Greg Rousseau
{{Short description|American football player (born 2000)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Greg Rousseau
| image = Gregory Rousseau (51528386792) (cropped).jpg
| alt =
| caption = Rousseau with the Buffalo Bills in 2021
| current_team = Buffalo Bills
| number = 50
| position = Defensive end
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|4|5}}
| birth_place = Coconut Creek, Florida, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 7
| weight_lb = 266
| high_school = Champagnat Catholic {{avoid wrap|(Hialeah, Florida)}}
| college = Miami (FL) (2018–2020)
| draftyear = 2021
| draftround = 1
| draftpick = 30
| pastteams =
- Buffalo Bills ({{NFL Year|2021}}–present)
| status = Active
| highlights =
- ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year (2019)
- First-team All-ACC (2019)
- Second-team All-American (2019)
- Freshman All-American (2019)
| statseason = 2024
| statweek = 11
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 166
| statlabel2 = Sacks
| statvalue2 = 22.5
| statlabel3 = Forced fumbles
| statvalue3 = 5
| statlabel4 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue4 = 1
| statlabel5 = Interceptions
| statvalue5 = 1
| statlabel6 = Pass deflections
| statvalue6 = 14
| pfr = RousGr00
}}
Gregory Rousseau (born April 5, 2000) is an American professional football defensive end for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Miami Hurricanes. As a redshirt freshman there in 2019, he recorded 15.5 sacks and won all-conference honors and was named ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year. Rousseau was selected by the Bills in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft.
Early life and college
Born to Haitian parents from New York, Rousseau attended Champagnat Catholic School in Hialeah, Florida. He played defensive end, safety and wide receiver in high school.{{Cite web |last=Chiang |first=Anthony |date=August 24, 2018 |title=Hurricanes freshman DE Gregory Rousseau is 'one of those freak of natures' |url=https://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/college-football/hurricanes-freshman-gregory-rousseau-one-those-freak-natures/PhftUMQxU60b2GLO8CfSJL/ |access-date=February 26, 2023 |website=The Palm Beach Post}} He committed to the University of Miami to play college football.{{Cite web |date=July 31, 2020 |title=Roche, Rousseau Ready to Wreak Havoc |url=https://miamihurricanes.com/news/2020/07/31/roche-rousseau-ready-to-wreak-havoc/ |access-date=February 26, 2023 |website=University of Miami Athletics |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Degnan |first=Susan Miller |date=April 7, 2018 |title=This 6-6 Baby Cane did some big-kid damage at UM scrimmage while QBs, O-line struggled |url=https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/college/acc/university-of-miami/article208249694.html |access-date=February 26, 2023 |website=Miami Herald}}
Rousseau played in the first two games of his true freshman year in 2018 before suffering a season-ending ankle injury and redshirted.{{Cite web |last=Chirinos |first=Christy Cabrera |date=September 10, 2018 |title=UM's Greg Rousseau to have surgery on fractured ankle; kickoff time vs. FIU set |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-hurricanes/fl-sp-um-hurricanes-greg-rousseau-surgery-20180910-story.html |access-date=February 26, 2023 |website=South Florida Sun Sentinel }} He entered his redshirt freshman year in 2019, as a backup but eventually took over as starter later in the season.{{Cite web |last=Navarro |first=Manny |date=October 31, 2019 |title=The reasons Gregory Rousseau's 'relentless nature' extends... |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/1341367/2019/10/31/the-reasons-gregory-rousseaus-relentless-nature-extends-beyond-football/ |access-date=February 26, 2023 |website=The Athletic}}{{Cite web |last=Furones |first=David |date=October 30, 2019 |title=How Miami’s Greg Rousseau has succeeded in his ‘evolution of how to become a defensive end’ |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-hurricanes/fl-sp-um-football-notes-rousseau-20191030-ww753ll5yrap3ivpoyfoxqnya4-story.html |access-date=February 26, 2023 |website=South Florida Sun Sentinel}} He was named ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year after recording 15.5 sacks that season, second in the nation behind only Chase Young's 16.5.{{Cite web |last=Burke |first=Peter |date=December 4, 2019 |title=Gregory Rousseau named ACC defensive rookie of the year |url=https://www.local10.com/sports/2019/12/04/gregory-rousseau-named-acc-defensive-rookie-of-the-year/ |access-date=February 26, 2023 |website=WPLG}}{{Cite web |last=Scott |first=Trey |date=April 29, 2021 |title=Miami insider on sackmaster Gregory Rousseau's rapid emergence |url=https://247sports.com/LongFormArticle/Miami-Hurricanes-football-Gregory-Rousseau-sacks--145675495/ |access-date=April 26, 2020 |website=247Sports}} He opted out of the 2020 season due to concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web |last=Hale |first=David |date=August 6, 2020 |title=Miami Hurricanes DE Gregory Rousseau, a top draft prospect, opts out of 2020 season |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/29608946/miami-hurricanes-de-gregory-rousseau-top-draft-prospect-opts-2020-season |access-date=September 4, 2020 |website=ESPN.com}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 6 5/8
