Leonard Little

Little’s 28 career sacks rank 3rd all time at Tennessee, behind only Derek Barnett (33) and Reggie White (32).

Little graduated from Tennessee with a bachelor's degree in psychology.

Little measured 6-3½, 237 pounds and ran the 40-yard dash in 4.48 seconds.

Little was expected to be a first-round draft choice, but his "in-between" size left teams not sure if he would be a linebacker or a defensive end in the NFL.

The Rams made a last moment trade to the 65th pick on concerns that the Steelers would take Little with the 66th pick.

When Rams coach Dick Vermeil called, Little was being congratulated by Bill Cowher, the Pittsburgh coach, on being drafted by the Steelers.

Leonard Antonio Little (born October 19, 1974) is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end for the St. Louis Rams of the National Football League (NFL).

Little played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers, and was recognized as an All-American.

He was selected by the Rams in the third round of the 1998 NFL Draft, and played his entire twelve-year professional career with them.

Little killed a woman in a drunk driving incident in 1998, and later pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter.

Little attended Asheville High School in Asheville, North Carolina, where he played both linebacker and wide receiver.

At AHS, he was a three-year starter.

For his senior year, Little was named a Super Prep, Blue Chip, Prep Football Report as well as a First-team All-American.

The St. Louis Rams picked Leonard Little as the fourth pick in the third round of the 1998 NFL Draft, the 65th overall pick.

He signed a 3-year, $1.2 million contract on July 2, 1998, with a $400,000 signing bonus.

Little began his NFL career as a linebacker, donning uniform number 57.

As a gunner on kickoff and punt coverage Little made eight tackles.

He was inactive for four games before being placed on the non-football injury list due to legal issues surrounding his drunk driving crash.

The NFL suspended Little for 8 games of the 1999 season.

The suspension cost Little $125,000, half his seasonal salary.

He returned to the Rams at mid-season and performed mostly on special teams with a season-high four special teams tackles vs. the New York Giants on December 19, 1999, ending the season with nine special teams tackles.

He also would spell Rams defensive ends Kevin Carter and Grant Wistrom and was in the game for Wistrom for the play known as "The Tackle" in Super Bowl XXXIV.

In 2000, he played at the defensive end position, coming into games to play left defensive end in passing situations, with starting end Kevin Carter "reducing" down to left defensive tackle.

He also spelled right defensive end Grant Wistrom.

Little added 20 pounds with weight training and extra eating to help him make the switch and in that role Little had 5 sacks and totaled 17 tackles.

He also had 18 tackles on special teams in 2000.

On April 24, 2001, Leonard Little agreed to a one-year tender offer of $512,000, the minimum level for a restricted free agent.

That season, he changed his jersey number to 91 and was a pass-rush specialist for the NFC champion Rams.

Little would enter games in passing situations in place of starting left defensive end Chidi Ahanotu.

On March 4, 2002, Little signed a five-year $17.5 million contract.

That year Little earned the starting left defensive end job and performed very well, despite the fact he was considered small for a "base" defensive end in the NFL.

In November 2005, his high school retired his #30 jersey.

Little played a single season at Coffeyville Community College in Coffeyville, Kansas, before going to play three seasons at University of Tennessee, where he started every game at Middle Linebacker during his senior season, leading the team in tackles (87) and sacks (8.5).

He was first-team All-America and first-team All-Southeastern Conference in his senior season.

He appeared in the first seven games of his junior season at defensive end, tallying 33 tackles, 8.5 sacks, and five tackles for losses, also blocking one field goal and forcing four fumbles.

As a sophomore, he started every game at left defensive end and recorded 62 tackles and a career-high eleven sacks.

In that role, Little led the Rams with 14.5 sacks, 3rd in the NFL.

Little had nine tackles (five solo), three QB pressures, and one sack in Super Bowl XXXVI.

On the first play of the New England Patriot game-winning drive Little brushed the ball but could not dislodge it from Tom Brady, who kept the drive alive by completing a short pass.

Little also continued his role as a special teamer, making 11 tackles.