Omar Gaither

Omar Gaither

Gaither in 2007.
No. 59     Carolina Panthers
Linebacker
Personal information
Date of birth: March 18, 1984 (1984-03-18) (age 27)
Place of birth: Charlotte, North Carolina
Height: 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	Weight: 235 lb (107 kg)
Career information
College: Tennessee
NFL Draft: 2006 / Round: 5 / Pick: 168
Debuted in 2006 for the Philadelphia Eagles
Career history
Philadelphia Eagles (2006–2010) Carolina Panthers (2011–present)
Roster status: Active
Career highlights and awards
2x Second-team All-SEC (2004, 2005)
Career NFL statistics as of 2009
Tackles	253
Sacks	5.0
INTs	2
Stats at NFL.com

Omar Gaither (born March 18, 1984) is an American football linebacker for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fifth round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football at Tennessee.

Early years

Gaither played high school football at Myers Park High School.

College career

Gaither played college football at the University of Tennessee from 2002-2005. He was a two-year starter at Tennessee, Gaither recorded 210 tackles with 6 sacks and 23 TFLs. As a senior, finished with 78 tackles, 4 sacks, 7.5 TFLs, and 4 FFs en route to his second straight Second-team All-SEC. Had a career-high 92 tackles, including 12.5 TFLs as a junior when he took over the strongside (or "Sam") linebacker duties.

Professional career

Pre-draft

Pre-draft measureables

Ht	Wt	40-yd dash	10-yd split	20-yd split	20-ss	3-cone	Vert	Broad	BP
6 ft 1 in	234 lb	4.73 s	1.65 s	2.80 s	4.32 s	6.97 s	37½ in	9 ft 8 in	23 rep
40-yard dash, 3-cone drill and broad jump results from Pro Day, all other results from NFL Combine[1]

Philadelphia Eagles

Gaither was drafted in the fifth round of the 2006 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles. Gaither received significant playing time later in the 2006 season due to the struggles and injury of starter Matt McCoy. Gaither got his first NFL start at weakside linebacker on December 4, 2006 on a Monday Night Football win against the Carolina Panthers. He became the starter at WILL linebacker for the final 7 games (post and regular season) and finished with 58 tackles, 1 sack, and 1 INT. Ranked second on the team in special teams tackles (30) and 4th in special teams production points (185).

Gaither was named the starter at middle linebacker in 2007 after the release of Jeremiah Trotter, and started all 16 games at MLB and tallied team highs in tackles (170) and QB hurries (14). He also ranked second on the team with 14 KDs, intercepting one pass, defending seven passes, and forcing one fumble.

Prior to the start of 2008, Gaither was moved back to his true position of weakside linebacker to make move room for Stewart Bradley. Though not an indictment of Gaither's performance, Bradley took over the MLB spot largely in part to his phenomenal first start against the New Orleans Saints in week 16 of 2007 (a game in which Gaither played Weakside ("Will") Linebacker). Gaither was benched prior to the week 12 game at the Baltimore Ravens in favor of Akeem Jordan.

After starting middle linebacker Stewart Bradley suffered a torn ACL which caused him to be placed on injured reserve in 2009, Gaither beat out second-year linebacker Joe Mays for the starting position. Four weeks into the season, however, the Eagles re-signed Jeremiah Trotter to replace Gaither on first- and second-down plays. Gaither suffered a Lisfranc sprain during a game against the Oakland Raiders and was placed on injured reserve on October 28, 2009.

Gaither was re-signed to a one-year contract on March 31, 2010.^[2]

Carolina Panthers

Gaither was signed by the Carolina Panthers on July 29, 2011.

References

1. ^ "Omar Gaither, DS #24 OLB, Tennessee". NFLDraftScout.com. http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=17449&draftyear=2006&genpos=OLB. Retrieved 2010-03-31. 
2. ^ "Eagles sign LB Gaither". Miami Herald. March 31, 2010. http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/03/31/1556942/eagles-sign-lb-gaither.html. Retrieved 2010-03-31. ^{[dead link]}

External links

• Philadelphia Eagles bio