| weight = 266
| dash = 4.67
| ten split = 1.57
| twenty split = 2.71
| shuttle = 4.53
| cone drill = 7.50
| vertical = 30.0
| broad ft = 9
| broad in = 7
| bench = 21
| arm span = 34 3/8
| hand span = 11 1/8
| wonderlic =
| note = All values from Pro Day{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/greg-rousseau/3200524f-5561-7685-7a57-00bd6b5af7ea |title=Greg Rousseau Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=October 10, 2021}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1021734&DraftYear=2021 |title=Greg Rousseau, Miami (FL), DE, 2021 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football |website=draftscout.com |access-date=October 10, 2021}}{{Cite web |url=https://insider.espn.com/nfl/draft/player/_/id/104745 |title=Gregory Rousseau 2021 NFL Draft Profile |website=insider.espn.com |access-date=November 11, 2022}}
}}
Rousseau was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the first round (30th overall) in the 2021 NFL draft.{{Cite web |last=Warren |first=Matt |last2=Lavoie |first2=Dan |date=April 29, 2021 |title=2021 NFL Draft: Buffalo Bills take Miami pass rusher Greg Rousseau |url=https://www.buffalorumblings.com/2021/4/29/22411209/2021-nfl-draft-buffalo-bills-take-miami-pass-rusher-greg-rousseau |access-date=February 26, 2023 |website=Buffalo Rumblings |publisher=SB Nation}} He signed his four-year rookie contract, worth $11.37 million, on June 4, 2021.{{Cite web |date=June 3, 2021 |title=1st Round Pick Greg Rousseau Signs His Rookie Contract |url=https://www.buffalobills.com/news/1st-round-pick-greg-rousseau-agrees-to-terms |access-date=July 4, 2021 |website=BuffaloBills.com}}
During Week 2 of the 2021 season, Rousseau was nominated for NFL Rookie of the Week honors with five tackles, two sacks, and two tackles made behind the line of scrimmage.{{Cite web |last=Neracker |first=Courtney |date=September 21, 2021 |title=Bills player Greg Rousseau nominated for rookie of the week |url=https://www.whec.com/rochester-new-york-news/bills-player-greg-rousseau-nominated-for-rookie-of-the-week-/6244779/ |access-date=September 21, 2021 |website=WHEC News10NBC |language=en}} Rousseau recorded his first career interception on October 10, 2021, in a 38-20 Week 5 Sunday night win against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, earning AFC Defensive Player of the Week.{{cite web |last1=Easterling |first1=Luke |title=WATCH: Bills rookie Greg Rousseau picks off Patrick Mahomes |url=https://draftwire.usatoday.com/2021/10/10/nfl-highlights-week-5-patrick-mahomes-greg-rousseau-interception-bills-chiefs-video/ |website=The Draft Wire |access-date=October 11, 2021 |date=October 11, 2021}}{{Cite web |last=Gordon |first=Grant |date=October 13, 2021 |title=Ravens QB Lamar Jackson, Buccaneers QB Tom Brady lead Players of the Week |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/players-of-the-week-2021-week-5-lamar-jackson-tom-brady |access-date=February 26, 2023 |website=NFL.com}} In his rookie season, Rousseau finished with four sacks, 50 total tackles, one interception, four passes defended, and one forced fumble.{{Cite web |title=Gregory Rousseau 2021 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/R/RousGr00/gamelog/2021/ |access-date=February 26, 2023 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
In the 2022 season, he finished with eight sacks, 37 total tackles, four passes defended, and forced fumble in 13 games.{{Cite web |title=Gregory Rousseau 2022 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/R/RousGr00/gamelog/2022/ |access-date=February 26, 2023 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} His best performance of the year came in week 14 against the New York Jets, in which he recorded 2 sacks, including a forced fumble, and a pass defensed, contributing to a 20–12 Buffalo win one week after the team's leading pass rusher Von Miller suffered a season-ending knee injury against the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving.{{Cite web |last=De Cristofaro |first=David |date=2022-12-12 |title=Bills pass rushers feeling confident after sack attack vs. Jets |url=https://billswire.usatoday.com/2022/12/12/buffalo-bills-sack-jets-greg-rousseau-aj-epenes-shaq-lawson/ |access-date=2023-03-27 |website=Bills Wire|publisher=USA Today |language=en-US}}
File:Milano and Rousseau vs Becton.jpg (#58) lining up against the New York Jets in 2023]]
On April 29, 2024, the Bills picked up the fifth-year option on Rousseau's contract. In Week 1, he recorded six tackles, three sacks, and a forced fumble in a 34-28 win over the Cardinals, earning AFC Defensive Player of the Week.{{cite web|title=Eagles' Saquon Barkley, Texans' Joe Mixon highlight Players of the Week|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/players-of-the-week-2024-week-1-joe-mixon-saquon-barkley|author=Gordon, Grant|website=NFL.com|date=September 11, 2024}}
