Dexter McCleon

Dexter Keith McCleon (born October 9, 1973) is a former American football safety who played in the National Football League. He played for the St. Louis Rams, Kansas City Chiefs, and Houston Texans in his ten-year career that started in 1997. In addition to his career in the NFL, McCleon was a volunteer assistant football coach at Meridian High School in his hometown of Meridian, Mississippi.

Dexter McCleon
No. 24, 21, 22, 20
Position:Safety / cornerback
Personal information
Born: (1973-10-09) October 9, 1973
Meridian, Mississippi, U.S.
Height:5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
College:Clemson
NFL Draft:1997 / Round: 2 / Pick: 40
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Tackles:372
Sacks:4.5
Passes Defended:50
Interceptions:31
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Early years

McCleon was an All-American quarterback at Meridian High School in Meridian, Mississippi and was also a star baseball player there and got drafted in the 13th-round by the Minnesota Twins in the 1993 Major League Baseball Draft but decided to play college football in Clemson University as a cornerback and also played baseball at Clemson.

College career

At Clemson, McCleon was a 2 sport star as a quarterback in his early years and also a baseball player. He also was a First-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference as a senior and got drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the 2nd round, 40th pick, of the 1997 NFL Draft. McCleon is the only player in ACC Football history to be named ACC Player of the Week on Offense, Defense, and Special Teams all in the same season

Professional career

St. Louis Rams

McCleon was drafted in the second round of the 1997 NFL Draft.[1] McCleon played with the Rams for six seasons. He was a starter from 1999 to 2001.[2] He helped them reach Super Bowl XXXIV in 2000 in which McCleon had seven tackles vs the Tennessee Titans. McCleon also started at cornerback for the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI vs the New England Patriots. McCleon is seen on camera during Super Bowl XXXVI saying to his Rams' teammate, Dre Bly, while both were sitting on the bench: "Tom Brady…overrated." referring to Patriots now legendary, but then very new quarterback. In 2001, McCleon led the NFL with 7 interceptions. McCleon was a starter for the Rams in Super Bowls XXXIV and XXXVI at cornerback. In 2002, his last season with the Rams, he lost his starting place to Dre Bly, and in 2003 the Rams released him for salary cap reasons to avoid paying his $3.9 million expected salary.[2]

Kansas City Chiefs

McCleon signed with the Chiefs as a free agent in 2003, signing a five-year $11 million contract.[3] He started for two seasons. In 2003, McCleon lead the NFL with 8 interceptions. In 2005, McCleon played in eleven games as a nickleback, making twenty-one tackles and two interceptions. On March 10, 2006, the Chiefs cut McCleon in a salary cap cut move.

Houston Texans

McCleon was signed by the Houston Texans on April 1, 2006. In the 2006 season, he had a good season as a corner for the Texans. He was released on Aug 24, 2007.

NFL statistics
YearTeamGPCOMBTOTALASTSACKFFFRFR YDSINTIR YDSAVG IRLNGTDPD
1997STL161313001.00001000000002
1998STL152928010.00002291515006
1999STL154541041.51004170414016
2000STL165449052.00108280423019
2001STL166458060.01104661743118
2002STL132218040.01101000000002
2003KC166055050.00206-3-100014
2004KC133630060.00102231223009
2005KC122120010.00002000000007
2006HOU162922070.01001191919001
Career148373334394.546031179643194

[4]

Key

  • GP: games played
  • COMB: combined tackles
  • TOTAL: total tackles
  • AST: assisted tackles
  • SACK: sacks
  • FF: forced fumbles
  • FR: fumble recoveries
  • FR YDS: fumble return yards
  • INT: interceptions
  • IR YDS: interception return yards
  • AVG IR: average interception return
  • LNG: longest interception return
  • TD: interceptions returned for touchdown
  • PD: passes defended

Personal life

McCleon finished a 10-year NFL career with 31 career interceptions. After a pro career, he went on to coach for his alma mater Meridian HS Wildcats for 2 years. They were the team to end the Longest Streak in history, that was held by the South Panola Tigers at 89-1. McCleon is single and has 1 son, Dexter Jr., who is 8 years old. He currently resides in Hoover, AL.

References
  1. "1997 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2023-03-30.
  2. "Chiefs, Ex-Rams CB McCleon Reach Deal". 4 March 2003.
  3. "ESPN.com: NFL - McCleon signs five-year deal". A.espncdn.com. 2003-03-24. Retrieved 2022-08-19.
  4. "Dexter McCleon Stats".
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