Background and career
Jason Andrew Pierre-Paul (born January 1, 1989) is an American professional football linebacker. He played college football for the South Florida Bulls and was selected by the Giants in the first round of the 2010 NFL draft. With the Giants, Pierre-Paul made two Pro Bowls, was first-team All-Pro and won Super Bowl XLVI. With the Buccaneers, he made his third Pro Bowl and won Super Bowl LV.
Pierre-Paul was born in Deerfield Beach, Florida, to Haitian immigrants Jean and Marie, who arrived in the United States in 1983. At Deerfield Beach High School, Pierre-Paul lettered in basketball for four years. After a serious leg injury while playing basketball, he took up football his junior year.
Pierre-Paul tallied 51 tackles and 19 tackles for a loss in his freshman year at College of the Canyons (California). He also had 14 sacks and earned First-team All-WSC and All-America honors. In 2008, Pierre-Paul played at Fort Scott Community College (Kansas), where his 70 tackles, 10.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries earned him First-team Little All-American honors. Pierre-Paul transferred to the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida. In 2009, he played thirteen games for the Bulls with seven starts and totaled 45 tackles (16.5 for losses), 6.5 sacks, one interception (returned 18 yards for a touchdown), broke up three passes, and forced two fumbles. He was named First-team All-America by Pro Football Weekly for his efforts, and was also first-team All Big East. He earned the nickname Haitian Sensation. In the fourth week of the season, he was named the Defensive Lineman Performer of the Week in the College Performance Awards. After his junior year, he decided to forgo his senior season and enter the 2010 NFL draft.
The New York Giants selected Pierre-Paul with the 15th overall pick of the 2010 NFL draft and they signed a five-year, $20.05 million deal with $11.629 million guaranteed. Pierre-Paul made his NFL debut in the Giants' 2010 season opener and recorded two tackles. He played 16 total games that season, with 24 solo tackles and 4.5 sacks. Pro Football Rosters named him to their 2010 All-NFL Draft Team.
With injuries to the Giants' starting defensive ends, Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck, Pierre-Paul's playing time increased significantly in 2011, including 12 starts. He finished the season with 65 tackles, 16.5 sacks, one safety, and two forced fumbles. He was also named to his first Pro Bowl despite not having been listed on the ballot and was ranked 24th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2012. On December 11, 2011, he had two sacks (one for a safety) and a forced fumble, and he blocked Dan Bailey's 47-yard field goal attempt in the final seconds of a 37–34 defeat of the Dallas Cowboys, becoming the first player in NFL history to record a sack, forced fumble, and blocked field goal in the same game, a performance for which he was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week. He was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week again in week 16 for his play against the New York Jets. Pierre-Paul also played a big role in the Giants' playoff run, culminating in their 21-17 defeat of the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI.
On October 28, 2012, against the Cowboys in Week 8, Pierre-Paul caught his first career interception and returned it for a touchdown. He finished the 2012 season with 6.5 sacks and 43 total tackles. He was named to the Pro Bowl. He was ranked 55th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2013.
