Players

PRO: (62-37/4-3): Originally drafted by the Steelers in the first round (32^nd overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft…has never missed a game in his three-year NFL career.

2012 (14-14): Started at DE for the first 14 contests…10/7 at Philadelphia: Led all defensive linemen with a season-high four tackles…10/21 at Cincinnati: Had a career-high two passes defensed…10/28 vs. Washington: Blocked the Redskins’ first PAT of the game, becoming the first Steeler to block a PAT since NT Casey Hampton blocked Phil Dawson’s attempt on 10/5/03 vs. Cleveland…11/4 at N.Y. Giants: Had a season-high two QB pressures…11/12 vs. Kansas City: Stopped RB Jamaal Charles for a one-yard loss on the Chiefs’ first drive of the fourth quarter…11/18 vs. Baltimore: Left the game in the first quarter with a back injury and did not return…11/25 at Cleveland: Had two QB pressures…was part of a defense that held the Browns to only 238 total net yards…12/2 at Baltimore: Sacked QB Joe Flacco to give him two sacks on the season and 7.5 for his career…recovered QB Joe Flacco’s fumble after LB James Harrison stripped him…the Steelers tied the game 20-20 on their ensuing drive (Batch to Miller, seven-yard pass)…12/9 vs. San Diego: Sacked QB Philip Rivers for a zero-yard loss, giving him three sacks on the season…the three sacks ties a career-high he set in 2010…had a career-high nine tackles and added two QB pressures…12/16 at Dallas: Led the defensive line with five tackles.

2011 (16-14/1-1): Played in all 16 regular-season games and started 14 at DE due to an injured Brett Keisel (two games) and then Aaron Smith (12 games)...had 36 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 20 QB pressures and one pass breakup...tied a career-high with four QB pressures in one game...started the lone postseason contest and added two tackles and one QB pressure…9/18 vs. Seattle: Finished with one tackle and three QB pressures…was part of a defense that held the Seahawks to 164 total yards…9/25 at Indianapolis: Started at DE in place of injured DE Brett Keisel…had two tackles and three QB pressures…was part of a defense that held the Colts to 241 total yards…10/2 at Houston: Started at DE in placed of the injured Keisel…had two tackles…10/9 vs. Tennessee: Started at DE in place of injured DE Aaron Smith…had four tackles and four QB pressures, which tied a career high…had a half-sack along with LB LaMarr Woodley…10/16 vs. Jacksonville: Logged two tackles, two QB pressures and one pass breakup…was part of a defense that held the Jaguars to 209 total yards…10/23 at Arizona: Registered two tackles and two QB pressures…was part of a defense that held the Cardinals to 73 yards rushing…10/30 vs. New England: Played in his 40^th career game…had two tackles and two QB pressures…was part of a defense that held the Patriots to 43 yards rushing and 213 total yards…11/6 vs. Baltimore: Finished with one tackle and one QB pressure…11/13 at Cincinnati: Registered three tackles and one QB pressure…11/27 at Kansas City: Recorded one tackle and one QB pressure…12/4 vs. Cincinnati: Posted a season-high five tackles…12/8 vs. Cleveland: Made his 20^th career start at DE…was part of a defense that held the Browns to three points…12/19 at San Francisco: Tied season-high with five tackles…12/24 vs. St. Louis: Recorded four tackles and one QB pressure…had one sack for minus-six yards…1/1 at Cleveland: Made 14^th consecutive start at DE and 12^th for the injured Smith…had one tackle…AFC Wild Card Game 1/8 at Denver: Started at DE…had two tackles and one QB pressure.   

