Nick Barnett

Team Number:	56
Birth Date:	12/31/1969
Height:	6'2"
Weight:	232lbs.
Position:	Linebacker

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Nick Barnett was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the first round of the 2003 NFL draft, with the 29th overall pick. Starting at middle linebacker since his rookie season, Barnett has distinguished himself as a team leader and one of the most exciting young linebackers in the game. He has missed only two regular season games in his four year career and has amassed more than 600 tackles. With Barnett anchoring the middle and fellow linebackers A.J. Hawk and Brady Poppinga coming off the edges, Lambeau Field is in the midst of arguably the most talented crop of linebackers it has ever seen.

Barnett immediately made his presence felt when joining the Green Bay Packers in 2003 as a rookie, starting 15 games and recording 134 tackles and three interceptions. Showing remarkable speed and smarts playing one of the most difficult positions in football, Barnett’s efforts were recognized by Pro Football Weekly, who named him the All-Rookie Team. He was also third in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting.

His breakout rookie year was followed by another landmark season in 2004 which saw Barnett notch 164 tackles and three sacks. In 2005 he set a Green Bay Packers franchise record for most tackles in a single season with 196, and also led the NFL with the longest interception return, a 95-yard pick off New Orleans Saints Quarterback Todd Bouman, which he returned for a touchdown. In 2006, Barnett had 141 tackles and two interceptions, despite missing one game and playing the last five of the regular season with his hand in a massive cast that resembled a club. His performance earned him a spot as an alternate on the NFC Pro Bowl team at middle linebacker.

Barnett attended college at Oregon State University in Portland, Oregon, where he was a three year starter and team captain. His senior year, Barnett led the Pac-10 in tackles and earned First Team All-Conference honors. He was a candidate for the Butkus Award, given to the nation’s top linebacker and led the Oregon State Beavers’ defense to be ranked the 11th best defensive unit in the nation. Barnett graduated from Oregon State with a degree in communications and business administration.

Born in Fontana, California, Nick Barnett developed a love of music and mixing at a young age. He has carried that over into adulthood, working as a deejay throughout his college years at Oregon State and opening a club in Green Bay, where he now resides. In addition to his football and business pursuits, Barnett has also been active in numerous charitable endeavors, including taking part in the Edgar Bennett Celebrity Bowl-A-Thon and the Brett Favre Celebrity Softball Game, helping with annual Salvation Army funding drives, raising money for the American Cancer Society, and sponsoring a youth football camp.

Nick Barnett led the team in team in tackles. A vibrant player who’s fun to watch, Barnett made the AP All Pro second team for 2007. Nick had three tackles in the Seahawks game on January 12th. Barnett sacked the quarterback 3.5 times, which was a personal best. His 12+ tackles in Philadelphia included an interception.

He was recognized at the GMC player of the week on defense for his play against San Diego. He almost reached the end zone with an intercepted pass during that game. Another marquee game came against the Redskins, where he had over a dozen tackles. At Denver, he led the team in tackles and recovered a fumble. His 500th tackle came in the game against Detroit. In each of his five years in the NFL, Barnett has recorded over 125 tackles. When looking at the Packer stats for the year. Barnett stands out as a team leader in tackles.

Barnett started in the nine first games posting just under 70 tackles, two defensed passes and a forced fumble before being injured during week 10 of the season. During the beginning of the season, he finished in second for the team with nine tackles at the Minnesota game.

His season high for tackles was at the Tampa Bay game with 12, leading the team. His great energy on the field led to great plays and executions in all the games he played in. After injuring his knee at Minnesota in November, he had surgery to repair a torn ACL and was inactive for the rest of the season. We look forward to seeing him again during the 2009 season which will hopefully be injury free!