DONNIE EDWARDS #59

Position	Linebacker
Height	6-2
Weight	224
Years Experience	13
Birthdate	4/6/1973
Hometown	Chula Vista, CA
College	UCLA
Current status	Active
Games Started	176
Games Played	190

Pro Career

Supremely athletic and accomplished linebacker rejoined the Chiefs as an unrestricted free agent on March 13, 2007 … Popular performer was welcomed back to Kansas City after spending five seasons in San Diego (2002-06) ... Originally entered the NFL as a fourth-round pick (98th overall) by Kansas City in the ‘96 NFL Draft … Spent the first six seasons (’96-01) of his professional career in the Red and Gold … Didn’t miss a beat upon his return, starting all 16 games at right outside linebacker … Racked up his 11th consecutive 100-tackle campaign in 2007, meaning the only active player with a longer such streak is Tampa Bay LB Derrick Brooks (12) ... Has accumulated 850 tackles during his two tours of duty in Kansas City, a total that ranks fourth in franchise history … Could vault into third place on that illustrious list past S Deron Cherry (927) with 78 more stops in 2008 and needs 150 more tackles to overtake LB Gary Spani (999) for the Chiefs all-time lead … Has averaged 145.6 tackles per year over the past 11 seasons and has produced over 150 stops six previous times during his career … Including his stats with San Diego, owns 1,616 career tackles in the NFL … That tackle tally ranks fifth among active players, trailing Brooks (2,087), LB Ray Lewis, Baltimore (2,022), LB Junior Seau, New England (1,870) and LB Zach Thomas, Dallas (1,866) ... Has amassed 28 interceptions during his previous 12 seasons, the most of any active NFL linebacker. That INT tally is also tied as the seventh-highest total by a player at that position in NFL history … Has accumulated 39 career takeaways, the highest total by a linebacker in the NFL since ‘96 … Extremely durable performer has started 153 consecutive games, the fourth-longest active streak in the NFL … Among defensive players, only Brooks (192) has started more consecutive contests than Edwards … Has seen duty in 190 regular season contests over his career and could top the 200-game plateau in 2008 … His 110 regular season appearances for the Chiefs are the third-highest total among active Kansas City players, trailing only TE Tony Gonzalez (174) and G Brian Waters (116) ... Needs just four more starts to become the 37th player in Chiefs annals to hit the 100-start mark for his career … Departed Kansas City as an unrestricted free agent in 2002 and enjoyed a successful five-year stint with his hometown team … Is reunited in Kansas City with defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham, who served in that role and as head coach during Edwards’ initial stint with the Chiefs … Cunningham will also serve as Edwards’ position coach in 2008 … Earned a well-deserved Pro Bowl invitation with San Diego following the 2002 season when he produced 129 tackles (100 solo), as well as five interceptions for 95 yards with one TD … Has averaged 144.6 tackles (103.6 solo), 2.1 sacks, 2.5 INTs, 7.5 passes defensed, 1.6 forced fumbles and 1.0 fumble recovery per season over his first 11 campaigns as an NFL starter … Produced the most gaudy numbers of his NFL tenure with San Diego in 2006 when he recorded a career-high 170 tackles (97 solo), 2.5 sacks (-17.5 yards), three interceptions, eight passes defensed, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery … Former fourth-round draft choice was arguably one of the biggest steals of the ‘96 NFL Draft … An enthusiastic and energetic performer whose zest for the game of football has rubbed off on his teammates … Has provided an excellent role model for young performers on the Chiefs roster such as fellow LB Derrick Johnson … Is truly a unique