Brandon Copeland (linebacker)

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Brandon Copeland

| image = Brandon Copeland.jpg

| caption = Copeland with the Atlanta Falcons in 2021

| current_team =

| number = 95, 51, 52, 49

| position = Linebacker

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|7|2}}

| birth_place = Sykesville, Maryland, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 3

| weight_lbs = 263

| high_school = Gilman School
(Baltimore, Maryland)

| college = Penn

| undraftedyear = 2013

| pastteams =

Baltimore Ravens ({{NFL Year|2013}})*
Tennessee Titans ({{NFL Year|2013|2014}})*
Detroit Lions ({{NFL Year|2015|2017}})
New York Jets ({{NFL Year|2018|2019}})
New England Patriots ({{NFL Year|2020}})
Atlanta Falcons ({{NFL Year|2021}})
Baltimore Ravens ({{NFL Year|2022}})

| status =

| highlights =

NFLPA Alan Page Community Award (2020)

| statweek =

| statseason =

| statlabel1 = Total tackles

| statvalue1 = 163

| statlabel2 = Sacks

| statvalue2 = 8.0

| statlabel3 = Forced fumbles

| statvalue3 = 2

| statlabel4 = Fumble recoveries

| statvalue4 = 0

| statlabel5 = Interceptions

| statvalue5 = 0

| statlabel6 = Pass deflections

| statvalue6 = 6

| pfr = CopeBr00

}}

Brandon Matthew Copeland (born July 2, 1991) is an American former football linebacker who played 10 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He was signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2013 and also played for the Tennessee Titans, Detroit Lions, New York Jets, New England Patriots, and Atlanta Falcons. He played college football at the University of Pennsylvania.

Early life

Copeland is from Sykesville, Maryland.{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Clifton |title=Long shots vie for roster spots |url=http://www.csnbaltimore.com/blog/ravens-talk/long-shots-vie-roster-spots |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130628232000/http://www.csnbaltimore.com/blog/ravens-talk/long-shots-vie-roster-spots |archive-date=June 28, 2013 |access-date=May 31, 2013 |publisher=csnbaltimore.com}} He is the grandson of former Baltimore Colts defensive end Roy Hilton.{{Cite web |title=Home-Grown Brandon Copeland Trying To Make It |url=http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/article-1/Home-Grown-Brandon-Copeland-Trying-To-Make-It/fd71e1a7-1b94-4476-9bfe-91e4c2434732 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607062114/http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/article-1/Home-Grown-Brandon-Copeland-Trying-To-Make-It/fd71e1a7-1b94-4476-9bfe-91e4c2434732 |archive-date=June 7, 2013 |access-date=May 31, 2013 |publisher=baltimoreravens.com}} Copeland graduated from the Gilman School{{Cite news |last=Wilson |first=Aaron |date=May 16, 2013 |title=Taking stock at Ravens' inside linebacker position minus Rolando McClain |work=The Baltimore Sun |url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/ravens-insider/bal-taking-stock-at-inside-linebacker-minus-rolando-mcclain-20130515,0,7205536,full.story |url-status=dead |access-date=May 31, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140404154557/http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/ravens-insider/bal-taking-stock-at-inside-linebacker-minus-rolando-mcclain-20130515,0,7205536,full.story |archive-date=April 4, 2014}} where he played 3 sports: football, basketball and track. During his senior year of high school, Copeland was awarded the position of team captain.{{Cite web |title=Biography |url=http://www.baltimoreravens.com/team/roster/brandon-copeland/ad4a057b-53e8-400d-bba6-bdb22bf27942/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130613023414/http://www.baltimoreravens.com/team/roster/brandon-copeland/ad4a057b-53e8-400d-bba6-bdb22bf27942/ |archive-date=June 13, 2013 |access-date=May 31, 2013 |publisher=baltimoreravens.com}}

