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PRO: With the Cowboys making the transition to the 3-4 defensive front, Jason Ferguson became a valuable asset as a free agent acquisition in the offseason leading up to the 2005 season. Ferguson shared the nose tackle position with La'Roi Glover in his first season as a Cowboy, but Glover's departure in free agency last spring puts Ferguson in the role of the defensive line's most experienced player (10th NFL season) and the Cowboys defender most familiar with the 3-4 scheme. Ferguson, who was originally a seventh round draft choice of Bill Parcells and the Jets in 1997, brings the size, strength and power that are necessities for the prototypical NFL nose tackle in the three-man front. A hard driving run stopper, Ferguson is capable of moving the line of scrimmage and he is also a disruptive force as a pass rusher. Ferguson and fellow veteran lineman Greg Ellis lead a front seven that has been recently injected with youth and talent. Younger faces such as ends Chris Canty and Marcus Spears and outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware will join forces with Ferguson and Ellis to form the nucleus of a solid front seven with versatile pass rushing ability. Ferguson has played over the center at nose tackle and across from the guard at defensive tackle. Despite missing the entire 2001 season after suffering a torn right rotator cuff in training camp, he has proven to be durable, missing only seven of a potential 124 regular season career games - not including the 2001 season - due to injury. He has also improved with age, having posted three of his best four single-season tackle totals and three of his top five single-season sack totals over the past four years - including a 106-tackle, 4.5-sack effort during the 2003 season. Ferguson signed with Dallas as an unrestricted free agent in 2005 after eight seasons with the Jets, where he had been a starter at defensive tackle and nose tackle in New York since 1998.
2005: Ferguson shared time throughout the season at nose tackle with Glover. He finished the year second among Dallas defensive linemen in tackles with 42. He also tied for fourth on the team in quarterback pressures with six. A sprained ankle in training camp slowed Ferguson's preseason progress, but he was able to make his Cowboys debut in the season opening game at San Diego (9/11) where he worked in a rotation with Glover. In the following week's Monday night loss to Washington (9/19), he was a major force on the inside, recording three tackles and a tackle for a loss as Clinton Portis was held to 52 yards on 17 carries. In the win at San Francisco (9/25), Ferguson recorded three tackles and batted a pass that Al Singleton intercepted at the Cowboys 31-yard line to end a potential scoring drive. In the Texas Stadium win over Philadelphia (10/9), he registered two tackles and a tackle behind the line as the defense limited the Eagles to 129 total yards, including just 19 on the ground - the fourth lowest rushing total allowed by a Dallas team in club history. In the victory over the N.Y. Giants (10/16), he recorded a quarterback pressure as Eli Manning went 14-for-30 (46.7%) passing. Ferguson also recovered a Plaxico Burris fumble at the Giants 19-yard line. In the last-minute loss at Seattle (10/23), he recorded three tackles as the NFL's top ranked offense entering the game was limited to 289 total yards, 118 below their season average, and one touchdown. Shaun Alexander, the NFL's leading rusher at 119 yards-per-game (5.5 avg.), was limited to 61 yards on 21 carries (2.9 avg.). In the win over Arizona (10/30), he had two tackles and a quarterback pressure as the Cardinals were held to 213 total yards. In the Monday night win at Philadelphia (11/14), Ferguson recorded four tackles. Ferguson earned his first start as a Cowboy in the team's loss at the N.Y. Giants (12/4), replacing Glover at nose tackle. He responded with a season-high six tackles - tops among linemen - and his first sack of 2005. He also added a season-high two quarterback pressures as the Giants were held to one offensive touchdown and 150 net passing yards. He started again the next week against Kansas City (12/11) as the Cowboys opened the game in a 4-3 defensive alignment. In his third straight start - the loss at Washington (12/18) - he tied his season-high and led all linemen with six tackles. In the last-minute win at Carolina (12/24), Ferguson recorded four tackles as the Panthers were limited to 71 rushing yards on 24 carries (3.0 avg.). While drawing the starting nod against St. Louis (1/1/06), he tied for the lead among linemen with five tackles and helped limit the Rams to 147 net passing yards.
