Quintin Mikell
Encyclopedia
Quintin Perry Mikell is an American football
safety for the St. Louis Rams
of the National Football League
. He was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles
as an undrafted free agent in 2003. He played college football
at Boise State
.
for the Willamette Wolverines
in Eugene, Oregon
. He also played basketball
and ran track
.
at Boise State
and finished his career ranked second on the school’s all-time tackles list (401).
, Mikell signed with the Philadelphia Eagles
.
He has posted a team-leading 108 special teams tackles since joining the Eagles, including a career-high 35 in 2006
. As such, Mikell has been voted by his teammates as the Eagles special teams MVP
in 2005
and 2006
.
On defense
, Mikell replaced the injured Sean Considine
as the starting strong safety in 2007 and remained in that role thru 2010.
On November 28, 2004, Mikell notched his first career interception, outjumping tight end
Jeremy Shockey
in the end zone for a pass thrown by quarterback
Eli Manning
late in the first half vs. the New York Giants
. The play helped the Eagles preserve a 7-6 lead at halftime, and Philadelphia went on win, 27-6, to clinch their fourth consecutive NFC East
title.
Mikell was a backup safety behind Pro Bowl
ers Michael Lewis and Brian Dawkins
for the 2004 NFC Championship team and played in Super Bowl XXXIX
.
His most significant contribution on special teams came on October 23, 2005, when, with the Eagles trailing the San Diego Chargers
, 17-13, late in the fourth quarter, he blocked a field goal
attempt by placekicker
Nate Kaeding
(who to that point had not missed a field goal all season), which teammate Matt Ware
returned 65 yards for a touchdown to secure a 20-17 win. It was the first time in Eagles history that a blocked field goal was returned for a touchdown.
In a Christmas
Day win at Dallas
in 2006
, Mikell propelled the Eagles with a key tackle for loss of running back
Marion Barber
on fourth down to finish off a goal-line stand.
On February 27, 2007, Mikell inked a four-year contract with the Eagles, who prevented him from testing the free agent
market.
On January 9, 2009, Mikell was voted as a member of the 2008 NFL All-Pro Second-Team Defense.
Mikell was named to the 2010 Pro Bowl
after Adrian Wilson got hurt and Roman Harper
could not play due to the Saints
making it to Super Bowl XLIV
.
for the first time after Hurricane Katrina
on October 13, 2006; the day before the Philadelphia Eagles
would play the New Orleans Saints
. He was heartbroken by the vast devastation and conditions of disaster still remaining one year after the hurricane of his grandmother's home and her overall neighborhood. Philadelphia NBC 10
profiled his visit on an October 14, 2006 telecast.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
safety for the St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
as an undrafted free agent in 2003. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Boise State
Boise State Broncos football
This page discusses the Boise State football program. For more Boise State athletics, see Boise State Broncos.The Boise State Broncos football program represents Boise State University in college football and compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision of Division I as a member of the Mountain West...
.
Early years
Mikell played high school footballHigh school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
for the Willamette Wolverines
Willamette High School
Willamette High School, or "Wil-Hi", is located in the Bethel-Danebo area of West Eugene, Oregon, United States. It is one of two high schools in the Bethel School District along with Kalapuya High School.-History:...
in Eugene, Oregon
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
. He also played basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
and ran track
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
.
College career
Mikell played college footballCollege football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Boise State
Boise State Broncos football
This page discusses the Boise State football program. For more Boise State athletics, see Boise State Broncos.The Boise State Broncos football program represents Boise State University in college football and compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision of Division I as a member of the Mountain West...
and finished his career ranked second on the school’s all-time tackles list (401).
Philadelphia Eagles
After being undrafted in the 2003 NFL Draft2003 NFL Draft
The 2003 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. The draft is known officially as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting" and has been conducted annually since 1936. The draft was held April 26–27, 2003 at the Theatre at...
, Mikell signed with the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
He has posted a team-leading 108 special teams tackles since joining the Eagles, including a career-high 35 in 2006
2006 NFL season
The 2006 NFL season was the 87th regular season of the National Football League.Regular season play was held from September 7 to December 31, 2006...
. As such, Mikell has been voted by his teammates as the Eagles special teams MVP
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
in 2005
2005 NFL season
The 2005 NFL season was the 86th regular season of the National Football League.With the New England Patriots as the defending league champions, regular season play was held from September 8, 2005 to January 1, 2006...
and 2006
2006 NFL season
The 2006 NFL season was the 87th regular season of the National Football League.Regular season play was held from September 7 to December 31, 2006...
.
On defense
Defense (sport)
In many team sports, defense or defence is the action of preventing an opponent from scoring. The term may also refer to the tactics involved in defense, or a sub-team whose primary responsibility is defense...
