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Pat Swilling
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Patrick Travis Swilling (born October 25, 1964) is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the New Orleans Saints, Detroit Lions, and the Oakland Raiders. He had five Pro Bowl appearances in his NFL career and was the Associated Press (AP) NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1991. He served from 2001 to 2004 as a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives.
Key Information
College career
[edit]Swilling played for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. He set the NCAA record for sacks in a game, with seven against North Carolina State and the Georgia Tech mark for sacks in a season (15). Voted first-team All-America in 1985, Swilling left Georgia Tech as the all-time sack leader and now ranks 5th.[1]
Professional career
[edit]The New Orleans Saints drafted Swilling in the third round of the 1986 NFL Draft.[2] The Saints fielded fierce defenses in 1991 and 1992, led by the best linebacker unit in the history of the league.[3] In 1991, he had 17 sacks and was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year. In 1992, linebackers Rickey Jackson, Vaughan Johnson, Sam Mills, and Swilling, also known as the Dome Patrol, all played in the Pro Bowl, and the Saints led the league in quarterback sacks. Despite its tenacious defense, the team lost in the first round each time it made the playoffs during this time.
Swilling was traded to the Detroit Lions in 1993 for draft picks. In order to sign him, Detroit had to "unretire" the legendary Joe Schmidt’s number 56. In his first year with Detroit he made it to his fifth and final Pro Bowl. The Detroit Lions qualified for the playoffs in both of Swilling's seasons with the team, being eliminated each time, in the first round, by the Green Bay Packers. He signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Raiders in April of 1995. He finished his career with 107.5 sacks.[4][5]
Swilling lost all six playoff games he played in; no other player in NFL history has more losses, in the postseason, without a win.[6]
NFL career statistics
[edit]| Legend | |
|---|---|
| NFL Defensive Player of the Year | |
| Led the league | |
| NFL record | |
| Bold | Career high |
Regular season
[edit]| Year | Team | Games | Tackles | Interceptions | Fumbles | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | Int | Yds | TD | FF | FR | ||
| 1986 | NO | 16 | 0 | 26 | – | – | 4.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1987 | NO | 12 | 12 | 49 | – | – | 10.5 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| 1988 | NO | 15 | 14 | 51 | – | – | 7.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| 1989 | NO | 16 | 15 | 56 | – | – | 16.5 | 1 | 14 | 0 | 5 | 1 |
| 1990 | NO | 16 | 16 | 63 | – | – | 11.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 1991 | NO | 16 | 16 | 60 | – | – | 17.0 | 1 | 39 | 1 | 6 | 1 |
| 1992 | NO | 16 | 16 | 49 | – | – | 10.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| 1993 | DET | 14 | 14 | 29 | – | – | 6.5 | 3 | 16 | 0 | 5 | 1 |
| 1994 | DET | 16 | 7 | 28 | 21 | 7 | 3.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1995 | OAK | 16 | 16 | 36 | 31 | 5 | 13.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 1996 | OAK | 16 | 16 | 26 | 21 | 5 | 6.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 1998 | OAK | 16 | 0 | 17 | 12 | 5 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Career | 185 | 142 | 490 | 85 | 22 | 107.5 | 6 | 79 | 1 | 36 | 11 | |
Personal life
[edit]Swilling was a professional football player from 1986 to 1998. In 2001, he won a special election as a Democrat to the Louisiana House for District 100 in New Orleans. He served for three years with assignments on the House Education, Retirement, and Transportation committees.[7] He lost his bid for a full term as representative in the 2003 runoff election to his fellow Democrat Austin Badon, who polled 6,688 votes (53.3 percent) to Swilling's 5,851 (46.7 percent).[8]
On April 30, 2009, Swilling was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame. He is currently a real estate developer in New Orleans. His son, Pat Swilling Jr. signed to play basketball at the University of Tulsa on May 24, 2012.[9] Two of his sons, Bruce Jordan-Swilling and Tre Swilling, play on the Georgia Tech football team. As of the 2020–2021 season, Bruce is a senior linebacker and Tre is a redshirt junior defensive back.[10][11]
Swilling's son, Tre Swilling is a professional cornerback.[12]
References
[edit]- ^ "Georgia Tech Official Athletic Site". Archived from the original on September 27, 2008. Retrieved November 10, 2007.
- ^ "1986 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
- ^ "Top Ten Linebackers". NFL.com. Archived from the original on May 8, 2014. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on February 5, 2007. Retrieved January 23, 2007.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Pat Swilling Signs with the Raiders". The New York Times. April 12, 1995.