commodity in today’s era of specialization, owning the ability to stay on the field in virtually any situation … An adept defender in all phases of the game, who can stuff the run like a defensive lineman, rush the passer as well as an elite sack artist or drop into coverage with the skill of a safety … A true playmaker who owns six career TDs, with four scores on INT returns and two TDs on fumble returns … Produced three of those scores with Kansas City, a total topped by just six other defensive players in Chiefs history … May in fact do too many things too well, which may somehow explain his relative lack of national postseason accolades … Still possesses excellent speed and anticipation which allows him to make plays from sideline to sideline, making him too valuable as a coverage man to send as a pass rusher with regularity … Makes the most of those pass-rushing opportunities when he gets them … Is highly respected by his adversaries across the league … A member of the Chiefs long-standing lineage of legendary linebackers which includes Pro Football Hall of Famers such as Bobby Bell and Willie Lanier, as well as the late Derrick Thomas, who was a mentor to Edwards during his first four seasons in the NFL … In ‘99, Edwards joined the esteemed likes of Bell and Lanier as the only LBs in team history to intercept five passes in a single season … Owns 11 pickoffs with the Chiefs, making him just the fifth linebacker in Kansas City annals to top the double-digit mark in that department … The four Chiefs LBs who rank ahead of him in the career INT category are all enshrined in the Chiefs Hall of Fame - Canton honorees Lanier (27) and Bell (26), as well as Jim Lynch (17) and Sherrill Headrick (15) ... Since moving into a starting role for the Chiefs in ‘97 has been one of the NFL’s most consistently productive linebackers … Led Kansas City in tackles his first four seasons as a starter with the club, becoming the first Chiefs player to pull a four-peat in that department since LB Tracy Simien (’92-95) ... His 294 tackles in both ‘98-99 and ‘99-00 were the most by a member of the Chiefs in back-to-back seasons since Spani combined for 302 with 149 in ‘80 and 153 in ‘81 … Has opened 175 of a possible 176 games since becoming a full-time starter in ‘97 with the lone blemish on that starting mark coming vs. Pittsburgh (10/26/98) when he sat out due to a hip injury … Always has the team concept in mind, which explains his willingness to play wherever he can help the squad the most … Took over the starting chores at ROLB in ‘99 season after fellow UCLA alum Marvcus Patton moved to an inside linebacker spot … Edwards and Patton combined for 294 tackles in 2000, tying the team record for a defensive duo in a season. Spani (157) and DE Art Still (137) originally established the mark in ‘79 … Before sliding to the ROLB spot in ‘99, had previously manned the club’s starting middle linebacker post from ‘97-98, taking over that role in just his second NFL campaign … Despite not possessing the bulk of a prototypical middle linebacker, quickly dispelled any concerns about his size by producing 301 tackles (194 solo) in his first three pro campaigns … Has seen duty in 190 regular season games, missing only the ‘96 season opener and the aforementioned ‘98 contest vs. Pittsburgh … In addition to his 1,616 stops (1,152 solo), has amassed 28 INTs for 347 yards with four TDs, 24.0 sacks (-169.5 yards), 86 passes defensed, 65 QB pressures and 16 special teams stops in his 12 previous NFL seasons … Has also registered 18 forced fumbles, as well as 11 fumble recoveries with two TDs … Has made three starts in the postseason, collecting 31 tackles (25 solo), an interception for nine yards and two passes defensed … Tabbed by the Chiefs in the fourth round (98th overall).

