Quinton Jefferson
{{Short description|American football player (born 1993)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Quinton Jefferson
| image = Quinton Jefferson.JPG
| caption = Jefferson with the Seattle Seahawks in 2018
| current_team =
| number =
| position = Defensive tackle
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1993|3|31}}
| birth_place = Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 4
| weight_lbs = 291
| death_date =
| death_place =
| high_school = Woodland Hills {{nowrap|(Churchill, Pennsylvania)}}
| college = Maryland (2011–2015)
| draftyear = 2016
| draftround = 5
| draftpick = 147
| pastteams = * Seattle Seahawks ({{NFL Year|2016}})
- Los Angeles Rams ({{NFL Year|2017}})
- Seattle Seahawks ({{NFL Year|2017}}–{{NFL Year|2019}})
- Buffalo Bills ({{NFL Year|2020}})
- Las Vegas Raiders ({{NFL Year|2021}})
- Seattle Seahawks ({{NFL Year|2022}})
- New York Jets ({{NFL Year|2023}})
- Cleveland Browns ({{NFL Year|2024}})
- Buffalo Bills ({{NFL Year|2024}})
| status =
| highlights =
| statweek =
| statseason = 2024
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 192
| statlabel2 = Sacks
| statvalue2 = 26.5
| statlabel3 = Forced fumbles
| statvalue3 = 4
| statlabel4 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue4 = 4
| statlabel5 = Pass deflections
| statvalue5 = 9
| statlabel6 = Interceptions
| statvalue6 =
| statlabel7 = Defensive touchdowns
| statvalue7 =
| pfr = JeffQu00
}}
Quinton Jefferson (born March 31, 1993) is an American professional football defensive tackle. He was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL draft. He played college football at Maryland. He played for the Seahawks from 2016 to 2019, as well as brief stints for the Los Angeles Rams, Buffalo Bills, Las Vegas Raiders, and the New York Jets. Jefferson has played for the Seahawks three separate times. In 2024, Jefferson signed a one-year deal with the Cleveland Browns, before being released mid-season and signing with the Bills again for the remainder of the season.
Early life
Quinton Jefferson was born to Larry and Bahiyyah Jefferson in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Jefferson attended Woodland Hills High School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he played both football and basketball.{{cite web | last=Boyle | first=John | title=Return To Pittsburgh "A Dream Come True" For Quinton Jefferson | website=Seahawks.com| date=September 12, 2019 | url=https://www.seahawks.com/news/return-to-pittsburgh-a-dream-come-true-for-seahawks-d-lineman-quinton-jefferson | access-date=August 11, 2024}}{{cite web|work=Maryland Athletics|url=http://www.umterps.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=29700&ATCLID=207385339|title=99 – Quinton Jefferson|access-date=May 3, 2016}}
College career
Jefferson verbally committed to Maryland on January 24, 2011, and signed on February 2.{{Cite web |title=Quinton Jefferson Recruit Interests |url=https://247sports.com/Recruitment/Quinton-Jefferson-2148/RecruitInterests/ |access-date=August 11, 2024 |website=247Sports}} In the 2015 season, Jefferson had 12.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, one interception, one pass defended, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.{{Cite web |title=Quinton Jefferson 2015 Game Log |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/quinton-jefferson-1/gamelog/2015 |access-date=August 11, 2024 |website=College Football at Sports-Reference.com |language=en}} Jefferson played all four years with the Terrapins, playing in 37 games over that span.
