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DT RYAN PICKETT #79
6' 2" 330 lbs. Ohio State

Exp: 8th NFL Season, 3rd Packers Season
Age: 28
Acquired: Free Agent 2006 (StL)
Current Status: Active Roster
 
  • At Denver last season, his heads-up tackle of QB Jay Cutler on a draw play at the 4-yard line in the final seconds of the fourth quarter forced the Broncos to kick a game-tying FG. One snap into overtime, Brett Favre hit Greg Jennings for an 82-yard TD for the Green Bay win
  • A first-round draft choice (29th overall) in 2001 who turned pro after his junior year at Ohio State, didn't miss a game from midway through his rookie year until Week 16 last season, playing in 101 straight (107 including playoffs)
  • Became a starter in his second NFL season and has started 13-or-more games the last six years, including 74 straight (77 including playoffs) until a groin injury forced him to miss the final two regular-season games last year
  • Came to Green Bay off a career year in 2005, when he led all NFL defensive linemen with 115 tackles, 10 more than Packers' linemate and runner-up Aaron Kampman
  • An All-American at Zephyrhills (Fla.) High School who did not stay close to home like older brother Booker, who played at Miami (Fla.)
Pro Summary
  • Begins his eighth NFL season and third in Green Bay as a primary run-stuffer and unsung leader on the defensive line
  • One of two unrestricted free agents to join the Packers in 2006, has quietly played at a Pro Bowl level according to Green Bay coaches and been a reliable anchor on the defensive interior
  • Made one of the biggest tackles of the season in 2007, holding his ground on a QB draw and stopping Denver's Jay Cutler at the 4-yard line with time winding down in the fourth quarter, forcing the Broncos to kick a game-tying field goal. That sent the Monday night contest to overtime, which ended in one snap as Brett Favre hit Greg Jennings for a game-winning 82-yard TD
  • Though many of his contributions don't show up on the stat sheet, does have 155 tackles (83 solo) in 30 regular-season games in Green Bay over two seasons, posting five or more tackles 20 times (22 including playoffs)
  • Now has 563 tackles (278 solo) with seven sacks and 24 passes defensed for his career
  • Had a career-high seven passes defensed his first season in Green Bay, along with his lone career fumble recovery
  • Extended his consecutive games streak to 101 (107 including playoffs) and his consecutive starts streak to 74 (77 including playoffs) until missing the final two regular-season games last year due to a groin injury
  • Had not missed a game since midway through his rookie season, and had not missed a start since Week 4 of 2003
  • Took over Grady Jackson's old starting job after signing as an unrestricted free agent on March 17, 2006, coming over from St. Louis, where he spent his first five seasons and was a first-round draft choice (29th overall) in 2001, turning pro after his junior year at Ohio State
  • Came to Green Bay off his best NFL season statistically in 2005 in which he led all of the league's defensive linemen with 115 tackles, 10 more than runner-up Aaron Kampman
  • Including two playoff games last year, has the experience of playing in eight postseason contests, including Super Bowl XXXVI while a rookie with St. Louis
2007 Season
  • A key cog in the Packers' run defense, started 14 games, recording 63 tackles (38 solo), with one sack and one pass defensed
  • Inactive at Chicago (Dec. 23) with a groin injury suffered the previous game; was also held out the following week (Dec. 30) vs. Detroit as a precaution prior to playoffs
  • The injury snapped a string of 74 consecutive starts (77 including playoffs) dating back to early 2003 and 101 straight games played (107 including playoffs) dating back to midway through his rookie season
  • Didn't even miss the preseason opener in Pittsburgh (Aug. 11), having arrived in Pittsburgh the morning of the game following the birth of his son, Ryan Jr.
  • In the season opener vs. Philadelphia (Sept. 9), made four tackles (three solo)
  • At New York Giants (Sept. 16), made four tackles (two solo)
  • Followed up vs. San Diego (Sept. 23) with three tackles (one solo)
  • At Minnesota (Sept. 30), made his first sack of the season and first as a Packer, felling Kelly Holcomb for a 6-yard loss in fourth quarter; made a season-high seven total tackles (six solo)
  • At Denver (Oct. 29), with time running out, stopped Cutler for no gain at the Green Bay 4-yard line on a quarterback draw. Denver was forced to kick a field goal that tied the score 13-13 and led to an overtime period; Favre connected with Jennings on the first play for an 82-yard score and the victory
  • At Detroit (Nov. 22), made five tackles (three solo)
  • At Dallas (Nov. 29), posted six tackles (three solo)
  • Vs. Oakland (Dec. 9), came away with five tackles (one solo)
  • At St. Louis (Dec. 16), made six tackles (one solo); missed a good part of the second half after suffering a groin injury and then missed the next two games
  • Started both playoff contests
  • Made six tackles (four solo) vs. Seattle (Jan. 12). Stopped Shaun Alexander for a 1-yard loss in the third quarter
  • In the NFC Championship Game vs. N.Y. Giants (Jan. 20), made five tackles (three solo)
2006 Season
  • An unrestricted free agent signed from St. Louis, started all 16 games in his first year with the Packers and was often called by coaches the most consistent defensive lineman
  • Collected 92 tackles (45 solo), one fumble recovery and a career-best seven passes defensed
  • Was held to fewer than five tackles just four times all season and had six-or-more on eight occasions
  • Played at Philadelphia (Oct. 2) in spite of an ankle injury suffered the week prior at Detroit (Sept. 24)
  • Had 20 combined tackles in successive weeks, eight vs. New England (Nov. 19), and 12 at Seattle (Nov. 27), tying a regular-season career high
  • Also at Seattle, helped to end the Seahawks' first possession by tipping a pass that was intercepted by Charles Woodson, setting up a Packers TD, and collected three tackles for loss
