An athletic safety with a knack for making plays, Quintin Mikell (pronounced Michael) earned his first Pro Bowl berth in 2009 after leading the team in tackles (122) for the second consecutive season. Originally a rookie free agent signing from Boise State in 2003, Mikell earned All-Pro honors at safety in 2008 and was voted the Eagles special teams MVP in consecutive seasons from 2004-05.—-
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
• Posted two consecutive 100- plus tackle campaigns in 2008 (169) and 2009 (122)
• Earned his first Pro Bowl nomination following the 2009 season
• Voted second-team All-Pro by the Associated Press in 2008
• Named to Larry Weisman’s (USA Today) 2008 All-Joe Team
• Was selected as the Eagles special teams MVP in 2006 and 2005—
• Named to Sports Illustrated’s Paul Zimmerman All-Pro Football Weekly as the Eagles best special teams player
2009 HIGHLIGHTS
• Was selected to the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career
• Led the team with 122 tackles and finished third with nine KDs
• Notched his second interception of the season (Niners QB Alex Smith) vs. SF (12/20)
• Played in his 100th regular season game vs. Dal (11/8)
• Tipped a pass by Redskins QB Jason Campbell that fell into the hands of LB Will Witherspoon, who returned it nine yards for a TD at Was. (10/26). Also recovered a fumble of Campbell, which led to a David Akers field goal
• Snagged an interception off Raiders QB JaMarcus Russell at Oak. (10/18)
• Recovered a fumble of Chiefs RB Larry Johnson vs. KC (9/27)
BIRDSEED
• From undrafted free agent to special teams standout to Pro Bowl safety. Mikell remains motivated by the fact that 32 teams chose not to draft him. “It’s a feeling that never goes away. Every team passed on me. I am thankfully the Eagles gave me a chance, but I always feels that there’s something every team didn’t like about me and I’m out to prove everyday that I am the player they didn’t think I’d become.”
• Credits his father, Quintin Sr., as the person most responsible for helping him become and NFL player. “He always pushed me; he played in college as a linebacker at Indiana State. When I was in the 6th grade he was my defensive coordinator and we’d watch film on our opponents. One of our rivals West Viga, ran a play that no team could stop. But I noticed on film that they always put two receivers out wide and ran the quarterback draw. They couldn’t be stopped. And the next game we stopped them. I remember him being so proud.”
