Gerald Sensabaugh
refer to caption
Sensabaugh with the Dallas Cowboys in 2009
No. 43
Position:Safety
Personal information
Born: (1983-06-13) June 13, 1983
Kingsport, Tennessee, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:212 lb (96 kg)
Career information
High school:Dobyns-Bennett
(Kingsport, Tennessee)
College:East Tennessee
North Carolina
NFL Draft:2005 / Round: 5 / Pick: 157
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played:112
Total tackles:411
Sacks:2
Forced fumbles:4
Fumble recoveries:5
Interceptions:14
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Gerald Lind Sensabaugh Jr. (born June 13, 1983) is a former American football safety. He was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the fifth round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He also played for the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at North Carolina and East Tennessee State University.

Early years

Sensabaugh attended Dobyns-Bennett High School, where he contributed to the Indians reaching 2 Class 5A Semifinals. As a junior, he was a two-way player, making 10 receptions for 166 yards and one touchdown. As a senior, he tallied 42 receptions for 420 yards and 7 touchdowns. He received All-Big Nine and All-Big East Conference honors at defensive back.

In track, he won the long jump state championship in 2000, with a leap of 7.25 meters. He was also the runner-up in the triple jump, with a leap of 14.05 meters.

College career

Sensabaugh accepted a football scholarship from East Tennessee State University. As a true freshman, he started eleven games at safety, registering 53 tackles (4 for loss), 3 sacks, 2 interceptions, 3 passes defensed and one forced fumble. He had 11 tackles and 2 sacks against Charleston Southern University. He made 8 solo tackles against Georgia Southern University.

As a sophomore, he appeared in 11 games, starting 9 at strong safety. He missed one contest with a broken thumb. He totaled 56 tackles (fifth on the team), 4 tackles for loss, one interception, 3 passes defensed, 2 forced fumbles, 4 fumble recoveries (second in the conference) and 2 blocked kicks. He returned a fumble for a 20-yard touchdown against Wofford College. He returned an interception for a 32-yard touchdown against Western Carolina University.

As a junior, he started at strong safety. He posted 74 tackles (fourth on the team), 2 sacks, 2 tackles for loss, 8 passes defensed, 3 forced fumbles, one fumble recovery for a touchdown and 5 blocked punts (school and conference record). He tied an NCAA single-game record after blocking 3 punts against Georgia Southern University. His blocked kicks led to 15 of his team's 22 total points.

Finished fourth on the team with 74 tackles, had two tackles for losses, two sacks, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery • Broke up eight passes and had a team-high five blocked kicks • Tied an NCAA record with three blocked punts against Georgia Southern.

As a senior in 2004, he transferred to the University of North Carolina, when East Tennessee State University disbanded its football program. He started at strong safety, registering 78 tackles (led the team), 3 sacks, 6.5 tackles for loss, one interception and 5 passes defensed.

Professional career

At the 2005 NFL Scouting Combine, Sensabaugh recorded a best ever in the vertical jump with a 46.0 (inches) vertical.

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeight40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jumpBench press
6 ft 0+1⁄2 in
(1.84 m)		 214 lb
(97 kg)		 4.50 s1.56 s2.62 s3.98 s6.80 s46 in
(1.17 m)		11 ft 1 in
(3.38 m)		17 reps
All values from Central Florida Pro Day.[1]

Jacksonville Jaguars

Sensabaugh was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the fifth round (157th overall) of the 2005 NFL Draft.[2] He was a backup until passing Deke Cooper on the depth chart and starting at strong safety the last 3 contests (including the playoffs).[3] He had 31 defensive tackles and 6 special teams tackles (tied for seventh on the team).

In 2006, he suffered an ankle injury in training camp that forced to miss all of the preseason. He made his first start of the season as team opened up in the nickel defense in the seventh game against the Philadelphia Eagles. He made six starts at strong safety after Donovin Darius was placed on the injured reserve list on November 22. He posted 47 tackles, 2 interceptions (tied for second on the team), one fumble recovery, 11 special teams tackles (tied for third on the team) and one blocked punt.

In 2007, he opened the season as the starter at free safety. He was the starter at strong safety in the second game against the Atlanta Falcons, until suffering a shoulder injury in the first quarter. He played in only 2 games after being placed on the injured reserve list on September 19. He had 8 tackles and one forced fumble. He was replaced with Sammy Knight.

In 2008, he started 13 games (10 at strong safety and 3 at free safety). He made 82 tackles (fifth on the team), 4 interceptions (tied for first on the team), 4 passes defensed, 2 quarterback hurries, 6 special teams tackles (sixth on the team) and a blocked kick.

