Jonathan Vilma
Jonathan Vilma
================
Full Name and Common Aliases
Jonathan David Vilma was born on April 16, 1982, in New York City, New York.
Birth and Death Dates
April 16, 1982 - (still living)
Nationality and Profession(s)
American; Former NFL Player, Current Sports Analyst
Early Life and Background
Growing up in a Haitian-American family, Jonathan Vilma was raised in Brooklyn's Bensonhurst neighborhood. His parents, Marie-Therese and Michel Vilma, instilled in him the importance of education and athletics from an early age. Vilma attended Xaverian High School, where he excelled in football, basketball, and track and field.
Major Accomplishments
Vilma's impressive high school career earned him a spot on the USA Today All-American Team and the New York City Football League Player of the Year award. He accepted a scholarship to the University of Southern California (USC), where he played for the Trojans from 2001 to 2004.
During his time at USC, Vilma led the team in tackles and earned the Butkus Award as the nation's top linebacker. In 2005, he was drafted by the New Orleans Saints with the 12th overall pick in the NFL Draft.
Vilma spent nine seasons in the league, playing for the Saints (2004-2010) and the New York Jets (2011). He earned multiple Pro Bowl selections and was named a Second-Team All-Pro in 2009. As a member of the Saints' Super Bowl XLIV championship team, Vilma won his first NFL title.
Notable Works or Actions
In addition to his on-field accomplishments, Vilma has made headlines for his philanthropic efforts. In 2010, he founded the Jonathan Vilma Foundation, which focuses on supporting local youth and promoting education, health, and wellness initiatives in underserved communities.
Vilma has also been an advocate for player safety and concussion awareness. He was a key figure in the NFL's collective bargaining agreement negotiations, pushing for increased protections for players.
Impact and Legacy
Jonathan Vilma's impact on the world of football extends far beyond his impressive playing career. As a leader on and off the field, he has inspired countless young athletes to pursue their passions with hard work and determination.
Vilma's commitment to giving back to his community through the Jonathan Vilma Foundation has made a lasting difference in the lives of many individuals. His advocacy for player safety has helped shape the NFL's approach to concussion prevention and treatment.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Jonathan Vilma is widely quoted and remembered for his leadership, philanthropy, and dedication to player safety. As a respected sports analyst, he continues to share his insights with fans and provide guidance to up-and-coming athletes.
Vilma's quotes often focus on the importance of teamwork, discipline, and community involvement. His words serve as a reminder that success is not solely defined by individual achievements, but also by the positive impact one can have on others.
As a champion athlete, devoted family man, and passionate advocate for social causes, Jonathan Vilma remains an influential figure in the world of sports.
Quotes by Jonathan Vilma
The losses aren't acceptable. I'm glad it stays tough because if it wasn't hard for me to swallow, I wouldn't have to push myself.
People like to focus on a narrow stereotype, like if we didn't have football then we wouldn't have made it, ... The reality is, there are a lot of football players like me who came out of the middle class.
I don't want to be standing here next year talking about the character of the team. I want to be talking about winning and the playoffs.
I couldn't do much talking there, ... Missed tackles is what it was. It's not the play calling, it's not the game plan. We'd get to the ball and we just didn't finish.
I can apply a lot of things, ... Lining up, technique and things like that, and doing it consistently, play after play. He doesn't make bad reads. He gets after it. He's always around the ball. Things like that you can always pick up from him.
In this business, nobody is going to feel sorry for you. You have to create your own luck.
I'm a Saints guy, and I'm on the defensive side and I'm hearing the hell that the Saints fans are giving the opposing offenses and it's pretty tough. It's a huge challenge to manage the defense with that noise, but I'd rather them be loud and pumped up and going than quiet, because if they're quiet it means we're getting beat.
I never set out to intentionally hurt any player and never enticed any teammate to intentionally hurt another player. I also never put any money into a bounty pool or helped to create a bounty pool intended to pay out money for injuring other players.