A fixture in the Redskins’ secondary, Shawn Springs has appeared in 55 regular-season games with 52 starts in his four seasons with Washington. Springs is tied for 13th among active players with 31 career interceptions. Springs became the first defensive back and one of five players in NFL history to lead his team in sacks (six) and interceptions (five) in a single season. In 2007, he finished fourth on the team in tackles (72) and was second in interceptions (four) despite traveling home every week to tend to his ailing father, former Dallas running back Ron Springs.
NFL Acquisition: Selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the first round (third overall) of the 1997 NFL Draft
How Acquired: Signed by the Washington Redskins as an unrestricted free agent March 4, 2004
Pro:
Appeared in 148 career regular-season games with 140 starts
Has played in 55 regular-season games with 52 starts for the Washington Redskins
Also appeared and started in four postseason games (two with Seattle and two with Washington)
Totaled 626 career tackles (535 solo), 31 interceptions, 129 passes defensed, five forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries
Tied for 13th among active players in career interceptions (31)
Became the first defensive back and is just one of five players in NFL history to lead his team in sacks (six) and interceptions (five) in a single season (2004) - (Junior Seau, San Diego in 1997; Joey Porter, Pittsburgh in 2002; Adalius Thomas, Baltimore in 2005; and Jason Taylor, Miami in 2006)
Earned a Pro Bowl appearance with Seattle in 1998
Has played with the Seattle Seahawks (1997-2003) and the Washington Redskins (2004-2007)
2007 Season (WAS):
Appeared in 16 regular-season games with 14 starts and one postseason contest at Seattle (1/5)
Ranked second on the team in interceptions (four) and fourth in tackles (72)
Added one forced fumble and one fumble recovery
Tied a career high with two interceptions in 24-16 win at Chicago (12/3)
His interceptions occurred in consecutive series at Chicago (12/3); and he returned his first pick 53 yards late in the second quarter to set up a Redskins’ touchdown
2006 Season (WAS):
Played in nine regular-season games with eight starts (inactive for six contests vs. Minnesota (9/11), at Dallas (9/17), at Houston (9/24), vs. Jacksonville (10/1), at New York Giants (10/8) and vs. Atlanta (12/3) with a groin injury)
Had 44 tackles (36 solo) and one interception
Placed on injured reserve (12/26) with a broken shoulder blade
2005 Season (WAS):
Appeared and started in 15 regular-season games (inactive at Kansas City (10/16) with a leg injury)
Also started one postseason contest
Tallied 51 tackles (45 solo) and one interception
2004 Season (WAS):
Played and started in 15 regular-season games (inactive at San Francisco (12/18) because of a concussion)
Had 69 tackles (56 solo), six sacks, five interceptions and one forced fumble
Became the first defensive back and just the fifth player in NFL history to lead his team in sacks (six) and interceptions (five) in a single season
Ranked sixth in the NFC in interceptions (five)
Led all defensive backs in the NFL in sacks (six)
Had a career-high two sacks at Dallas (12/26)
2003 Season (SEA):
Played 12 regular-season games with eight starts and one postseason contest
Inactive vs. New Orleans (9/7), at Arizona (9/14), vs. St. Louis (9/21) and at Green Bay (10/5) with a shoulder injury
Finished the season with 39 tackles (34 solo), 1.5 sacks and one interception
Posted his first career sack vs. Cleveland (11/30)
2002 Season (SEA):
Played and started in 15 regular-season games (inactive vs. Minnesota (9/29) with a foot injury)
Tallied 59 tackles (54 solo), three interceptions and one fumble recovery
2001 Season (SEA):
Played in eight regular-season games with seven starts (inactive at Cleveland (9/9), vs. Philadelphia (9/23) and at Oakland (9/30) with a hamstring injury)
Had 20 tackles (16 solo), one interception and one fumble recovery
Suspended for issues related to the substance abuse policy vs. San Diego (12/2), at Denver (12/9), vs. Dallas (12/16) and at New York Giants (12/23)
Exempt from the roster at San Diego (12/30)
2000 Season (SEA):
Started all 16 regular-season games
Established career highs in tackles (85) and solo tackles (72)
Also recorded two interceptions and one forced fumble
1999 Season (SEA):
Started all 16 regular-season games and one postseason contest
Led the team in interceptions (five) and tallied 73 tackles (63 solo) and one fumble recovery
Named to Sports Illustrated and College & Pro Football Newsweekly’s All-Pro Team
1998 Season (SEA):
Started all 16 regular-season games and tallied 75 tackles (61 solo), a career-high seven interceptions, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries
Voted to the AFC Pro Bowl squad
Finished fourth in the AFC with seven interceptions
Returned two interceptions for touchdowns, 42 yards at Philadelphia (9/6) and a career-long 56 yards vs. Arizona (9/13)
Registered his first career multi-interception game vs. San Diego (12/13)
1997 Season (SEA):
Appeared in and started 10 games (inactive at San Diego (11/9), at new Orleans (11/16), vs. Kansas City (11/23), vs. Atlanta (11/30), at Baltimore (12/7), at Oakland (12/14) and vs. San Francisco with a broken right thumb)
Finished rookie season with 39 tackles (34 solo), one interceptions and one forced fumble
Started all 37 games over his final three seasons at Ohio State after redshirting in 1993
First-team All-Big 10 Conference as a sophomore and junior and an All-Conference All-Academic pick
Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in 1996
Finished with 152 career tackles, six interceptions and five tackles for loss and also averaged 25.2 yards on 20 kickoff returns with one touchdown and 9.5 yards on 27 punt returns
Local product from Springbrook High School in Silver Spring, MD
Was an All-State selection and played both cornerback and tailback in football
Attended graduation at Ohio State University to receive his diploma for a bachelor of science degree in sociology in the summer of 2003
Father, Ron, was a running back at Ohio State from 1976-78, and played in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys from 1979-84
