Lito Sheppard - #26 - CB - Florida - Profile

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

◊ Two-time Pro Bowl selection (’05, ’06) has recorded 256 tackles (199 solo), two sacks, 18 interceptions (three for touchdowns), 49 passes defensed, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery while seeing action in 93 games, 61 starts.

◊ First player in NFL history to post two interceptions with returns of 100-or-more yards in his career (10/8/06 vs. DAL, QB Drew Bledsoe, 102 yards; 11/15/04 at DAL, QB Vinny Testaverde, 101 yards).

◊ Started for PHI in Super Bowl XXXIX in Jacksonville vs. NE, 2/6/05, and recorded three tackles.

◊ Recorded two interceptions, vs. CAR, 10/17/04, QB Jake Delhomme, one returned for a 64-yard touchdown.

◊ Received NFC Defensive Player of the Month honors in Oct. 2004.

◊ Registered his first career interception at ATL, 11/2/03, against Kurt Kittner, returning it 34 yards for a touchdown.

CAREER TRANSACTIONS

◊ 2/28/09, NYJ Trade – NYJ, 2009 D5 (153 – Cornelius Ingram) and 2010 (conditional)

◊ 11/22/05, PHI, IR

◊ 11/6/04, PHI, Signed, Contract extension

◊ 4/20/02, PHI, D1 (26)

SEASON-BY-SEASON REVIEW

◊ 2008 (PHI) Appeared in all 16 games, starting three, totaling 23 tackles (17 solo) with one interception, five passes defensed, one forced fumble and one special teams tackle. POSTSEASON: Played in all three contests and finished with two tackles. SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: (11/16 at CIN)… Finished with four tackles and one forced fumble. (10/26 vs. ATL)…Intercepted Matt Ryan in the end zone, ending a drive at the Eagles’ one-yard line in a 27-14 win…Also registered two tackles and four passes defensed.

◊ 2007 (PHI) Played and started in 11 games…Finished the season with 47 tackles, two interceptions, and three passes defensed…Missed four games during the season due to an MCL injury. SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: (12/16 at DAL)… Limited Cowboys’ WR Terrell Owens to two catches for 37 yards, and notched an interception (Tony Romo) that led to the game’s only touchdown in a 10-6 win…His performance earned him NFC Defensive Play of the Week honors. (11/4 vs. DAL)… Picked off a QB Tony Romo pass and added two tackles.

◊ 2006 (PHI) Saw action in 13 games, all starts…Earned NFC Pro Bowl and Pro Football Weekly’s All-NFC Team honors... Hauled in a career-high six interceptions, which ranked seventh in the NFL and was the most by an Eagle since Troy Vincent nabbed seven in 1999…Ranked second in the NFL in interception return yards (157) behind Denver’s Champ Bailey (162). POSTSEASON: (1/7 vs. NYG) Started and recorded four tackles and one forced fumble. SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: (12/25 at DAL)…Registered five tackles, one interception and two passes defensed. (12/4 vs. CAR)…Intercepted Panthers’ QB Jake Delhomme in the end zone with seconds remaining to seal the Eagles 27-24 victory. (11/26 at IND)…Finished with one tackle and one interception. (10/15 at NO)…Picked off Saints QB Drew Brees and returned it 29 yards to move him into fourth place on the Eagles all-time interception return yardage list. (10/8 vs. DAL)…Earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors after intercepting two passes (QB Drew Bledsoe), returning one 102-yards for a touchdown with 0:16 remaining in a thrilling 38-24 victory… It was the longest individual interception return in Eagles history, the longest of his career, and the longest in the NFL in 2006, making him the first player in NFL history to record more than one in a career.

◊ 2005 (PHI) Played and started in 10 games, leading PHI with three interceptions through the first 10 games before an injury ended his season...Recorded 33 tackles, one sack, three interceptions, six passes defensed and one forced fumble. SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: (11/14 vs. DAL) Snagged an interception off of QB Drew Bledsoe in the second quarter, which led to an Eagles touchdown. (10/23 vs. SD) Picked off QB Drew Brees and returned it 33 yards. (10/9 at DAL) Popped the ball loose from DAL Keyshawn Johnson and into the hands of teammate Sheldon Brown, who returned the fumble 80 yards for a touchdown. (9/18 vs. SF) Had a sack and an interception (QB Tim Rattay)…First time in his career he notched both in the same game.

