Jonathan Vilma

At 42 years old, Jonathan Vilma has this physical status:

Jonathan Polynice Vilma (born April 16, 1982) is a former American football linebacker and current ESPN college football analyst.

He played college football at the University of Miami, winning a National Championship in 2001.

He would go on to be drafted by the New York Jets in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft.

Vilma won a Super Bowl championship with the New Orleans Saints.

In July 2016 he joined ESPN as a college football commentator and studio analyst.

Vilma was elected as a member of the Orange Bowl Committee in 2018.

Early years

Vilma was born in Coral Gables, Florida to Haitian immigrant parents. He attended G.W. Carver Middle School and later Coral Gables Senior High School, where he was a teammate of Pro Bowl running back Frank Gore.

Personal life

Vilma is a spokesman for Under Armour and WaterBank of America USA Inc.

His parents, Fritz Vilma and Nelly Banatte, migrated to the United States from Haiti in the 1970s. After the 2010 earthquake, he was active in relief efforts.

Vilma started the Jonathan Vilma Foundation after the 2010 Haiti earthquake to help with the rebuilding efforts in Haiti, in particular a charter school to educate students from elementary school to high school.

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College career

Vilma earned an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Miami and competed for coach Butch Davis and coach Larry Coker's Miami Hurricanes football teams from 2000 to 2003.

Vilma started playing in all 11 games as a reserve middle linebacker and gained 38 tackles (29 solo) and a pass deflection.

After Dan Morgan's graduation, Vilma took over as the starting middle linebacker and was instrumental in the Hurricanes' National Championship team's success. With 79 (54 solo), he led the team in tackles for two forced fumbles, one fumble return for a 36-yard touchdown, three pass deflections, and an intercept, one fumbled out of the team. He appeared in 11 of the 12 games during the regular season and was selected on the first-team All-Big East squad.

With 133 (75 solo), Vilma led Miami in tackles, had two quarterback sacks, a forced fumble, recovered two fumbles (returning one for a touchdown) and snapped up five passes. For the second time in his career, he received unanimous first-team All-Big East recognition, and he and teammate D.J. were nominated for the Dick Butkus Award. Williams.

Vilma led the team in tackles for the third time in his career, with one sack, compelled one fumble, and recovered three fumbles. Vilma completed the year as a finalist for the Butkus Award.

Vilma was a three-time Academic All-Big East Conference speaker, as well as his academic success. He earned a bachelor's degree in finance from the University of Miami's School of Business Administration.

On ESPN, Vilma talked about his time at the University of Miami for the film The United States, which premiered on December 12, 2009.

Professional career

Vilma was selected by the Jets with the 12th pick in the 2004 NFL Draft.

The Associated Press named Vilma as the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2004. He had 107 tackles, two sacks, and three interceptions, one of which was returned for his first NFL touchdown.

Vilma led the NFL in tackles with 169, prompting four fumbles, one sack, and one interception. Zach Thomas was also suspended after the 2006 Pro Bowl by Vilma.

Vilma put on another good season in 2006 in 2006. He had 114 tackles, one forced fumble, one fumble recover, and one interceptor.

Vilma was placed on injured reserve on October 27, 2007. During the New York Jets week 7 game against the Cincinnati Bengals, he sustained a season-ending knee injury.

The Jets traded Vilma to the New Orleans Saints in 2008 for a fourth-round draft pick and a conditional pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, making this a third-round pick. Eric Mangini, the Jets' second-head coach, has voted to welcome linebackers Eric Barton and David Harris.

Vilma was a bright spot on a shaky defensive unit in his first season with the Saints. Vilma played in all 16 games and had 132 tackles with one sack.

Vilma signed a five-year, $34 million deal with the Saints on February 27, 2009. Vilma, one of the defensive captains, commanded the team in tackles, had three interceptions, and was named in second Pro Bowl for his second Pro Bowl. Vilma made several key defensive plays in Super Bowl XLIV on February 7, 2010, including making a key defensive audible and blocking a pass on 3rd and 11th in the fourth quarter. The Saints defeated the Indianapolis Colts 31-17.

In 2010, Vilma led the team in tackles, played every game, and was named to the Pro Bowl. He started and played in 11 games in 2011, but he was suspended for six others due to a knee injury.

Vilma was a central figure in the New Orleans Saints bounty case. Gregg Williams, the NFL's defensive coordinator, was accused of operating a compensation scheme that paid out "bounties" for deliberately excluding opposing players from games. Vilma has been accused of paying $10,000 to anyone who disobeyed Brett Favre out of the 2009 NFC Championship Game, according to the league. Favre was even banned from playing due to an ankle injury in one play. Despite the fact that up to 27 players had been accused of being involved, Vilma was the only player to have been praised by the league for his work. On May 2, 2012, the NFL suspended Vilma for the entire 2012 season. The suspension was expected to be the longest suspension in modern football history, despite Albert Haynesworth's previous record of five games for stomping on Andre Gurode's head in 2006. In 2009, the league argued that Will Smith, a defensive end, and Vilma helped Williams start the investigation. As it was announced on SportsCenter, Vilma immediately declared his intention to appeal and adamantly denied that he was participating in any sort of bounty program. Vilma also filed a personal slander lawsuit against Roger Goodell.

Former players interviewed by Sports Illustrated differed on the suspensions, with suspected opponents like Favre and Kurt Warner arguing that compensation programs were part of the game. Vilma and seven witnesses from the Saints (along with a sworn affidavit from Drew Brees) testified before a federal judge in New Orleans on July 26, that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell misrepresented the facts in the league's investigation. Vilma's suspension was reversed on September 7, and he was reinstated for the 2012 season. Roger Goodell's dissatisfaction with the arbitration board's decision was reported by the Associated Press.

The league suspended Vilma, Browns linebacker Scott Fujita, Saints defensive end Will Smith, and free-agent defensive end Anthony Hargrove on October 9, 2012. Vilma's suspension lasted for the entirety of the 2012 season, but for the first six weeks of the season, he was able to keep his paychecks (when he was on the Physically Unable to Perform list). The suspensions were then reviewed by former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, who overruled Roger Goodell and vacated the suspensions on December 11, 2012. Vilma's defamation case against commissioner Goodell was ongoing, but it was ultimately dismissed in January 2013.

During the 2012 season, Vilma played in 11 games.

Vilma underwent knee surgery during the preseason and was put on the Reserve/Injured Designated for Return list, with the intention that he would return in time to play during the season. He was activated for the Saints' eighth game, a 26-20 loss to his former team, the New York Jets, and was inactive for only 12 defensive snaps. He was put on injured reserve again this week, bringing an end to his 2013 season.

Vilma's deal with the New Orleans Saints was not renewed on February 12, 2014. He became a Bleacher Report contributor.

Vilma officially retired from football and was honoured by the Saints prior to their home game on December 6, 2015.

On October 29, 2017, Vilma was inducted into the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame.

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