2004: In his final season with the Jets, Ferguson started 15-of-16 games and totaled 60 tackles, 3.5 sacks and a career-high two forced fumbles after moving back to nose tackle from defensive tackle. He recorded two tackles and two pressures at San Diego (9/19) before notching five stops, two pressures and a sack that resulted in a forced fumble at Miami (10/3). He posted four stops against San Francisco (10/17) in his 90th career regular season game. He also teamed with Shaun Ellis to sack 49ers quarterback Tim Rattay on a third quarter, third down play that led to a San Francisco punt. The Jets then scored their first touchdown of the game to begin the march to a come-from-behind victory. Ferguson tallied five tackles, including one for a loss, at New England (10/24), then recorded four stops, two sacks and a pressure in New York's Monday Night Football victory over Miami (11/1). He tallied four stops and a season-high five quarterback pressures in an overtime loss to Baltimore (11/14). Ferguson began a late season push at Pittsburgh (12/12) with six tackles, then recorded a season-high seven tackles and a pressure against Seattle. Against New England (12/26), the Jets opened in a 3-4 package, snapping his 46-game consecutive starts streak. He contributed four stops while rotating in against the Patriots. He tallied three tackles and forced an Isaac Bruce fumble in the Jets 32-29 overtime loss at St. Louis (1/2/05) in the regular season finale. In an AFC Wild Card Playoff Game at San Diego (1/8/05), Ferguson contributed five tackles, a sack and a pressure in the Jets 20-17 overtime victory. The following week in a 20-17 overtime loss at Pittsburgh (1/15/05) in a divisional playoff game, he totaled seven tackles and sacked quarterback Ben Roethlisberger for a 10-yard loss in the third quarter.
2003: Ferguson started all 16 games at defensive tackle and set a career-high with 106 tackles, tied his career-high with 4.5 sacks, batted down four passes, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble. He opened the season at Washington (9/4) with five tackles, a tackle for a loss and a fumble recovery. He then totaled five stops against Miami (9/14) and nine tackles and a pass defensed at New England (9/21). The following week against Dallas (9/28), he tied for the team lead with eight stops while splitting a sack with John Abraham. Against Buffalo (10/12), Ferguson was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week after tallying nine tackles, a career-high two sacks, a pass deflection and a forced fumble. He turned in seven stops the following week at Houston (10/19) before contributing another seven tackles and half a sack at Philadelphia (10/26). He registered a career-high 10 tackles, including one for a loss at Oakland (11/9). He kicked off the final month of the season with eight tackles and a sack at Buffalo (12/7) before adding another eight stops and batting down a pass against Pittsburgh (12/14). Against New England (12/20), he posted five tackles to eclipse the 100-tackle plateau for the season - the first time in his career he had surpassed that milestone. He then closed out his career year by totaling four stops and half a sack in the season finale at Miami (12/28).
2002: After missing the 2001 season following rotator cuff surgery, Ferguson returned to the playing field in 2002 and started 18 games (including playoffs) at nose tackle. He finished the season with 79 tackles (a then career-high), three sacks and three batted passes. In New York's season opening overtime victory at Buffalo (9/8), he registered eight tackles and 1.5 sacks - both occurring in the second half. He then posted six stops against New England (9/15) before totaling a season-high nine tackles and half a sack at Miami (9/22). He tallied six tackles - including his 200th career stop - and a tackle for a loss at Jacksonville (9/29). He contributed five tackles against Miami (11/10) and five stops and his third sack of the season at Oakland (12/2). Against Denver (12/8), he recorded six tackles, then registered eight stops and a pass deflection in the Jets division clinching victory over Green Bay (12/29). In New York's AFC Wild Card Playoff Game against Indianapolis (1/4/03), Ferguson contributed two tackles. The following week in a divisional playoff game loss at Oakland (1/12/03), he totaled three tackles - including one behind the line of scrimmage.
2001: During a training camp practice on July 30, Ferguson tore his right rotator cuff and required surgery to repair the damage. He was placed on injured reserve Sept. 3 and missed the season.
2000: Ferguson totaled 45 tackles, a sack and a pass defensed while starting 11 of the 15 games. The only game he missed during the season was against Pittsburgh (10/8) due to a sprained ankle. He started the four games prior to his injury and the seven games after returning before being replaced in the starting lineup for the final month of the season. He recorded his lone sack of the season at New England (10/15) in his return to action following his ankle injury. Three weeks later against Denver (11/5), Ferguson tallied a season-high eight tackles. Late in the season, he registered seven stops against Detroit (12/17).
