Recent from talks
Nothing was collected or created yet.
Cory Redding
View on Wikipedia
Cory Bartholomew Redding (born November 15, 1980) is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Detroit Lions in the third round of the 2003 NFL draft and played college football for the Texas Longhorns. Redding also played for the Seattle Seahawks, Baltimore Ravens, Indianapolis Colts, and Arizona Cardinals.
Key Information
Early life
[edit]He was born in Houston, Texas, the son of Carl Benjamin Redding and Mary Zerlene Brantley.
Redding played football at North Shore High School. In his senior year in 1999, he was named USA Today's Defensive Player of the Year and was a consensus All-American choice.[1] He also excelled in track and field, winning the state Class 5A title in the discus as a junior and senior (career best toss of 193'9").
College career
[edit]Redding played college football for the Texas Longhorns at the University of Texas. During his four years there, he was a two-time All-Big 12 Conference selection and played in every game, including a string of 35 consecutive starts on the defensive line.
He finished his collegiate career with 201 tackles (123 solos), 21 sacks (174 yards), and 53 tackles for a loss totaling 249 yards (third on the school's career-record list).
Professional career
[edit]| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
279 lb (127 kg) |
33+1⁄2 in (0.85 m) |
10+3⁄4 in (0.27 m) | |||||||||
| All values from NFL Combine[2] | ||||||||||||
Detroit Lions
[edit]In the 2003 NFL draft, Redding was selected by the Detroit Lions in the third round (66th overall).[3]
He became the starter at left defensive end prior to the 2004 season. In 2005, he played in all 16 games and set a career-high with 42 tackles (29 solo).[4] He emerged in 2006 as one of the best inside pass-rushers in the NFL after moving from defensive end to tackle.
On February 22, 2007, the Lions placed the franchise tag on Redding and he was designated as the team's non-exclusive franchise player. On July 16, the Lions and Redding agreed to a seven-year, $49 million contract. The deal included over $16 million in guaranteed money. The move came amid a bit of controversy, as it made Redding the highest paid defensive end in the league.[5]
Redding was placed on season-ending injured reserve with injuries to his knee and groin on December 12, 2008.
Seattle Seahawks
[edit]On March 14, 2009, Detroit traded him and a 2009 fifth-round draft pick to the Seattle Seahawks for linebacker Julian Peterson.[6] He was expected to play defensive end on 1st and 2nd downs and play defensive tackle on 3rd downs for extra pass rush.
Baltimore Ravens
[edit]Redding signed a two-year contract with the Baltimore Ravens on March 22, 2010.[7]
Redding intercepted a tipped pass by Drew Brees in a week 15 game against the New Orleans Saints on December 19, 2010, to help seal a big win for the Ravens. It was his first career interception. Redding recorded three sacks on the season. In a divisional playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on January 15, 2011, Redding scored his first career touchdown after recovering a fumble by Ben Roethlisberger.
Redding had another solid season in 2011, recording 4 sacks and helping the Ravens defense allow the 2nd fewest yards in the league.
