Eric Weddle
Eric Steven Weddle is an American former professional football safety who played in the National Football League for 14 seasons. He played college football for the Utah Utes, earning consensus All-American honors, and was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the second round of the 2007 NFL draft. During his nine seasons with the Chargers, Weddle received three Pro Bowl and two first-team All-Pro selections.
Weddle spent his next three seasons as a member of the Baltimore Ravens, earning Pro Bowl honors in each and extending his total selections to six. He retired after playing for the Los Angeles Rams in 2019, but returned two years later to join the Rams on their 2021–22 playoff run, which culminated with a victory in Super Bowl LVI. Following the championship, he retired a second time.
Early life
Weddle was born and raised in Fontana, California. He grew up in Alta Loma, California, and attended local Alta Loma High School. At Alta Loma High, he lettered in football, basketball, and baseball. In football, he was a three-time all-league selection and a two-time All-CIF selection.Weddle added first-team all-area accolades from the Los Angeles Times and the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin. A second-team All-Southern Section honoree, he also received all-region honors from Rivals.com and Student Sport Magazine. He was named the team's best receiver and most valuable player as a senior.
The team captain had 129 tackles, five interceptions, four forced fumbles and five recovered fumbles on defense, adding 587 yards rushing, 22 touchdowns, 965 yards passing and five scoring tosses as a senior. He led Alta Loma High to the 2000 Mt. Baldy League championship.
College career
Weddle enrolled in the University of Utah, where he played for the Utes from 2003 to 2006. He was immediately put into action in 2003, starting his last nine games at right cornerback. He earned Freshman All-American first-team and All-Mountain West Conference honorable mention. He posted 60 tackles with four sacks, four forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. He deflected four passes and intercepted another while also carrying the ball once. Weddle was a 2-time Mountain West Conference defensive player of the year.In 2004, Weddle shifted to strong safety, starting eleven games. Despite sitting out the Arizona clash with a right knee sprain, he ranked third on the team with 75 tackles. He added one sack, 4.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage and a forced fumble. He advanced a fumble recovery 31 yards, batted away five passes and intercepted four others. He also averaged 10.5 yards on 20 punt returns.
Weddle earned Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Year, first-team All-MWC, second-team All-American and Emerald Bowl Defensive MVP honors in 2005. He started all twelve games, lining up at strong safety in five contests, at left cornerback in four and as a nickel back in three others. He ranked third on the team with 78 tackles and second with eleven stops for losses. He had four sacks, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. He led the conference with sixteen passes defensed. He punted twice for 46 yards, attempted two passes and averaged 6.4 yards on 24 punt returns. He also rushed seven times for 35 yards and one touchdown.
In 2006, Weddle was a consensus All-American and unanimous All-MWC first-team choice. He was again named the conference's Defensive Player of the Year. He started the team's first two games at strong safety before shifting to left cornerback and closed out the season as the nickel back. He made 64 tackles with a sack, a forced fumble and 2.5 stops for losses. He returned one of three fumble recoveries for a touchdown, deflected two passes and ranked eighth in the nation with seven interceptions. He averaged 5.5 yards on eight punt returns and completed 2-of-4 passes for 43 yards and a touchdown. He also carried 44 times for 203 yards and five scores.
In 48 games at Utah, Weddle started 45 times. He recorded 277 tackles, as his 165 solo hits rank sixth in school annals. He produced ten sacks for minus 69 yards and 22.5 stops for losses of 108 yards. He set the school career record with nine forced fumbles and ranks sixth with six fumble recoveries, returning two for 66 yards and a touchdown.
Weddle is tied for sixth in Utah history with 23 pass deflections and ranks second with 18 interceptions for 148 yards in returns. His three pass thefts returned for touch-downs rank second in school annals. He ranks fifth on the school record books with 52 punt returns, good for 408 yards.
On offense, Weddle rushed 52 times for 259 yards and six touchdowns. He completed 2-of-6 passes for 43 yards, one touchdown and an interception. He recovered an onside kick and also punted twice for 46 yards with a long of 34.
Nearing the end of an electrifying senior year, Doug Robinson of the Deseret Morning News wrote an article championing Weddle for the Heisman Trophy based on how valuable he is to the Utah Utes. He wrote, "The only people who spend more time on the field than Weddle each Saturday are referees. Against Air Force two weeks ago, Weddle played every snap on defense and collected eight tackles. On offense, he led the Utes in rushing with 73 yards and scored Utah's only two touchdowns. He also served as the holder for the game-winning field goal. He played a total of 90 plays." Robinson wrote that Fisher DeBerry, Air Force's football head coach told Weddle after the game, "They're cheating you, son; they ought to give you two scholarships." Wyoming coach Joe Glenn said, "He should win the Heisman Trophy... I sincerely mean that."
