Steve McLendon
{{Short description|American football player (born 1986)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Steve McLendon
| image = Steve McLendon.JPG
| caption = McLendon with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2012
| current_team =
| number = 90, 99, 96
| position = Nose tackle
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|1|3}}
| birth_place = Ozark, Alabama, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 3
| weight_lbs = 310
| high_school = Carroll (Ozark, Alabama)
| college = Troy
| undraftedyear = 2009
| pastteams =
- Pittsburgh Steelers ({{NFL Year|2009}}–{{NFL Year|2015}})
- New York Jets ({{NFL Year|2016}}–{{NFL Year|2020}})
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers ({{NFL Year|2020}}–{{NFL Year|2021}})
| status =
| highlights =
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 276
| statlabel2 = Sacks
| statvalue2 = 13.0
| statlabel3 = Forced fumbles
| statvalue3 = 4
| statlabel4 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue4 = 2
| statlabel5 = Pass deflections
| statvalue5 = 3
| statlabel6 = Interceptions
| statvalue6 = 1
| pfr = M/McLeSt00
}}
Stephen Craine McLendon (born January 3, 1986) is an American former professional football nose tackle. He was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He played college football at Troy.
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 1 3/8
| weight = 306
| dash = 5.15
| ten split = 1.75
| twenty split = 2.99
| shuttle = 4.45
| cone drill = 7.35
| vertical = 29.5
| broad ft = 8
| broad in = 6
| bench = 31
| arm span =
| hand span =
| wonderlic =
| note = All values from Pro Day{{Cite web |url=http://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=79325&DraftYear=2009 |title=Steve McLendon, Troy, DT, 2009 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football |website=draftscout.com |access-date=September 16, 2021}}
}}
=Pittsburgh Steelers=
McLendon was signed by the Steelers as an undrafted free agent on April 27, 2009. He was a final cut on September 5 but re-signed to the practice squad the next day. He was released on November 25 but re-signed on December 2. He was signed to a reserve/future contract on January 7, 2010.
McLendon was a final cut for the second straight season when he was waived on September 4, 2010.{{Cite web |date=August 31, 2010 |title=Cutdown day: Teams release players to reach 53-man roster |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/cutdown-day-teams-release-players-to-reach-53-man-roster-09000d5d81a25abd |access-date=March 16, 2021 |website=NFL.com |language=en-US}} He was re-signed to the practice squad the following day. The Steelers signed McLendon to their active roster on September 18 and he appeared in their game at Tennessee.{{Cite web |date=September 18, 2010 |title=Leftwich cut by Steelers to make roster room, likely to return |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/leftwich-cut-by-steelers-to-make-roster-room-likely-to-return-09000d5d81aa0926 |access-date=March 16, 2021 |website=NFL.com |language=en-US}} He recovered a fumble in that game and made one tackle. He was waived again on September 20 but re-signed to the practice squad on September 22. On October 2, quarterback Dennis Dixon was placed on injured reserve and McLendon was called up again. McLendon was waived on October 7 to make room for Ben Roethlisberger, who returned from his 4-game suspension. McLendon was re-signed to the Steelers' practice squad on October 11. McLendon was again signed to the active roster on October 30. He played in seven games for the entire season, recording one more tackle bringing his total tackles for the season to two. The Steelers finished the season with a 12–4 record to clinch the AFC North, and eventually reached Super Bowl XLV, only to lose to the Green Bay Packers 25–31.{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl XLV – Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Green Bay Packers – February 6th, 2011 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201102060pit.htm |access-date=March 16, 2021 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
