Jeff Heath

At 33 years old, Jeff Heath has this physical status:

Jeff Heath (born May 14, 1991) is an American football safety for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL).

Heath was drafted free agent with the Cowboys in 2013.

Early years

Heath played football and soccer at Lake Orion High School. He was chosen as the Big Play Player of the Year for kicks on a game-winning 49 yard field goal to give Lake Orion a playoff win and regional championship over Sterling Heights Stevenson. In 2008, the team qualified to the Michigan Division 1 state championship game before falling to Rockford High School.

He began as a senior, played wide out, kicker, and punter, voted team captain, and received All-North conference accolades.

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College career

Heath accepted a football scholarship from Saginaw Valley State University, an NCAA Division II program, and a participant of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. He was not heavily recruited out of high school, and he was only given a partial scholarship to SVSU. He played in 5 games (one start), 13 tackles (4 solo), one tackle for a loss, one tackle for a loss, one tackle for a loss, one forced fumble, and one pass defensed.

He played in 8 games (7 starts), including 3.5 for loss), one intercept, and two fumble recoveries. He started all 11 games as a rookie, totaling 81 tackles (9 for loss), three passes protected, one tackle suspended, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovered.

He started all games, scoring 77 tackles (3 for loss), 5 interceptions, 7 passes defended, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries. He ended his college career after playing 30-of-35 games (196.5 for loss), 7 interceptions, 4 forced fumbles, and 4 fumble recoveries.

Heath trained in criminal science at Saginaw Valley State University.

Professional career

Heath was not allowed to play at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. Heath took part in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference's pro day on March 11, 2013. Representatives and scouts from a few teams attended Heath's pro day, including the Dallas Cowboys. Heath was expected to be either a seventh round pick or a priority undrafted free agent after the pre-draft process was concluded by NFL draft experts. DraftScout.com ranked him as the 27th best safety prospect in the draft.

Heath's rookie contract with a three-year, $1.48 million deal came as he went undrafted in the 2013 NFL draft. The Dallas Cowboys were the first team to call Heath and extend a contract offer.

Heath competed for a roster spot against Brandon Underwood, Matt Johnson, Micah Pellerin, Jakar Hamilton, and Eric Frampton during training camp. In five preseason games, he impressed coaches with his preseason play (11 solo) and a forced fumble. After Matt Johnson was placed on injured reserve due to a foot injury, Heath made the active roster as the fifth safety on the Cowboys' depth chart and special teams player. Heath has been designated as a reserve free safety in the regular season, behind Barry Church and Danny McCray.

During the 36-31 victory, he made his first appearance in the Cowboys' season-opener against the New York Giants and assisted on one tackle. Heath made his first appearance in his career on October 27, 2013 after J. J. Wilcox was inactive and missed three games (8-10) due to a knee injury. Heath led the Cowboys to a 31–30 loss at the Detroit Lions in total nine combined tackles and a forcible fumble, but he was also part of a highlight reel appearance when he missed a jump ball to Calvin Johnson. Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings was running over him for a touchdown and then being beaten for three touchdowns while playing against the New Orleans Saints.

Heath remained the starter in Week 12, despite Wilcox's return from injury, total tackles and led to his first career touchdown in the Cowboys' 24–21 victory over the New York Giants. After being stripped by teammate Orlando Scandrick during the second quarter, Heath recovered a fumble by wide receiver Victor Cruz and returned it for a 50-yard touchdown. During a 24–23 victory over the Washington Redskins on December 22, 2013, he had five combined tackles, deflected a pass, and made his first career interception. Heath scored his first interception in the second quarter after the Redskins' quarterback Kirk Cousins passed a pass that was originally intended for wide receiver Santana Moss.

He played in 64 games, including 60 solo, three pass deflections, an interceptor, a touchdown, and 13 special teams tackles (led the team) in 2013. Heath led the Cowboys with 13 combined tackles on special teams. Heath's rookie season was largely seen as a letdown due to issues he faced in pass coverage. During the 2013 season, he was consistently beaten and held multiple receptions.

