Shaquil Barrett

Barrett went undrafted in the 2014 NFL Draft and received interest from the Denver Broncos and Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent. On May 10, 2014, the Denver Broncos signed Barrett to a three-year, $1.53 million contract that included a signing bonus of $3,500.[4] Barrett stated that his decision to choose to sign with the Denver Broncos was due to their willingness to look past draft rankings.[5]

Throughout training camp, Barrett competed for a roster spot as a backup linebacker against Steven Johnson, L. J. Fort, Jamar Chaney, Jerrell Harris, and Corey Nelson. On August 30, 2014, the Denver Broncos waived Barrett as part of their final roster cuts. He was subsequently signed to their practice squad after clearing waivers the following day.[6]

On October 14, 2014, the Denver Broncos promoted Barrett to their active roster after an injury to starting linebacker Danny Trevathan.[7] He was signed to the 53-man roster for the Week 7 game vs. the San Francisco 49ers. He was once again signed to the 53-man roster for the AFC Divisional Playoff Game vs. the Indianapolis Colts, but did not play.[2]

After finishing the 2015 NFL preseason with the most sacks of any player on the team, Barrett made the final 53-man roster. Barrett saw action in all 16 games (6 starts) and three postseason games, posting 41 tackles (28 solo), 5.5 sacks, four passes defensed, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and nine special-teams tackles. Barrett tallied two tackles and one special-teams stop in Denver's three postseason games. He made one tackle and one special-teams stop in his NFL debut vs. the Baltimore Ravens on September 13, 2015. In Week 6 of the 2015 season, Barrett made his first NFL start vs. the Cleveland Browns after DeMarcus Ware suffered a back injury. He finished with nine tackles (6 solo), 1.5 sacks, three tackles for loss, one pass defensed, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. On February 7, 2016, Barrett played in Super Bowl 50, but left the game to be evaluated with a concussion. He returned to finish the game and the Broncos defeated the Carolina Panthers by a score of 24–10.[8]

Barrett played all 16 games and totaled 31 tackles (20 solo), 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and two passes defensed in addition to five special-teams stops.

In 2017, Barrett appeared in 16 games (9 starts), totaling 36 tackles (30 solo), four sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and one blocked punt.

On March 12, 2018, the Broncos placed a second-round restricted free agent tender on Barrett.[9] On April 23, 2018, he signed his exclusive rights tender.[10]

On March 15, 2019, Barrett signed a one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.[11]

During Week 2 against the Carolina Panthers, Barrett sacked Cam Newton a then career-best 3 times as the Buccaneers won 20–14.[12] With his strong performance, he earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week.[13] In the next game against the New York Giants, Barrett recorded a career-best 4 sacks and 2 forced fumbles, tying the franchise single-game sack record held by Simeon Rice and Marcus Jones, as well as becoming the first player in franchise history to record at least 3 sacks in back to back games. The Buccaneers narrowly lost 32–31.[14] The following week, Barrett recorded his first NFL interception and a strip-sack on Jared Goff which was returned for a touchdown by teammate Ndamukong Suh in a 55–40 road victory over the Los Angeles Rams. As a result of his strong first month of play (9 sacks, 1 interception, 3 forced fumbles at the end of week 4), he was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Month for September.[15]

In Week 15, during a 38–17 road victory over the Detroit Lions, Barrett recorded 5 tackles and a sack, tying the Buccaneers franchise record for sacks in a single season held by Warren Sapp. On December 17, 2019, Barrett was selected to the 2020 Pro Bowl, the first of his career. In Week 17, during a 28–22 overtime loss to the Atlanta Falcons, Barrett sacked Matt Ryan 3 times, breaking the Buccaneers franchise record set by Warren Sapp for the most sacks in a single season with 19.5.[16]

Barrett finished the 2019 season setting new career highs with a league leading 19.5 sacks, 58 tackles, 6 forced fumbles, 2 pass deflections, and 1 interception.

On March 16, 2020, the Buccaneers placed the franchise tag on Barrett.[17] He signed the one-year tender on July 15, 2020.[18]

After a lackluster first 2 weeks, Barrett's performance rebounded during a 28–10 win against his former team in the Denver Broncos during Week 3 in which Barrett 6 total tackles and 2 sacks which included his first career safety on quarterback Jeff Driskel. As a result of his strong performance, Barrett was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week.[19]

In Week 9 against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday Night Football, Barrett recorded a strip-sack on Drew Brees that was recovered by the Buccaneers during the 38–3 loss. [20] In Week 12 against the Kansas City Chiefs, Barrett recorded a strip-sack on Patrick Mahomes that was recovered by the Buccaneers during the 27–24 loss.[21] In Week 14 against the Minnesota Vikings, Barrett recorded 2 sacks and 4 tackles as the Buccaneers won 26–14.

After a quiet start to the 2020–21 NFL playoffs during the Buccaneers' 31–23 win over the Washington Football Team in the Wild Card round and 30–20 win over the New Orleans Saints, Barrett recorded 5 total tackles as well as 3 sacks on Aaron Rodgers during the NFC Championship game as the Buccaneers defeated the Green Bay Packers 31–26 to advance to Super Bowl LV, in which Tampa Bay defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 31–9, giving Barrett his second Super Bowl ring.[22][23]

• Most sacks through the first 3 weeks of a season - 8 (2019) (tied with Mark Gastineau)
• Most sacks through the first 4 weeks of a season - 9 (2019) (tied with Mark Gastineau, Kevin Greene, and Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila)

• Most sacks in a season - 19.5 (2019)
• Most sacks in a game - 4 (tied) (September 22, 2019 vs New York Giants)
• Most forced fumbles in a game - 2 (tied) (September 22, 2019 vs New York Giants)