Louis Delmas
{{Short description|Haitian gridiron football player (born 1987)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Louis Delmas
| image = Louis Delmas.JPG
| caption = Delmas with the Detroit Lions in 2011
| number = 26, 25
| position = Safety
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1987|04|12}}
| birth_place = Delmas, Haiti
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 11
| weight_lbs = 208
| high_school = North Miami Beach
(North Miami Beach, Florida)
| college = Western Michigan (2005–2008)
| draftyear = 2009
| draftround = 2
| draftpick = 33
| pastteams =
- Detroit Lions ({{NFL Year|2009}}–{{NFL Year|2013}})
- Miami Dolphins ({{NFL Year|2014}}–{{NFL Year|2015}})
| highlights =
- First-team All-MAC (2008)
- Second-team All-MAC (2007)
- PFWA All-Rookie Team (2009)
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 392
| statlabel2 = Sacks
| statvalue2 = 6.0
| statlabel3 = Forced fumbles
| statvalue3 = 2
| statlabel4 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue4 = 6
| statlabel5 = Interceptions
| statvalue5 = 7
| statlabel6 = Defensive touchdowns
| statvalue6 = 3
| pfr = DelmLo99
}}
Louis Delmas ({{IPA|fr|lwi dɛl.ma}}; born April 12, 1987) is a Haitian-born former professional American football safety. He was selected by the Detroit Lions in the second round of the 2009 NFL draft. He played college football at Western Michigan. He was also a member of the Miami Dolphins.
Early life
Delmas is of Haitian descent.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/04/AR2010020401827.html |title=Chart: Haitian Americans in the NFL |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=March 10, 2014}} He was born in Delmas, a commune in the Port-au-Prince area in Haiti, on a street named Delmas 25 and moved to Miami, Florida at age 11. When he first arrived he did not speak any English.{{cite web|url=http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/fl-haitian-dolphins-1026-20141028-story.html#page=1 |title=Haitian Dolphins Louis Delmas, Terrence Fede winning friends, influencing people |author=Perkins, Chris |date=October 28, 2014 |access-date=May 14, 2016}}
Delmas played high school football at North Miami Beach High School in North Miami Beach, Florida.
College career
{{Main|2007 Western Michigan Broncos football team|2008 Western Michigan Broncos football team}}
Delmas played college football at Western Michigan from 2005 to 2008. The Broncos made the 2008 Texas Bowl in his senior year but lost to Rice 38–14. Delmas was named to the All-MAC Defensive First-team in 2008{{cite web |url=http://mac-sports.com//ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=9400&ATCLID=3626856 |title=MAC Announces Football Post Season Awards - MAC-Sports.com - Official Web Site of the Mid-American Conference |website=mac-sports.com |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720090829/http://mac-sports.com//ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=9400&ATCLID=3626856 |archive-date=20 July 2011 |url-status=dead}} and played in the 2009 Senior Bowl All-Star game.[http://myespn.go.com/blogs/others/0-3-96/Senior-Bowl-rosters-finalized.html ESPN.com Senior bowl roster finalized] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090124225055/http://myespn.go.com/blogs/others/0-3-96/Senior-Bowl-rosters-finalized.html |date=January 24, 2009 }}. Myespn.go.com. Retrieved on May 30, 2012.
Professional career
=Pre-draft=
Delmas was considered by some to be a top-10 prospect at his position in the 2009 NFL draft.[https://web.archive.org/web/20090328174331/http://www.draftcountdown.com/rankings/s.php 2009 NFL Draft rankings]. draftcountdown.com In 2008, ESPN's Todd McShay said Delmas had a chance to get drafted in the first three rounds.[https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft09/columns/story?columnist=mcshay_todd&id=3715700 Virginia's Sintim, Indiana's Thigpen generating interest; Top 32 shuffled]. Sports.espn.go.com (November 21, 2008). Retrieved on 2012-05-30.