On March 8, 2025, Rousseau signed a four-year $80 million contract extension with the Bills, with $54 million guaranteed.{{Cite web |title=Buffalo Bills defensive end Greg Rousseau signs a four-year contract extension |url=https://www.buffalobills.com/news/buffalo-bills-defensive-end-greg-rousseau-signs-a-four-year-contract-extension |access-date=2025-03-08 |website=BuffaloBills.com |language=en-US}}
NFL career statistics
| class="wikitable" |
| colspan="2"| Legend |
|---|
| style="width:3em;"| Bold
| Career high |
=Regular season=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team ! colspan="2"| Games ! colspan="7"| Tackles ! colspan="6"| Interceptions ! colspan="5"| Fumbles | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| {{abbr|GP|Games played}} | {{abbr|GS|Games started}} | {{abbr|Cmb|Total tackles}} | {{abbr|Solo|Solo tackles}} | {{abbr|Ast|Assists on tackles}} | {{abbr|TFL|Tackles for loss}} | {{abbr|QBH|Quarterback hits}} | {{abbr|Sck|Sacks}} | {{abbr|Sfty|Safety touchdowns}} | {{abbr|PD|Passes defended}} | {{abbr|Int|Defensive interceptions}} | {{abbr|Yds|Defensive interceptions yardage return}} | {{abbr|Y/I|Yards per defensive interception}} | {{abbr|Lng|Longest defensive interception return}} | {{abbr|TD|Defensive interceptions returned for touchdown}} | {{abbr|FF|Forced fumbles}} | {{abbr|FR|Fumbles recovered}} | {{abbr|Yds|Fumble recoveries yardage return}} | {{abbr|Y/R|Yards per fumble recoveries}} | {{abbr|TD|Fumble recoveries returned for touchdown}} | |
| 2021 | BUF
| 17 || 17 || 50 || 42 || 8 || 8 || 10 || 4.0 || 0 || 4 || 1 || 3 || 3.0 || 3 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || — || 0 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | BUF
| 13 || 13 || 37 || 27 || 10 || 10 || 14 || 8.0 || 0 || 4 || 0 || 0 || — || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || — || 0 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2023
!BUF | 16 || 16 || 42 || 30 || 12 || 12 || 18 || 5.0 || 0 || 4 || 0 || 0 || — || 0 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | BUF
| 16 || 16 || 53 || 36 || 17 || 16 || 24|| 8.0 || 0 || 3 || 0 || 0 || — || 0 || 0 || 3|| 0 || 0 || — || 0 | |||||||||||||||||||
| colspan="2"| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/R/RousGr00.htm Career] | 57 | 57 | 182 | 135 | 47 | 46 | 66 | 25.0 | 0 | 15 | 1 | 3 | 3.0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
=Postseason=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" | ||||||||||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team ! colspan="2"| Games ! colspan="7"| Tackles ! colspan="6"| Interceptions ! colspan="5"| Fumbles | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| {{abbr|GP|Games played}} | {{abbr|GS|Games started}} | {{abbr|Cmb|Total tackles}} | {{abbr|Solo|Solo tackles}} | {{abbr|Ast|Assists on tackles}} | {{abbr|TFL|Tackles for loss}} | {{abbr|QBH|Quarterback hits}} | {{abbr|Sck|Sacks}} | {{abbr|Sfty|Safety touchdowns}} | {{abbr|PD|Passes defended}} | {{abbr|Int|Defensive interceptions}} | {{abbr|Yds|Defensive interceptions yardage return}} | {{abbr|Y/I|Yards per defensive interception}} | {{abbr|Lng|Longest defensive interception return}} | {{abbr|TD|Defensive interceptions returned for touchdown}} | {{abbr|FF|Forced fumbles}} | {{abbr|FR|Fumbles recovered}} | {{abbr|Yds|Fumble recoveries yardage return}} | {{abbr|Y/R|Yards per fumble recoveries}} | {{abbr|TD|Fumble recoveries returned for touchdown}} | |
| 2021 | BUF
| 2 || 2 || 3 || 2 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || — || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || — || 0 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | BUF
| 2 || 2 || 4 || 3 || 1 || 0 || 1 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || — || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || — || 0 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2023
!BUF |2 |2 |5 |2 |3 |1 |2 |1.0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |— |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |— |0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024
!BUF |3 |3 |10 |7 |3 |3 |2 |2.0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |— |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |— ! | ||||||||||||||||||||
| colspan="2"| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/R/RousGr00.htm Career] | 6 | 6 | 22 | 14 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Twitter|Greg_R5}}
{{footballstats|yahoo=33418|espn=4362506|nfl=gregory-rousseau}}
- [https://www.buffalobills.com/team/players-roster/greg-rousseau/ Buffalo Bills bio]
- [https://hurricanesports.com/sports/football/roster/gregory-rousseau/12452 Miami Hurricanes bio]
{{Buffalo Bills roster navbox}}
{{2021 NFL Draft}}
{{BillsFirstPick}}
{{Bills2021DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rousseau, Gregory}}
Category:Sportspeople from Coconut Creek, Florida
Category:Players of American football from Broward County, Florida
Category:American football defensive ends
Category:Miami Hurricanes football players