After choosing to move former defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin to assistant head coach/defense on January 28, 2014, the Dallas Cowboys promoted defensive line coach Rod Marinelli to defensive coordinator. Since the Cowboys finished last in the league in defense and allowed the most yards and franchise history, they decided to make the switch. As the beginning of free safety during preparation camp, Heath competed against J.J. Wilcox, Matt Johnson, and Jakar Hamilton for the position. Heath, the backup strong safety behind J.J. Wilcox, was chosen by head coach Jason Garrett to begin the regular season.

Heath's 31-21 victory over the New York Giants in Week 7 brought together five tackles in a season-high five combined tackles. Heath made three solo tackles before breaking his thumb during a 31–21 victory over the New York Giants on November 23, 2014. Due to his thumb injury, he was ruled out for the next two games (Weeks 13-14). In 14 games with zero starts, the Heath finished the 2014 season with 16 combined tackles (10 solo) and 8 special teams tackles (fourth on the team).

With a 12-4 record, the Dallas Cowboys finished first in the NFC East and secured a playoff berth. Heath made two solo tackles in their first playoff game against the Detroit Lions on January 4, 2015. Since replacing Barry Church in the second half of the Cowboys' 26-21 loss at the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Divisional Round the following week, he recorded seven solo tackles and deflected a pass attempt during a two-point conversion.

Heath was designated by head coach Jason Garrett as the backup free safety for the regular season in 2015, behind starter J. Wilcox. Heath was involved in a violent collision with Seahawks wide receiver Ricardo Lockette during a 13–12 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on November 1, 2015. Heath was on punt coverage and Lockette a gunner and running downfield as Heath gave a block to Lockette, who was unaware of the impending blast. Lockette was rushed to the hospital after being tarred dead. Heath received a 15-yard penalty for unnecessary roughness, while Lockette was diagnosed with a severe concussion and underwent surgery to re-stabilize ligaments in his neck. Lockette's career was effectively ended by the crash and injury, forcing him to retire. During a 33–27 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 9, he had a season-high six combined tackles.

In the Cowboys' 10–6 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 10, Heath registered two solo tackles, two pass deflections, and two interceptions. In the second quarter, Heath scored his first interception of his career off a pass by quarterback Jameis Winston, which was originally planned for tight end Brandon Myers. He had 25 combined tackles (20 solo), two pass interceptions, two interceptions, and two interceptions, as well as a forced fumble in 16 games and one start throughout the 2015 season. He played on special teams during the season, and he ties teammates Kyle Wilber and Damien Wilson with nine special teams tackles.

Heath competed as a back-up against J. Wilcox and Kavan Frazier during training camp. Heath Jones, the backup safety behind Byron Jones, was selected by head coach Jason Garrett to start the regular season in 2016. During a 26–20 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 15, he had one tackle, deflected a pass, and made an interception. Heath led the Cowboys to a 27–13 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on January 1, 2017.

He finished the 2016 season with 20 combined tackles (14 solo), two pass deflections, an interceptor, and seven special teams tackles (third on the team) in 16 games with no starts. With seven tackles, he tied for the team's best special teams tackles, as well as Byron Jones and Kyle Wilber. Heath was given a 76.4 overall rating by Pro Football Focus.

With a 13–3 record and a first round bye, the Cowboys finished first in the NFC East. He had one of his best games against the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Divisional Round on January 15, 2017, delivering three solo tackles, one deflected pass, one interception (one was called back due to a penalty), his first quarterback appearance, one special teams tackle, and one special teams tackle.

Heath was the best safety at training camp against Robert Blanton to start strong. After Barry Church and J. J. Wilcox resigned during free agency, the position was left vacant. Heath is the starter, according to head coach Jason Garrett, as well as free safety Byron Jones.

