Jurrell Casey
Jurrell Casey (born December 5, 1989) is a former American football defensive tackle who played ten seasons in the National Football League (NFL), primarily for the Tennessee Titans from 2011 to 2019 before a brief stint with the Denver Broncos in 2020.[1][2] Standing at 6 feet 1 inch and weighing 305 pounds, Casey was known for his quickness off the line, powerful punch, and ability to disrupt both the run and pass games, amassing 51 sacks and 567 combined tackles over 142 games (140 starts) in his career.[2] He announced his retirement on September 2, 2021, at age 31, citing the physical toll of the game and a desire to move on after a decade as one of the league's most consistent interior defenders.[3][4] Casey attended the University of Southern California (USC), where he played college football for the Trojans from 2007 to 2010.[2] As a junior in 2009, he emerged as a standout, recording 59 tackles, nine tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, three fumble recoveries, and two forced fumbles in 13 games, earning All-Pac-10 honorable mention honors.[5] The Titans selected him in the third round (77th overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft, valuing his explosive athleticism and low center of gravity despite his shorter stature for the position.[1][6] In his professional career, Casey quickly became a cornerstone of the Titans' defense, leading the team in sacks with 10.5 in 2013, a season in which he earned Second-Team All-Pro recognition.[2] He followed that with five consecutive Pro Bowl selections from 2015 to 2019, during which he recorded at least seven sacks in two of those years (7.0 in 2015 and 2018).[2][3] Traded to the Broncos in March 2020 for a seventh-round draft pick amid salary cap considerations, he appeared in three games that season before suffering a season-ending biceps injury and was released by the team in February 2021, ultimately announcing his retirement at a press conference at Nissan Stadium.[2][7][8]Early life and education
High school career
Jurrell Casey was born on December 5, 1989, in Long Beach, California, where he was raised by his single mother, Collette Burns.[1][9] He grew up in the Long Beach area, attending Long Beach Polytechnic High School, a powerhouse program known for producing professional athletes.[2] At Poly, Casey demonstrated exceptional athletic versatility, participating in football, basketball, and track and field.[5] In football, Casey excelled as a two-way starter, playing both offensive and defensive line. As a senior defensive lineman in 2007, he recorded 72 tackles, 18 sacks, and 5 forced fumbles, earning widespread recognition for his disruptive presence.[5] His performance that year garnered multiple accolades, including second-team All-American honors from EA Sports, Old Spice Red Zone Player of the Year, Super Prep All-Far West, Prep Star All-West, Tom Lemming All-West, Long Beach Press-Telegram Best in the West first team, Tacoma News Tribune Western 100, Las Vegas Sun Super 11 first team, Orange County Register Fab 15 third team, Student Sports All-California first team, and Long Beach Century Club offensive lineman of the year.[5] During his recruitment, Casey attracted attention from top college programs and received scholarship offers from schools including USC, Oklahoma, and Oregon.[5] He ultimately committed to the University of Southern California, drawn by its proximity to home, the program's prestige, and familial connections in the region.[10] Beyond football, Casey played basketball as a center and competed in track and field events such as the shot put, further highlighting his multi-sport prowess at Poly.[5] This high school foundation prepared him for his transition to college football at USC.[5]College career
Casey enrolled at the University of Southern California in 2007 and redshirted his freshman season, during which he earned the team's Service Team Defensive Player of the Year Award.[5] As a true freshman in 2008, Casey appeared in 12 games for the Trojans, registering 12 tackles—including two for loss—and one forced fumble while primarily serving as a rotational defensive tackle.[5][11] His contributions helped USC secure the Pac-10 championship with an 8-1 conference record and a berth in the Rose Bowl.[12][13] In his sophomore campaign of 2009, Casey emerged as a full-time starter at defensive tackle, lining up in all 13 games—twice at nose tackle and 11 times at tackle—and leading the team with three fumble recoveries to go along with 59 total tackles, nine tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles.[5][11] For his breakout performance, he received All-Pac-10 honorable mention honors, Phil Steele All-Pac-10 first-team recognition, second-team Sophomore All-American accolades from College Football News, and co-Lineman of the Year laurels from USC.[5] Casey anchored the defensive line as a junior in 2010, starting all 13 contests amid a season marked by injuries to other front-seven players, and posted 67 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, one interception, and one fumble recovery while leading the team in sacks and tackles for loss.