Indianapolis Colts
[edit]Redding signed with the Indianapolis Colts on March 14, 2012.[8]
Arizona Cardinals
[edit]Redding signed with the Arizona Cardinals on March 11, 2015.[9] On October 11, 2015, Redding had an interception against the Detroit Lions that he returned 30 yards.[10][11] On December 27, 2015, Redding returned an Aaron Rodgers fumble 36 yards for a score against the Green Bay Packers.[12][13]
In the last game of the regular season against the Seahawks, Redding injured his ankle and was put on Injured Reserve, missing the rest of that game and the playoffs. He was subsequently released on April 18, 2016.[14] He retired on June 29, 2016.[15]
NFL career statistics
[edit]| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Bold | Career high |
Regular season
[edit]| Year | Team | Games | Tackles | Interceptions | Fumbles | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | TFL | Int | Yds | TD | Lng | PD | FF | FR | Yds | TD | ||
| 2003 | DET | 9 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2004 | DET | 16 | 16 | 41 | 35 | 6 | 3.0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2005 | DET | 16 | 16 | 33 | 26 | 7 | 1.0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2006 | DET | 16 | 16 | 48 | 38 | 10 | 8.0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 2007 | DET | 16 | 16 | 37 | 27 | 10 | 1.0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 27 | 0 |
| 2008 | DET | 13 | 13 | 37 | 31 | 6 | 3.0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 | SEA | 15 | 3 | 20 | 18 | 2 | 2.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 29 | 0 |
| 2010 | BAL | 15 | 11 | 42 | 31 | 11 | 3.0 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2011 | BAL | 15 | 11 | 43 | 29 | 14 | 4.5 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2012 | IND | 14 | 14 | 36 | 22 | 14 | 2.0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2013 | IND | 15 | 15 | 36 | 22 | 14 | 4.5 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | IND | 16 | 16 | 35 | 20 | 15 | 3.5 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2015 | ARI | 12 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | 30 | 0 | 30 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 36 | 1 |
| 188 | 147 | 420 | 309 | 111 | 35.5 | 84 | 2 | 30 | 0 | 30 | 21 | 4 | 13 | 94 | 1 | ||
Playoffs
[edit]| Year | Team | Games | Tackles | Interceptions | Fumbles | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | TFL | Int | Yds | TD | Lng | PD | FF | FR | Yds | TD | ||
| 2010 | BAL | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 1 |
| 2011 | BAL | 2 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2012 | IND | 1 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2013 | IND | 2 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | IND | 3 | 3 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 2.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | 9 | 30 | 18 | 12 | 2.5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 1 | ||
References
[edit]- ^ "Lions Designate DT Cory Redding as Franchise Player". DetroitLions.com. February 22, 2007. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved August 26, 2007.
- ^ "Cory Redding College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
- ^ "2003 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
- ^ "Cory Redding 2005 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 10, 2025.
- ^ Clayton, John (July 17, 2007). "NFL - Lions sign Redding to monster deal before franchise-player deadline". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 26, 2007.
- ^ "Home". Archived from the original on August 17, 2020. Retrieved March 14, 2009.
- ^ "Duffy, Mike. "Ravens Add DE Redding," BaltimoreRavens.com, Monday, March 22, 2010". Archived from the original on April 4, 2012. Retrieved March 23, 2010.
- ^ Ravens' Cory Redding signs with Colts
- ^ Urban, Darren (March 11, 2015). "Cards add A.Q. Shipley, Cory Redding". AZCardinals.com. Archived from the original on March 12, 2015. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
- ^ "Cardinals vs. Lions - Box Score - October 11, 2015 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
- ^ "Highlight: Redding denies Stafford". www.azcardinals.com. Archived from the original on April 24, 2016. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
- ^ "Packers vs. Cardinals - Box Score - December 27, 2015 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
- ^ "Highlight: Redding rumbles for a TD". www.azcardinals.com. Archived from the original on April 24, 2016. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
- ^ "Cardinals Release Cory Redding". www.azcardinals.com. Archived from the original on April 24, 2016. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
- ^ Sessler, Marc. "Cory Redding announces retirement". NFL. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
External links
[edit]Cory Redding
View on GrokipediaEarly life and high school
Family background and childhood
