KARLOS DANSBY

Position: Linebacker
HT: 6-4 WT: 243lbs.
College: Auburn
Birthplace: Birmingham, Alabama

Some content courtesy of azcardinals.com

DOB: November 3, 1981
Hometown: Birmingham, AL

NoteCARDS:
• Despite missing two starts due to a knee injury in 2007, led the team with a career-high 117 tackles while also collecting three interceptions, tying his previous single-season high (2005).
• Earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors after he collected two interceptions, a pass defensed, four tackles, and a forced fumble against Detroit on 11/11/07.
• Established a new career-high with 17 total tackles in the week five contest at St. Louis on 10/7/07.
• Missed the entire 2006 preseason and regular season opener recovering from toe/leg injuries; played in 14 games (10 starts) and finished second on the team with 94 tackles while also establishing a career high with 8.0 sacks.
• His 8.0 sacks in 2006 were the most by a Cardinals LB since Ken Harvey had 9.5 in 1993.
• Recorded 103 tackles in his second season in the NFL in 2005, adding four sacks and three interceptions.
• The Cardinals placed the “non-exclusive” franchise tag on Dansby following the 2007 season, the first time they have used the tag on a player since 2002 (Kwamie Lassiter).

Pro Career:
The Cardinals second-round draft choice in 2004 (33rd overall), Dansby made an immediate impact on defense as a rookie and has continued to impress as he heads into his fifth season. In 2005, he became the first Cardinal linebacker to record two interception returns for touchdowns in a single season and finished the year with the first 100+ tackle season of his career with 103. He followed that by finishing 2006 with 94 tackles and eight sacks, both good for second on the team, despite missing two games due to injury. Dansby returned in 2007 and, despite missing two starts due to a knee injury, led the team in tackles with a career-high 117. The Cardinals designated him a “non-exclusive” franchise player on 2/14/08, keeping him with the team through the 2008 season.

2007: Started all 14 games he played and led team with 117 tackles, marking second season with 100+ tackles (103 in 2005) … led the team with 12 total tackles, half a sack and one forced fumble in season opener @ SF (9/10) … registered one tackle for loss, one quarterback pressure and a career-high tying two sacks, including a fourth quarter third down sack of Kyle Boller that forced a punt with 5:40 to play; resulted in an Arizona drive to set up a Neil Rackers 41-yard FG that tied the game with 1:58 left @ Bal (9/23) … recorded first pass defensed of the season vs. Pit (9/30) as well as helped hold Willie Parker, the NFL’s leading rusher heading into the game, to just 37 yards on 19 carries … led Cardinals with career-high 17 total tackles and 13 unassisted tackles including one tackle for loss and recorded 300th career tackle @ StL (10/7) … in 50th career game, tallied one unassisted tackle before leaving in the first quarter due to a knee injury vs. Car (10/14) … in first game back from knee injury, turned in an outstanding game with two interceptions, one forced fumble, one pass defensed, four tackles, one quarterback pressure and one tackle for loss vs. Det (11/11); named NFC Defensive Player of the Week; marked the second multi-interception outing of career with the first coming against NYG (9/11/05); helped hold Lions to -18 rushing yards, which is the lowest total in the modern era … registered an interception @ Cin (11/18) to mark the first time in his career he has recorded an interception in consecutive games … for third time in 2007, led team with 13 tackles and one forced fumble @ Sea (12/9) … registered his fifth double-digit tackle game of the season and third in last four games with 10 tackles and one forced fumble that would result in Cardinals offensive touchdown @ NO (12/16) as well as eclipsing 100 tackles for second time in career (103 in 2005).

2006: After battling numerous injuries which caused him to miss training camp, returned to action @ Sea (9/17) and collected two tackles and one pass defensed … had his best game since returning from his injury, tying Cardinals season highs with nine solo tackles, two sacks of QB Damon Huard and a forced
fumble vs. KC (10/8) … received his first start of the year when he got the nod vs. Chi (10/16), and recorded five tackles … had a strong game starting at strongside linebacker with two tackles, a sack of QB Andrew Walter and a fumble recovery before leaving the game in the second quarter with a hip flexor @ Oak (10/22) … inactive (hip) @ GB (10/29) … returned to action by establishing a career-high with 12 tackles while also adding one pass defensed vs. Dal (11/12); eclipsed the 200-career tackle mark … for the second time in 2006, piled up 10 tackles and added two sacks in a game, this time bringing
down QB Brad Johnson @ Min (11/26) … led the team and tied a personal-high with 12 tackles in a standout performance vs. Sea (12/10); had one pass defensed, one tackle for a loss and forced a Mack Strong fumble in the third quarter that led to the Cardinals retaking a lead they would never relinquish on a Larry Fitzgerald TD catch … shared the team lead in tackles with eight while also adding an Alex Smith sack and a forced fumble @ SF (12/24) … recorded eight tackles, one tackle for a loss and earned his third multi-sack game of the season @ SD (12/31) bringing down QB Philip Rivers twice.

