Ben Leber
{{Short description|American football player (born 1978)}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Ben Leber
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| number = 51, 59
| position = Linebacker
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1978|12|7}}
| birth_place = Council Bluffs, Iowa, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 3
| weight_lbs = 245
| high_school = Vermillion (SD)
| college = Kansas State (1997–2001)
| draftyear = 2002
| draftround = 3
| draftpick = 71
| pastteams =
- San Diego Chargers ({{NFL Year|2002}}–{{NFL Year|2005}})
- Minnesota Vikings ({{NFL Year|2006}}–{{NFL Year|2010}})
- St. Louis Rams ({{NFL Year|2011}})
| highlights =
- PFWA All-Rookie Team (2002)
- Third-team All-American (2001)
- First-team All-Big 12 (2001)
- Second-team All-Big 12 (2000)
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 500
| statlabel2 = Sacks
| statvalue2 = 24.0
| statlabel3 = Forced fumbles
| statvalue3 = 13
| statlabel4 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue4 = 12
| statlabel5 = Interceptions
| statvalue5 = 5
| statlabel6 = Defensive touchdowns
| statvalue6 = 1
| pfr = LebeBe20
}}
Ben Leber (born December 7, 1978) is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the third round of the 2002 NFL draft and later played for the Minnesota Vikings.
Early life
Lining up primarily at running back, Leber was named to several high school All-America teams at Vermillion High School in Vermillion, South Dakota. As a junior, he rushed for 1,404 yards and 18 touchdowns, and notched 1,350 yards in his senior year. That season, he was declared a Parade Magazine All-America (the only South Dakotan so honored in 1997), an honorable mention All-USA by USA Today, and was selected to play in the North-South Dakota All-Star game. An excellent student, he was also an Academic All-State selection.
College career
At Kansas State, Leber made the switch to full-time linebacker. A two-time All-Big 12 selection, he finished his college career with 216 tackles, 46 tackles for loss, and 13.5 sacks. His 216 career tackles were the fifth most in Kansas State history. As a junior, he earned second-team all-conference honors. The year later, he was an All-America third-team selection by the Associated Press, a consensus All-Big 12 Conference first-team choice, and a team captain. He received a degree in business-general management in 2002.
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 3
| weight = 244
| dash = 4.63
| ten split = 1.61
| twenty split = 2.71
| shuttle = 4.25
| cone drill = 6.75
| vertical = 32.5
| broad ft = 9
| broad in = 6
| bench = 20
| note = All values from NFL Combine{{Cite web |title=2002 NFL Draft Scout Ben Leber College Football Profile |url=http://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1070&DraftYear=2002 |access-date=September 14, 2023 |website=DraftScout.com}}
}}
=San Diego Chargers=
Leber was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the third round of the 2002 NFL draft.{{Cite web |title=2002 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2002/draft.htm |access-date=2023-03-10 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} He was an immediate-impact rookie, playing in all 16 games and starting 14 of them. He was selected to both the Pro Football Weekly and Football Digest All-Rookie teams, finishing the year with 49 tackles, 5 sacks (third on the team), and 3 forced fumbles (first on the team).
In his second season, Leber started every game at strong side linebacker for the Chargers, notching 75 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 pass defensed, and 1 forced fumble. In his third year, he was an every-game starter for the Chargers, finishing the season with 58 tackles, 2 sacks, and 1 fumble recovery. The next season, Leber was injured during training camp and again during the season. This led to him losing his starting position to future Pro-Bowler Shawne Merriman. He finished 2005 with 22 tackles, 2 sacks and 1 fumble recovery.
=Minnesota Vikings=
As an unrestricted free agent, Leber was signed by the Minnesota Vikings on March 11, 2006. Playing in 15 games, he finished his first season with the team with 46 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 interception, 3 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries and 1 fumble recovery touchdown. The next year was even better—playing in all 16 games, Leber notched 67 tackles, 5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 1 interception. In 2008, Leber again played the full season, recording 64 tackles, a career-low 1.5 sacks, and 2 interceptions.
=St. Louis Rams=
On August 9, 2011, Leber signed with the St. Louis Rams. On December 3, 2011, Leber was waived by the Rams.
=Retirement=
Despite having worked out for the Philadelphia Eagles in March 2012,{{cite web | url = http://thesidelineview.com/columns/caplans-nfl-corner/eagles-work-out-veteran-lb | title = Eagles Work Out Veteran LB | author = Adam Caplan | date = March 1, 2012| accessdate = June 11, 2012 | publisher = thesidelineview.com | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120629012337/http://thesidelineview.com/columns/caplans-nfl-corner/eagles-work-out-veteran-lb | archive-date = June 29, 2012 | url-status = dead }} he was unable to find an interested team.