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 3 7/8
| weight = 291
| dash = 4.95
| ten split = 1.70
| twenty split = 2.83
| shuttle = 4.37
| cone drill = 7.95
| vertical = 29.0
| bench = 24
| arm span = 33 3/8
| hand span = 8 7/8
| note = All values from NFL Combine{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/quinton-jefferson/32004a45-4635-0399-dbfb-3775a6ac795c |title=Quinton Jefferson Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=May 3, 2016}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=108981&DraftYear=2016 |title=2016 NFL Draft Scout Quinton Jefferson College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=November 26, 2021}}
}}
=Seattle Seahawks (first stint)=
Jefferson was selected in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL draft with the 147th overall selection by the Seattle Seahawks.{{Cite web |title=2016 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2016/draft.htm |access-date=May 17, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} The team swapped seventh round picks with the New England Patriots while giving them a fourth round pick in the 2017 NFL draft in order to move up to #147 in order to select Jefferson.{{cite web|last1=Kelly|first1=Danny|url=http://www.fieldgulls.com/2016/4/30/11494476/nfl-draft-results-seahawks-trade-up-to-select-quinton-jefferson-with|title=NFL Draft Results: Seahawks trade up to select Quinton Jefferson with 5th round pick, 147 overall|publisher=SBNation|website=FieldGulls.com|date=April 30, 2016|access-date=May 3, 2016}} On May 6, 2016, the Seahawks announced that they had signed Jefferson to his rookie contract.{{cite web|last1=Henderson|first1=Brady|title=Seahawks sign 9 of 10 draft picks; 13 UDFA signings announced|url=http://sports.mynorthwest.com/123980/seahawks-announce-udfa-signings-all-but-one-draft-pick-under-contract|publisher=ESPN|website=MyNorthwest.com|date=May 6, 2016|access-date=May 23, 2016}} He was placed on injured reserve on October 25, 2016, after suffering a knee injury.{{Cite web |date=October 25, 2016 |title=Seahawks Sign DE Malliciah Goodman, Place Quinton Jefferson on Injured Reserve |url=https://www.seahawks.com/news/seahawks-sign-de-malliciah-goodman-place-quinton-jefferson-on-injured-res-171636 |access-date=August 11, 2024 |website=Seahawks.com}} He appeared in three games as a rookie in the 2016 season.{{Cite web |title=Quinton Jefferson 2016 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JeffQu00/gamelog/2016/ |access-date=August 11, 2024 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
On September 2, 2017, Jefferson was waived by the Seahawks.{{cite web|title=Seahawks Make Three More Trades, Set 53-Man Roster|url=http://www.seahawks.com/news/2017/09/02/seahawks-make-three-more-trades-set-53-man-roster|author=Drovetto, Tony|website=Seahawks.com|date=September 2, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171009153425/http://www.seahawks.com/news/2017/09/02/seahawks-make-three-more-trades-set-53-man-roster|archive-date=October 9, 2017}}
=Los Angeles Rams=
On September 3, 2017, Jefferson was claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Rams.{{cite web|title=Rams Assigned Three Players via Waivers|url=http://www.therams.com/news-and-events/article-1/Rams-Assigned-Three-Players-via-Waivers-/5b84fd28-1e2c-4abb-a853-d1dc1901c417|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171007163741/http://www.therams.com/news-and-events/article-1/Rams-Assigned-Three-Players-via-Waivers-/5b84fd28-1e2c-4abb-a853-d1dc1901c417|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 7, 2017|author=Simmons, Myles|website=TheRams.com|date=September 3, 2017}} He was inactive for the Rams' Week 1 game.{{cite web | last=Simmons | first=Myles | title=Rams Inactives for Week 1 | website=TheRams.com | date=September 10, 2017 | url=https://www.therams.com/news/rams-inactives-for-week-1-19344362 | access-date=August 11, 2024}} He was waived on September 12, 2017, and was re-signed to the practice squad.{{cite web|title=Rams Sign OT Cornelius Lucas, Waive Dielman and Jefferson|url=http://www.therams.com/news-and-events/article-1/Rams-Sign-OT-Cornelius-Lucas-Waive-Dielman-and-Jefferson/4349f0a5-ffb6-4a69-8076-9ebed3fed902|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180217040911/http://www.therams.com/news-and-events/article-1/Rams-Sign-OT-Cornelius-Lucas-Waive-Dielman-and-Jefferson/4349f0a5-ffb6-4a69-8076-9ebed3fed902|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 17, 2018|author=Lago, Kristen|website=TheRams.com|date=September 12, 2017}}