Transactions: Signed a three-year contract with Kansas City as an unrestricted free agent from San Diego (3/12/07) ... Signed a five-year contract with San Diego (4/25/02) ... Contract not extended by Kansas City (2/28/02) ... Signed a six-year contract with Kansas City (2/27/01) ... Signed a four-year contract with Kansas City (12/16/00) ... Signed a four-year contract with Kansas City (12/24/98) ... Signed a three-year contract with Kansas City (7/24/96) ... Selected in the fourth-round (98th overall) by Kansas City in the ‘96 NFL Draft.

2007

Kansas City (1996-01, ‘07): Has played in 110 games (96 starts), recording 850 tackles (612 solo), 17.0 sacks (-129.0 yards), 11 INTs for 150 yards with two TDs and 33 passes defensed … Also has 10 forced fumbles, nine fumble recoveries with one TD and 16 special teams tackles … Started one playoff game, registering five tackles and a pass defensed.

2007: Started 16 games at right inside linebacker … His 108 tackles (82 solo) ranked second on the team … Joined with fellow LBs Napoleon Harris (123) and Derrick Johnson (107) to give the franchise its first trio of linebackers with triple-digit tackles since LBs Gary Spani (144), Dave Rozumek (113) and Thomas Howard (106) accomplished the feat in ‘78 … It marked his 11th consecutive season with over 100 tackles, trailing Tampa Bay LB Derrick Brooks (12) for the longest active streak of 100-tackle seasons in the league … Also contributed 2.0 sacks (-11.0 yards), an INT for 18 yards, five tackles for loss, five passes defensed, one QB pressure, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery … Totaled five tackles, a sack of Matt Schaub and recovered a WR Andre Johnson fumble at Houston (9/9) ... Compiled nine tackles, including two for loss, an interception off QB Rex Grossman and a pass defensed at Chicago (9/16) ... Amassed 10 tackles and one QB pressure vs. Jacksonville (10/7) ... Produced 10 tackles vs. Cincinnati (10/14) ... Contributed 10 tackles, including one for loss vs. Denver (11/11) ... Totaled five tackles, a sack of Daunte Culpepper and combined with CB Benny Sapp to force a TE Zach Miller fumble vs. Oakland (11/25) ... Recorded six tackles before leaving the game in the second quarter with a hamstring injury vs. San Diego (12/2) ... Compiled six tackles at Denver (12/9), his 150th consecutive start … Left the game in the second quarter with a hamstring injury at Detroit (12/23) ... Departed the contest in the first quarter with a calf injury at the N.Y. Jets (12/30).

2006

San Diego (2002-06): Started 80 games … Recorded 766 tackles (540 solo), 7.0 sacks (-40.5 yards) and 17 interceptions for 197 yards with two touchdowns … Added 53 passes defensed, eight forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries with one returned for a TD … Also started two postseason games, collecting 26 tackles (20 solo), an interception for nine yards and two passes defensed.

2006: Started all 16 games at right inside linebacker … Produced a team-high and a career-high 170 tackles (97 solo) ... Also had 2.5 sacks (-17.5 yards), six QB pressures, three interceptions, eight passes defensed, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery … Had six tackles and a sack at Oakland (9/11) ... Registered 13 tackles, intercepted a Steve McNair pass and recovered a TE Daniel Wilcox fumble at Baltimore (10/1) ... Amassed 13 tackles and half of a sack of Damon Huard at Kansas City (10/22) ... Recorded 14 tackles vs. St. Louis (10/29) ... Totaled 10 tackles and intercepted a Charlie Frye pass vs. Cleveland (11/5) ... Posted a team-high 14 tackles at Cincinnati (11/12) ... Registered 11 tackles vs. Oakland (11/26) ... Produced a career-high 20 tackles (13 solo) at Buffalo (12/3) ... Totaled 10 tackles, a sack of Trent Green and an interception off Green vs. Kansas City (12/17) ... Had eight tackles, a half of a sack and a season-high three passes defensed at Seattle (12/24) ... Recorded 12 tackles vs. Arizona (12/31) ... Posted 11 tackles and an interception off Tom Brady in an AFC Divisional Playoff Game vs. New England (1/14/07).

2005

Opened 16 games at left outside linebacker … Led the club with 154 tackles (114 solo) ... Also had 3.0 sacks (-15.0 yards), two interceptions (15 yards), 11 passes defensed and two forced fumbles … Named to the USA Today All-Joe Team … Tallied 11 tackles vs. Dallas (9/11) ... Posted 13 tackles, a sack of Eli Manning and forced a WR David Tyree fumble vs. the N.Y. Giants (9/25) ... Totaled 11 tackles and an interception off Matt Cassel before pitching it to S Clinton Hart for a 40-yard TD at New England (10/2) ... Collected 15 tackles vs. Pittsburgh (10/10) ... Registered four passes defensed and intercepted a Donovan McNabb pass at Philadelphia (10/23) ... Compiled 11 tackles vs. Kansas City (10/30) ... Had a sack of JP Losman vs. Buffalo (11/20) ... Forced a WR Santana Moss fumble at Washington (11/27) ... Posted a season-high 18 tackles (17 solo) and a sack of Trent Green at Kansas City (12/24).

