Detroit Lions vs atLanta faLcons JOHNSON'S Mega-PURSUIT 2012 ...
Detroit Lions vs atLanta faLcons JOHNSON'S Mega-PURSUIT 2012 ...
Detroit Lions vs atLanta faLcons JOHNSON'S Mega-PURSUIT 2012 ...
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Jeff BaCkus<br />
Tackle<br />
Michigan 12th Year<br />
Ht: 6-5 Wt: 305<br />
Born: 9/21/77 Norcross, Ga.<br />
Draft: ‘01, R1 (18)-Det<br />
Complete biographical information available on <strong>Detroit</strong>lions.com.<br />
MANE FACTS<br />
¾ Named lions 2009 ed Block Courage award winner.<br />
¾ Backus is only second player out of the University of Michigan to be<br />
taken in the first round by the lions, and the first since <strong>Detroit</strong> selected<br />
Bob Westfall in 1942 with its first pick.<br />
¾ although he spent most of his childhood in suburban atlanta, Backus<br />
was born in Midland, Mich.<br />
¾ Donated lions’ tickets for each home game to C.s. Mott’s Children’s<br />
Hospital through the lions CaTs (Caring athletes Ticket service) for<br />
Kids program.<br />
¾ Took part in a special wall-raising ceremony to begin the building of the<br />
first Habitat for Humanity home sponsored by the lions.<br />
¾ Works with Mott Children’s Hospital on numerous fundraisers<br />
throughout the season.<br />
TRANSACTIONS<br />
¾ re-signed with the lions March 20, <strong>2012</strong>.<br />
¾ re-signed by the lions July 14, 2006 to a long-term contract extension<br />
(six-year deal).<br />
¾ Designated by the <strong>Detroit</strong> lions as the team’s franchise Player february<br />
23, 2006 and signed one-year tender May 15, 2006.<br />
¾ Drafted by the <strong>Detroit</strong> lions in the first round (18th overall) of the<br />
2001 Nfl Draft.<br />
PRO<br />
Backus’ franchise record of 186 consecutive starts set by <strong>Detroit</strong> lions’<br />
12th year tackle ended after he was officially designated inactive in Week<br />
12 <strong>vs</strong>. the Houston Texans in Week 12 (11/22). overall, Backus started an<br />
incredible 187 consecutive games for the lions, including last year’s playoff<br />
game at New orleans.<br />
¾ Backus’ ironman streak stretches beyond his time with <strong>Detroit</strong> lions.<br />
He entered the starting lineup as a redshirt freshman at the University<br />
of Michigan in 1997 and had since started the past 236 consecutive<br />
games for his team.<br />
¾ on December 4, 2011, Backus set the team’s all-time franchise record<br />
by starting his 172nd consecutive game when the lions traveled to<br />
New orleans. He broke the previous record of 171 set by Hall of fame<br />
CB Dick leBeau.<br />
¾ since the 1970 Nfl/afl merger, Backus is one of only two players to<br />
start the first 180+ games of his career. Broncos QB Peyton Manning<br />
started the first 208 games (1998-2010) of his career while he was<br />
with the indianapolis Colts.<br />
¾ Backus is also the first offensive lineman to begin his career since<br />
the 1970 merger and start his first 160 career games. His streak was<br />
extended to the first 186 games of his career. He ranks sixth among<br />
offensive linemen for the most consecutive starts since 1970.<br />
¾ in 2011, Backus became the first player in team history to play in every<br />
game in his first 11 seasons in the Nfl.<br />
¾ earlier this year (at san francisco, september 16), Backus set a<br />
franchise record for the most games played by an offensive lineman<br />
in team history. He broke the previous mark of 177 career games by<br />
C Kevin Glover.<br />
¾ He currently ranks fourth in team history with 186 career games.<br />
¾ While at the University of Michigan, Backus started 49-straight games<br />
from 1997-2000. He ended his college career with the second-longest<br />
streak in the school’s historic football program. Backus was one shy<br />
of the school record of 50 by T Jon Jansen.<br />
¾ He entered the Wolverines starting lineup in the first game of the 1997<br />
season (september 13, 1997 <strong>vs</strong>. Colorado) and had never missed a start<br />
since. During his redshirt-freshman season, Backus helped Michigan<br />
claim the 1997 National Championship.<br />
¾ The last game Backus did not start for the team he played for occurred<br />
in 1996 when he redshirted as a true freshman at Michigan.<br />
<strong>2012</strong>: extended his franchise record of consecutive starts to 177 (178 including<br />
postseason) in the lions’ season home opener 27-23 win against the<br />
rams (9/9). He tied C Kevin Mawae for the sixth-most consecutive starts<br />
by an offensive lineman since 1970.<br />
¾ also in opener <strong>vs</strong>. rams, he tied C Kevin Golver for the sixth-most<br />
games played in lions history.<br />
¾ set a new franchise record for the most career games played by an<br />
offensive lineman in franchise history with 178 in his appearance in<br />
<strong>Detroit</strong>’s Week 2 game at san francisco (9/16), surpassing C Kevin<br />
Glover who played 177 games for the lions from 1985-97.<br />