=Seattle Seahawks (second stint)=
On October 2, 2017, Jefferson was signed by the Seahawks off the Rams' practice squad.{{cite web|title=Seahawks Sign DE Quinton Jefferson, Place Chris Carson On Injured Reserve|url=http://www.seahawks.com/news/2017/10/02/seahawks-sign-de-quinton-jefferson-place-chris-carson-injured-reserve|author=Boyle, John|website=Seahawks.com|date=October 2, 2017|access-date=October 3, 2017|archive-date=October 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171003044631/https://www.seahawks.com/news/2017/10/02/seahawks-sign-de-quinton-jefferson-place-chris-carson-injured-reserve|url-status=dead}} In Week 14 of the 2017 season, Jefferson was ejected for being involved in a scuffle with some players on the Jacksonville Jaguars. As he was leaving the field, some Jacksonville fans threw drinks at him. Jefferson attempted to climb into the stands in an effort to attack the fans, but was restrained by a team official.{{Cite web |last=Zucker |first=Joseph |date=December 10, 2017 |title=Sheldon Richardson, Quinton Jefferson Ejected After Fight vs. Jaguars |url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2748607-sheldon-richardson-quinton-jefferson-ejected-after-scuffles-vs-jaguars |access-date=August 11, 2024 |website=Bleacher Report}} In the 2017 season, he appeared in six games and had one sack.{{Cite web |title=Quinton Jefferson 2017 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JeffQu00/gamelog/2017/ |access-date=August 11, 2024 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
In the 2018 season, Jefferson had three sacks, 25 total tackles (15 solo), two passes defended, and one fumble recovery in 16 games and 12 starts.{{Cite web |title=Quinton Jefferson 2018 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JeffQu00/gamelog/2018/ |access-date=August 11, 2024 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
In Week 1 of the 2019 season against the Cincinnati Bengals, Jefferson recorded six tackles and sacked Andy Dalton twice in the 21–20 win.{{Cite web |date=September 8, 2019 |title=Close call: Seahawks hold off Dalton, Bengals for 21–20 win |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap?gameId=401127995 |access-date=September 8, 2019 |website=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press}} In the 2019 season, he appeared in 14 games and started 12 games. He finished with 3.5 sacks, 26 total tackles (14 solo), three passes defended, and one fumble recovery.{{Cite web |title=Quinton Jefferson 2019 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JeffQu00/gamelog/2019/ |access-date=August 11, 2024 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} He had two sacks in the Seahawks' Wild Card Round victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.{{Cite web |title=Wild Card – Seattle Seahawks at Philadelphia Eagles – January 5th, 2020 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202001050phi.htm |access-date=August 11, 2024 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
=Buffalo Bills (first stint)=
On March 26, 2020, Jefferson signed a two-year contract with the Buffalo Bills.{{cite web|title=Bills agree to terms with Vernon Butler, Quinton Jefferson|url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/03/17/bills-agree-to-terms-with-vernon-butler-quinton-jefferson/|author=Williams, Charean|work=Pro Football Talk|publisher=NBC Sports|date=March 17, 2020}} In Week 4 against the Las Vegas Raiders, Jefferson recorded his first career forced fumble, a strip sack on Derek Carr which he recovered himself, during the 30–23 win.{{Cite web |title= Buffalo Bills at Las Vegas Raiders – October 4th, 2020 |url= https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202010040rai.htm |access-date=October 6, 2020 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} In the 2016 season, he appeared in all 16 games and started four. He finished with three sacks, 23 total tackles (14 solo), one pass defended, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.{{Cite web |title=Quinton Jefferson 2020 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JeffQu00/gamelog/2020/ |access-date=August 11, 2024 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