2004

Started all 16 games at left inside linebacker … Led the club with 151 tackles (105 solo) ... Also had a sack (-2.0 yards), five interceptions (49 yards) with a TD, 14 passes defensed and three forced fumbles … Named first-team All-Pro by College & Pro Football Newsweekly, Football Digest and Sports Illustrated … Earned second-team All-Pro honors from AP … Named the Linebacker of the Year by the NFL Alumni Association … Selected to the All-Foxhole Team by The Sporting News, a list of NFL tough guys who “you’d want fighting on your side in a foxhole” ... His five interceptions tied for the most among NFL linebackers … Recorded 10 tackles and tipped a David Carr pass that was intercepted by LB Steve Foley at Houston (9/12) ... Paced the club with 15 tackles vs. Jacksonville (10/10) ... Forced a RB T.J. Duckett fumble at Atlanta (10/17) ... Registered 10 tackles and forced a RB Amos Zereoue fumble vs. Oakland (10/31) ... Compiled 10 tackles and intercepted a Trent Green pass to set up a game-winning FG at Kansas City (11/28) ... Totaled 20 tackles vs. Denver (12/5) ... Intercepted a career-high two passes off Brian Griese, in addition to posting 16 tackles and a season-high four passes defensed vs. Tampa Bay (12/12), earning him AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors, as well as USA Today Defensive Star of the Week. Returned his second INT of the day for a game-winning 30-yard TD … Intercepted a Luke McCown pass at Cleveland (12/19) ... Registered nine tackles, as well as a sack and strip of Peyton Manning at Indianapolis (12/26) ... Racked up 15 tackles in an AFC Wild Card Game vs. the N.Y. Jets (1/8/05).

2003

Opened all 16 games at right outside linebacker … Led the club with 162 tackles … Added half of a sack (-6.0 yards), two interceptions (27 yards), nine passes defensed and a forced fumble … Named the club’s David Griggs Memorial Award Winner as the team’s Defensive Player of the Year … Recorded 11 tackles at Jacksonville (10/5) ... Had a team-high 11 tackles at Cleveland (10/19) ... Collected 11 tackles and forced a RB Ricky Williams fumble vs. Miami (10/27) ... Racked up 18 tackles at Denver (11/16) ... Amassed 14 tackles vs. Cincinnati (11/23) ... Recorded 12 tackles vs. Kansas City (11/30) ... Had a team-high 10 tackles and two passes defensed at Detroit (12/7) ... Tipped a Brett Favre pass that LB Stephen Cooper intercepted vs. Green Bay (12/14) ... Collected 13 tackles at Pittsburgh (12/21) ... Amassed 14 tackles, a half of a sack, a pass defensed and an interception off Tee Martin vs. Oakland (12/28) to earn Defensive Player of the Week honors from Sports Illustrated’s Peter King.

2002

Started all 16 games at middle linebacker … Paced the team with 129 tackles (100 solo) and five interceptions for 95 yards with a TD … Also had 11 passes defensed and a fumble recovery … Earned his first Pro Bowl invitation … Named first-team All-Pro by Football Digest and second-team All-Pro by AP … Received the David Griggs Memorial Award as the team’s Defensive Player of the Year … Selected to the USA Today All-Joe Team and was honored as an Unsung Hero by the NFL Players Association … Returned a Jake Plummer interception for a 20-yard TD at Arizona (9/22) ... Returned a Tom Brady interception 46 yards vs. New England (9/29) ... Intercepted a Trent Green pass on the final play of the game vs. Kansas City (10/13), his 100th career contest and his first game against the Chiefs … Collected 10 tackles, two passes defensed and an interception off Rich Gannon at Oakland (10/20) ... Racked up a season-high 13 tackles vs. the N.Y. Jets (11/3) ... Returned a WR Isaac Bruce fumble for a team-record 82-yard touchdown at St. Louis (11/10) ... Tallied a team-high 12 tackles and intercepted a Steve Beuerlein pass vs. Denver (12/1) ... Led the team with 12 tackles vs. Oakland (12/8) ... Recorded 11 tackles at Kansas City (12/22).