He announced his retirement from professional football on June 18, 2012.{{cite web | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/redskins/linebacker-ben-leber-announces-retirement-after-10-seasons-with-chargers-vikings-rams/2012/06/08/gJQAAxorOV_story.html | title = Linebacker Ben Leber announces retirement after 10 seasons with Chargers, Vikings, Rams | agency = Associated Press | date = June 8, 2012 | accessdate = June 11, 2012 | publisher = thesidelineview.com}}{{dead link|date=June 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
Career statistics
=College=
| class=wikitable |
| Season
! Team ! GP ! Total ! Ast ! Comb ! SCK ! INT ! INT TD ! PD ! FF ! Fum Rec ! Fum TD |
|---|
| 1998
| 10 | 19.0 | 11 | 30 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1999
| Kansas State | 11 | 35.0 | 23 | 58 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 2000
| Kansas State | 13 | 38.0 | 17 | 55 | 3.5 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2001
| Kansas State | 11 | 55.0 | 18 | 73 | 6.0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| | Totals | 45 | 147.0 | 69 | 216 | 13.0 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
=Professional=
==Regular season==
| class=wikitable |
| Season
! Team ! GP ! Total ! Ast ! Comb ! SCK ! INT ! INT TD ! PD ! FF ! Fum Rec ! Fum TD |
|---|
| 2002
| 16 | 41.0 | 9 | 50 | 5.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2003
| San Diego Chargers | 16 | 69.0 | 11 | 80 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2004
| San Diego Chargers | 16 | 49.0 | 11 | 60 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2005
| San Diego Chargers | 9 | 18.0 | 4 | 22 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2006
| 15 | 34.0 | 12 | 46 | 3.0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 2007
| Minnesota Vikings | 16 | 52.0 | 15 | 67 | 5.0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008
| Minnesota Vikings | 16 | 47.0 | 17 | 64 | 1.5 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009
| Minnesota Vikings | 16 | 38 | 8 | 46 | 2.5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2010
| Minnesota Vikings | 16 | 35 | 11 | 46 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2011
| St. Louis Rams | 7 | 11.0 | 4 | 15 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| | Totals | 143 | 393 | 103 | 496 | 24.0 | 5 | 0 | 28 | 12 | 4 | 1 |
==Postseason==
| class=wikitable |
| Season
! Team ! GP ! Tckl ! Ast ! Total ! SCK ! INT ! INT TD ! PD ! FF ! Fum Rec ! Fum TD |
|---|
| 2004
| San Diego Chargers | 1 | 5.0 | 2 | 7 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009
| Minnesota Vikings | 1 | 4.0 | 0 | 4 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | Totals
| 2 | 9.0 | 2 | 11 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Personal
Leber was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa and raised in Vermillion, South Dakota. He is the son of Al and Han Leber. His brother, Jason, was an All-American running back at the University of South Dakota.{{cite web |url=http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2012/06/08/linebacker-ben-leber-announces-retirement/ |title=Linebacker Ben Leber Announces Retirement |date=June 8, 2012 |work=minnesota.cbslocal.com |publisher=CBS Local Media |accessdate=September 29, 2015}}
His Mother, Han, is Korean.{{cite web |title=Interview with Ben Leber |url=https://www.halfkorean.com/?page_id=9815 |website=halfkorean.com/| date=May 23, 2014 }}
Leber is married to his wife Abby, and they have 2 sons and 1 daughter.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}
He is a radio sideline analyst for the Minnesota Vikings. He also broadcasts on KFAN and Co-Hosts Twin Cities Live on ABC affiliate KSTP.{{cite web|url=https://kstp.com/twin-cities-live/meet-the-co-hosts-of-twin-cities-live/#:~:text=Ben%20is%20a%2010%2Dyear,shows%20in%20the%20Twin%20Cities|title=Meet the Co-Hosts of Twin Cities Live|website=kstp.com/|access-date=2023-08-12}}
External links
- http://www.nfl.com/players/ben-leber
References
{{reflist|30em}}
{{Chargers2002DraftPicks}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Leber, Ben}}
Category:American sportspeople of Korean descent
Category:American football outside linebackers
Category:Players of American football from South Dakota
Category:Minnesota Vikings players
Category:San Diego Chargers players
Category:St. Louis Rams players
Category:Kansas State Wildcats football players