Ryan Fowler
{{Short description|American football player (born 1982)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Ryan Fowler
| image =
| caption =
| number = 55, 52, 51
| position = Linebacker
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1982|5|20}}
| birth_place = Redington Shores, Florida, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 3
| weight_lbs = 250
| high_school = Seminole (FL)
| college = Duke
| undraftedyear = 2004
| pastteams =
- Dallas Cowboys ({{NFL Year|2004}}–{{NFL Year|2006}})
- Tennessee Titans ({{NFL Year|2007}}–{{NFL Year|2008}})
- New York Jets ({{NFL Year|2009}})
| highlights =
- Sporting News Freshman All-American (2000)
- Second-team All-ACC (2003)
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 70
| statlabel2 = Total tackles
| statvalue2 = 146
| statlabel3 = Forced fumbles
| statvalue3 = 2
| statlabel4 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue4 = 1
| pfr = FowlRy20
}}
Ryan Omead Fowler (born May 20, 1982) is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Tennessee Titans, and New York Jets. He played college football at Duke University.
Early life
Fowler attended Seminole High School, where he played quarterback, running back and linebacker. As a junior, he was the Florida state champion in the discus throw. As a senior, he was the team captain of a team that qualified for the state playoffs.
He accepted a football scholarship from Duke University. As a true freshman, he made 87 tackles (led the team), 13 tackles for loss (led the team) and 7 sacks (fourth best in school history). As a sophomore, he recorded 127 tackles (led the team), 7 tackles for loss (tied for the team lead) and 3 sacks (led the team). He had 17 tackles against Georgia Tech.
As a junior, he collected 145 tackles (led the team). As a senior, he posted 136 tackles and had 8 double-digit tackle games. He had a career-high 20 tackles against Clemson University.
He finished his college career as a fourth-year starter (2 years at outside linebacker and 2 at middle linebacker), registering 495 tackles (third in school history), 47.5 tackles for loss (second in school history) and 12.5 sacks (sixth in school history). He was just the second player in school history to lead the team in tackles for 3 straight years.
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 3 1/8
| weight = 250
| dash = 4.77
| ten split = 1.66
| twenty split = 2.76
| shuttle = 4.19
| cone drill = 7.19
| vertical = 37.5
| broad ft = 9
| broad in = 10
| bench = 35
| arm span = 32
| hand span = 9 3/8
| wonderlic =
| note = All values from NFL Combine{{Cite web |url=http://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=598&DraftYear=2004 |title=2004 Draft Scout Ryan Fowler, Duke NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile |website=draftscout.com |access-date=March 24, 2023}}{{Cite web |url=https://insider.espn.com/nfl/draft/player/_/id/7579 |title=RYAN FOWLER 2004 NFL Draft Profile |website=insider.espn.com |access-date=March 24, 2023}}
}}
=Dallas Cowboys=
Fowler was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Dallas Cowboys after the 2004 NFL draft on April 30. He was released a month later after failing a physical with an injured back. He was re-signed on August 2. He was waived on September 5 and signed to the practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster on October 15 and was declared inactive for the next 10 games. He had 2 special teams tackles.
In 2005, with Dat Nguyen retirement and Scott Shanle experiencing injuries, he was a backup inside linebacker, appearing in 14 games (3 starts), while making 16 tackles, 4 tacklefor loss (second on the team) and 12 special teams tackles.
In 2006, he lost the battle for a starting linebacker spot against teammate Bradie James, but would lead the team in special teams tackles with 24.{{cite web| url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=3161184 | title=Titans lose linebacker Fowler for season with shoulder injury | access-date=February 19, 2023}}
=Tennessee Titans=
On March 12, 2007, Fowler signed an offer sheet with the Tennessee Titans as a restricted free agent, with the Cowboys choosing not to match the Titans' offer and not receiving any compensation.{{cite web| url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=2801734 | title=Cowboys no match for LB Fowler; Titans sign Gage | access-date=February 19, 2023}} He became the sixth starter at middle linebacker for the Titans in as many years. He started 13 games before tearing his rotator cuff, labrum, biceps tendon, and suffered two avulsion fractures in his right shoulder on a second quarter play on the frozen turf against the Kansas City Chiefs in December. He finished the season with 88 tackles.
In 2008, after a long rehabilitation from reconstruction surgery, he became the first middle linebacker to be the opening day starter in two consecutive seasons since 2001. Despite that after 3 starts he was near the team lead in tackles and tackles for loss, on September 28, he was benched in favor of 2006 fourth round draft pick, Stephen Tulloch.{{cite news | title = Titans Make Starting Change at Middle Linebacker | url = https://www.nfl.com/news/titans-make-starting-change-at-middle-linebacker-09000d5d80b1dca6 | agency = Associated Press | date = September 25, 2008 | access-date = February 19, 2023}} He was waived on September 5, 2009.{{cite news | title = Fowler Starter in 2008, Gone in 2009 from Titans | first = Teresa M. | last = Walker | url = https://www.tennesseetitans.com/news/fowler-starter-in-2008-gone-in-2009-from-titans-745300 | agency = Associated Press | date = September 5, 2009 | access-date = February 19, 2023}}
=New York Jets=
On September 8, 2009, Fowler was signed by the New York Jets, with the team releasing fullback Jason Davis to make room on the roster.{{cite news|title=Wilson: Jets sign Fowler |first=Aaron |last=Wilson |url=http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Wilson-Jets-sign-Fowler.html |newspaper=National Football Post |date=September 8, 2009 |access-date=February 19, 2023 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090916154358/http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Wilson-Jets-sign-Fowler.html |archivedate=September 16, 2009 }} He was not re-signed at the end of the season.
=NFL statistics=
| class="wikitable" | |||||||||||||||
| Year | Team | Games | Combined Tackles | Tackles | Assisted Tackles | Sacks | Forced Fumbles | Fumble Recoveries | Fumble Return Yards | Interceptions | Interception Return Yards | Yards per Interception Return | Longest Interception Return | Interceptions Returned for Touchdown | Passes Defended |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | DAL | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2005 | DAL | 14 | 24 | 18 | 6 | 0.0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2006 | DAL | 16 | 24 | 21 | 3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2007 | TEN | 14 | 54 | 40 | 14 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2008 | TEN | 16 | 29 | 20 | 9 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 | NYJ | 8 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 70 | 135 | 100 | 35 | 0.0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- [https://www.dukechronicle.com/article/2003/08/fowlers-high-school-career-parallels-college Fowler's high school career parallels college]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fowler, Ryan}}
Category:Players of American football from Tampa, Florida
Category:American football linebackers
Category:Duke Blue Devils football players
Category:Dallas Cowboys players
Category:Tennessee Titans players
Category:New York Jets players
Category:American sportspeople in doping cases
Category:Doping cases in American football
Category:Seminole High School (Pinellas County, Florida) alumni