2001

Started all 16 games at right outside linebacker for Kansas City … Led the club for the fourth consecutive season with 147 tackles (112 solo) and three fumble recoveries … Tied Gary Spani (’78-81) and Tracy Simien (’92-95) to lead the club in tackles for a team-record four straight years … It marked his fifth consecutive season with 100+ stops, making him the first player in Chiefs history to own that distinction … Edwards and Marvcus Patton (138) became the first Chiefs linebacking tandem to top 100 tackles three straight years … Finished second on the team with nine tackles for loss … Also had 2.0 sacks (-13.0 yards), six passes defensed, a forced fumble and four QB pressures … Recovered a career-high two QB Rich Gannon fumbles, registering 12 tackles and a QB pressure vs. Oakland (9/9) ... Recorded eight tackles and a sack of QB Kerry Collins vs. the N.Y. Giants (9/23) ... Amassed a season-high 12 tackles, including one for loss at Denver (10/7) ... Recovered a FB Joel Makovicka fumble in the end zone for a touchback at Arizona (10/21) ... Registered a team-high 11 tackles, a pass defensed and two QB pressures at San Diego (11/4) ... Collected a team-high 12 tackles at the N.Y. Jets (11/11) ... Produced a team-high 11 tackles vs. Seattle (11/25) ... Tallied nine tackles vs. Philadelphia (11/29) to become the first player in Chiefs history to crack the 100-tackle barrier in five consecutive seasons … Collected a team-high 12 tackles and forced a RB Tyrone Wheatley fumble at Oakland (12/9) ... Recorded a team-high 10 tackles vs. San Diego (12/23) ... Registered nine tackles at Jacksonville (12/30) to move past Derrick Thomas (728) for fifth place on the Chiefs career tackles chart … Had a sack of QB Trent Dilfer at Seattle (1/6/02).

2000

Started 16 games at right outside linebacker, collecting a team-leading 151 tackles (119 solo), a sack (-9.0 yards), two INTs, three QB pressures, one fumble recovery and a pass defensed … His 151 tackles tied as the third-highest total in team history … Became the first Chiefs player to lead the team in tackles three straight seasons (’98-00) since LB Tracy Simien did it four straight years from ‘92-95 … Tied for second on the team with two INTs, returning one for a 42-yard TD … Recorded a three-yard INT return off QB Peyton Manning vs. Indianapolis (9/3). Also collected eight tackles on defense and got a stop on punt coverage, his first special teams tackle since ‘97 … Returned a Steve McNair INT for a 42-yard TD at Tennessee (9/10) ... Posted 10 tackles at Denver (9/24) ... Registered 12 tackles vs. Seattle (10/2) ... Totaled a team-high 16 tackles (13 solo) vs. Oakland (10/15) ... Enjoyed a colossal day in a 54-34 victory vs. St. Louis (10/22). Had a season-high 17 tackles (13 solo), recovered a QB Kurt Warner fumble and added a QB pressure. Spent most of the day shadowing 2000 NFL MVP, RB Marshall Faulk who was held to just 67 rushing yards on the day … Registered a sack against Jon Kitna at Seattle (10/29) ... Produced 11 tackles at Oakland (11/5) ... Totaled 16 tackles (11 solo) at New England (12/4) ... Registered 10 tackles vs. Carolina (12/10) ... Compiled five tackles vs. Denver (12/17) ... Had 16 tackles (13 solo) at Atlanta (12/24).

1999

Started all 16 games at the right outside “stack” linebacker position, leading the club with 143 tackles (105 solo) ... Had a career-best five interceptions, one of which he returned for a TD … Those five pickoffs tied a franchise record for linebackers, joining Bobby Bell (’68) and Willie Lanier (’75) as the only other player with a quintet of interceptions in a season … Also collected 3.0 sacks (-18.0 yards) and two fumble recoveries, one of which resulted in a TD … Forced two fumbles, recorded three passes defensed and added 17 QB pressures … Produced five double-digit tackle games … Picked up a fumble by QB Shane Matthews and sprinted 79 yards for the first TD of his career at Chicago (9/12) ... Collected a season-high 12 tackles and forced a Terrell Davis fumble vs. Denver (9/19) ... Produced a sack of Charlie Batch vs. Detroit (9/26) ... Got an interception off Jim Harbaugh at San Diego (10/3) ... Produced a team-high 10 tackles vs. New England (10/10) and made a leaping grab of a Drew Bledsoe pass and returned it 15 yards … Picked off a Stoney Case pass at Baltimore (10/21) and returned it three yards before pitching to S Reggie Tongue, who returned it 46 yards for a TD … Tallied a sack of Peyton Manning at Indianapolis (11/7) ... Totaled a team-high 11 tackles and two QB pressures vs. Seattle (11/21) ... Recorded a team-high nine tackles and a sack of Rich Gannon at Oakland (11/28) ... Produced a team-high 10 tackles vs. Minnesota (12/12) and forced a fourth quarter WR Randy Moss fumble which he recovered at the Chiefs seven-yard line … Earned AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors vs. Pittsburgh (12/18) after intercepting a pair of Mike Tomczak passes, the first of which he returned 28 yards for a TD. Had a four-yard runback on his second INT and also recorded a team-high 13 tackles … Posted a team-high 12 tackles at Seattle (12/26).