1999: Ferguson played and started nine games at nose tackle in the Jets 3-4 defensive scheme and contributed 33 tackles, two forced fumbles and a sack. He started the season opener against New England (9/12) and totaled six tackles before injuring his right ankle in the third quarter. He missed the next three games due to the ankle injury, but returned to the field against Jacksonville (10/11) in a Monday Night Football tilt to post two tackles and force a fumble. He recorded five stops and forced a fumble at Oakland (10/24) before totaling four tackles against Buffalo (12/21). After missing four games due to a league imposed suspension, Ferguson returned to the starting lineup at Miami (12/27).
1998: Following a strong rookie campaign, Ferguson avoided a sophomore jinx by totaling 63 tackles (third highest total of his career), four sacks, a pass deflection and a forced fumble. He opened the season with a bang, registering five stops and blocking an extra point at San Francisco (9/6). He posted a team-high nine tackles against Baltimore (9/13) before totaling four stops and his first sack of the season against Atlanta (10/25). During the Jets six-game winning streak to end the regular season, he tallied seven tackles and 1.5 sacks at Tennessee (11/22) to begin the stretch, four stops and half a sack against Carolina (11/29) and two tackles and a sack at Miami (12/13). After a first round bye, Ferguson posted a team leading seven tackles in the Jets AFC Divisional Playoff Game against Jacksonville (1/10/99). He was held without a tackle in the AFC Championship Game at Denver (1/7/99) the following week.
1997: After being drafted in the seventh round (229th overall) of the NFL Draft, Ferguson saw action in 13 games as a rookie and recorded 32 tackles and a career-high 4.5 sacks. He was inactive for the first two games of the season, but made his professional debut at New England (9/14) and posted two tackles. He registered his first career sack against New England (10/19) a month later while contributing four tackles. He again tallied four stops and a sack at Miami (11/9) before suffering a bruised left shoulder on the second half kickoff against Minnesota (11/23) and not returning to action. He missed the game at Buffalo (11/30) due to the shoulder injury, but returned to the field against Indianapolis (12/7) and contributed four tackles. Against Tampa Bay (12/14), he totaled three tackles and a sack after being forced into full-time duty due to the season ending injury of Ernie Logan. Ferguson made his first career start in the season finale at Detroit (12/21) and totaled four tackles.
COLLEGE: Ferguson was a first-team All-Southeastern Conference selection by The Football News after recording 81 tackles, nine sacks and five tackles for losses as a senior. His nine sacks ranked as the ninth best total in Georgia history at the time of his departure. After transferring from Itawamba, Miss., Junior College prior to his junior season, he stepped right into the Bulldogs starting lineup and totaled 69 stops, five tackles for losses and two sacks. He wrapped up his first season in Georgia by posting six tackles and a fumble recovery (which he returned for a touchdown) against Virginia in the Peach Bowl. He was a two-time all-area and all-state selection at Itawamba, where he posted 88 tackles and 2.5 sacks.
PERSONAL: Ferguson was a two-time all-North Mississippi and three-time all-district selection at Nettleton, Miss., High School, where he tallied 117 tackles, 15 forced fumbles, 11 sacks and two interceptions as a senior defensive tackle. He was also the center for the Nettleton basketball team and a shot putter for the track team. While with the Jets, ?Fergie' visited James Dever School in Valley Stream, N.Y., as part of the Jets Readers Club program. He also participated in the club's Football Fanfare/Kid Reporter of the Week Program with The Star Ledger by being interviewed by a kid reporter following New York's Oct. 12, 2003 game against Buffalo. During the 2003 holiday season, he provided Toys ?R' Us gift cards to area children. In April 2006, Ferguson joined Cowboys Linebacker DeMarcus Ware and Defensive End Marcus Spears and a dozen other teammates in support of the Second Annual Taste of the NFL: The Ultimate Dallas Cowboys Tailgate Party which benefited the North Texas Food Bank. The event helped raise money that will provide over 330,000 meals to North Texans in need. Ferguson and his wife, Gena, have a son, Jason, Jr. |