- ^ Schefter, Adam (January 21, 2011). "Schefter's 10 Spot: Packers, Bears are good -- and lucky". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
- ^ "Louisiana: Swilling, Patrick", Who's Who in American Politics, 2003-2004, 19th ed., Vol. 1 (Alabama-Montana) (Marquis Who's Who: New Providence, New Jersey, 2003), p. 796
- ^ "Election Results". Louisiana Secretary of State. November 15, 2003. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
- ^ "Tulsa's Manning Signs JUCO Star Pat Swilling, Jr. - Tulsa Official Athletic Site". Archived from the original on November 1, 2012. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
- ^ "Tre Swilling". Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. June 19, 2018. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
- ^ "Bruce Jordan-Swilling". Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. June 19, 2018. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
- ^ Geitheim, Eva (September 16, 2023). "Pat Swilling's son set for NFL debut with 49ers after wild journey". Clutch Points. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
External links
[edit]Pat Swilling
View on GrokipediaEarly Life and Education
Childhood in Georgia and Athletic Development
Patrick Travis Swilling was born on October 25, 1964, in Toccoa, Georgia, a small rural town in the northeastern part of the state.[5] Growing up on a farm in Toccoa, he initially concentrated on basketball and baseball rather than football, leveraging his exceptional height—he stood 6 feet 3 inches tall by his freshman year of high school—which gave him a physical edge in those sports.[6] [7] His mother discouraged early involvement in football due to safety concerns.[8] Swilling's interest in football ignited at age 12 when he watched Dallas Cowboys defensive end Ed "Too Tall" Jones execute a sack on television, inspiring him to envision himself in a similar role.[5] [8] He joined the Stephens County High School football team as a freshman in 1977, entering at 6 feet 3 to 6 feet 4 inches tall and 195 to 200 pounds, which allowed him to contribute immediately as a defensive end despite his late start in the sport.[1] [8] Over his high school career at Stephens County, Swilling honed his pass-rushing skills, emerging as one of Georgia's top performers by his senior year in the Class of 1981, where he dominated as a defensive standout and drew recruitment from Division I programs such as Auburn and Georgia Tech.[6] [5] Local NFL Hall of Famer Billy Shaw, a Toccoa resident who had played for the Buffalo Bills, mentored him and affirmed his potential for professional football.[8] This period marked his transition from multi-sport athlete to focused football prospect, setting the foundation for his collegiate success.[9]College Career at Georgia Tech
Swilling played college football for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets as a defensive end from 1982 to 1985, emerging as a key contributor to the team's defense.[1] During his tenure, he amassed 285 tackles, ranking fifth in program history at the time of his graduation.[10] His disruptive presence was particularly evident in pass-rushing, where he recorded 23 sacks—establishing a school record that stood for decades—and 37 tackles for loss, also a program benchmark upon his departure, though he now ranks fourth in both categories.[11] In his senior year of 1985, Swilling achieved national prominence by setting the NCAA single-game record for sacks with seven against North Carolina State, a mark that underscored his dominance as a pass rusher.[12] That season, he earned first-team All-American honors and first-team All-ACC recognition, reflecting his impact on Georgia Tech's defensive unit.[12] These performances contributed to his selection in the third round (73rd overall) of the 1986 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints.[2] Swilling's college achievements were later honored with his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2009, recognizing his record-setting production and leadership on the Yellow Jackets' line.[11]NFL Career
Tenure with the New Orleans Saints (1986–1992)