Sensabaugh was arrested three times while a member of the Jaguars and wasn't re-signed after his rookie contract expired.[4]

Dallas Cowboys

Based on the recommendation of assistant coach Dave Campo, on March 10, 2009, the Dallas Cowboys signed him to a one-year contract to replace Roy Williams at strong safety.[5] He started 15 games at strong safety, posting 81 tackles (sixth on the team), one interception, 10 passes defensed, 5 special teams tackles and one blocked kick.

In 2010, he appeared in 16 games with 14 starts at strong safety. He recorded 86 tackles (fifth on the team), 2 sacks (tied for fifth on the team), 5 interceptions (tied for the team lead), 9 passes defensed (tied for third on the team) and 4 special teams tackles.

In 2011, he started 16 games at free safety. He finished with 77 tackles (third on the team), 2 interceptions, 4 passes defensed, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, 4 special teams tackles and one blocked kick. Sensabaugh had signed one-year contracts until December 9, when he received a 5-year contract extension from the Cowboys after years of showing the versatility to play both safety positions and special teams.[6]

In 2012, he started 15 games at free safety. He registered 62 tackles (ninth on the team), 6 passes defensed (tied for third on the team), one forced fumble, 5 special teams tackles and it was the first year as a Cowboy that he didn't register an interception.

On March 4, 2013, Sensabaugh was released from the Cowboys in an effort to save cap space.[7] On May 9, 2013, he signed a one-day deal in order to allow him to retire a Dallas Cowboy.[8] He became a starter since being signed, missed only two games in his Cowboys career and dealt each season, with the uncertainty of who would start at the other safety position, having to play with different teammates that included: Ken Hamlin, Alan Ball, Abram Elam, Barry Church, Danny McCray and Eric Frampton.

NFL career statistics

Year Team GP Tackles Fumbles Interceptions
CmbSoloAstSckFFFRYdsIntYdsAvgLngTDPD
2005JAX 16241950.0010000001
2006JAX 16443770.0110284804
2007JAX 23300.0010000000
2008JAX 167059110.0000438102308
2009DAL 156647190.0000100008
2010DAL 167159122.0000526510010
2011DAL 167561140.022021161103
2012DAL 155842160.0100000003
Total[9]112411327842.04501483623037

Personal life

Sensabaugh 's cousin, Coty Sensabaugh, also played in the National Football League.[10] In 2014, he started fishing in the Bassmaster Open Series with Team Leiand and attempted to qualify for the Elite Series.[11]

In 2017, he coached football in David Crockett High School. In October, he was placed on administrative leave, due to an investigation into alleged misconduct.[12] Sensabaugh opted to file a law suit against the county for false allegations.[13][14]

Political life

In 2018, he ran for Mayor of Sullivan County, Tennessee as an independent where he lost to incumbent Richard Venable 17,307 - 7,507 votes.[15] He also ran for an alderman of Kingsport, Tennessee position in 2021, but placed 8th with only 936 votes.

Electoral history

2018 Sullivan County Mayor Election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Richard Venable (incumbent) 17,316 69.7
Independent Gerald Sensebaugh 7,514 30.3
Total votes 24,830 100
2021 Alderman Election
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Paul W. Montgomery 2,918 19.6
Nonpartisan Collete George (incumbent) 2,264 15.2
Nonpartisan Betsy M Cooper (incumbent) 2,249 15.1
Nonpartisan Bob Harshbarger 1,924 12.9
Nonpartisan Joe Carr 1,674 11.3
Nonpartisan Sara Buchanan 1,525 10.3
Nonpartisan Wesley Combs 1,000 6.7
Nonpartisan Gerald Sensabaugh 936 6.3
Nonpartisan J.S. Moore 361 2.4
Total votes 14,869 100

References

  1. ↑ "Safety ratings". NFL Draft Scout.
  2. ↑ "2005 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Garrard to guide Jags' playoff drive". Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  4. ↑ "Jaguars' Sensabaugh arrested". Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  5. ↑ "Cowboys, Sensabaugh agree to deal". Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  6. ↑ "Cowboys give Sensabaugh 5-year extension". FOX News. March 5, 2020. Retrieved December 9, 2011.
  7. ↑ "Cowboys cut Gerald Sensabaugh". Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  8. ↑ "Cowboys cut Sensabaugh in cap move". Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  9. ↑ "Gerald Sensabaugh Stats". ESPN. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  10. ↑ "Gerald Sensabaugh's cousin is drafted". Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Dallas Cowboys alumnus aspires to win at bass fishing". Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Supporters hold rally in support of suspended Davy Crockett football coach Gerald Sensabaugh". Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  13. ↑ "Law firm recommends termination of suspended football coach Gerald Sensabaugh". Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  14. ↑ "Gerald Sensabaugh files $5 million lawsuit against school district, director". Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  15. ↑ "Sullivan County Mayor Richard Venable faces former NFL player Gerald Sensabaugh in mayoral contest". Retrieved February 19, 2020.
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