◊ 2004 (PHI) Earned a starting role on the NFC Pro Bowl team, his first appearance…Also named first-team All-Pro by the Associated Press, College and Pro Football Newsweekly and Pro Football Weekly, and second-team All-Pro by Football Digest…Played and started in 15 games…Tied for third in the NFC (t-8th in NFL) and led the team with five interceptions... One of three players to return two interceptions for touchdowns during the season....His 172 interception return yards were the third-highest total in the League that year… Earned NFC Defensive Player of the Month honors for October after posting 25 tackles, three interceptions, one sack and four passes defensed in five games…POSTSEASON: Started all three games, including Super Bowl XXXIX in Jacksonville, and recorded 11 tackles and five passes defensed. SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: (11/15 at DAL)…Returned an interception 101-yards for a touchdown. (10/24 at CLE)…Posted a career high in tackles (11) and intercepted QB Jeff Garcia, outleaping WR Dennis Northcutt. (10/17 vs. CAR)…Earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors…Posted his first two-interception game (QB Jake Delhomme), including a 64-yard return for his first-career touchdown…His other interception came in the end zone during the Panthers final drive of the game. (10/3 at CHI)…Registered his first sack when he brought down QB Jonathan Quinn on a blindside hit.

◊ 2003 (PHI) Played in all 16 games, making nine starts and recorded 55 tackles (39 solo), one interception, one forced fumble and a career-high 15 passes defensed. POSTSEASON: Saw action in both playoff games, recording one tackle. SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: (11/23 vs. NO)… Registered his first-career forced fumble, along with three tackles and one pass defensed. (11/2 at ATL)…Registered his first-career interception against QB Kurt Kittner and returned it 34 yards.

◊ 2002 (PHI) Played in 12 games and finished the season with eight tackles.

BEFORE THE NFL

◊ Two-time All-America selection during his three seasons at Florida...Started 22 games and allowed just one touchdown, while recording 87 tackles, 13 knockdowns and eight interceptions.

◊ Brought back 21 kickoffs for 472 yards (22.5 avg.) and 49 punts for 559 yards (11.4 avg.) and two touchdowns.

◊ In 2001, started every game and recorded 42 tackles, deflected six passes and intercepted two others in earning All-America honors...Consensus All-SEC selection also added 246 yards on 26 punt returns and 171 yards on seven kickoff returns (24.4 avg.).

◊ Became only the fourth sophomore in Florida history to receive All-America honors after leading the team with six interceptions for 179 yards and one touchdown.

◊ Was named the nation’s top DB in 1998 and Jacksonville’s Defensive Player of the Year as a senior at Raines HS… Recorded 18 interceptions during his junior and senior seasons.

OFF THE FIELD

◊ Full name: Lito Decorian Sheppard.

◊ Majored in sociology while at the University of Florida.

◊ Has his own website www.Lito26Sheppard.com.

◊ Wife, Nicole.

◊ Daughters, Reighan and Mya, and son, Terrell.

◊ Lists his grandfather, Lovell Sheppard, as having the largest influence on him.

◊ Passion for cars...His prized possession is his 1973 Chevy Caprice...Purchased a Ford F350 Harley Davidson Edition in 2008 after his children saw one that his friend owned and fell in love with it. Modified truck with an 8-inch lift and 37-by-13 inch tires to make it his very own “Mini-Monster” truck.

◊ In 2006, started the “Good Sheppard Foundation” to help guide disadvantaged and at-risk children into gaining a “can-do” attitude about education and the opportunities it creates.

◊ Sponsored a youth fitness camp in his hometown of Jacksonville in June 2008 through The Good Sheppard Foundation.

◊ In 2004, Lito and his family were devastated to learn that his cousin, Terrell, had fallen victim to a home invasion and was fatally shot in Jacksonville. The two were so close that Lito actually refers to him as his brother. Since Terrell’s death, Lito has named his son after him and has had his name tattooed on his chest.