Cory Redding was born on November 15, 1980, in Houston, Texas.[9] He grew up in challenging inner-city neighborhoods, facing significant socioeconomic hardships as part of a family struggling with poverty.[10] Redding was raised by his single mother, Mary Redding, after his father left the family when Cory was two years old.[11] Mary, who supported her four children—Lisa, Eryka, Chris, and Cory—by working multiple jobs, including positions at a computer company and a bank, often stretched limited resources to provide essentials, shopping at thrift stores and using layaway plans for clothing.[11] These sacrifices took a toll on her health over the years, as she labored tirelessly to keep the family afloat amid financial strain.[11] Redding has credited his mother's resilience and dedication with instilling in him a strong drive for success, motivating him to excel and eventually alleviate her burdens through his own achievements.[12] To steer her son away from the dangers of their tough environment, Mary introduced Redding to football at age five, sparking his early interest in the sport through local youth leagues.[10] This foundation in Houston's youth programs helped nurture his passion and discipline, setting the stage for his later athletic pursuits.High school career
Cory Redding attended North Shore High School in Houston, Texas, graduating in 1999.[1] There, he emerged as a standout defensive end, showcasing exceptional athleticism and leadership on the gridiron.[13] In his senior year of 1998, Redding delivered a dominant performance, amassing 215 tackles, including 22 tackles for loss.[7] His efforts earned him first-team Associated Press All-State honors in Texas, along with national recognition as USA Today's Defensive Player of the Year and a consensus first-team All-American.[14][7] Redding helped lead North Shore to the 1999 Texas Class 5A state championship. In 2024, he was inducted into the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame.[7] Redding's high school success drew recruitment interest from major college programs across the country.[15] He ultimately committed to the University of Texas, opting to stay in his home state and play for the Longhorns under head coach Mack Brown.[13][16]College career
Seasons at the University of Texas
Redding arrived at the University of Texas in 1999 as a highly touted defensive end and played immediately as a true freshman, appearing in all 13 games without a redshirt season. He contributed 26 tackles, including 2 sacks, helping anchor the Longhorns' defensive front during a 9-5 campaign that culminated in a Holiday Bowl victory. Notable performances included a six-tackle effort with a sack against Stanford early in the season.[17] As a sophomore in 2000, Redding emerged as a starter, lining up in all 12 games (starting 10) en route to a 9-3 record and a Holiday Bowl appearance. He recorded 56 tackles and 6.5 sacks, demonstrating improved pass-rushing ability with multiple multi-tackle games, such as five tackles against Oklahoma. His contributions were vital in key Big 12 matchups, where he frequently disrupted opposing quarterbacks.[18] Redding's junior year in 2001 saw him solidify his role as a full-time starter across all 13 games, as Texas finished 11-2 and claimed the Holiday Bowl. He tallied 57 tackles and 5 sacks, while adding an interception returned 22 yards for a touchdown in a season-opening win over North Carolina, highlighting his versatility in coverage. His consistent pressure on quarterbacks, including a sack against Baylor, helped the Longhorns' defense rank among the conference's top units. He added 2 tackles in the Holiday Bowl victory over Washington.[19][20] In his senior season of 2002, Redding delivered a dominant performance, starting all 13 games during an 11-2 year that included a Cotton Bowl Classic berth. He led the team with 76 tackles, 8.5 sacks, and 24 tackles for loss, establishing himself as the defensive cornerstone with standout efforts like a sack against Texas Tech. In the Cotton Bowl victory over LSU, he capped his college career with 8 tackles, 4 for loss, and 1 sack.[21][22] Across his four seasons at Texas, Redding appeared in 52 games, recording 211 tackles and 22 sacks while generating significant disruption along the defensive line.[23]College awards and statistics
