HOW ACQUIRED:
Came to Seattle on April 24, 2010, in a draft-day trade with the Jets. The Seahawks sent their fifth-round choice (139th overall) to New York in exchange for Wash - ington and their seventh-round pick (236th overall).
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
• Orginally drafted by the New York Jets in the fourth round (117th overall) of the 2006 NFL draft. Played for New York from 2006-09.
• Second all-time in NFL history with seven career kickoff returns for touchdowns (8, Josh Cribbs).
• First player in NFL history to return three kickoffs for touchdowns in two different seasons (2007, 2010).
• Became the 10th player in NFL history and first in Seahawks history to return two kickoffs for touchdowns (101 and 99 yards) in a game vs. San Diego (9/26/10). His returns are the longest in franchise history. His 253 total kickoff return yardage is also a franchise record, while his 63.3-yard average (4 for 253 yards) is fourth in NFL history (min. 3 att.) and highest since 1960.
• Established career-long 84-yard punt return vs. Carolina (12/5/10), sixth longest in Seahawks history.
• In 2010, ranked fifth in the NFC (8th NFL) with a 25.6 kickoff return average.
• In 2009, rushed for 331 yards on 71 carries in seven games before his season ended on October 25 due to a leg injury.
• Named to the Pro Bowl in 2008 as a kick returner after he ranked first in the NFL for most combined yards (2,332), which also set a Jets single-season record.
• Set a career high with 274 all-purpose yards vs. Kansas City (10/26/08).
• Rushed for a career-long 61-yard touchdown at Tennessee (11/23/08).
• Started eight games at running back as a rookie in 2006, leading the Jets in rushing with 650 yards, the fourth highest total by a Jets rookie in franchise history, and most since Clark Gaines had 724 yards in 1976. HONORS: 2010, Associated Press Second- Team All-Pro, NFC Special Teams Player of the Week vs. SD (9/26/10), Pro Bowl alternate. 2008, NFC Pro Bowl.
COLLEGE:
Left school ranked 10th in career rushing with 2,041 yards. Became the only player in the Bobby Bowden era to score a touchdown five different ways (run, reception, punt return, kickoff return, and fumble return). Earned All-ACC second-team honors and was named the Seminoles’ offensive MVP by the coaching staff. Earned Gator Bowl Most Valuable Player honors in 2004 with 12 rushes for 195 yards in the Seminoles’ victory over West Virginia. Played in 10 of 12 games, while earning 10 starting assignments. Led the ACC in rushing yards per game with an average of 95.1 and finished second in the ACC with 112.5 total offensive yards per game.
PERSONAL:
Attended Andrew Jackson High School. Named 2002 Mr. Florida in football after rushing for 2,437 yards and 28 touchdowns, returning three punts and one kickoff for a touchdown, and posting 88 tackles and three interceptions on defense. Earned Florida Times-Union Player of the Year honors and was rated the number three prospect overall in the state of Florida by the Orlando Sentinel. Visited St. Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, NJ, in 2006, along with 24 members of the Jets’ rookie class, to tour the facilities and spend time with patients in the pediatric and burn victim units. Majored in Social Sciences at FSU. Has two sons; Leon, Jr. and Noel Simon.
HOW ACQUIRED:
Came to Seattle on April 24, 2010, in a draft-day trade with the Jets. The Seahawks sent their fifth-round choice (139th overall) to New York in exchange for Wash - ington and their seventh-round pick (236th overall).
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
• Orginally drafted by the New York Jets in the fourth round (117th overall) of the 2006 NFL draft. Played for New York from 2006-09.
• Second all-time in NFL history with seven career kickoff returns for touchdowns (8, Josh Cribbs).
• First player in NFL history to return three kickoffs for touchdowns in two different seasons (2007, 2010).
• Became the 10th player in NFL history and first in Seahawks history to return two kickoffs for touchdowns (101 and 99 yards) in a game vs. San Diego (9/26/10). His returns are the longest in franchise history. His 253 total kickoff return yardage is also a franchise record, while his 63.3-yard average (4 for 253 yards) is fourth in NFL history (min. 3 att.) and highest since 1960.
• Established career-long 84-yard punt return vs. Carolina (12/5/10), sixth longest in Seahawks history.
• In 2010, ranked fifth in the NFC (8th NFL) with a 25.6 kickoff return average.
• In 2009, rushed for 331 yards on 71 carries in seven games before his season ended on October 25 due to a leg injury.
• Named to the Pro Bowl in 2008 as a kick returner after he ranked first in the NFL for most combined yards (2,332), which also set a Jets single-season record.
• Set a career high with 274 all-purpose yards vs. Kansas City (10/26/08).
• Rushed for a career-long 61-yard touchdown at Tennessee (11/23/08).
• Started eight games at running back as a rookie in 2006, leading the Jets in rushing with 650 yards, the fourth highest total by a Jets rookie in franchise history, and most since Clark Gaines had 724 yards in 1976. HONORS: 2010, Associated Press Second- Team All-Pro, NFC Special Teams Player of the Week vs. SD (9/26/10), Pro Bowl alternate. 2008, NFC Pro Bowl.
COLLEGE:
Left school ranked 10th in career rushing with 2,041 yards. Became the only player in the Bobby Bowden era to score a touchdown five different ways (run, reception, punt return, kickoff return, and fumble return). Earned All-ACC second-team honors and was named the Seminoles’ offensive MVP by the coaching staff. Earned Gator Bowl Most Valuable Player honors in 2004 with 12 rushes for 195 yards in the Seminoles’ victory over West Virginia. Played in 10 of 12 games, while earning 10 starting assignments. Led the ACC in rushing yards per game with an average of 95.1 and finished second in the ACC with 112.5 total offensive yards per game.
PERSONAL:
Attended Andrew Jackson High School. Named 2002 Mr. Florida in football after rushing for 2,437 yards and 28 touchdowns, returning three punts and one kickoff for a touchdown, and posting 88 tackles and three interceptions on defense. Earned Florida Times-Union Player of the Year honors and was rated the number three prospect overall in the state of Florida by the Orlando Sentinel. Visited St. Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, NJ, in 2006, along with 24 members of the Jets’ rookie class, to tour the facilities and spend time with patients in the pediatric and burn victim units. Majored in Social Sciences at FSU. Has two sons; Leon, Jr. and Noel Simon.
