Gregory Rousseau Explained

Gregory Rousseau
Current Team:Buffalo Bills
Number:50
Position:Defensive end
Birth Date:5 April 2000
Birth Place:Coconut Creek, Florida, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Height In:7
Weight Lb:266
College:Miami (FL) (2018–2020)
Draftyear:2021
Draftround:1
Draftpick:30
Pastteams:
Status:Active
Highlights:
Statseason:2023
Statlabel1:Total tackles
Statvalue1:129
Statlabel2:Sacks
Statvalue2:17.0
Statlabel3:Forced fumbles
Statvalue3:3
Statlabel4:Fumble recoveries
Statvalue4:1
Statlabel5:Interceptions
Statvalue5:1
Statlabel6:Pass deflections
Statvalue6:12
Pfr:RousGr00

Gregory Rousseau (born April 5, 2000) is an American professional football defensive end for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Miami. As a redshirt freshman there in 2019, he recorded 15.5 sacks and won all-conference honors and was named ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year. Rousseau was selected by the Bills in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft.

Early years and college career

Born to Haitian parents from New York, Rousseau attended Champagnat Catholic School in Hialeah, Florida. He played defensive end, safety and wide receiver in high school.[1] He committed to the University of Miami to play college football.[2] [3]

Rousseau played in the first two games of his true freshman year in 2018 before suffering a season-ending ankle injury and redshirted.[4] He entered his redshirt freshman year in 2019 as a backup but eventually took over as starter later in the season.[5] [6] He was named ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year after recording 15.5 sacks that season, second in the nation behind only Chase Young's 16.5.[7] [8] He opted out of the 2020 season due to concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.[9]

Professional career

Rousseau was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the first round (30th overall) in the 2021 NFL draft.[10] He signed his four-year rookie contract, worth $11.37 million, on June 4, 2021.[11]

During Week 2 of the 2021 season, Rousseau was nominated for NFL Rookie of the Week honors with five tackles, two sacks, and two tackles made behind the line of scrimmage.[12] Rousseau recorded his first career interception on October 10, 2021, in a 38-20 Week 5 Sunday night win against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, earning AFC Defensive Player of the Week.[13] [14] In his rookie season, Rousseau finished with four sacks, 50 total tackles, one interception, four passes defended, and one forced fumble.[15] In the 2022 season, he finished with eight sacks, 37 total tackles, four passes defended, and forced fumble in 13 games.[16] His best performance of the year came in week 14 against the New York Jets, in which he recorded 2 sacks, including a forced fumble, and a pass defensed, contributing to a 20–12 Buffalo win one week after the team's leading pass rusher Von Miller suffered a season-ending knee injury against the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving.[17]

On April 29, 2024, the Bills picked up the fifth-year option on Rousseau's contract.

NFL career statistics

Regular season

YearTeamGames Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
BUF17 17 50 42 8 8 10 4.0 0 4 1 3 3.0 3 0 1 0 0 0
BUF13 13 37 27 10 10 14 8.0 0 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
2023BUF161642301212185.004000011000
Career 46 46 129 99 30 30 42 17.0 0 12 1 3 3.0 3 0 3 1 0 0 0

Postseason

YearTeamGames Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
BUF2 2 3 2 1 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
BUF2 2 4 3 1 0 1 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2023BUF22523121.00000000000
Career 6 6 12 7 5 1 3 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Chiang . Anthony . August 24, 2018 . Hurricanes freshman DE Gregory Rousseau is 'one of those freak of natures' . February 26, 2023 . The Palm Beach Post.
  2. Web site: July 31, 2020 . Roche, Rousseau Ready to Wreak Havoc . February 26, 2023 . University of Miami Athletics . en-US.
  3. Web site: Degnan . Susan Miller . April 7, 2018 . This 6-6 Baby Cane did some big-kid damage at UM scrimmage while QBs, O-line struggled . February 26, 2023 . Miami Herald.
  4. Web site: Chirinos . Christy Cabrera . September 10, 2018 . UM's Greg Rousseau to have surgery on fractured ankle; kickoff time vs. FIU set . February 26, 2023 . South Florida Sun Sentinel .
  5. Web site: Navarro . Manny . October 31, 2019 . The reasons Gregory Rousseau's 'relentless nature' extends... . February 26, 2023 . The Athletic.
  6. Web site: Furones . David . October 30, 2019 . How Miami’s Greg Rousseau has succeeded in his ‘evolution of how to become a defensive end’ . February 26, 2023 . South Florida Sun Sentinel.
  7. Web site: Burke . Peter . December 4, 2019 . Gregory Rousseau named ACC defensive rookie of the year . February 26, 2023 . WPLG.
  8. Web site: Scott . Trey . April 29, 2021 . Miami insider on sackmaster Gregory Rousseau's rapid emergence . April 26, 2020 . 247Sports.
  9. Web site: Hale . David . August 6, 2020 . Miami Hurricanes DE Gregory Rousseau, a top draft prospect, opts out of 2020 season . September 4, 2020 . ESPN.com.
  10. Web site: Warren . Matt . Lavoie . Dan . April 29, 2021 . 2021 NFL Draft: Buffalo Bills take Miami pass rusher Greg Rousseau . February 26, 2023 . Buffalo Rumblings . SB Nation.
  11. Web site: June 3, 2021 . 1st Round Pick Greg Rousseau Signs His Rookie Contract . July 4, 2021 . BuffaloBills.com.
  12. Web site: Neracker . Courtney . September 21, 2021 . Bills player Greg Rousseau nominated for rookie of the week . September 21, 2021 . WHEC News10NBC . en.
  13. Web site: Easterling . Luke . WATCH: Bills rookie Greg Rousseau picks off Patrick Mahomes . The Draft Wire . October 11, 2021 . October 11, 2021.
  14. Web site: Gordon . Grant . October 13, 2021 . Ravens QB Lamar Jackson, Buccaneers QB Tom Brady lead Players of the Week . February 26, 2023 . NFL.com.
  15. Web site: Gregory Rousseau 2021 Game Log . February 26, 2023 . Pro-Football-Reference.com . en.
  16. Web site: Gregory Rousseau 2022 Game Log . February 26, 2023 . Pro-Football-Reference.com . en.
  17. Web site: De Cristofaro . David . 2022-12-12 . Bills pass rushers feeling confident after sack attack vs. Jets . 2023-03-27 . Bills Wire . en-US.