[14][11] These efforts propelled USC to an 8-5 overall record and earned him first-team All-Pac-10 selection, USC's Defensive Lineman of the Year award (his second straight), and the program's Football Most Valuable Player honor.[14][15] Throughout his college tenure, Casey was recognized for quietly providing leadership to the Trojans' defensive line, drawing double-teams that created opportunities for teammates and adapting to three different position coaches.[16] Over three seasons of action from 2008 to 2010, Casey played in 38 games with 26 starts, compiling 138 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, nine sacks, three forced fumbles, and one interception.[11] He declared for the 2011 NFL Draft following his junior year.[2]Professional career
Pre-draft and entry into NFL
Following his junior season at USC, Jurrell Casey declared for the 2011 NFL Draft, gaining special eligibility as an underclassman after three college seasons.[17] His combination of compact size at 6 feet 1 inch and 305 pounds, along with his explosive pass-rushing ability, positioned him as a projected mid-round selection, often pegged for the early rounds of Day 2 (rounds 2-3).[6][6] These attributes, highlighted by his quick first step and leverage in college, drew interest despite concerns over his height for a traditional defensive tackle.[18] At the NFL Scouting Combine in February 2011, Casey demonstrated notable strength for his frame, completing 26 repetitions on the 225-pound bench press while running the 40-yard dash in 5.04 seconds.[19] These performances underscored his power and functional speed, helping to mitigate perceptions of his shorter stature relative to prototypical defensive tackles, though his overall athleticism ranked moderately among draft-eligible linemen.[19][6] The Tennessee Titans selected Casey in the third round, 77th overall, during the 2011 NFL Draft on April 29.[2] On July 29, 2011, he signed a four-year rookie contract with the Titans valued at $2.73 million, including $617,436 in guarantees.[20] Upon entering the league, Casey was expected to serve in a rotational role as a defensive tackle behind established veterans like Sen'Derrick Marks in the Titans' base 4-3 defensive scheme.[21] The focus for the rookie was on developing within the professional system, leveraging his run-stopping prowess and pass-rush potential to contribute situationally while acclimating to NFL speed and schemes.[22][23]Tennessee Titans tenure
Jurrell Casey was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the third round (77th overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft out of USC, where he quickly established himself as a cornerstone of the team's defensive line rebuild following several underwhelming seasons.[2] As a rookie, he appeared in all 16 games with 15 starts, recording 52 combined tackles and 2.5 sacks, contributing to a defense that ranked 12th in the league in points allowed.[2] In 2012, Casey started all 16 games and tallied 54 tackles with 3 sacks, showing steady improvement in run defense and pass rush.[2] His breakout came in 2013, when he notched 55 tackles and a career-high 10.5 sacks across 15 games, earning Associated Press Second-Team All-Pro honors for his disruptive interior presence.[2] Casey's performance elevated further in the mid-2010s, solidifying his status as one of the NFL's premier defensive tackles. In 2014, he led the Titans with 68 tackles and added 4.5 sacks in 16 starts, prompting the team to secure his future with a four-year, $36 million contract extension that included $20.5 million guaranteed.[24] He earned his first Pro Bowl selection in 2015 after registering 54 tackles and 7 sacks, followed by consistent recognition through 2019 as a five-time Pro Bowler.[2] Peak seasons included 2017, with 60 tackles and 6 sacks, after which the Titans extended him again on a four-year, $60.4 million deal with $40 million guaranteed, affirming his role in the team's defensive resurgence under head coach Mike Vrabel. That year, Casey's efforts helped the Titans' defense rank sixth in sacks league-wide. Throughout his nine seasons with the Titans, Casey was instrumental in transforming the defensive line from a liability into a strength, mentoring younger players and anchoring the front in both 4-3 and 3-4 schemes.[25] His tenacity against the run and ability to collapse pockets were pivotal in the team's 2019 playoff run, where he started all three postseason games and recorded 2.5 sacks, including two on Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson in the divisional-round victory that propelled Tennessee to the AFC Championship Game.[26] Over 139 regular-season games (137 starts) with the Titans, Casey amassed 493 combined tackles, 51 sacks, 12 passes defended, and zero interceptions, ranking fifth in franchise history for sacks by a defensive lineman at the time of his departure.[2]Denver Broncos season