1998

Started at middle linebacker in 15 contests … Was the leading tackler on the club with 151 stops (97 solo) and also ranked second on the squad with a career-high 6.0 sacks (-54.5 yards.) ... His 151 tackles were the most by a Chiefs defender since S Deron Cherry had 151 in ‘88 and were the third-highest tally since the team began officially recording tackles in ‘77 … Had a sack of Jeff George vs. Oakland (9/6) ... Recorded a team-high 14 tackles at Jacksonville (9/13) ... Tallied a team-best 11 stops, and recovered a fumble vs. San Diego (9/20) ... Matched a season high with 15 tackles at Philadelphia (9/27) ... Produced 14 stops at New England (10/11) ... Missed the only start of his career due to an injury when he was listed as inactive with a hip ailment vs. Pittsburgh (10/26) ... Notched 12 tackles vs. the N.Y. Jets (11/1) ... Posted 11 tackles, a half of a sack of Warren Moon and two QB pressures at Seattle (11/8) ... Had a sack of Bubby Brister vs. Denver (11/16) ... Had a forced fumble at San Diego (11/22) ... Posted a team-best 10 tackles and a career-high 2.0 sacks of Jake Plummer vs. Arizona (11/29) ... Tallied half a sack of John Elway at Denver (12/6) ... Registered a team-high 11 tackles at the N.Y. Giants (12/20) ... Tied a season high with 15 tackles at Oakland (12/26), including a sack of Wade Wilson.

1997

Wrestled the starting middle linebacker post away from longtime stalwart Tracy Simien and produced dramatic results … Started all 16 games, totaling 136 tackles (85 solo) to rank second on the squad behind S Reggie Tongue (142) ... Had a team-high four forced fumbles and added 2.5 sacks (-20.0 yards), a pair of INTs, a fumble recovery, 20 QB pressures, 11 passes defensed and two special teams tackles … Opened the year with 12 tackles and a forced fumble at Denver (8/31) ... Led the team with 15 tackles at Carolina (9/21), adding a pickoff of Kerry Collins which he returned 12 yards … Credited with a half sack of Warren Moon and forced a Moon fumble vs. Seattle (9/28) ... Enjoyed a stellar day vs. San Diego (10/16), collecting nine tackles, a sack and strip of Jim Everett, in addition to two QB pressures and an INT … Forced a RB Lawrence Phillips fumble at St. Louis (10/26) ... Recorded 10 tackles, half a sack and recovered a John Elway fumble vs. Denver (11/16) ... Teamed with DT Joe Phillips on a sack of Warren Moon at Seattle (11/23) ... Recorded a team-high 13 tackles and two special teams takedowns at San Diego (12/14) ... Started the club’s AFC Divisional Playoff outing vs. Denver (1/4/98), recording five tackles and a pass defensed.

1996

Played in the club’s final 15 games, starting one contest … Saw duty primarily on special teams before seeing an expanded role on defense down the stretch … Finished the year with 14 tackles (12 solo), half of a sack (-3.5 yards) and one interception for 22 yards … Added a QB pressure, three passes defensed and 13 special teams tackles … Was inactive for the season opener at Houston (9/1) with a shoulder injury … Recorded a pair of passes defensed and two special teams stop in his first NFL action on defense vs. Seattle (9/15) ... Added three tackles vs. Denver (10/27) ... Had a career-high three special teams tackles vs. Green Bay (11/10) ... Recorded a team-high eight tackles, a half of a sack of Scott Mitchell, a QB pressure and an interception off Mitchell which he returned for 22 yards to set up a second-quarter Kansas City score at Detroit (11/28).