He was on the championship squad at the 2006 Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association.{{Cite web |title=Biography |url=http://www.baltimoreravens.com/team/roster/brandon-copeland/ad4a057b-53e8-400d-bba6-bdb22bf27942/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130613023414/http://www.baltimoreravens.com/team/roster/brandon-copeland/ad4a057b-53e8-400d-bba6-bdb22bf27942/ |archive-date=June 13, 2013 |access-date=May 31, 2013 |publisher=baltimoreravens.com}} He received the National Football Foundation Scholar Athlete of the Year Award in 2008 and was an Academic All-State team honoree the same year.{{Cite web |title=Biography |url=http://www.baltimoreravens.com/team/roster/brandon-copeland/ad4a057b-53e8-400d-bba6-bdb22bf27942/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130613023414/http://www.baltimoreravens.com/team/roster/brandon-copeland/ad4a057b-53e8-400d-bba6-bdb22bf27942/ |archive-date=June 13, 2013 |access-date=May 31, 2013 |publisher=baltimoreravens.com}}

College career

Copeland attended the University of Pennsylvania where he was the captain of the 2012 Ivy League championship winning team.{{Cite web |title=IVY CHAMPS! Football Wins Thriller to Claim Outright Title, 35-28 |url=http://www.pennathletics.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=205746145 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304031544/http://www.pennathletics.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=205746145 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |access-date=May 31, 2013 |publisher=pennathletics.com}} He graduated from the Wharton School with a Bachelor of Science in economics.

Professional career

{{NFL predraft

| height ft = 6

| height in = 2 1/8

| weight = 265

| dash = 4.72

| ten split = 1.62

| twenty split = 2.65

| shuttle = 4.49

| cone drill = 7.29

| vertical = 32.5

| broad ft = 10

| broad in = 2

| bench = 30

| arm span = 31 3/4

| hand span = 8 5/8

| note = All values from Pro Day{{Cite web |url=http://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=92398&DraftYear=2013 |title=2013 Draft Scout Brandon Copeland, Pennsylvania NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile |website=draftscout.com |access-date=November 5, 2022}}

}}

=Baltimore Ravens=

File:Brandon Copeland Stadium Practice 2013.jpg

On April 27, 2013, he signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent.{{Cite web |title=Ravens Sign 14 Undrafted Free Agents |url=http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/article-1/Ravens-Sign-14-Undrafted-Free-Agents/590e9c6d-3c55-40cd-98b8-32b2a06e1e8b |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130506043657/http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/article-1/Ravens-Sign-14-Undrafted-Free-Agents/590e9c6d-3c55-40cd-98b8-32b2a06e1e8b |archive-date=May 6, 2013 |access-date=May 3, 2013 |website=baltimoreravens.com}} He was waived on August 31, 2013.

=Tennessee Titans=

He signed with the Tennessee Titans to their practice squad on October 8, 2013. He was released from the Titans’ practice squad on November 5, 2013, but re-signed to the team's practice squad on November 12, 2013. He signed with the Titans to a future contract on December 31, 2013.

=Detroit Lions=

On April 7, 2015, Copeland signed a one-year contract with the Detroit Lions.{{Cite web |last=Twentyman |first=Tim |date=April 7, 2015 |title=Lions sign linebacker Brandon Copeland |url=http://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-insider/article-1/Lions-sign-linebacker-Brandon-Copeland/fa1b1467-d70b-45bf-aa97-5492b9b41398 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150410183511/http://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-insider/article-1/Lions-sign-linebacker-Brandon-Copeland/fa1b1467-d70b-45bf-aa97-5492b9b41398 |archive-date=April 10, 2015 |access-date=April 7, 2015 |website=Detroit Lions}} It came after he participated in the NFL Veterans Combine, where he, along with Ifeanyi Momah, were the only participants to be offered contracts.

Copeland suffered a torn pectoral in the Lions' first preseason game of 2017 and was ruled out for the season.{{Cite web |last=Williams, Charean |date=August 14, 2017 |title=Brandon Copeland reportedly out for year with torn pec |url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/08/14/brandon-copeland-reportedly-out-for-year-with-torn-pec/ |website=ProFootballTalk.NBCSports.com}}{{Cite web |date=August 16, 2017 |title=Lions sign three free agents |url=http://www.detroitlions.com/news/news-short/article-1/Lions-sign-three-free-agents/e0cc4e07-398b-488d-bb21-ca47db712732 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816204831/http://www.detroitlions.com/news/news-short/article-1/Lions-sign-three-free-agents/e0cc4e07-398b-488d-bb21-ca47db712732 |archive-date=August 16, 2017 |access-date=August 16, 2017 |website=DetroitLions.com}}

=New York Jets=

On March 19, 2018, Copeland signed with the New York Jets.{{Cite web |last=Bouda, Nate |date=March 19, 2018 |title=Jets Sign LB Brandon Copeland |url=http://nfltraderumors.co/jets-sign-lb-brandon-copeland/}} He played in 16 games with 10 starts, recording 35 combined tackles, and five sacks.