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 5
| height in = 11 3/8
| weight = 202
| dash = 4.56
| ten split = 1.56
| twenty split = 2.63
| shuttle = 4.17
| cone drill = 6.67
| vertical = 37
| broad ft = 10
| broad in = 6
| bench = 12
| wonderlic =
| arm span = 31 3/4
| hand span = 9 1/4
| note = All values from NFL Combine{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/louis-delmas/32004445-4c52-3629-7666-fc694eec4933 |title=Louis Delmas Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=June 3, 2025}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=58118&DraftYear=2009 |title=Louis Delmas College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=September 1, 2022}}
}}
=Detroit Lions=
The Detroit Lions selected Delmas in the second round (33rd overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft. He was the first safety drafted in 2009.{{Cite web |title=2009 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2009/draft.htm |access-date=2023-05-12 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
He was signed by the Lions to a four-year contract. Delmas returned a 65-yard fumble for a touchdown in Week 1 of the 2009 season against the New Orleans Saints. Delmas won September's rookie defensive player of the month award.{{Citation |date=October 1, 2009|title=Louis Delmas wins first-ever defensive rookie player of the month award for Lions |newspaper=Mlive.com |url=http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/10/louis_delmas_wins_first-ever_r.html }} On December 20, 2009, Delmas became the first rookie in NFL history to record an interception return for a touchdown, a fumble return for a touchdown and a safety in the same season.{{citation|date=December 21, 2009|title=Key play: Delmas pick goes long distance|newspaper=The Detroit News|author=Twentyman, Tim|url=http://www.detnews.com/article/20091221/SPORTS0101/912210314/1004/rookie-louis-delmas-furious-after-latest-lions-loss/Key-play--Delmas-pick-goes-long-distance}} He is only the second player in NFL history to accomplish the feats in the same season. He was named 2009 Detroit Lions Rookie of the Year in voting by the Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association.
Delmas was named a Pro Bowl alternate for the NFC after the 2010 NFL season.{{citation|date=September 19, 2011|title=Detroit Lions: Louis Delmas|url=http://www.detroitlions.com/team/roster/Louis-Delmas/a96da045-186f-43a1-8947-389a357bb3e2|access-date=September 19, 2011|archive-date=October 13, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111013153509/http://www.detroitlions.com/team/roster/Louis-Delmas/a96da045-186f-43a1-8947-389a357bb3e2|url-status=dead}}
Delmas was named a Pro Bowl alternate for the NFC after the 2011 NFL season, despite missing five games to injuries.{{citation|date=January 6, 2012|title=Stafford, Suh, and Delmas named Pro Bowl alternates|url=http://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-insider/article-1/Stafford-Suh-and-Delmas-named-Pro-Bowl-alternates/76971202-e7e6-41e4-9545-75656672329f|work=detroitlions.com|access-date=January 6, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923223202/http://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-insider/article-1/Stafford-Suh-and-Delmas-named-Pro-Bowl-alternates/76971202-e7e6-41e4-9545-75656672329f|archive-date=September 23, 2015|url-status=dead}}
On March 15, 2013, Delmas re-signed with the Lions to a two-year contract worth $9.465 million.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/9057103/2013-nfl-free-agency-louis-delmas-re-signs-detroit-lions-sources|title=Sources: Lions give safety Delmas new deal|date=March 15, 2013|website=ESPN.com}}
On October 6, 2013, Lions' center Dominic Raiola was involved in an incident of trash-talking and hate speech to members of the UW-Madison marching band. Delmas was credited with both apologizing for his teammate's actions and having a word with Raiola off the field.{{cite web|last=Sorgi|first=Jay|title=Lions player tosses epithets, spits at UW Band members during Packers game|url=http://www.jrn.com/tmj4/green-bay-packers/Report-Lions-player-tosses-epithets-at-UW-Band-during-Packers-game-226755831.html|work=Today's TMJ4|publisher=NBC|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131007172153/http://www.jrn.com/tmj4/green-bay-packers/Report-Lions-player-tosses-epithets-at-UW-Band-during-Packers-game-226755831.html|archive-date=October 7, 2013|url-status=dead|access-date=December 8, 2015}}
Delmas was released on February 13, 2014.