Swilling was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the third round (60th overall) of the 1986 NFL Draft out of Georgia Tech.[1] As a rookie, he appeared in all 16 games without a start, recording 26 solo tackles and 4.0 sacks while primarily serving as a rotational outside linebacker.[1] He transitioned to a full-time starter in 1987 amid the Saints' first playoff appearance, playing 12 games with 49 solo tackles, 10.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and 1 interception.[1] [13] Swilling emerged as a key member of the "Dome Patrol," the Saints' acclaimed linebacker unit that also included Rickey Jackson, Sam Mills, and Vaughan Johnson, which anchored top-ranked defenses in the early 1990s.[13] In 1988, he started 14 of 15 games, amassing 51 solo tackles, 7.0 sacks, and 4 forced fumbles, contributing to the team's defensive resurgence under head coach Jim Mora.[1] His pass-rushing prowess solidified the group's reputation for disrupting offenses, as evidenced by his consistent double-digit sack totals starting that season. Swilling reached his peak from 1989 to 1992, earning four consecutive Pro Bowl selections and multiple All-Pro honors while helping the Saints to three additional playoff berths (1990–1992), their first four in franchise history.[1] [14] In 1989, he recorded 16.5 sacks (fourth in the NFL) across 15 starts, followed by 11.0 sacks in 1990, both earning second-team All-Pro recognition.[1] His 1991 season stood out with 17.0 sacks to lead the league, 60 solo tackles, 6 forced fumbles, and 1 interception returned for a touchdown, culminating in first-team All-Pro honors and the Associated Press NFC Defensive Player of the Year award.[1] He closed his Saints tenure in 1992 with 10.5 sacks and first-team All-Pro status in 16 starts.[1] Over seven seasons with New Orleans, Swilling played 107 games with 89 starts, accumulating 354 tackles, 76.5 sacks (third in franchise history), 24 forced fumbles, 7 fumble recoveries, and 3 interceptions.[15] [1] His contributions were instrumental in elevating the Saints' defense to elite status, particularly in pass rush and turnover creation.| Year | Games (Starts) | Sacks | Forced Fumbles | Solo Tackles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 16 (0) | 4.0 | 0 | 26 |
| 1987 | 12 (12) | 10.5 | 3 | 49 |
| 1988 | 15 (14) | 7.0 | 4 | 51 |
| 1989 | 16 (15) | 16.5 | 6 | 56 |
| 1990 | 16 (16) | 11.0 | 4 | 63 |
| 1991 | 16 (16) | 17.0 | 6 | 60 |
| 1992 | 16 (16) | 10.5 | 3 | 49 |
Stints with the Detroit Lions and Oakland Raiders (1993–1999)
Swilling was traded from the New Orleans Saints to the Detroit Lions on April 25, 1993, in exchange for Detroit's first-round (eighth overall) and fourth-round draft selections.[16][17] In his debut season with the Lions, he recorded 6.5 sacks, three interceptions, and five forced fumbles across 14 games with 14 starts, earning selection to the Pro Bowl.[1] His performance contributed to Detroit's defense, though the team finished 10-6 and lost in the NFC Divisional playoffs.[1] The following year, in 1994, Swilling appeared in all 16 games but started only seven, tallying 3.5 sacks and 28 tackles amid a Lions squad that again reached the playoffs but fell in the Wild Card round.[1]| Year | Team | GP | GS | Tackles | Sacks | FF | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | DET | 14 | 14 | 29 | 6.5 | 5 | 3 |
| 1994 | DET | 16 | 7 | 28 | 3.5 | 1 | 0 |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | Tackles | Sacks | FF | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | OAK | 16 | 16 | 36 | 13 | 5 | 0 |
| 1996 | OAK | 16 | 16 | 26 | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| 1998 | OAK | 16 | 0 | 17 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Career Statistics and Accomplishments
Professional Statistics
Pat Swilling amassed 107.5 quarterback sacks over 185 regular-season games in a 12-year NFL career spanning 1986 to 1998, establishing himself as one of the league's premier pass rushers during his prime with the New Orleans Saints.[1] His sack total ranks 47th all-time among NFL defenders, with 71.5 of those coming during his seven seasons in New Orleans (1986–1992), where he frequently ranked among league leaders.[1] Swilling also recorded an estimated 490 combined tackles (468 solo, 22 assisted), 6 interceptions (including 1 returned for a touchdown), 10 fumble recoveries, and 12 forced fumbles in officially tracked seasons post-1991.[1][19] Swilling's sack production peaked in 1991 with the Saints, when he led the NFL with 17.0 sacks alongside 60 tackles and 6 forced fumbles.[1][2] He exceeded 10 sacks in five seasons, including a career-best 16.5 in 1989.[1] Later stints with the Detroit Lions (1993–1994) and Oakland Raiders (1995–1996, 1998) yielded 31.0 additional sacks, though injuries and age limited his output in his final years.[1] The following table summarizes Swilling's regular-season sacks by year:| Year | Team | Games Played | Sacks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | NOR | 16 | 4.0 |
| 1987 | NOR | 12 | 10.5 |
| 1988 | NOR | 15 | 7.0 |
| 1989 | NOR | 16 | 16.5 |
| 1990 | NOR | 16 | 11.0 |
| 1991 | NOR | 16 | 17.0 |
| 1992 | NOR | 11 | 10.5 |
| 1993 | DET | 16 | 6.5 |
| 1994 | DET | 10 | 3.5 |
| 1995 | OAK | 16 | 13.0 |
| 1996 | OAK | 16 | 6.0 |
| 1998 | OAK | 15 | 2.0 |
| Career | 185 | 107.5 |
