting up a touchdown.

◊ 2007 (JETS) Played in 16 games, starting four…Returned punts (20-183-9.2) and assumed kickoff return responsibilities when Justin Miller was lost for the season…Scored three touchdowns on kickoff returns, with 47 returns for 1,291 yards (27.5 avg, third in the NFL)…Tied for the team lead with Laveranues Coles with six touchdowns…Ran for 353 yards and a team-leading three rushing touchdowns on 71 carries…Caught 36 passes for 213 yards. SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: (12/30 vs. KC)…Completed a 36-yard pass to Wallace Wright, the first pass attempt of his career and the longest pass in franchise history by a non-quarterback…Became the first player since Antwaan Randle-El in 2003 to throw a pass, catch a pass, rush the ball, return a punt and return a kickoff in the same game. (12/16 at NE)…Rushed for 57 yards, including a career-long 49-yarder, the longest by a Jet in 2007…Also had a 49-yard kickoff return. (12/2 at MIA)…Carried the ball 10 times for a season-high 68 yards and two touchdowns…Posted touchdown runs of 18 and 12 yards and caught two passes for 35 yards, including a season-long 18-yarder…Named Jets Offensive Player of the Week. (11/18 vs. PIT)…Returned a punt a season-long 33 yards in overtime to help set up Mike Nugent’s game winning 38-yard field goal. (11/4 vs. WAS)…Returned the opening kickoff 86 yards for a touchdown…It was his third kickoff return for a touchdown this season, which is a Jets single-season record. (10/21 at CIN)…Caught a two-point conversion pass from Chad Pennington with no time left in the game. (10/7 at NYG)…Recorded a 98-yard kick return for a touchdown, his second of the season. (9/30 at BUF)…Rushed four times for 24 yards with a touchdown, and recorded a career-high eight receptions for 38 yards…His eight-yard touchdown run was his first of the season and the team’s first by a running back. (9/23 vs. MIA)…Returned a second-quarter kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown, the first kickoff return for a touchdown in his career…Was named the Jets Special Teams Player of the Week.

◊ 2006 (JETS) Played 16 games, starting eight…Led the team with 650 yards rushing as a rookie, also scored four times on 151 carries…Logged 270 yards receiving on 25 receptions…Returned 13 punts for 97 yards and six kickoffs for 79 yards. POSTSEASON: (1/7 at NE)…Rushed for 50 yards on 11 carries and caught four passes for 25 yards…Returned a punt for seven yards. SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: (12/25 at MIA)…Caught a Chad Pennington dump-off pass and ran 64 yards before the two-minute warning to help set up Mike Nugent’s game-winning field goal in the Christmas night win on Monday Night Football…Finished the game with four receptions for 108 yards, his first career 100-yard receiving game. (12/17 at MIN)…Logged the longest punt return of the season when he returned a second-quarter punt 38 yards. (12/10 vs. BUF)…Started for the second consecutive week and gained a team-high 55 yards on just seven carries in the loss. (10/22 vs. DET)…Named Jets Offensive Player of the Week after his 129 yards rushing on 20 carries and two touchdowns (5, 16). (10/15 vs. MIA)…In his first NFL start, he led the team in rushing with 58 yards on 11 carries in the victory. (10/8 at JAC)…Recorded 101 yards on 23 carries, becoming the first Jets rookie to rush for over 100 yards since Blair Thomas in 1990.

BEFORE THE NFL

◊ Became the only player in the Bobby Bowden era to score a touchdown five different ways (run, reception, punt return, kickoff return, and fumble return).

◊ Finished career 10th in FSU history in career-rushing with 2,041 yards.

◊ Earned All-ACC second-team honors and was named the Seminoles’ offensive MVP by the coaching staff.

◊ Earned Gator Bowl Most Valuable Player honors in 2004 with 12 rushes for 195 yards in the Seminoles’ victory over West Virginia.

◊ Played in 10 of 12 games, while earning 10 starting assignments…Led the ACC in rushing yards per game with an average of 95.1 and finished second in the ACC with 112.5 total offensive yards per game.

◊ Graduated from Andrew Jackson HS in 2002, and was named Mr. Florida in football after rushing for 2,437 yards and 28 touchdowns, returning three punts and one kickoff for a touchdown, and posting 88 tackles and three interceptions on defense.

◊ Earned Florida Times-Union Player of the Year honors and was rated the number three prospect overall in the state of Florida by the Orlando Sentinel.

OFF THE FIELD

◊ Visited St. Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, NJ, in 2006, along with 24 members of the Jets’ rookie class, to tour the facilities and spend time with patients in the pediatric and burn victim units.

◊ Handed out sporting goods gift cards to seventh and eighth graders from Brooklyn, NY, for the 2006 Holiday season.

◊ Attended the United Way Gridiron Gala in 2007 to help celebrate the NFL’s 30-year partnership with the United Way.

◊ Majored in Social Sciences at FSU.

◊ Two sons: Leon, Jr. and Noel Simon.