=Miami Dolphins=
On March 10, 2014, Delmas signed a one-year deal with the Miami Dolphins. The contract is worth a maximum of $3.5 million.{{cite web | last=Wesseling | first=Chris | title=Louis Delmas, Miami Dolphins strike one-year deal | website=NFL.com | date=2014-03-10 | url=https://www.nfl.com/news/louis-delmas-miami-dolphins-strike-one-year-deal-0ap2000000332582 | access-date=2025-03-14}} He wore number 25, honoring the street name he was born on in Haiti. On December 8, 2014, he was placed on Injured reserve after he tore his right ACL against the Baltimore Ravens.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thephinsider.com/2014/12/8/7354483/louis-delmas-to-ir-for-dolphins-with-torn-acl|title=The #Dolphins have placed Louis Delmas on injured reserve with a torn ACL.|first=Kevin|last=Nogle|date=December 8, 2014|website=The Phinsider}}
He was resigned by the Dolphins on March 20, 2015.{{cite web|work=NBCSports.com|url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/03/20/dolphins-bring-back-louis-delmas-lamichael-james/|title=Dolphins bring back Louis Delmas, LaMichael James|first=Josh|last=Alper|date=March 20, 2015|access-date=April 5, 2015}}
=NFL statistics=
| class="wikitable sortable" | |||||||||||||||
| Year | Team | {{tooltip|GP|Games played}} | {{tooltip|COMB|Combined tackles}} | {{tooltip|TOTAL|Total tackles}} | {{tooltip|AST|Assisted tackles}} | {{tooltip|SACK|Sacks}} | {{tooltip|FF|Forced fumbles}} | {{tooltip|FR|Fumble recoveries}} | {{tooltip|FR YDS|Fumble return yards}} | {{tooltip|INT|Interceptions}} | {{tooltip|IR YDS|Interception return yards}} | {{tooltip|AVG IR|Average interception return}} | {{tooltip|LNG|Longest interception return}} | {{tooltip|TD|Interceptions returned for touchdown}} | {{tooltip|PD|Passes defensed}} |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | DET | 15 | 94 | 65 | 29 | 1.0 | 0 | 1 | 65 | 2 | 130 | 65 | 101 | 1 | 8 |
| 2010 | DET | 15 | 84 | 62 | 22 | 2.0 | 2 | 2 | -4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2011 | DET | 11 | 51 | 36 | 15 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 2012 | DET | 8 | 38 | 28 | 10 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2013 | DET | 16 | 64 | 48 | 16 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 44 | 15 | 42 | 0 | 8 |
| 2014 | MIA | 13 | 61 | 50 | 11 | 1.0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 81 | 81 | 81 | 1 | 3 |
| Career | 78 | 392 | 289 | 103 | 6.0 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 255 | 36 | 101 | 2 | 27 |
Personal life
On April 4, 2017, it was reported that Delmas had been arrested by the Miami-Dade Police for resisting arrest without violence. Delmas was a passenger in a vehicle that was pulled over for speeding 76 MPH in a 40 MPH speed limit zone. The driver, Andry Madrigal, was suspected of driving under the influence and failed sobriety test on the scene. A breath sample that was subsequently taken at the station measured 0.164, which is twice the legal 0.08 limit. Delmas continued to yell while the police officers conducted the field sobriety tests and was arrested after ignoring multiple requests.{{cite web| title=Former Dolphins player arrested after cops say he yelled during friend's sobriety test| url=https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nfl/miami-dolphins/article142618244.html| access-date=April 25, 2018| website=miamiherald.com| author=Neal, David| date=April 4, 2017}} He was processed at the Miami-Dade Police station before posting a $500 bond.{{cite web| title=Former Dolphins Player Louis Delmas Arrested In Miami| url=https://www.miami.cbslocal.com/2017/04/04/former-dolphins-player-louis-delmas-arrested-in-miami/| access-date=April 4, 2017| website=miami.cbslocal.com| author=Dwork, David| date=April 4, 2017| archive-date=April 5, 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170405164039/http://miami.cbslocal.com/2017/04/04/former-dolphins-player-louis-delmas-arrested-in-miami/| url-status=dead}}
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
- [http://www.wmubroncos.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4600&ATCLID=129710 Western Michigan Broncos bio]
- [http://www.detroitlions.com/team/roster/Louis-Delmas/a96da045-186f-43a1-8947-389a357bb3e2 Detroit Lions: Louis Delmas] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111013153509/http://www.detroitlions.com/team/roster/Louis-Delmas/a96da045-186f-43a1-8947-389a357bb3e2 |date=October 13, 2011 }}
{{Lions2009DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Delmas, Louis}}
Category:Haitian emigrants to the United States
Category:Sportspeople from Port-au-Prince
Category:Sportspeople from Fort Pierce, Florida
Category:American football safeties
Category:Players of American football from Florida
Category:Western Michigan Broncos football players