View source for James Farrior

{{Short description|American football player (born 1975)}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name        = James Farrior
| image       = James Farrior.jpg
| caption     = Farrior with the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] in 2006
| number      = 58, 51
| position    = [[Linebacker]]
| birth_date  = {{Birth date and age|1975|1|6|mf=y}}
| birth_place = [[Petersburg, Virginia]], U.S.
| height_ft   = 6
| height_in   = 2
| weight_lb   = 243
| high_school = [[Matoaca High School|Matoaca]] {{nowrap|([[Matoaca, Virginia]])}}
| college     = [[Virginia Cavaliers football|Virginia]] (1993–1996)
| draftyear   = 1997
| draftround  = 1
| draftpick   = 8
| pastteams   =
* [[New York Jets]] ({{NFL Year|1997|2001}})
* [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] ({{NFL Year|2002|2011}})
| highlights  =
* 2× [[List of Super Bowl champions|Super Bowl champion]] ([[Super Bowl XL|XL]], [[Super Bowl XLIII|XLIII]])
* First-team [[All-Pro]] ([[2004 All-Pro Team|2004]])
* Second-team All-Pro ([[2008 All-Pro Team|2008]])
* 2× [[Pro Bowl]] ([[2005 Pro Bowl|2004]], [[2009 Pro Bowl|2008]])
* [[Pittsburgh Steelers#Hall of Honor|Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Honor]] (2020)
* 2× Second-team [[List of All-Atlantic Coast Conference football teams|All-ACC]] ([[1995 All-Atlantic Coast Conference football team|1995]], [[1996 All-Atlantic Coast Conference football team|1996]])
* [[Virginia Sports Hall of Fame and Museum|Virginia Sports Hall of Fame]] (2016)
| statlabel1  = Total [[Tackle (football move)|tackles]]
| statvalue1  = 1,440
| statlabel2  = [[Quarterback sack|Sacks]]
| statvalue2  = 35.5
| statlabel3  = Forced [[fumble]]s
| statvalue3  = 18
| statlabel4  = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue4  = 12
| statlabel5  = [[Interception]]s
| statvalue5  = 11
| statlabel6  = Defensive [[touchdown]]s
| statvalue6  = 1
| pfr         = FarrJa99
}}

'''James Alfred Farrior '''<ref>{{Cite web |title=James Farrior Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/F/FarrJa99.htm |access-date=2025-06-07 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> (born January 6, 1975) is an American former professional [[American football|football]] player who was a [[linebacker]] for 15 seasons in the [[National Football League]] (NFL). He played [[college football]] for the [[Virginia Cavaliers football|Virginia Cavaliers]]. He played with the [[New York Jets]] and the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]], and earned two [[Super Bowl]] rings with the Steelers ([[Super Bowl XL|XL]] and [[Super Bowl XLIII|XLIII]]).

==Early life==
Farrior was born in [[Ettrick, Virginia]]. He was a [[Parade (magazine)|''Parade'']] High School All-America selection and named Virginia's Group AA Co-Offensive Player of the Year as a senior at [[Matoaca High School]] in his hometown and birthplace of Ettrick, Virginia.  He was also selected first-team All-Conference at both fullback and linebacker, also earned All-Metro and All-State honors, he was ''The Richmond Times-Dispatch'' co-Player of the Year after posting 78 tackles, 11 sacks, five blocked kicks, four forced fumbles and two interceptions, he rushed the ball 105 times for 1,006 (9.6 avg.) and 22 touchdown and had 19 receptions for 340 yards (17.9 avg.) and 4 touchdowns receiving as a senior fullback. He earned All-Metro, district and region honors as a junior, and was a three sport letter winner in [[High school football|football]], [[Track and field|track]], and [[wrestling]].