Jefferson was released by the Bills after the season on March 10, 2021.{{Cite web|last=Glad|first=Maddy|date=March 10, 2021|title=WR John Brown, DL Quinton Jefferson released|url=https://www.buffalobills.com/news/wr-john-brown-dl-quinton-jefferson-released|access-date=March 10, 2021|website=BuffaloBills.com|language=en-US|archive-date=March 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310181154/https://www.buffalobills.com/news/wr-john-brown-dl-quinton-jefferson-released|url-status=dead}}
=Las Vegas Raiders=
Jefferson signed with the Raiders on a one-year deal on March 17, 2021.{{Cite web |date=March 17, 2021 |title=Raiders sign DT Quinton Jefferson |url=https://www.raiders.com/news/raiders-sign-dt-quinton-jefferson-free-agency-2021 |access-date=February 5, 2024 |website=Raiders.com}} In the 2021 season, Jefferson started in all 17 games. He finished with 4.5 sacks, 47 total tackles (17 solo), one pass defended, and two forced fumbles.{{Cite web |title=Quinton Jefferson 2021 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JeffQu00/gamelog/2021/ |access-date=August 11, 2024 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} He had a sack in the Raiders' Wild Card Round loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.{{Cite web |title=Wild Card – Las Vegas Raiders at Cincinnati Bengals – January 15th, 2022 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202201150cin.htm |access-date=August 11, 2024 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
=Seattle Seahawks (third stint)=
Jefferson signed with the Seahawks on March 21, 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.seahawks.com/news/seahawks-sign-dt-quinton-jefferson|title=Seahawks Sign DT Quinton Jefferson|date=March 21, 2022|accessdate=March 22, 2022|first=John|last=Boyle|work=Seahawks.com}} He played in 17 games with three starts, recording 29 tackles, two passes defensed, and a career-high 5.5 sacks.{{Cite web |title=Quinton Jefferson 2022 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JeffQu00/gamelog/2022/ |access-date=August 11, 2024 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
On March 14, 2023, Jefferson was released by the Seahawks.{{Cite web |last=Boyle |first=John |date=March 14, 2023 |title=Seahawks Released Shelby Harris & Quinton Jefferson |url=https://www.seahawks.com/news/seahawks-released-shelby-harris-quinton-jefferson |access-date=August 11, 2024 |website=Seahawks.com}}
=New York Jets=
On April 7, 2023, Jefferson signed with the New York Jets.{{Cite web |last=Greenberg |first=Ethan |date=April 6, 2023 |title=Jets Sign DT Quinton Jefferson |url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-sign-dt-quinton-jefferson |access-date=August 11, 2024 |website=NewYorkJets.com}} He was named a starting defensive tackle, starting 14 games and recording 34 tackles and a career-high six sacks.{{Cite web |title=Quinton Jefferson 2023 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JeffQu00/gamelog/2023/ |access-date=August 11, 2024 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
=Cleveland Browns=
On March 19, 2024, Jefferson signed a one-year deal with the Cleveland Browns.{{Cite web |last=Cimini |first=Rich |date=March 14, 2024 |title=Quinton Jefferson agrees to deal with Browns, source says |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/39730029/quinton-jefferson-agrees-deal-browns-source-says |access-date=September 28, 2024 |website=ESPN.com}} He was released from the team on November 5, 2024.{{cite web |last1=Simmons |first1=Myles |title=Browns to release Quinton Jefferson |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/browns-to-release-quinton-jefferson |website=NBC Sports |access-date=November 6, 2024 |date=November 5, 2024}}
= Buffalo Bills (second stint) =
On November 6, 2024, Jefferson was signed by the Buffalo Bills.{{cite web |last1=White |first1=Alec |title=Bills sign DT Jordan Phillips & DT Quinton Jefferson |url=https://www.buffalobills.com/news/bills-sign-dt-jordan-phillips-dt-quinton-jefferson |website=BuffaloBills.com |access-date=November 6, 2024}}
Statistics
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 3 7/8