Heath stepped in as the first assistant kicker in Week 7, following Dan Bailey's injury. During the Cowboys' 40–10 win over the San Francisco 49ers, he was charged with kickoffs and extra points, as well as converted two of three extra point attempts. With this figure, he became the first non-kicker or punter to make multiple extra points in a game since Houston Oilers linebacker Ted Thompson went 4 out of 4 in 1980.

Heath intercepted quarterback Alex Smith for the first interception of Smith's season in Week 9 over the Kansas City Chiefs.

Heath was hospitalized for the Cowboys' Week 11 defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles due to a concussion. Heath, the Washington Redskins, defeated the Washington Redskins 38–14 on November 30, 2017, who had four solo tackles, broke up a pass, and made an interception.

During a 30–10 victory over the New York Giants this week, Heath had a career-high ten combined tackles (eight solo), deflected a pass, and intercepted quarterback Eli Manning's pass.

Heath made two spectacular plays at the end of the game in week 15, in a Sunday Night Football match-up against the Oakland Raiders. With the Raiders driving to take the lead down 20-17, he first had a significant pass deflection in the end zone late in the fourth quarter. On the very next play, quarterback Derek Carr escaped the pressure and scrambled for the end zone on the 3rd and 3rd field. Heath simultaneously reached the ball out for the end zone as he collapsed and crossed him out for the end zone, trying to pull him out of bounds. Carr failed his grip on the ball, and the ball ended up rolling into the sideline in the end zone, bringing a game-saving touch back and maintaining a Cowboys win.

The Heath completed the 2017 season with 15 starts, 81 tackles (fourth on the team), five pass deflections, a career-high three interceptions, two forced fumbles, and eight special teams tackles (fifth on the team). Pro Football Focus gave him an overall rating of 80.8, which ranked 35th out of all qualifying safeties in 2017.

Heath started all 16 games for the first time in his career (third-best on a top-10 defense), four tackles for losses (tied for third on the team), six pass breakups, one intercept, one quarterback pass, and nine special teams tackles (third on the team).

In a 19-16 overtime loss to the Houston Texans in Week 5, he had 9 tackles and one pass defense. He continued his good play against the Jacksonville Jaguars with an interception that was 47 yards off quarterback Blake Bortles. In the Divisional Playoff Game against the Los Angeles Rams, he had a team-best 9 tackles.

He played in 13 games and missed three others due to a shoulder injury that necessitated offseason surgery. He had 63 tackles (sixth on the team), three quarterback hurries, 9 passes defensed, and did not have an interception for the second time in his career. In the season opener against the New York Giants, he had 9 tackles and 2 passes defensed. In the season finale against the Washington Redskins, he had 7 tackles and 2 passes defensed.

Heath has signed a two-year, $8 million contract with the Las Vegas Cowboys, reuniting with assistant coach Rod Marinelli, who was his defensive coordinator for the Cowboys. He was a back-up for Erik Harris and Johnathan Abram.

Heath's first interception as a Raider was against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 5 as a Raider off a pass throw by Patrick Mahomes during the 40-32 victory. Heath intercepted two passes kicked by Drew Lock during the 37-12 victory, winning him the AFC Defensive Player of the Week award for his effort. On December 12, 2020, he was put on injured reserve. Although on injured reserve, Los Angeles defensive backs coach Jim O'Neil and assistant Taver Johnson were ruled out of a game against the Miami Dolphins due to COVID-19 rules, and Heath and general manager Mike Mayock were pressed into service as a defensive backs coach and general manager Mike Mayock. On January 2, 2021, Heath was activated from the wounded reserve. In 13 games with 5 starts, he had 37 tackles, 3 interceptions, and 4 passes defensed.

He was released on May 5, 2021, after the Raiders selected three safeties in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Heath signed with the New Orleans Saints on August 21, 2021. He was released on September 10, 2021, but later signed to the practice squad and was later added to the active roster.

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