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2013 ATLANTA FALCONS VETERAN PLAYERS
THOMAS DECOUD
SAFETY
28
PRO BOWL YEARS
2012
HT: 6’2” WT: 193 NFL EXP: 5 ACQ: D3C-’08 5th YEAR WITH FALCONS
BIRTHDATE: 3/19/85 COLLEGE: UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
TRANSACTIONS
• Originally selected as a third round (98 th pick
overall) draft choice by Atlanta in 2008.
• Re-signed by the Falcons on March 6, 2012.
2012 (FALCONS)
• Earned his first career Pro Bowl selection after leading
the team with six interceptions while notching 89
tackles (69 solo), nine passes defensed, three tackles
for loss, one sack and one fumble recovery.
• He was one of just three players to post five interceptions
and one sack this season. His six picks ranked
tied for fifth in the NFL and set a new career high.
• Led one of the NFL’s top defensive units as the Falcons
finished the season ranked tied for fifth with 31
takeaways and fifth in scoring defense.
• Intercepted both of the Manning brothers, picking
off Broncos QB Peyton Manning in Atlanta’s Monday
Night win over the Denver in Week 2 and intercepting
Giants QB Eli Manning in the Falcons Week 15 win
over New York.
• Sealed Atlanta’s Week 5 win at Washington when
he picked off QB Kirk Cousins with 1:21 remaining in
the game.
• Part of a defense that posted an 11-2 record against
Pro Bowl quarterbacks in 2012. Against this stiff
competition, the Falcons defense allowed just 12
passing touchdowns while intercepting 17 passes
and registered 25 sacks. Atlanta also held eight of
these QBs to a passer rating below 85 and intercepted
multiple passes against five of them.
CAREER
• In five seasons with the Falcons, has totaled 424
tackles (287 solo) with 14 interceptions, four forced
fumbles, three sacks and 26 passes defensed.
• Has started all but one game at free safety in the last
four seasons.
• In 2011, ranked third on the team with 109 total tackles
(76 solo) and posted four interceptions.
• Named to the 2010 USA Today All-Joe Team after
starting 15 of 16 games at safety tying a career-high
and ranking second on the team with 113 tackles in
2010. Added four passes defensed, two forced fumbles
and one interception.
• Earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors for
his performance against the Chicago Bears on Sunday
Night Football (10/18/09). DeCoud logged eight
tackles, two passes defensed and a career-high two
interceptions. His multiple-interception game was the
first for a member of the Falcons defense since 2006.
• Started all 16 games at safety and set a career high
with 113 tackles (73 solo) while adding seven passes
defensed, three interceptions, two sacks, and one
fumble recoveryin 2009.
• Played in 10 games as a rookie in 2008 and logged
five special teams tackles.
AUDIBLES
2012 marked the first time since 1989 and the fifth
time in team history that the Falcons had three players
with four-or-more INTs (DeCoud, Samuel & Moore).
EXTRA POINTS
• Participated in the Extra Yard partnership program
the past three seasons and has purchased 40 season
tickets and t-shirts for the Juvenile Diabetes Research
Foundation Georgia Chapter.
• Participated as a celebrity waiter for Coach Smith’s
second annual Huddle Up for Miracles at Capital
Grille to benefit the Children’s Miracle Network.
COLLEGE
• DeCoud started 45 games during his career at California
and recorded 198 tackles (115 solo), one sack,
five tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and two
fumble recoveries. He also intercepted one pass,
broke-up seven passes and blocked six kicks.
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