College Bio

Enjoyed an outstanding college career at UCLA … Saw action in 39 games (35 starts) during his four years, collecting 254 tackles, 21.5 sacks, 38 tackles for a loss, 12 forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and six INTs … Finished his college career ranked third in career tackles for a loss and fifth in sacks … Had his senior season in ‘95 interrupted by a back injury which forced him to miss five full games … Still started six games and contributed 29 tackles, 2.0 sacks and two forced fumbles as a middle linebacker … Started all 11 games at right outside linebacker in ‘94 as a junior, leading the team with 106 tackles and 12.5 sacks, which was the second-highest single-season total in Bruins history (Carnell Lake - 13.5 in ‘87) ... That year he also had three INTs, two forced fumbles and one recovered fumble … Earned third-team All-America honors from AP as a junior … Tied a UCLA single-game sack record with 4.5 vs. SMU as a junior … Started all 11 games as a sophomore in ‘93, recording 63 tackles, six forced fumbles, two INTs and 2.0 sacks … Ranked fourth on the team with 61 stops and had 5.0 sacks as a redshirt freshman ‘92 … Also spent time on the Bruins baseball squad before focusing full-time on football … Graduated from UCLA with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and owns a master’s degree in Education … Plans on pursuing his Ph.D., as well.

Personal Bio

• Was an All-Metro League selection at Chula Vista High School in Chula Vista, California, where he played linebacker and tight end.

• Served as team captain as a senior when he racked up 136 tackles, five INTs and four FFs.

• Also lettered in baseball and basketball.

• Had his high school football jersey (#89) retired in June of 2000 and was inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame in 2003, the same year he donated a $40,000 weight room to the school.

• Was part of a USO Tour that visited Japan and Okinawa in March of 2008. Joined Saints QB Drew Brees and TE Billy Miller on that trip, helping boost the morale of troops.

• Visited Hyde Elementary school with sixth-grade student Julia Obermier in St. Joseph, MO as part of J.C. Penney’s “NFL Take a Player to School” sweepstakes.

• Also joined Brees on a USO Tour to Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates in April of 2007.

• Participated in the J.C. Penney Jam with Dr. Phil McGraw in 2006 to raise awareness of the need for access to quality afterschool programs and provide funds so that more working families have access to these programs.

• Creator of “Jump for Life,” a program that educates children in San Diego about nutrition, physical fitness and setting goals.

• Has served as a chairman for the San Diego After School All-Stars program since 2006.

• Named to the 2005 NFL.com All-Interview Team.

• While vacationing in Rome in 2005 was present at the Vatican when the white smoke was released from the Sistine Chapel’s chimney announcing to the world that Pope Benedict XVI had been chosen to succeed Pope John Paul II.

• An avid watch collector, has traveled to Switzerland for several watch conventions.

• Has participated in the NFL’s “Take a Player to School” program since 2004.

• An annual participant in the “Read Across America” program dating back to 2003.

• Has served as a Boy Scouts of America board member since 2002 and has obtained the status of a Star Scout in the Boys Scouts organization.

• Is active with the Boys & Girls Clubs and has served as a board member with that organization since 2002.

• Has served as a studio anchor and sideline reporter for the NFL Network.

• Has supported the California Child Abuse Prevention Center since 2002.

• Established the “Donnie Edwards Best Defense Foundation” in 2000 which benefits various charity efforts in Missouri, Kansas and California.

• Enshrined in the Sweetwater Union School District Hall of Fame, which recognizes excellence in all professional fields, including athletics.

• Dating back to ‘99, has hosted an annual “Dad’s Day” at SeaWorld on Father’s Day with other NFL players.

• Served as a spokesman for the Multiple Sclerosis Society from ‘98-00 and sponsored the Donnie Edwards MS Bike Blitz in ‘99 and 2000, which served as a fund raiser for that organization.

• Has served as a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Transportation’s “Buckle-Up Campaign” which promotes seat belt usage.

• Has participated in “Shop With a Jock” events in both Kansas City and California since ‘99, providing $100 gift certificates for needy children to purchase presents for their families.

• Has volunteered as a coach in the San Diego County Free Football Camp since ‘96.

• Participated in blood drives in San Diego from 2002-06, chairing a blood drive in 2006.

• Would like to pursue a career as as an administrator in the NFL ranks or at the collegiate level after he completes his playing career.

• Full name: Donnie Lewis Edwards, Jr.

• Married, wife Kathryn.

• The Edwards’ split their residence between Kansas City, Missouri and Los Angeles, California.