2010 (16-9/3-2): Played in all 16 regular-season games, starting nine of them in place of injured DE Aaron Smith...had 20 tackles, three sacks, 18 QB pressures and two pass breakups...was part of a defense that held opponents to an NFL-best and Steelers’ team-record 62.8 rushing yards per game...started all three postseason contests in place of the injured Smith...finished with 10 tackles and two sacks in the postseason...9/12 vs. Atlanta: Had one tackle, one QB hurry and one QB pressure...9/19 at Tennessee: Had one QB pressure... was part of a defense that held Tennessee to only 46 yards rushing and forced six Titans’ turnovers...10/17 vs. Cleveland: Had one quarterback pressure...10/31 at New Orleans: Made his first career start at DE and the first nine consecutive in place of injured Aaron Smith...had two tackles...was part of a defense that held the Saints to 30 yards rushing, had two sacks and forced two turnovers...11/8 at Cincinnati: Recorded two tackles, including one for a loss...had one QB pressure...was part of a defense that held the Bengals to 54 yards rushing and had four sacks...11/14 vs. New England: Recorded one tackle and three QB pressures...11/21 vs. Oakland: Finished with a career-high three tackles and four QB pressures...was part of a defense that held the Raiders to 61 yards rushing, had six sacks and forced three Oakland turnovers...11/28 at Buffalo: Registered three QB pressures...had one pass breakup...12/5 at Baltimore: Posted a six-yard sack on the Ravens’ first drive of the game, his first of the season and second of his career...12/12 vs. Cincinnati: Part of a defense that held Cincinnati to 34 yards rushing...12/23 vs. Carolina: Recorded one tackle and two QB pressures...had a seven-yard sack in the fourth quarter, his second sack of the season...was part of a defense that held the Panthers to 119 total yards, had four sacks and forced two turnovers...1/2 at Cleveland: Started ninth consecutive game at DE for the injured Smith...had five tackles...posted an eight-yard sack in the first quarter, giving him three sacks on the season...had one QB pressure...was part of a defense that had four sacks and forced three turnovers...AFC Divisional Game 1/15 vs. Baltimore: Played in his first postseason contest, starting at DE in place of the injured Smith...had five tackles and two QB pressures...had his first career postseason sack, an eight-yarder...was part of a defense that held the Ravens to 35 yards rushing, had five sacks and forced three turnovers...AFC Championship Game 1/23 vs. N.Y. Jets: Started at DE...had four tackles and one QB pressure...was part of a defense that held the Jets to 70 yards rushing and had two sacks...Super Bowl XLV 2/6 vs. Green Bay: Saw action on the defensive line...had one tackle...had a four-yard sack and had two QB pressures...was part of a defense that had three sacks and held the Packers to 55 yards rushing.

2009 (16-0): Played in all 16 games as a reserve DE and on special teams...had seven tackles and one sack...also had one fumble recovery...9/10 vs. Tennessee: Made his NFL debut as a reserve DE and special teams contributor...10/25 vs. Minnesota: Recorded one pressure...11/15 vs. Cincinnati: Recorded his first career tackle...11/22 at Kansas City: Finished with one pressure and one pass breakup...11/29 at Baltimore: Recorded one QB hit...12/6 vs. Oakland: Recorded a season-high three tackles (two solo)...12/20 vs. Green Bay: Finished with one solo tackle and one pressure...12/27 vs. Baltimore: Recorded two tackles (one solo) and posted his first sack and fumble recovery of his career...1/3 at Miami: Played in his 16th consecutive game as a reserve DE and special teams contributor...recorded two pressures and one QB hit.

COLLEGE: Started the last 31 (35 total) of the 50 games he played in at Missouri... finished his career with 170 tackles (98 solos), 15.5 sacks for minus-76 yards, 22.5 stops for losses totaling 111 yards and 22 quarterback pressures... forced five fumbles and had three fumble recoveries... deflected eight passes and blocked one kick...majored in biology. 2008: Consensus All-Big Twelve Conference first-team selection...Academic All-Big Twelve second-team... team captain and named the Tigers’ Defensive Lineman of the Year...started all 14 games at weak-side defensive tackle, recording a career-high 62 tackles (31 solos)...ranked second on the team with five sacks for minus 37 yards and had seven stops for losses of 42 yards...credited with 12 quarterback pressures, as he recovered two fumbles, deflected a pair of passes and blocked one kick. 2007: Honorable mention All- Big 12 honors from both league media and coaches for his play, which included career-best numbers in every major category...finished with 49 tackles, eight tackles for loss, five sacks, four QB hurries and three forced fumbles. 2006: Played in 10 games, making seven starts...had his true sophomore season derailed somewhat by a broken foot in the third game of the season, but he returned to play in the final seven games...began his sophomore season on a tear, recording 13 tackles, three sacks and four TFLs in the season’s first three games, before breaking a foot in game three at New Mexico...had surgery on Sept. 18th to insert a screw, and returned to action against Texas A&M on Oct. 14, missing just three games...finished the season with a career-high 36 total tackles...named the winner of the team’s Rigman Outstanding Underclassman Leadership Award. 2005: Saw action in all 12 games...registered 23 total tackles, including 2.5 TFLs (10 yards) and 1.5 QB sacks (9 yards).

PERSONAL: Attended Palo Duro High School (Amarillo, Texas)...nickname “Ziggy” was given to him by his grandmother when he was a child...ranked as the No. 35 weak-side defensive end in the nation, by Rivals.com...named district 3-4A defensive player of the year as a senior, when he registered 93 tackles and 13 QB sacks...scored three defensive TDs on the year and recovered three fumbles...earned all-district honors each of his last two years...had 76 stops as a junior, including five QB sacks and also returned one interception for a TD...threw the shot put and discus for his school’s track team...son of Mary Payne and Charles Hood...Full name: Evander “Ziggy” Hood.