During his tenure at the University of Texas, Cory Redding earned numerous accolades for his performance as a defensive end, including being named the Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year in 1999.[23] He was a two-time First-Team All-Big 12 selection in 2001 and 2002, and received All-American honors as a second-team selection in 2001 and consensus first-team in 2002.[23][2] Additionally, Redding was a finalist for the Lombardi Award (given to the nation's top lineman) and the Hendricks Award (top defensive end) in 2002, and he was named Defensive MVP of the 2003 Cotton Bowl after recording 8 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, and 1 sack in Texas's 35-20 victory over LSU.[23][24][25] Redding's contributions were instrumental to Texas's defensive success, particularly as a three-year starter who helped the Longhorns win the Big 12 South Division in both 2001 and 2002.[23] In 2001, his junior year, Texas led the nation in total defense, allowing just 236.2 yards per game, en route to an 11-2 record and a No. 5 national ranking.[23] The following season, Redding anchored a unit that again posted an 11-2 mark and finished No. 6 nationally, culminating in the Cotton Bowl triumph.[23] Over his college career spanning 52 games from 1999 to 2002, Redding amassed 211 tackles, 22 sacks, 57 tackles for loss (ranking fourth in Texas history), and 77 quarterback pressures.[23][2] His senior year in 2002 stands out, with 76 tackles (50 solo), 8.5 sacks, and 24 tackles for loss, highlighting his disruptive presence on the line.[22][21]| Year | Games Played | Tackles | Sacks | Tackles for Loss | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 (Freshman) | 13 | 26 | 2 | Not detailed in source | Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year[23][17] |
| 2000 (Sophomore) | 12 | 56 | 6.5 | Not detailed in source | Started 10 games; contributed to Holiday Bowl[18] |
| 2001 (Junior) | 13 | 57 | 5 | Not detailed in source | Second-team All-American; 1 INT[23][19] |
| 2002 (Senior) | 13 | 76 | 8.5 | 24 | First-team All-American; Cotton Bowl Defensive MVP[22][21] |
| Career | 52 | 211 | 22 | 57 | 77 QB pressures[23] |
Professional career
Detroit Lions
Cory Redding was selected by the Detroit Lions in the third round, 66th overall, of the 2003 NFL Draft, following a standout college career at the University of Texas where he recorded 22 sacks.[1][2] As a rookie in 2003, Redding appeared in nine games without a start, registering seven tackles and contributing primarily as a rotational defensive lineman on a Lions defense that finished the season with a 5-11 record.[26] He transitioned into a full-time starter by 2004, anchoring the left defensive end position for the next five years amid the team's ongoing struggles, including a 3-13 record in 2006.[1] Redding's development peaked during the 2006 season, when he achieved a career-high eight sacks and 48 tackles across 16 starts, while also leading the team with 12 tackles for loss and forcing two fumbles, providing a bright spot on a defense that allowed the third-most points in the NFL. In recognition of his consistent performance, the Lions signed him to a seven-year, $49 million contract extension on July 16, 2007, including $16 million in guaranteed money, shortly after designating him as their franchise player earlier that year.[27] The deal underscored his role as a cornerstone of the defensive line rotation during the Lions' rebuild, where he started 77 of 86 games from 2003 to 2008, often facing double-teams to support the run defense. Over his six seasons with Detroit, Redding amassed 203 total tackles, 16 sacks, four forced fumbles, and six fumble recoveries, including a safety in 2004 that highlighted his interior pressure capabilities.[1] His tenure coincided with the franchise's darkest period, culminating in the NFL's first 0-16 season in 2008, during which he still managed 37 tackles and three sacks in 13 starts before the team traded him to the Seattle Seahawks in March 2009 as part of a salary cap maneuver.Seattle Seahawks and Baltimore Ravens
In March 2009, the Detroit Lions traded defensive tackle Cory Redding and a fifth-round draft pick to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for linebacker Julian Peterson, providing Redding with a fresh start midway through his career as he sought increased playing opportunities.[28] During the 2009 season, Redding appeared in 15 games for Seattle, starting three, and recorded 20 combined tackles along with 2.0 sacks, contributing as a rotational player on the defensive line amid the team's rebuilding efforts under head coach Jim Mora.[1] Following the expiration of his contract with the Seahawks, Redding signed a two-year, $6 million deal with the Baltimore Ravens as an unrestricted free agent on March 22, 2010, motivated by the opportunity to join a perennial contender with a strong defensive tradition led by coordinator Rex Ryan.[29] Over the 2010 and 2011 seasons, he solidified his role as a starter, playing in all 32 regular-season games with 22 starts, amassing 85 combined tackles (60 solo) and 7.5 sacks, including a career-highlight 4.5 sacks in 2011 that helped anchor a Ravens defense ranked third in the NFL in total yards allowed that year.[1][30] Redding's consistent interior pressure and run-stopping presence were integral to Baltimore's top-tier unit, though he departed as a free agent after 2011 in pursuit of a more lucrative long-term contract elsewhere.Indianapolis Colts and Arizona Cardinals