==College career==
Farrior played for coach [[George Welsh (American football)|George Welsh]]'s [[Virginia Cavaliers football]] team while attending the [[University of Virginia]]. During his career there, he racked up 381 tackles, ranking him third on the school's all-time list. In 1996 season, Farrior earned All-Atlantic Coast Conference first-team honors as a senior while registering 107 tackles, 13 tackles for a loss, 7 passes defensed, and 6.5 sacks. He even played against his future head coach, [[Mike Tomlin]], while Tomlin was a [[wide receiver]] at [[William & Mary Tribe#Football|William & Mary]].<ref>[http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09030/945594-66.stm Tomlin earns respect] ''[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]'' (January 30, 2009)</ref>

In 1995 season as a junior he earned All-ACC second-team honors after he started every game at LOLB and led the team in tackles (122 stops) and also had half sack, nine passes defensed and an interception. In 1994, he earned all-ACC honorable mention as a sophomore when he started every game at LOLB and finished second on the team in tackles with 100, 1 sack, a blocked punt, 4 interceptions and 6 passes defensed. During 1993, as a freshman he appeared in 10 games and had 52 tackles, placing him seventh on the team, despite not starting any games, he earned ACC Newcomer of the Week honors when he came off the bench to register 18 tackles vs. Ohio. He had seven tackles and a fumble recovery vs. Boston College in the [[Carquest Bowl]].

He graduated in four years with a bachelor's degree in psychology.

==Professional career==
{{NFL predraft
|    height ft = 6
|    height in = 1 3/4
|       weight = 234
|      shuttle = 4.40
|   cone drill = 7.62
|     vertical = 35.5
|     broad ft = 10
|     broad in = 0
|        bench = 22
|     arm span = 32 5/8
|    hand span = 9 1/4
|         note = All values from [[NFL Combine]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://ras.football/2020/01/01/james-farrior-ras/ |title=James Farrior RAS |access-date=July 6, 2023 |website=RAS.football |date=January 2020 }}</ref>
}}

===New York Jets===
Farrior began his professional career in 1997 as the eighth overall pick in the first round for the New York Jets.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1997 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1997/draft.htm |access-date=2023-03-30 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> Until 2001, Farrior played sparingly as a reserve outside linebacker, playing in only 27 games from 1997 through 2000. In 2001, Farrior broke out and recorded 142 tackles, 106 of which were solo, one sack and two interceptions. After the 2001 season, the Jets allowed Farrior to leave via free agency, but his career exploded once he got to the Pittsburgh Steelers and was put back in his college position, inside linebacker.

===Pittsburgh Steelers===
In his first year with the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]], Farrior recorded 82 tackles throughout 14 games. In 2003, he recorded 141 tackles and one interception. During the 2004 season, his third with the franchise, Farrior made 94 tackles, three sacks, and a career-high four interceptions. He also finished second behind Ed Reed for NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors.  During the [[2005 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers 2005 campaign]] Farrior missed 2 games due to injury, but performed well in the 14 regular season games and 4 post-season games in which he appeared. His best regular season performance came in a week 3 loss to the [[New England Patriots]], in which he recorded 9 [[Tackle (football move)|tackles]] and 1 [[Quarterback sack|sack]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter?game_id=28568&displayPage=tab_gamecenter&season=2005&week=REG3|title= Week 3: 2005 Season|access-date=August 22, 2008 |work= Game Center|publisher= NFL.com|date= September 25, 2005}}</ref> Farrior's best performance in the post-season came in the [[American Football Conference|AFC]] Divisional playoffs against the [[Indianapolis Colts]], where Farrior recorded 10 tackles and 2.5 sacks. He finished the season with 119 tackles and a Super Bowl ring. In 2006, he played in all 16 games and recorded 126 tackles, four sacks and one interception. Farrior finished the 2007 season with 94 tackles and 6.5 sacks, a career-high, along with one interception.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.nfl.com/players/jamesfarrior/profile?id=FAR709765|title= James Farrior |access-date=August 22, 2008 |work= Pittsburgh Steelers|publisher= NFL.com}}</ref> Entering the 2008 season, Farrior stated that he wished to remain a Steeler for the remainder of his career.<ref>{{cite news|first= John|last= Harris|title= Steelers' Farrior wants to re-sign|url= http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_578349.html?source=rss&feed=3|publisher= [[Pittsburgh Tribune-Review]]|date= July 19, 2008|access-date= July 19, 2008|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://archive.today/20120909190636/http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_578349.html?source=rss&feed=3|archive-date= September 9, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first= Bob|last= Smizik|title= Gambling again on aging LB|url= http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08235/906230-194.stm|publisher= [[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]|date= August 22, 2008|access-date=August 22, 2008}}</ref> In August 2008, Farrior signed a five-year, [[United States dollar|US$]]18.25 million contract with the Steelers. The deal included a $5 million signing bonus.<ref>{{cite news |first= Ed|last= Bouchette|title= Steelers' Farrior agrees to new contract|url= http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08234/906000-66.stm|publisher= [[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]|date= August 21, 2008|access-date=August 21, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first= John|last= Harris|title= Steelers sign Farrior through 2012|url= http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_584190.html|publisher= [[Pittsburgh Tribune-Review]]|date= August 21, 2008|access-date= August 21, 2008|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080822122121/http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_584190.html|archive-date= August 22, 2008}}</ref> At the end of the 2010 season, Farrior and the Steelers appeared in [[Super Bowl XLV]] against the [[Green Bay Packers]]. He was a starter in the game and recorded two total tackles in the 31–25 loss.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201102060pit.htm |title=Super Bowl XLV - Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Green Bay Packers - February 6th, 2011 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en |access-date=December 15, 2017}}</ref> He was released on March 2, 2012. On September 25, 2020, it was announced that James is a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers Class of 2020 Hall of Honor (aka Ring of Honor).