¾ Part of the lions offensive line in Week 3 at Tennessee (9/23) that<br />
helped <strong>Detroit</strong>’s offense gain 583 yards against the Titans. <strong>Detroit</strong> set<br />
a new all-time team single game record with 583 total yards, breaking<br />
the previous record of 582 <strong>vs</strong>. the New york yanks November 23, 1950.<br />
¾ against the Titans, the offensive line paved the way for 141 rushing<br />
PLayer ProfiLes<br />
<strong>Detroit</strong>lions.com<br />
Media.<strong>Detroit</strong>lions.com<br />
yards, including 11 first downs (tied for the most in a game for the<br />
lions since 2002). The line helped rB Mikel leshoure rush for 100<br />
yards, the first 100-yard game by a lions player an Nfl debut since<br />
rB Billy sims in 1980.<br />
¾ Helped the lions’ offensive line hold the eagles’ defense to no sacks<br />
(45 pass attempts) on the day in the lions’ comeback 26-23 overtime<br />
win at Philadelphia in Week 6 (10/14). lions also chewed up 138 yards<br />
on the ground.<br />
¾ against the eagles, Backus played in his 181st career game and tied<br />
fB Cory schlesinger for fifth-most in team history.<br />
¾ on Monday Night football at Chicago in Week 7 (10/22), Backus<br />
played in his 182nd career game and passed fB Cory schelsinger for<br />
fifth-most in team history.<br />
¾ The offensive line saw their best game of the season in Week 9 at Jacksonville<br />
(11/4), helping rBs Mikel lehsoure and Joique Bell combine<br />
for four rushing touchdowns against the Jaguars and tally 149 yards<br />
on the ground in the lions’ 31-14 win.<br />
¾ extended his franchise record of consecutive starts to 186 (187 including<br />
postseason) in Week 11 <strong>vs</strong>. Green Bay (11/18) before leaving the game<br />
with a hamstring injury.<br />
¾ The franchise record of 186 consecutive starts set by Backus ended after<br />
he was officially designated inactive in Week 12 <strong>vs</strong>. Houston (11/22).<br />
overall, Backus started an incredible 187 consecutive games for the<br />
lions, including last year’s playoff game at New orleans.<br />
¾ returned to action in Week 13 <strong>vs</strong>. indianapolis (12/2) and contributed<br />
to an offensive line effort that allowed zero sacks against the Colts’<br />
pass rush.<br />
2011: Team’s starting left tackle. Has started in 176 consecutive games,<br />
currently the most consecutive starts by any lineman (offense or defense)<br />
in the Nfl. offense finished 10th in Nfl in sacks per pass play (5.1 pct)<br />
yielding 36 sacks on 702 pass plays.<br />
COLLEGE<br />
starter for the Wolverines at left tackle from 1997-2000. finished his career<br />
with 49 consecutive starts, one shy of the school record of 50 by current<br />
<strong>Detroit</strong> lions’ right tackle, Jon Jansen (1995-98).<br />
¾ Teamed with seattle seahawks 2001 first-round pick, guard steve<br />
Hutchinson, to man the left side of Michigan’s offensive line in every<br />
campaign since their freshman year.<br />
¾ earned all-Big Ten honors four straight years and was an all-american<br />
second-team selection by College football News and aBC sports.<br />
Honorable mention from CNN/sports illustrated. Consensus all-Big<br />
Ten first-team pick as a senior.<br />
¾ Co-recipient of the Hugh H. rader award for his junior and senior years,<br />
given to the team’s top offensive lineman.<br />
¾ in 1999, he was an all-Big Ten first-team selection by the media, and<br />
earned University of Michigan athletic academic achievement honors<br />
after starting every game at left tackle.<br />
¾ started at left tackle during Michigan’s march to 1997 rose Bowl and<br />
had a hand in Wolverines winning a.P. National Championship.<br />
¾ earned general studies degree in Dec. 2000.<br />
PERSONAL<br />
selected to the first-team all-Usa squad by Usa Today at Norcross (Ga.)<br />
High. Was picked to atlanta Journal-Constitution super 11 and super seven<br />
of the Macon Touchdown Club and Chosen as the Gwinnett Touchdown<br />
Club lineman of the year.<br />
¾ selected to play in florida-Georgia all-star Game following senior<br />
season.<br />
¾ Named all-american by scholastic Coach, schutt sports, reebok,<br />
Prep football report, super Prep and was a member of Blue Chip<br />
illustrated’s Dream Team.<br />
¾ started four years of high school baseball, playing first base and pitcher.<br />
¾ His mother, uncle and grandfather all graduated from Michigan.<br />
¾ Born Jeffrey Carl Backus on sept. 21, 1977 in Midland, Mich.<br />
BACKUS’ GAMES/STARTS<br />
Year Tm G S<br />
2001 Det 16 16<br />
2002 Det 16 16<br />
2003 Det 16 16<br />
2004 Det 16 16<br />
2005 Det 16 16<br />
2006 Det 16 16<br />
2007 Det 16 16<br />
2008 Det 16 16<br />
2009 Det 16 16<br />
2010 Det 16 16<br />
2011 Det 16 16<br />
<strong>2012</strong> Det 13 13<br />
Totals 189 189<br />
POSTSEASON<br />
Year Tm G S<br />
2011 Det 1 1<br />
Total 1 1
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