Tyrel Dodson Explained

Tyrel Dodson
Current Team:Seattle Seahawks
Number:0
Position:Linebacker
Birth Date:25 June 1998
Birth Place:Franklin, Tennessee, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Height In:0
Weight Lb:237
High School:Centennial HS (Franklin, TN)
College:Texas A&M
Undraftedyear:2019
Pastteams:
Status:Active/PUP
Statleague:NFL
Statseason:2023
Statlabel1:Total tackles
Statvalue1:143
Statlabel2:Sacks
Statvalue2:4.5
Statlabel3:Forced fumbles
Statvalue3:1
Statlabel4:Fumble recoveries
Statvalue4:2
Statlabel5:Pass deflections
Statvalue5:4
Statlabel6:Interceptions
Pfr:DodsTy01

Tyrel Dodson (born June 25, 1998) is an American football linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Texas A&M.

Early years

Dodson grew up in Franklin, Tennessee, raised by his single mother Angela, and was rated a 4-star prospect by 24/7 Sports and Rivals after garnering several awards as a high school senior at Centennial High School. He attended college at Texas A&M University, choosing to play for their college football team over other schools such as Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri, and others. As a freshman in 2016, Dodson recorded 27 tackles, including 1.5 for a loss, and recorded a fumble recovery as a reserve linebacker. He garnered a team-leading 105 tackles as a sophomore, with 11.0 for a loss and 5.5 quarterback sacks in addition to 3 interceptions and 6 pass breakups. After a strong junior year in which he finished third on the team with 61 tackles, Dodson announced that he would forgo his senior year and declare for the NFL draft.[1]

Professional career

Buffalo Bills

Dodson signed with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent following the 2019 NFL draft. Following an incident in Arizona in which he was arrested and accused of domestic violence, Dodson received a six-game suspension after pleading guilty to misdemeanor disorderly conduct charges.[2] He was later waived and re-signed to the practice squad upon finishing his suspension.[3]

Dodson made his first regular season appearance on September 13, 2020, during a 27–17 win over the New York Jets. He entered in place of starting middle linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, who suffered a shoulder injury, and was himself injured later in the game.[4] Dodson recorded his first career sack during the game, taking down Jets quarterback Sam Darnold.[5] With Edmunds out the following week against the Miami Dolphins, Dodson made his first career start.[6] He was placed on injured reserve on October 24, 2020.[7] He was activated on December 12, 2020.[8]

Dodson played in 16 games in the 2021 season and recorded 15 tackles. On February 10, 2022, Dodson signed a one-year contract extension with the Bills.[9]

On March 14, 2023, Dodson signed another one-year contract extension.[10] He competed for the starting middle linebacker position in the wake of Edmunds' departure in free agency,[11] but lost out to Terrel Bernard, who had missed most of preseason.[12] Despite this, Dodson would be thrust into the starting lineup himself when All-Pro Matt Milano suffered a season-ending leg fracture. Dodson finished the season with 10 starts and a career-high in playing time, with most of his snaps being on run defense. He was also graded as the Bills' most-improved player that season by Pro Football Focus, improving his score to 89.5, the second highest among linebackers league-wide, from a 2022 score of 48.4.[13]

Seattle Seahawks

On March 14, 2024, Dodson signed with the Seattle Seahawks[14]

On July 18, 2024, Dodson was placed on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list.[15]

Personal life

Dodson was the first alumnus from Centennial High School to make it into the NFL. He hosted a football camp for the school in 2021.[16]

NFL career statistics

Regular season

YearTeamGames Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
BUFsuspended /
BUF10 2 22 13 9 2 0 1.0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
BUF16 0 15 10 5 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
BUF16 3 2 32 22 10 1 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.0 0
BUF17 10 74 57 17 8 6 2.5 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.0 0
Career 59 15 143 102 41 11 7 4.5 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0.0 0

Postseason

YearTeamGames Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
BUF
BUF
BUF2 0 2 1 1 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
BUF2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 -1 -1.0 0
BUF1 1 8 7 1 1 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Career 5 1 10 8 2 1 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 -1 -1.0 0

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tarpley . Jeff . June 28, 2019 . Former A&M LB Dodson officially signs rookie deal with Bills . September 5, 2020 . Gigem247 . en-US.
  2. Web site: Louis-Jacques . Marcel . September 12, 2019 . Bills rookie LB Dodson suspended 6 games . September 5, 2020 . ESPN.com . en.
  3. Web site: Wojton . Nick . November 6, 2019 . Bills add LB Tyrel Dodson, Brandon Hitner to practice squad . September 5, 2020 . Bills Wire. USA Today . en-US.
  4. Web site: September 14, 2020 . Bills linebacker injuries don't appear to be long term, Sean McDermott says . September 16, 2020 . The Buffalo News . en.
  5. Web site: Parrino . Matt . September 14, 2020 . Bills' Tremaine Edmunds, Matt Milano 'day-to-day' after suffering injuries vs. Jets . September 16, 2020 . syracuse . en.
  6. Web site: September 18, 2020 . Bills' Tyrel Dodson: Set to start Week 2 . September 20, 2020 . CBSSports.com . en.
  7. Web site: October 24, 2020 . Bills place four players on the Reserve/COVID-19 list; four players elevated from practice squad . BuffaloBills.com.
  8. News: December 12, 2020 . Bills activate Tyrel Dodson . BuffaloBills.com . January 27, 2021.
  9. Web site: February 10, 2022 . Bills linebacker and special teamer Tyrel Dodson signs a one-year contract . BuffaloBills.com.
  10. Web site: LB Tyrel Dodson re-signs with Bills on one-year deal. BuffaloBills.com. March 14, 2023. March 15, 2023. Maddy. Glab.
  11. Web site: Alfano . Jonathan . August 18, 2023 . Bills Middle LB 'An Area of Concern' - McDermott . February 15, 2024 . Sports Illustrated Buffalo Bills News, Analysis and More . en.
  12. Web site: September 6, 2023 . MLB Bernard, CB Benford to start for Bills in opener . February 15, 2024 . News 4 Buffalo . en-US.
  13. Web site: Wojton . Nick . February 14, 2024 . PFF: Bills' most-improved player in 2023 was Tyrel Dodson . February 15, 2024 . Bills Wire . en-US.
  14. Web site: Smith . Corbin K. . March 14, 2024 . Seahawks Sign Former Bills LB Tyrel Dodson . March 15, 2024 . Sports Illustrated. en.
  15. Web site: Seahawks Place Seven On Physically Unable To Perform List Ahead Of 2024 Training Camp . 2024-07-19 . Seahawks.com . en-US.
  16. Web site: Skurski . Jay . July 17, 2021 . Bills linebacker Tyrel Dodson's first football camp a reminder of how far he's come . August 3, 2021 . The Buffalo News . en.