===NFL statistics===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="2"| Legend
|-
| style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"|
| Won the [[Super Bowl]]
|-
| '''Bold'''
| Career high
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Team !! {{tooltip|GP|Games played}} !! {{tooltip|COMB|Combined tackles}} !! {{tooltip|TOTAL|Total tackles}} !! {{tooltip|AST|Assisted tackles}} !! {{tooltip|SACK|Sacks}} !! {{tooltip|FF|Forced fumbles}} !! {{tooltip|FR|Fumble recoveries}} !! {{tooltip|FR YDS|Fumble return yards}} !! {{tooltip|INT|Interceptions}} !! {{tooltip|IR YDS|Interception return yards}} !! {{tooltip|AVG IR|Average interception return}} !! {{tooltip|LNG|Longest interception return}} !! {{tooltip|TD|Interceptions returned for touchdown}} !! {{tooltip|PD|Passes defensed}}
|-
| [[1997 NFL season|1997]] || [[1997 New York Jets season|NYJ]] || 16 || 71 || 53 || 18 || 1.5 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
| [[1998 NFL season|1998]] || [[1998 New York Jets season|NYJ]] || 12 || 27 || 17 || 10 || 0.0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
| [[1999 NFL season|1999]] || [[1999 New York Jets season|NYJ]] || 16 || 51 || 42 || 9 || 2.0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 2
|-
| [[2000 NFL season|2000]] || [[2000 New York Jets season|NYJ]] || 16 || 61 || 51 || 10 || 1.0 || 1 || 1 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 5
|-
| [[2001 NFL season|2001]] || [[2001 New York Jets season|NYJ]] || 16 || '''145''' || '''109''' || 36 || 1.0 || '''3''' || 0 || 0 || 2 || 84 || '''42''' || '''47''' || 0 || 9
|-
| [[2002 NFL season|2002]] || [[2002 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]] || 14 || 82 || 60 || 22 || 0.0 || 0 || 1 || 4 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1
|-
| [[2003 NFL season|2003]] || [[2003 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]] || 16 || 141 || 96 || '''45''' || 0.0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 1 || 9 || 9 || 9 || 0 || 4
|-
| [[2004 NFL season|2004]] || [[2004 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]] || 16 || 95 || 67 || 28 || 3.0 || '''3''' || '''3''' || 0 || '''4''' || '''113''' || 28 || 41 || '''1''' || '''12'''
|-
| [[2005 NFL season|2005]] ||style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;" | [[2005 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]] || 14 || 121 || 76 || '''45''' || 2.0 || 2 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 4
|-
| [[2006 NFL season|2006]] || [[2006 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]] || 16 || 128 || 85 || 43 || 4.0 || 2 || 1 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 0 || 6
|-
| [[2007 NFL season|2007]] || [[2007 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]] || 16 || 96 || 65 || 31 || '''6.5''' || 2 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 8
|-
| [[2008 NFL season|2008]] ||style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;" | [[2008 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]] || 16 || 133 || 89 || 44 || 3.5 || 1 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 5
|-
| [[2009 NFL season|2009]] || [[2009 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]  || 16 || 102 || 68 || 34 || 3.0 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 18 || 18 || 18 || 0 || 5
|-
| [[2010 NFL season|2010]] || [[2010 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]  || 16 || 109 || 80 || 29 || 6.0 || 1 || 1 || '''8''' || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 5
|-
| [[2011 NFL season|2011]] || [[2011 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]] || 14 || 78 || 54 || 24 || 2.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 3
|- class="sortbottom"
| Career || || 230 || 1,440 || 1012 || 428 || 35.5 || 18 || 12 || 13 || 11 || 225 || 20 || 47 || 1 || 69
|}

