Takeo Spikes

Takeo Gerard Spikes (born December 17, 1976) is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL).

He played college football for Auburn Tigers.

He became the first rookie to lead the Bengals in tackles since James Francis led them in 1990.

He also led the team by total snaps played on offense and defense, which added up to 997.

In the 1997 campaign, he led Auburn with 136 tackles as Auburn advanced to the SEC Championship game where they were defeated, 30–29, by the Tennessee Volunteers, led by Peyton Manning.

Spikes was named MVP for his performance in this game.

Spikes was college teammates with productive tailback Stephen Davis.

He was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals with the 13th overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft.

A two-time Pro Bowl selection and one-time All-Pro, Spikes also played for the Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers and San Diego Chargers.

Spikes is one of only seven linebackers to achieve more than 200 career starts in the NFL.

Only once did Spikes record less than 70 tackles in a season.

He was a team captain in 13 out of his 15 seasons of play.

Spikes has the distinction of playing in 219 regular season games without a playoff appearance, which is the most in NFL history.

The Eagles, 49ers, and Chargers all made the playoffs the year after Spikes left each team.

After retiring from the NFL, Spikes became a media personality.

He is currently a football analyst on NBC Sports Network, co-hosts SiriusXM NFL programs, and the SEC Network.

He is currently an NFL pundit for Sky Sports UK.

Spikes was born in Augusta, Georgia.

In high school at Washington County High School in Sandersville, Georgia he earned All-American honors from Parade and USA Today and was named Georgia's "Mr. Football" by state coaches as a senior.

Spikes was also named Georgia Player of the Year as a senior.

Takeo entered Auburn University, majoring in liberal arts.

Spikes entered the 1998 NFL Draft and was drafted in the first round by the Cincinnati Bengals.

In his rookie season he started all preseason games and all regular season games.

In 1999, he was the team captain, playing in all his games as a Right Inside Linebacker and a Right Linebacker.

He forced four fumbles and recovered four, leading the team in fumble recoveries as well.

In 2000, he played every game as a Right Linebacker and recorded 128 tackles.

He passed the 100 tackle mark for the third straight time and led the team in tackles and fumble recoveries.

(However, the Bills did not make the playoffs for the entire 2000s decade, while the Bengals went 11–5 and won their division in 2005).

The Buffalo Bills signed Spikes to an offersheet worth $32 million over six years, that the Bengals did not match.

In 2001, Spikes started at RLB for all of the 15 games he played that season.

He once again led the team in solo and total tackles in the 2001 campaign.

Spikes missed Game 5 because of his father's death.

Spikes dedicated the season, and the remainder of his professional career to his father.

He wrote his dad's name on the tape he wrapped around his wrists for the remaining 12 games of the season.

The 2002 season was his final season with the Bengals, as he played all 16 games.

In his tenure with the Bengals, he played 79 of a possible 80 games, missing only one for his father's funeral.

He led the team in solo and total tackles once again and scored his second defensive TD by way of fumble recovery.

Following the season, Spikes was given the designated player tag making him a restricted free agent.

After not finishing better than 6–10 during any of his seasons in Cincinnati, Spikes stated he rather sign with a playoff contender.

Takeo Spikes received his Auburn degree in 2016.