In the 2011 season, McLendon appeared in a career high fourteen games. He totaled 13 tackles with one sack.{{Cite web |title=Steve McLendon 2011 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/McLeSt00/gamelog/2011/ |access-date=March 16, 2021 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} For the 2012 season he played in all 16 games, registering seven tackles and two sacks.{{Cite web |title=Steve McLendon 2012 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/McLeSt00/gamelog/2012/ |access-date=March 16, 2021 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} After the season, McLendon became a restricted free agent. McLendon visited with the Green Bay Packers before resigning with the Steelers for a three-year deal worth $7.25 million, including $1.675 million guaranteed. In the 2013 season, he appeared in 14 games with 33 tackles and a forced fumble.{{Cite web |title=Steve McLendon 2013 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/McLeSt00/gamelog/2013/ |access-date=March 16, 2021 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} In 2014, he played in 12 games with 22 tackles and a sack.{{Cite web |title=Steve McLendon 2014 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/McLeSt00/gamelog/2014/ |access-date=March 16, 2021 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} In 2015, he appeared in all 16 games for the first time of his career, finishing the year with 14 tackles and a sack.{{Cite web |title=Steve McLendon 2015 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/McLeSt00/gamelog/2015/ |access-date=March 16, 2021 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
=New York Jets=
File:Steve McLendon 2019.jpg ]]
On March 16, 2016, the New York Jets signed McLendon to a three-year, $12 million contract with $4 million guaranteed.{{Cite web |last=Lange |first=Randy |date=March 21, 2016 |title=NT Steve McLendon Joins Jets' D-Line |url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/nt-steve-mclendon-joins-jets-d-line-16951737 |access-date=March 16, 2021 |website=www.newyorkjets.com |language=en-US}} Making his first start for the Jets on September 11, 2016, McLendon had tied a career high two sacks of the team's six sacks in the Week 1 loss against Cincinnati Bengals.{{Cite web |title=Cincinnati Bengals at New York Jets – September 11th, 2016 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201609110nyj.htm |access-date=March 16, 2021 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
On March 14, 2019, McLendon re-signed with the Jets.{{Cite web |last=Allen |first=Eric |date=March 14, 2019 |title=Jets Re-Sign Veteran DT Steve McLendon |url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-re-sign-veteran-dt-steve-mclendon |access-date=March 16, 2021 |website=NewYorkJets.com}} He signed a one-year contract extension on October 12, 2019 through the 2020 season.{{Cite web |last=Allen |first=Eric |date=October 12, 2019 |title=Jets Extend Contract of NT Steve McLendon |url=https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-extend-contract-of-nt-steve-mclendon |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191013002156/https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-extend-contract-of-nt-steve-mclendon |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 13, 2019 |access-date=March 16, 2021 |website=NewYorkJets.com }}
=Tampa Bay Buccaneers=
On October 18, 2020, McLendon and a 2023 seventh-round pick were traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a 2022 sixth-round pick.{{Cite web |last=Cimini |first=Rich |date=October 19, 2020 |title=Source: Bucs acquire starting Jets NT McLendon |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/30144146/tampa-bay-buccaneers-acquire-starting-jets-nose-tackle-steve-mclendon |access-date=October 19, 2020 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}} He was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the Buccaneers on January 1, 2021,{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Scott |date=January 1, 2021 |title=Devin White, Shaq Barrett, Steve McLendon Placed on COVID List |url=https://www.buccaneers.com/news/devin-white-shaq-barrett-placed-covid-list |access-date=February 11, 2021 |website=Buccaneers.com}} and activated on January 11.{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Scott |date=January 11, 2021 |title=Devin White, Steve McLendon Activated from Reserve/COVID-19 List |url=https://www.buccaneers.com/news/devin-white-steve-mclendon-activated-covid-list-roster-moves |access-date=February 11, 2021 |website=Buccaneers.com}} McLendon appeared in Super Bowl LV, where the Buccaneers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs by a score of 31–9.{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl LV – Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Kansas City Chiefs – February 7th, 2021 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202102070tam.htm |access-date=March 16, 2021 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Josh Wells 2020 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WellJo02/gamelog/2020/ |access-date=March 16, 2021 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