| weight = 291
| dash = 4.95
| ten split = 1.70
| twenty split = 2.83
| shuttle = 4.37
| cone drill = 7.95
| vertical = 29.0
| bench = 24
| arm span = 33 3/8
| hand span = 8 7/8
| note = All values from NFL Combine{{Cite web |last=Zierlein |first=Lance |title=Quinton Jefferson Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/quinton-jefferson/32004a45-4635-0399-dbfb-3775a6ac795c |access-date=May 3, 2016 |website=NFL.com}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=108981&DraftYear=2016 |title=2016 NFL Draft Scout Quinton Jefferson College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=November 26, 2021}}
}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+ Career statistics | ||||||||||||
| rowspan=2|Year | rowspan=2|Team | rowspan=2|G | rowspan=2|GS | colspan=5 |Tackles | colspan=6 |Interceptions | colspan=2 |Fumbles | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Solo | Ast | Sck | SFTY | PDef | Int | Yds | Avg | Lng | TDs | FF | FR |
| colspan=17|Regular season | ||||||||||||
| 2016 | SEA
| 3 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 1 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||
| 2017
!SEA |6 |0 |7 |6 |1 |1.0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0.0 |0 |0 |0 |0 | ||||||||||||
| 2018
!SEA |16 |12 |25 |15 |10 |3.0 |0 |2 |0 |0 |0.0 |0 |0 |0 |1 | ||||||||||||
| 2019
!SEA |14 |12 |26 |14 |12 |3.5 |0 |3 |0 |0 |0.0 |0 |0 |0 |1 | ||||||||||||
| 2020
!BUF |16 |4 |23 |14 |9 |3.0 |0 |1 |0 |0 |0.0 |0 |0 |1 |1 | ||||||||||||
| 2021
!LVR |17 |17 |47 |17 |30 |4.5 |0 |1 |0 |0 |0.0 |0 |0 |2 |0 | ||||||||||||
| 2022
!SEA |17 |3 |29 |17 |12 |5.5 |0 |2 |0 |0 |0.0 |0 |0 |0 |0 | ||||||||||||
| 2023
!NYJ |14 |14 |34 |13 |21 |6.0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0.0 |0 |0 |1 |1 | ||||||||||||
| colspan=2| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JeffQu00.htm Total] || 103 || 62 || 192 || 96 || 96 || 26.5 || 0 || 9 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 4 || 4 | ||||||||||||
| colspan="17" |Playoffs | ||||||||||||
| 2018
!SEA |1 |1 |2 |1 |1 |0.0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0.0 |0 |0 |0 |0 | ||||||||||||
| 2019
!SEA |2 |2 |2 |2 |0 |2.0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0.0 |0 |0 |0 |0 | ||||||||||||
| 2020
!BUF |3 |0 |5 |1 |4 |0.0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0.0 |0 |0 |0 |0 | ||||||||||||
| 2021
!LVR |1 |1 |3 |1 |2 |1.0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0.0 |0 |0 |0 |0 | ||||||||||||
| 2022
!SEA |1 |0 |1 |1 |0 |0.0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0.0 |0 |0 |0 |0 | ||||||||||||
| colspan="2" |[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JeffQu00/gamelog/post/ Total]
!8 !4 !13 !6 !7 !3.0 !0 !0 !0 !0 !0.0 !0 !0 !0 !0 |
Personal life
Jefferson graduated in December 2015 from the University of Maryland with a degree in family science.
Jefferson is married to Nadia Jefferson and has four children. The oldest three children are daughters, with the youngest two girls being twins, and the youngest child is a boy.{{Cite AV media |url=http://www.fieldgulls.com/2016/5/5/11601220/quinton-jefferson-cj-prosise-and-rees-odhiambo-react-to-getting |title=Quinton Jefferson 5–3 |date=May 3, 2016 |last=Furness |first=Ian |last2=Puckett |first2=Jason |type=Radio |publisher=iHeartRadio |access-date=May 5, 2016 |work=Ian & Puck Show}}{{cite web|last1=Orfanides|first1=Effie|url=https://heavy.com/sports/2019/01/quinton-jefferson-wife-nadia-kids|title=Meet Quinton Jefferson's Wife Nadia & Their 4 Kids|website=Heavy.com|date=January 5, 2019|access-date=March 18, 2020}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
{{footballstats|espn=2577078|yahoo=29381|nfl=quinton-jefferson}}
- [https://www.buffalobills.com/team/players-roster/quinton-jefferson/ Buffalo Bills bio]
- [http://www.umterps.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=29700&ATCLID=207385339 Maryland Terrapins bio]
{{Seahawks2016DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jefferson, Quinton}}
Category:American football defensive tackles
Category:Players of American football from Pittsburgh
Category:Maryland Terrapins football players
Category:Seattle Seahawks players
Category:Los Angeles Rams players
Category:Buffalo Bills players
Category:Las Vegas Raiders players