2005: Had a career day in the Cardinals’ 2005 season opener @ NYG (9/11) recording two interceptions, including one that was returned 18 yards for a touchdown; sacked Eli Manning and also recorded three solo tackles … recorded his second sack in as many games taking down Rams QB Marc Bulger for a nine yard loss in the fourth quarter vs. StL (9/18) … tied his then career-high with 10 tackles for the second time in three weeks vs. Car (10/9); recorded one pass defensed and a forced fumble recovered by Ross Kolodziej … had a big day vs. Ten (10/23) setting a new career-high for tackles (11) and sacked Titans QB Billy Volek, forcing and recovering a Volek fumble in the process … recorded two tackles before leaving the game with a groin injury @ Det (11/13) … deactivated with a groin injury @ StL (11/20) … returned to start vs. Jax (11/27) and recorded nine tackles … recorded three tackles, a sack of QB Alex Smith and defended two passes @ SF (12/4) … intercepted Eagles QB Mike McMahon and returned it 11 yards for a touchdown, his second of the season; added five tackles and one pass defense vs. Phi (12/24); his two interception returns for a touchdown are the most by a Cardinals linebacker in one season … recorded a team-high 10 tackles @ Ind (1/1) to finish the season with 103 tackles, the first 100-tackle season of his career.

2004: Made an immediate impact on the Cardinals’ defense after being selected in the second-round of the 2004 draft … named to Pro Football Weekly’s 2004 All-Rookie team … started 12 games while accumulating 68 tackles, the most of any rookie on the team … recorded three fumble recoveries, one shy of the team rookie record for fumble recoveries set by Tom Wham with the Chicago Cardinals in 1949 … played in a reserve role in the season opener @ StL (9/12) and recorded four tackles on defense and one stop on special teams … recorded the first start and sack of his career @ Atl (9/26) when he took down Michael Vick early in the third quarter to force the Falcons into a third-and-14 situation; also recovered a Vick fumble in the Arizona redzone … became a regular starter with his second consecutive start vs. NO (10/3); recorded two tackles and one QB hurry … recorded four tackles and a fumble recovery @ SF (10/10) … did not record any tackles on defense but his presence was felt after intercepting a Matt Hasselbeck pass by out leaping Jerramy Stevens in the second quarter to set up Neil Rackers second 55-yard field goal of the game vs. Sea (10/24) … recovered his third fumble of the season @ Mia (11/7) when DE Bertrand Berry sacked Dolphins QB Jay Fiedler forcing a fumble; sacked Dolphins QB A.J. Feeley for his second sack of the season … sacked Kurt Warner twice and made four stops and one pass defensed vs. NYG (11/14) to raise his season total to 4.0 sacks … deactivated for the contest @ Car (11/21) due to a neck and shoulder injury sustained against the Giants the previous week … recorded a team-high eight tackles vs. StL (12/19) and one tackle for a loss, a sack of QB Jamie Martin and forced a Rams fumble … had one of the best days of his young career in the 2004 season finale with seven stops, and one QB pressure which led to Darnell Dockett’s interception vs. TB (1/2).

College:
Butkus Award semi-finalist regarded as one of the premier defenders in college football … began Auburn career at strong safety, shifting to outside linebacker as a sophomore … in 36 games for the Tigers, recorded 218 tackles (128 solos) with 10 quarterback sacks for minus 70 yards, 31 stops for losses of 123 yards, seven forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, 15 pass deflections, and eight interceptions for 107 yards in returns. All-America first-team selection by the American Football Coaches Association, the 23rd Auburn player to earn that honor … unanimous all-Southeastern Conference first-team pick.

Personal:
Full name Karlos Montez Dansby … all-state linebacker and wide receiver at Woodlawn High School in Birmingham, AL … caught 51 passes for 857 yards and five touchdowns on offense, 81 tackles, six sacks, three interceptions, and two fumble recoveries on defense as a senior ... also played basketball, earning all-state honors as a junior … sociology major at Auburn … cousin of former Notre Dame defensive lineman Melvin Dansby.