Jabaal Sheard

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Sheard was an All-Broward County defensive lineman at Hollywood Hills High School in Florida, where he had 54 tackles and 11 sacks as a senior. He was rated the nation's No. 23 weakside defensive end by Rivals.com. In college at Pittsburgh, he was described as someone who didn't get enough credit on the defensive line, noted for his 'extraordinary game' against Notre Dame where he pressured quarterback Jimmy Clausen with four tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, one pass breakup, and four quarterback hurries. Commentator Wes Bunting described Sheard as balanced with 'an explosive first step' and 'keeping his pad level down.' He was suspended from the Pitt football team indefinitely after a July 18, 2010 arrest stemming from an off-campus brawl, but was restored after charges were reduced to misdemeanor disorderly conduct. He earned first-team AFCA All-American honors in 2010 and was a finalist for the Ted Hendricks Award.

In Their Own Story

Selected 37th overall in the second round of the 2011 NFL draft by the Cleveland Browns, Sheard started all 16 games as a rookie and led the team in sacks (8.5) and forced fumbles (5). He and teammate Phil Taylor were chosen for the Pro Football Weekly 2011 All-Rookie Team. He recorded his first career sack and forced fumble against the Indianapolis Colts in week 2 and a career-high 2 sacks against the Arizona Cardinals in week 15. After four seasons in Cleveland, he signed a two-year, $11 million contract with the New England Patriots on March 11, 2015. He made an immediate impact, collecting four sacks in his first four games, and finished the season with 37 tackles, 8 sacks, and two passes defensed. On February 5, 2017, Sheard was part of the Patriots team that won Super Bowl LI, recording two tackles and 0.5 sacks as the Patriots defeated the Atlanta Falcons 34–28 in overtime after trailing 28–3 in the third quarter.

Reader's Guide

After winning Super Bowl LI, Sheard signed a three-year, $25.5 million deal with the Indianapolis Colts on March 10, 2017. With the Colts, he was switched to outside linebacker due to their 3-4 scheme, collecting 5.5 sacks and 52 tackles in 2017. After the Colts fired Chuck Pagano and hired Frank Reich, the team returned to a 4-3 defense and Sheard moved back to defensive end. On October 12, 2020, he was signed to the Jacksonville Jaguars' practice squad, then elevated to the active roster for a week 6 game against the Detroit Lions. On October 20, 2020, the New York Giants signed him off the Jaguars practice squad. In Week 12 against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sheard secured a 19–17 Giants victory by stripping Bengals backup quarterback Brandon Allen on the 50-yard line late in the fourth quarter. On September 1, 2021, he was signed to the Miami Dolphins practice squad and released on November 16.

Did You Know?

• Sheard was also a track and field letterman who placed fourth in the shot put at the 2007 FHSAA Outdoor State Championships with a throw of 16.20 meters (53-0).
• He was timed at 4.6 in the 40-yard dash at the Nike combine prior to his senior season of high school.
• Sheard was suspended from the Pitt football team indefinitely after a July 18, 2010 arrest for an off-campus brawl, but was restored after charges were reduced to misdemeanor disorderly conduct.
• He was a finalist for the Ted Hendricks Award in 2010, given to the nation's best defensive end.
• Sheard won Super Bowl LI with the New England Patriots, a game that featured the first overtime in Super Bowl history after the Patriots rallied from a 28–3 deficit.