=== VA Hall of Fame Induction ===
In 2016, Farrior was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in Portsmouth, Virginia. 
He was also a nominee for the 2020 [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]]. Farrior is a member of the Class of 2020 Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Honor.

==Personal life==
He is nicknamed "Potsie" by his parents, Rebecca and James Farrior, because he had a pot-belly as a child and because of the popularity of the sit-com [[Happy Days]].  Farrior has garnered several nicknames among fans, too; one being "The Ultimate Farrior", a play on words in reference to explosive WWF wrestler [[The Ultimate Warrior]]. He is the older brother of former NFL linebacker, [[Matt Farrior]]. In July 2012, Farrior wed. He and his wife, Iman, reside in [[Los Angeles, California]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Ron|last=Cook|title=Farrior at Peace with New Life Off the Field|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/sports/ron-cook/farrior-at-peace-with-new-life-off-the-field-664945|work=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]|date=December 5, 2012|access-date=May 29, 2013}}</ref>

James and his brother Matt Farrior have been recognized for their charitable contributions and actions and have created their own foundation, [https://www.facebook.com/JamesFarriorFoundation The James Farrior Foundation]. The foundation runs a variety of programs to assist those in need through all stages of life. The Impact 51 program provides guidance and mentoring for students, the Farrior Scholarship Fund provides college financial assistance to eligible students and the Families in Crisis program provides assistance in many forms to families in need.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.piascik.com/James%20Brochure.PDF|title=James Farrior Foundation|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715082533/http://www.piascik.com/James%20Brochure.PDF|archive-date=July 15, 2011}}</ref> In addition to their own organization, James and Matt work with the [[National Bone Marrow Registry]]. For these and other contributions to those less fortunate, the Farrior Foundation was given the [[key to the city]] of [[Richmond, Virginia]], by Richmond's Mayor [[Dwight C. Jones]] in June 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/local/article/RBRF13_20090612-221004/273592/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120826031011/http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/local/article/RBRF13_20090612-221004/273592/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 26, 2012 |title=Farrior Receives Key to Richmond |work=[[Richmond Times Dispatch]] |date=June 13, 2009 |access-date=November 12, 2009}}</ref> James Farrior is also a recipient of the Bravo award given by the [http://www.cpefound.org/ Chesterfield Public Education Foundation] which recognizes Extraordinary Alumni of the [[Chesterfield County Public Schools]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cpefound.org/default.aspx|title=Chesterfield Public Education Foundation|access-date=November 14, 2009|archive-date=December 23, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081223072721/http://www.cpefound.org/default.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.nfl.com/players/jamesfarrior/profile?id=FAR709765 James Farrior at NFL.com]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080608143122/http://news.steelers.com/team/player/49217/ Steelers Player Bio]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140208134919/http://www.jamesfarriorfoundation.org/ The James Farrior Foundation]

{{1997 NFL Draft}}
{{JetsFirstPick}}
{{Jets1997DraftPicks}}
{{Super Bowl XL}}
{{Super Bowl XLIII}}
{{Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Honor}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Farrior, James}}
[[Category:1975 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Petersburg, Virginia]]
[[Category:Virginia Cavaliers football players]]
[[Category:American football middle linebackers]]
[[Category:New York Jets players]]
[[Category:Pittsburgh Steelers players]]
[[Category:American Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Virginia]]
[[Category:People from Ettrick, Virginia]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen]]
[[Category:21st-century American sportsmen]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]