On March 25, 2019, Copeland re-signed with the Jets.{{Cite web |last=Greenberg, Ethan |date=March 25, 2019 |title=Jets Re-Sign LB Brandon Copeland |url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-re-sign-lb-brandon-copeland |website=NewYorkJets.com}} He was suspended the first four games of the 2019 season for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing substances.{{Cite web |last=Bergman, Jeremy |date=August 21, 2019 |title=Jets OLB Brandon Copeland suspended four games |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/jets-olb-brandon-copeland-suspended-four-games-0ap3000001043173 |website=NFL.com}} He was reinstated from suspension on October 7, 2019, and was activated prior to Week 6.

In week 9 against the Miami Dolphins, Copeland recorded a team high 9 tackles and sacked Ryan Fitzpatrick once in the 26–18 loss.{{Cite web |date=November 3, 2019 |title=Dolphins get first win of 2019, top Jets 26-18 |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap?gameId=401128080 |access-date=November 3, 2019 |website=ESPN}}

=New England Patriots=

On March 25, 2020, Copeland signed a $1.1 million contract with the New England Patriots.{{Cite web |last=Alper, Josh |date=March 22, 2020 |title=Patriots add Brandon Copeland |url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/03/22/patriots-add-brandon-copeland/ |website=Pro Football Talk |publisher=NBC Sports}} He was placed on injured reserve on October 28, 2020, after suffering a torn pectoral in Week 7.{{Cite web |date=October 28, 2020 |title=Patriots place LB Brandon Copeland on injured reserve and TE Jake Burt on practice squad injured reserve |url=https://www.patriots.com/news/patriots-place-lb-brandon-copeland-on-injured-reserve-and-te-jake-burt-on-practi |website=Patriots.com}}

=Atlanta Falcons=

On March 19, 2021, Copeland signed a one-year contract with the Atlanta Falcons.{{Cite web |date=March 19, 2021 |title=Falcons Sign LB Brandon Copeland and S Erik Harris |url=https://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/falcons-sign-lb-brandon-copeland-and-s-erik-harris |website=AtlantaFalcons.com}} On September 11, he was waived by the Falcons,{{Cite web |first=Dave |last=Choate |date=September 11, 2021 |title=Falcons reportedly cut OLB Brandon Copeland. Wait, what? |url=https://www.thefalcoholic.com/2021/9/11/22668952/falcons-reportedly-cut-olb-brandon-copeland-wait-what |website=TheFalcoholic.com}} but was re-signed two days later.{{Cite web |first=Myles |last=Simmons |date=September 13, 2021 |title=Falcons re-sign Brandon Copeland |url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2021/09/13/falcons-re-sign-brandon-copeland/ |website=NBCSports.com}}

=Baltimore Ravens (second stint)=

On September 21, 2022, Copeland signed with the Baltimore Ravens practice squad.{{cite news |last1=Brown |first1=Clifton |title=Ravens Sign Linebacker Brandon Copeland to Practice Squad |url=https://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/ravens-sign-brandon-copeland-practice-squad |access-date=21 September 2022 |work=BaltimoreRavens.com}} He was released on October 18, 2022.

=Retirement=

On August 21, 2023, Copeland announced his retirement from the NFL.{{Cite web |date=2023-08-21 |title=Veteran LB Copeland retires after 10 NFL seasons |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/38232518/free-agent-linebacker-brandon-copeland-32-retires-nfl |access-date=2023-08-24 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}

Personal life

Copeland interned at the investment bank UBS over two summers during college and has since returned to Penn to teach a financial literacy seminar with Dr. Brian Peterson, the director of Penn's Makuu Black Cultural Center.{{Cite web |last=Elkins, Kathleen |date=March 2, 2019 |title=NFL player who saves nearly 90% of his income teaches a money class at Penn called 'Life 101' |website=CNBC |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/03/01/nfls-brandon-copeland-is-teaching-life-101-a-money-class-at-penn.html}}

He has also appeared on the Netflix series “Buy My House” in 2022.