Redding signed a three-year contract with the Indianapolis Colts as a free agent on March 14, 2012, reuniting him with defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano, who had previously coached him in Baltimore.[31] During his three seasons with the Colts from 2012 to 2014, Redding served as a starting defensive end, appearing in 48 regular-season games and starting 45 of them, where he provided veteran leadership on the defensive line and contributed to the team's pass rush efforts with a total of 10 sacks.[1] His experience helped stabilize the Colts' transition to a more aggressive defensive scheme, and he was recognized as a team leader, earning the Colts' Walter Payton Man of the Year award in 2012 for his on-field performance and community involvement.[32] In 2015, after his contract with the Colts expired, Redding joined the Arizona Cardinals on a two-year, $6 million deal signed March 11, 2015, again linking up with familiar coaching staff including Bruce Arians from his Indianapolis days.[33] Transitioning to a rotational role on the Cardinals' defensive line, the 34-year-old Redding played in 12 games without a start, focusing on situational pass-rushing and run support while mentoring younger players with his 12 years of NFL experience.[1] Notable contributions included a 30-yard interception return against his former team, the Detroit Lions, on October 11, 2015, and a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown in a December 2015 game versus the Green Bay Packers.[34] The Cardinals released Redding on April 18, 2016, as part of salary cap adjustments, after which he contemplated his future in the league.[35] On June 29, 2016, Redding announced his retirement after a 13-year NFL career, expressing gratitude for the opportunities across multiple teams and his desire to shift focus to family, business, education, and philanthropy.[36] In reflecting on his tenure with the Colts and Cardinals, Redding highlighted the mentorship roles he embraced in his later years, emphasizing the importance of guiding the next generation of defensive linemen.[37]Career statistics
Regular season
Redding's regular season defensive statistics, compiled from official NFL records, are detailed in the year-by-year table below, covering his tenure from 2003 to 2015 across five teams.[1]| Year | Team | G | GS | Solo | Ast | Total | Sk | Int | FF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | DET | 9 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2004 | DET | 16 | 16 | 35 | 6 | 41 | 3.0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2005 | DET | 16 | 16 | 26 | 7 | 33 | 1.0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2006 | DET | 16 | 16 | 38 | 10 | 48 | 8.0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2007 | DET | 16 | 16 | 27 | 10 | 37 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 | DET | 13 | 13 | 31 | 6 | 37 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 | SEA | 15 | 3 | 18 | 2 | 20 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2010 | BAL | 15 | 11 | 31 | 11 | 42 | 3.0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2011 | BAL | 15 | 11 | 29 | 14 | 43 | 4.5 | 0 | 0 |
| 2012 | IND | 14 | 14 | 22 | 14 | 36 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2013 | IND | 15 | 15 | 22 | 14 | 36 | 4.5 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | IND | 16 | 16 | 20 | 15 | 35 | 3.5 | 0 | 0 |
| 2015 | ARI | 12 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 |
Playoffs
Redding made his postseason debut with the Baltimore Ravens in the 2010 playoffs, appearing in two games during the Divisional and Wild Card rounds. In the Divisional Round loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on January 15, 2011, he recorded two assisted tackles, 0.5 sacks, and recovered a fumble he returned 13 yards for a touchdown. The following year, in the 2011 playoffs, he contributed three tackles in the Wild Card win over the Houston Texans and two tackles in the Divisional Round loss to the New England Patriots. After signing with the Indianapolis Colts, Redding participated in three consecutive postseason runs from 2012 to 2014. In the 2012 Wild Card loss to the Ravens, he tallied seven tackles and forced a fumble. The 2013 campaign saw him record four tackles in the Wild Card victory against the Kansas City Chiefs and three in the Divisional Round defeat to the Patriots. In 2014, he started all three playoff games, including a sack in the Wild Card win over the Cincinnati Bengals and another in the AFC Championship loss to the Patriots, finishing with nine total tackles. Over his 10 playoff appearances, Redding accumulated 30 combined tackles, 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery for a touchdown.| Category | Total |
|---|---|
| Games Played | 10 |
| Games Started | 9 |
| Combined Tackles | 30 |
| Solo Tackles | 18 |
| Assisted Tackles | 12 |
| Sacks | 2.5 |
| Forced Fumbles | 1 |
| Fumble Recoveries | 1 |
| Interceptions | 0 |
| Passes Defended | 3 |