  • Against the New York Jets (Dec. 3), combined with Nick Barnett to stop Cedric Houston for minus-1 yard; on the next play, nearly intercepted a pass, his sixth pass breakup of the year
  • At Chicago (Dec. 31), recovered a Rex Grossman fumble, his first career fumble recovery
2005 Season
  • Assembled the finest season statistically in his NFL career in his final year in St. Louis
  • Started all 16 games for a second straight season and posted a career-high 115 tackles (61 solo), which led all NFL defensive linemen
  • Also tied his career high with two sacks
  • Got into the sack column at Arizona (Sept. 18), when he joined with Leonard Little to share a fourth-quarter takedown of Kurt Warner, forcing the Cardinals into a long third-down situation and eventual field goal, Arizona's last points in a 17-12 loss to St. Louis
  • Led St. Louis in tackles in back-to-back games, with 11 vs. New Orleans (Oct. 23) and nine vs. Jacksonville (Oct. 30)
  • In Jaguars contest, shared a sack with Chris Claiborne in a 24-21 triumph, dropping Byron Leftwich in the third quarter as the Rams protected a second-half lead
  • Got a sack of his own at Houston (Nov. 27), when he floored David Carr on a key third down and forced the Texans to settle for a field goal in the Rams' eventual 33-27 win
  • Paced the Rams' defensive line in tackles in two other contests, with seven vs. Tennessee (Sept. 25) and nine at Seattle (Nov. 13)
  • Tied his career high with 12 tackles vs. Washington (Dec. 4)
  • Eclipsed 400 career tackles in the regular-season finale at Dallas (Jan. 1)
2004 Season
  • Started all 16 regular-season contests and two playoff games, finishing with 81 tackles (36 solo) and two sacks, and playing his best football late in the year and into the postseason
  • Led the team in tackles twice, with 11 at Carolina (Dec. 12) and a career-playoff high 13 at Atlanta (Jan. 15) in the NFC Divisional playoffs
  • Led or tied for the team lead in tackles among defensive linemen on three other occasions, with seven at Arizona (Dec. 19), 10 vs. the N.Y. Jets (Jan. 2), and seven at Seattle (Jan. 8) in an NFC Wild Card game
  • One of his two sacks on the season came in overtime of the regular-season finale vs. the Jets (Chad Pennington)
2003 Season
  • Started 13 games at nose tackle and finished with 74 tackles (26 solo) and one sack
  • Recorded a season-high 10 tackles at Chicago (Nov. 16)
  • Had seven stops four different times: at Seattle (Sept. 21), vs. Minnesota (Nov. 30), at Cleveland (Dec. 8) and vs. Carolina (Jan. 10) in NFC Divisional playoffs
2002 Season
  • Started 14 games at left defensive tackle and turned in breakout year with 107 stops (59 solo) to lead St. Louis' defensive line and finish second on the team
  • His six tackles for loss also were second on the Rams
  • Made his first career start in the season opener, at Denver (Sept. 8), leading the defensive line with 10 tackles and getting ½ sack (Brian Griese)
  • Also reached double figures in tackles with 10 at Washington (Nov. 24) and a career-high 12 at Philadelphia (Dec. 1)
2001 Season
  • Took a reserve role on the defensive line and played special teams
  • Saw action in 11 regular-season and three postseason contests, making 24 stops (10 solo) with ½ sack
  • Tallied five tackles twice, at Atlanta (Dec. 2) and at Carolina (Dec. 23)
  • Selected after his junior season by St. Louis Rams as the third of three first-round selections (29th overall) in the 2001 NFL Draft
College
  • A three-year starter at Ohio State (1998-2000), he played both defensive tackle positions
  • Totaled 109 tackles (72 solo), eight sacks and 20 stops for loss in 37 career games
  • As a junior, played left defensive tackle and had 39 tackles (21 solo), three sacks and two forced fumbles
  • As a sophomore, started every game at right defensive tackle and was named All-Big Ten honorable mention with a career-high 48 tackles (34 solo) and three sacks
  • As a true freshman, played in every game and started the final nine contests at right defensive tackle, with 22 stops (17 solo), two sacks, and five tackles for loss
  • Majored in general studies
Personal
  • Given name Ryan Lamont Pickett
  • Nicknamed 'Big Grease'
  • Born in Zephyrhills, Fla.
  • Married to Jennifer, the couple has three daughters, Jill, 4, Abigail, 2, and infant Lydia and a son, Ryan Jr., 1
  • His older brother, Booker, played football at the University of Miami (Fla.)
  • A consensus All-America selection and all-state player at Zephyrhills (Fla.) High School, he recorded 119 tackles and seven sacks as a senior
  • Named one of top 25 players in the nation by the National Recruiting Advisor
  • Participated in the All-Pro Dad program, sharing pointers with other fathers, and the annual Families of Children with Cancer holiday party, playing games and singing songs with kids
  • Also served as a celebrity chef for the Big Brothers Big Sisters annual Taste of the Town event
  • Attended the Families of Children with Cancer event where he played games, took photos and signed autographs for guest
  • Has participated in a dinner to benefit the Donald Driver Foundation during his first two seasons in Green Bay
  • Enjoys fishing, four-wheeling and watching movies
  • Residence: De Pere, Wis.
Player StatsBack To Top
TacklesSacksInterceptionsFumbles
Year GP GS Tot Solo Asst Sk Yds No Yds Lg TD PD FF FR Yds
2001 St. Louis 11 0 24 10 14 ½ 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
2002 St. Louis 16 14 107 59 48 ½ ½ 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0
2003 St. Louis 16 13 81 29 52 1 6 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0
2004 St. Louis 16 16 81 36 45 2 14 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0
2005 St. Louis 16 16 115 61 54 2 11 0 0 0 0 3 1 0 0
2006 Green Bay 16 16 92 45 47 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 0 1 0
2007 Green Bay 14 14 63 38 25 1 6 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
NFL totals (seven years) 105 89 563 278 285 7 37½ 0 0 0 0 24 1 1 0
Green Bay totals 30 30 155 83 72 1 6 0 0 0 0 8 0 1 0