McLendon re-signed with the Buccaneers on April 14, 2021.{{cite news |author=Smith, Scott |title=Bucs Bring Veteran DL Steve McLendon Back |url=https://www.buccaneers.com/news/steve-mclendon-re-signs-tampa-bay-free-agency-2021 |website=Buccaneers.com |date=April 14, 2021 |access-date=April 15, 2021}} In a Monday Night Football game on November 22, 2021, McLendon recorded his first career interception after twelve seasons in the NFL, intercepting a pass from Daniel Jones of the New York Giants in the game's third quarter.{{cite web | last=Easterling | first=Luke | title=WATCH: Bucs' 35-year-old DL Steve McLendon gets 1st career INT | website=Bucs Wire|publisher=USA Today | date=2021-11-22 | url=https://bucswire.usatoday.com/2021/11/22/nfl-highlights-week-11-tampa-bay-buccaneers-steve-mclendon-interception-video/ | access-date=2024-12-14}} He became the second-oldest player to record his first career NFL interception.{{cite news |last1=Shook |first1=Nick |title=Andrew Thomas, Steve McLendon become first 300-pound players with TD catch, INT in same game |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/andrew-thomas-steve-mclendon-first-300-pound-players-catch-td-int |access-date=28 November 2021 |work=NFL.com |publisher=National Football League |date=November 23, 2021}}
NFL career statistics
| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! colspan="2"| Legend |
| Bold
| Career high |
=Regular season=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | ||||||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Year
!rowspan="2"| Team !colspan="2"| Games !colspan="5"| Tackles !colspan="5"| Interceptions !colspan="4"| Fumbles | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | TFL | Int | Yds | TD | Lng | PD | FF | FR | Yds | TD | |
| 2010 | PIT
| 7 || 0 || 2 || 2 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2011 | PIT
| 14 || 1 || 13 || 9 || 4 || 1.0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2012 | PIT
| 16 || 0 || 7 || 4 || 3 || 2.0 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2013 | PIT
| 14 || 10 || 33 || 20 || 13 || 0.0 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2014 | PIT
| 12 || 11 || 21 || 12 || 9 || 1.0 || 4 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2015 | PIT
| 16 || 9 || 14 || 11 || 3 || 1.0 || 4 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2016 | NYJ
| 11 || 9 || 28 || 20 || 8 || 3.5 || 7 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2017 | NYJ
| 16 || 14 || 46 || 30 || 16 || 1.5 || 7 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2018 | NYJ
| 16 || 14 || 34 || 21 || 13 || 0.0 || 4 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2019 | NYJ
| 16 || 16 || 36 || 21 || 15 || 2.5 || 10 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| rowspan="2" | 2020 | NYJ
| 6 || 6 || 14 || 8 || 6 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| TAM
| 9 || 0 || 17 || 7 || 10 || 0.0 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | TAM
| 12 || 0 || 11 || 7 || 4 || 0.5 || 1 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| colspan="2"| | 165 | 90 | 276 | 172 | 104 | 13.0 | 44 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
=Playoffs=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | ||||||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Year
!rowspan="2"| Team !colspan="2"| Games !colspan="5"| Tackles !colspan="5"| Interceptions !colspan="4"| Fumbles | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | TFL | Int | Yds | TD | Lng | PD | FF | FR | Yds | TD | |
| 2011 | PIT
| 1 || 0 || 3 || 2 || 1 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2014 | PIT
| 1 || 1 || 1 || 0 || 1 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2015 | PIT
| 2 || 1 || 4 || 4 || 0 || 0.0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2020 | TAM
| 3 || 0 || 5 || 2 || 3 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2021 | TAM
| 2 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 0 || 1.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| colspan="2"| | 9 | 2 | 14 | 9 | 5 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
References
External links
- [https://troytrojans.com/sports/football/roster/steve-mclendon/154 Troy Trojans bio]
- {{commons category-inline}}
{{Super Bowl LV}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McLendon, Steve}}
Category:People from Ozark, Alabama
Category:Players of American football from Alabama
Category:American football defensive tackles
Category:American football defensive ends
Category:Troy Trojans football players
Category:Pittsburgh Steelers players