, Mikell replaced the injured Sean Considine
Sean Considine
Sean Considine is an American football safety for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League. He played college football at Iowa, starting as a walk-on before earning a scholarship in his sophomore year....
as the starting strong safety in 2007 and remained in that role thru 2010.
On November 28, 2004, Mikell notched his first career interception, outjumping tight end
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
Jeremy Shockey
Jeremy Shockey
Jeremy Charles Shockey is an American football tight end for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New York Giants 14th overall in the 2002 NFL Draft...
in the end zone for a pass thrown by quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Eli Manning
Eli Manning
Eli Nelson Manning is an American football quarterback for the New York Giants of the National Football League. He is the younger brother of NFL quarterback Peyton Manning and the son of former NFL quarterback Archie Manning...
late in the first half vs. the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. The play helped the Eagles preserve a 7-6 lead at halftime, and Philadelphia went on win, 27-6, to clinch their fourth consecutive NFC East
NFC East
The NFC East is a division of the National Football League's National Football Conference. It currently has four members: the Philadelphia Eagles, the New York Giants, the Dallas Cowboys, and Washington Redskins....
title.
Mikell was a backup safety behind Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
ers Michael Lewis and Brian Dawkins
Brian Dawkins
Brian Patrick Dawkins is an American football safety for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round of the 1996 NFL Draft...
for the 2004 NFC Championship team and played in Super Bowl XXXIX
Super Bowl XXXIX
Super Bowl XXXIX was an American football game played on February 6, 2005, at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, to decide the National Football League champion following the 2004 regular season...
.
His most significant contribution on special teams came on October 23, 2005, when, with the Eagles trailing the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, 17-13, late in the fourth quarter, he blocked a field goal
Field goal (football)
A field goal in American football and Canadian football is a goal that may be scored during general play . Field goals may be scored by a placekick or the now practically extinct drop kick.The drop kick fell out of favor in 1934 when the shape of the ball was changed...
attempt by placekicker
Placekicker
Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points...
Nate Kaeding
Nate Kaeding
Nathaniel James Kaeding is an American football placekicker who plays for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Chargers in the 2004 NFL Draft in the 3rd round with a pick acquired from the Phillip Rivers-Eli Manning trade. He played college football at Iowa...
(who to that point had not missed a field goal all season), which teammate Matt Ware
Matt Ware
Matthew Jesse Ware is an American football safety who is currently a free agent. He was drafted in the third round with the 89th pick in the 2004 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles...
returned 65 yards for a touchdown to secure a 20-17 win. It was the first time in Eagles history that a blocked field goal was returned for a touchdown.
In a Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
Day win at Dallas
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
in 2006
2006 NFL season
The 2006 NFL season was the 87th regular season of the National Football League.Regular season play was held from September 7 to December 31, 2006...
, Mikell propelled the Eagles with a key tackle for loss of running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
Marion Barber
Marion Barber III
Marion Sylvester Barber III is an American football running back for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played college football at Minnesota....
on fourth down to finish off a goal-line stand.
On February 27, 2007, Mikell inked a four-year contract with the Eagles, who prevented him from testing the free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
market.
On January 9, 2009, Mikell was voted as a member of the 2008 NFL All-Pro Second-Team Defense.
Mikell was named to the 2010 Pro Bowl
2010 Pro Bowl
The 2010 AFC–NFC Pro Bowl was the NFL's all-star game for the 2009 season. It took place at 8:00 PM EST on Sunday, January 31, 2010, at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, the home stadium of the Miami Dolphins and host site of Super Bowl XLIV...
after Adrian Wilson got hurt and Roman Harper
Roman Harper
Roman Harper is an American football safety with the New Orleans Saints of the NFL. He was drafted in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Alabama...
could not play due to the Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
making it to Super Bowl XLIV
Super Bowl XLIV
Super Bowl XLIV was an American football game between the American Football Conference champion Indianapolis Colts and the National Football Conference champion New Orleans Saints to decide the National Football League champion for the 2009 season. The Saints defeated the Colts by a score of...
.
Personal
Mikell returned to his native New Orleans, LouisianaNew Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
for the first time after Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
on October 13, 2006; the day before the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
would play the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
. He was heartbroken by the vast devastation and conditions of disaster still remaining one year after the hurricane of his grandmother's home and her overall neighborhood. Philadelphia NBC 10
WCAU
WCAU, channel 10, is an owned-and-operated television station of the NBC Television Network, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. WCAU has its studios on the border between Philadelphia and Bala Cynwyd. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 34 from a transmitter in the...
profiled his visit on an October 14, 2006 telecast.