On March 18, 2020, the Tennessee Titans traded defensive tackle Jurrell Casey to the Denver Broncos in exchange for a seventh-round pick (No. 237 overall) in the 2020 NFL Draft, as the Titans sought to alleviate salary cap constraints ahead of the new league year.[27][28] The move allowed Denver to bolster its defensive line with a proven veteran, acquiring the remaining years of Casey's contract, which included a base salary of $11.25 million for the 2020 season.[29] Casey joined a Broncos defense transitioning to a 3-4 base scheme under new coordinator Ed Donatell, where he was slotted as a starting defensive tackle to provide leadership for a young unit featuring players like Shelby Harris and Dre'Mont Jones.[27] In the early part of the season, he adapted to the scheme's emphasis on versatility and gap control, starting all three games he played and recording 14 total tackles (7 solo).[2] However, his tenure was cut short by a torn biceps injury sustained during a Week 3 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on September 27, 2020, leading to his placement on injured reserve and ending his season.[30][31] Despite the abbreviated stint, Casey's brief presence offered stability to Denver's front, which ranked 4th in the NFL against the run, allowing 88.4 rushing yards per game. The Broncos finished the 2020 campaign with a 5-11 record, missing the playoffs for the fifth straight year, as the defense struggled overall with injuries and inconsistency.[32] Casey's veteran experience from nine seasons with the Titans, where he earned five Pro Bowl selections, was intended to mentor the line but was limited by his injury.Retirement
Following the 2020 season, during which Jurrell Casey played in three games for the Denver Broncos before suffering a season-ending biceps tear, he contemplated returning to the NFL but ultimately prioritized his family's well-being and his long-term health over continuing to play. Released by the Broncos in February 2021, Casey received offers from other teams during the offseason but chose not to sign with any. On September 2, 2021, he officially retired from professional football after 10 seasons.[33] Casey made the announcement at a press conference held at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, retiring as a Tennessee Titan despite his brief stint in Denver. He expressed satisfaction with his accomplished career, stating it had been a "hard decision" but the right one to shift focus away from the physical demands of the game. During the event, Casey highlighted his gratitude toward the Titans organization for the opportunities and support throughout his tenure, emphasizing that he would "be a Titan forever."[34][4] In reflecting on his retirement, Casey noted personal signs that it was time to step away, such as sleeping later than his usual routine and lacking motivation for workouts, which signaled a diminishing passion for the sport. He did not pursue immediate opportunities in coaching or broadcasting, instead embracing a sense of contentment with his achievements. Post-retirement, Casey concentrated on recovering from accumulated injuries, including a strained MCL in his knee from 2018 that had sidelined him for the end of that season. In subsequent years, he has been recognized for his contributions, with former teammates and observers affirming his deserving place in the Titans' Ring of Honor.[33][35][36]Career statistics
Regular season
Jurrell Casey appeared in 142 regular season games over his 10-year NFL career, starting 140 of them, while accumulating 507 combined tackles (332 solo and 175 assisted), 51.0 sacks, 15 passes defended, 8 forced fumbles, 0 interceptions, and 5 fumble recoveries.[2] His statistical output varied year to year, with notable peaks including a career-high 10.5 sacks in 2013 and 68 combined tackles in 2014. The following table summarizes his regular season defensive statistics from 2011 to 2020, per Pro-Football-Reference data.[2]| Year | Team | GP | GS | Comb | Solo | Ast | Sacks | PD | FF | FR | Int |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | TEN | 16 | 15 | 52 | 39 | 13 | 2.5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2012 | TEN | 16 | 16 | 54 | 34 | 20 | 3.0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2013 | TEN | 15 | 14 | 55 | 38 | 17 | 10.5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2014 | TEN | 16 | 16 | 68 | 46 | 22 | 5.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2015 | TEN | 16 | 16 | 54 | 34 | 20 | 7.0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2016 | TEN | 15 | 15 | 44 | 31 | 13 | 5.0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | TEN | 16 | 16 | 60 | 41 | 19 | 6.0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | TEN | 15 | 15 | 62 | 36 | 26 | 7.0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 2019 | TEN | 14 | 14 | 44 | 26 | 18 | 5.0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 2020 | DEN | 3 | 3 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0.0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | - | 142 | 140 | 507 | 332 | 175 | 51.0 | 15 | 8 | 5 | 0 |