Professional career
During the 2007 combine, Weddle ran a 1.43 10 yard time, tying him with Aundrae Allison and Marcus McCauley for the then fastest split time recorded at the NFL combine.San Diego Chargers
2007 season
The San Diego Chargers selected Weddle in the second round of the 2007 NFL draft. The Chargers traded their second round pick, third round pick, and fifth round pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, as well as their third round pick in the 2008 NFL draft to the Chicago Bears in order to move up in the second round and draft Weddle. The Chicago Bears used their selections to draft Dan Bazuin, Garrett Wolfe, Kevin Payne, and Marcus Harrison. Weddle was the fifth safety drafted in 2007.On July 23, 2007, the Chargers signed Weddle to a four-year, $4.16 million contract that includes $3.47 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $1.81 million.
Throughout training camp, Weddle competed against Clinton Hart to be the starting strong safety. Head coach Norv Turner officially named Weddle the backup strong safety to begin the regular season, behind Clinton Hart. Defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell also used Weddle as a nickelback during his rookie season.
Weddle made his NFL regular season debut in the season-opener against the Chicago Bears and recorded three solo tackles and made his first NFL sack on quarterback Rex Grossman in a 14–3 victory. On October 28, 2007, Weddle recorded five combined tackles, broke up a pass, and made his first NFL interception in a 35–10 victory against the Houston Texans in Week 8. He made his interception off a pass attempt by quarterback Matt Schaub in the third quarter. Weddle was inactive for the Chargers' Week 11 loss at the Jacksonville Jaguars after suffering an injury the previous week. In Week 17, he collected a season-high six combined tackles during a 30–17 victory at the Oakland Raiders.
Weddle finished his rookie season with 53 combined tackles, six pass deflections, a sack, and an interception in 15 games and zero starts.
The Chargers finished atop the AFC West with an 11–5 record. On January 6, 2008, Weddle appeared in his first NFL playoff game as the Chargers defeated the Tennessee Titans 17–6 in the AFC Wildcard Game. The following week, he collected five combined tackles, a pass deflection, and intercepted a pass attempt by quarterback Peyton Manning in a 28–24 victory at the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Divisional Round. On January 20, 2008, Weddle recorded seven combined tackles as the Chargers lost 21–12 at the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game.
2008 season
Weddle entered training camp slated as the starting free safety after Clinton Hart was moved to strong safety. Hart replaced veteran Marlon McCree, who was released during the offseason. Head coach Norv Turner named Weddle and Hart the starters to begin the regular season.Weddle made his first NFL start in the season-opener against the Carolina Panthers and recorded a season-high 11 combined tackles and deflected a pass in their 26–24 loss. On September 22, 2008, Weddle recorded seven combined tackles, a pass deflection, and intercepted a pass by Brett Favre during a 48–29 victory on Monday Night Football against the New York Jets in a Week 3. In Week 7, he collected a season-high 11 solo tackles in the Chargers' 30–10 victory against the New England Patriots. On December 28, 2008, Weddle tied his season-high of 11 combined tackles and broke up a pass in a 52–21 win against the Denver Broncos in Week 17. His 11 combined tackles in their season finale marked his eighth game of the season with at least ten combined tackles.
Weddle finished the season with a career-high 127 combined tackles, five pass deflections, a sack, and an interception in 16 games and 16 starts.
The Chargers finished atop their division with an 8–8 record and clinched a wildcard berth. On January 3, 2009, Weddle made seven combined tackles and three pass deflections in the Chargers' 23–17 victory against the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Wildcard Game. The following week, he collected 11 combined tackles and sacked Ben Roethlisberger during a 35–24 loss at the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Divisional Round.
2009 season
Defensive coordinator Ron Rivera retained Weddle and Hart as the starting safety duo to begin the 2009 regular season. The Chargers established a secondary that included cornerbacks Antonio Cromartie, Quentin Jammer, and Antoine Cason.On September 20, 2009, Weddle collected a season-high ten combined tackles during a 31–26 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 2. The following week, Weddle recorded seven combined tackles, a pass deflection, and returned an interception for his first career touchdown in a 23–13 win against the Miami Dolphins in Week 3. Weddle intercepted a pass by quarterback Chad Henne, that was intended for wide receiver Davone Bess, and returned it for a 31-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. He injured his knee during a Week 12 victory against the Kansas City Chiefs and was sidelined for the next two games. Head coach Norv Turner opted to rest Weddle for the playoffs and listed him as inactive for their Week 17 victory against the Washington Redskins.
Weddle finished the 2009 season with 82 combined tackles, seven passes defensed, two interceptions, 1.5 sacks, and a touchdown in 13 games and 13 starts.
The San Diego Chargers finished atop the AFC West with a 13–3 record and received home-field advantage and a first round bye. On January 17, 2010, Weddle sacked quarterback Mark Sanchez in a 17–14 loss against the New York Jets in the AFC Divisional Round.