Playoffs
TacklesSacksInterceptionsFumbles
Year GP GS Tot Solo Asst Sk Yds No Yds Lg TD PD FF FR Yds
2001 St. Louis 3 0 3 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2003 St. Louis 1 1 7 4 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0
2004 St. Louis 2 2 20 11 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2007 Green Bay 2 2 11 7 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Postseason 8 5 41 22 19 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0

Additional statistics: Career sacks - David Carr (1), Jay Fiedler (1), Matt Hasselbeck (1), Kelly Holcomb (1), Chad Pennington (1), Chris Chandler (½), Brian Griese (½), Byron Leftwich (½), Kurt Warner (½).

SINGLE-GAME CAREER HIGHS
Tackles
Total*: 12, three times (last: at Sea., 11/27/06)
Solo*: 7, at SF (10/6/02)
Sacks: 1, four times (last: at Min., 9/30/07)
*-Posted 13 total tackles (seven solo) in '03 playoffs at Atlanta, 1/15/04

NFL debut: at Philadelphia, 9/9/01
First NFL start: at Denver, 9/8/02
First NFL sack: at Atlanta, 12/2/01 (C.Chandler, shared with L.Fletcher)
Last sack: at Houston, 11/27/05 (D.Carr)
Last game missed: at New England, 11/18/01
Last start missed: vs. Arizona, 9/28/03

CAREER TRANSACTIONS
2001: Selected after junior season by St. Louis Rams as third of three first-round selections (29th overall) in '01 NFL Draft, April 21...Signed first contract, July 29.
2006: Signed by Green Bay Packers as unrestricted free agent, March 17.

CURRENT CONTRACT EXPIRATION: After 2009

ELIAS Game By Game Packers Stats
Game Date OppSacks
Sep 10, 2006 CHI0
Sep 17, 2006 NO0
Sep 24, 2006 @DET0
Oct 2, 2006 @PHI0
Oct 8, 2006 STL0
Oct 22, 2006 @MIA0
Oct 29, 2006 ARI0
Nov 5, 2006 @BUF0
Nov 12, 2006 @MIN0
Nov 19, 2006 NE0
Nov 27, 2006 @SEA0
Dec 3, 2006 NYJ0
Dec 10, 2006 @SF0
Dec 17, 2006 DET0
Dec 21, 2006 MIN0
Dec 31, 2006 @CHI0
2006 Totals0
Sep 9, 2007 PHI0
Sep 16, 2007 @NYG0
Sep 23, 2007 SD0
Sep 30, 2007 @MIN1.0
Oct 7, 2007 CHI0
Oct 14, 2007 WAS0
Oct 29, 2007 @DEN0
Nov 4, 2007 @KC0
Nov 11, 2007 MIN0
Nov 18, 2007 CAR0
Nov 22, 2007 @DET0
Nov 29, 2007 @DAL0
Dec 9, 2007 OAK0
Dec 16, 2007 @STL0
Dec 23, 2007 @CHI0
Dec 30, 2007 DET0
2007 Totals1
Packers Totals1

Statistics provided by Elias Sports Bureau