Players

A second-team Associated Press All-Pro, Eric Weddle led the secondary with 93 tackles and held down the back line for the NFL’s top-ranked unit in both total defense and pass defense in 2010. San Diego ranked 31st among the NFL’s 32 teams in pass defense in 2008, Weddle’s first season as a starter, but it improved to 11th in 2009 before leading the league in ’10. It’s the second year in a row that Weddle topped the secondary in total tackles.

So pleased have the Chargers been with Weddle’s performance that in July 2011, the team inked the Southern California native to a new five-year contract that will make him one of the highest-paid safeties in the National Football League.

As a first-year starter in 2008, Weddle made an immediate impact. He started all 16 games, ranked second on the team in total tackles, just one behind the team leader, and he set a team record with an 86-yard fumble return for a touchdown against Atlanta. Though he didn’t start as a rookie in 2007, Weddle was part of a secondary that led the NFL with 30 interceptions. He capped his first professional season with a timely interception of Peyton Manning at the goal line in the Bolts’ Divisional Playoff win over the Indianapolis Colts.

Weddle grew up in Alta Loma, about an hour north of San Diego. His family are long-time Chargers fans.

Weddle and his high school sweetheart, Chanel, were married in La Jolla in July 2005. They have a daughter, Brooklyn Marie, and a son, Gaige. They wed before Eric’s junior season at Utah and lived near Utah State in Ogden where she went to school and played soccer for the Aggies. Weddle commuted nearly an hour each way to Salt Lake City where the University of Utah is located for school and football.

A special education major, Weddle tutored students with learning disabilities. He made regular visits to Utah’s Primary Children’s Hospital, spoke to children at schools and youth correctional facilities, and volunteered with the Salt Lake City Food Bank. In June 2011, Weddle returned to Salt Lake to host his first Eric Weddle Football Camp. Miami Dolphins defensive back and former Ute teammate, Sean Smith, assisted Weddle with the three-day camp.

Weddle is an avid golfer who plays to a seven or eight handicap and bowls once or twice a week, averaging in the 170s. Other hobbies include baseball, basketball and watching movies.

TRANSACTION HISTORY: Second-round pick (37), April 28, 2007...signed four-year contract, July 24, 2007...signed new five-year contract, July 30, 2011.

2011: Fourth-quarter interception with 55 seconds left sealed the victory against Kansas City in Week 3...it was the Chargers’ first of the season by a member of the team’s secondary..Had his second-straight game-clinching interception with 2:53 left in the fourth quarter against Miami in Week 4...intercepted Jets' quarterback Mark Sanchez at the goal line late in the first quarter in Week 7, setting up a touchdown drive that gave the Chargers a 14-3 lead...Had a career-high two interceptions in Week 8 against the Chiefs, both in the second half...the first led to a field goal that got the Chargers within 13-9 and the second forced the game into overtime...Weddle combined with Antoine Cason to set up a Chargers touchdown late in the first half in Week 13 against Jacksonville as Cason tipped a pass into the waiting arms of Weddle for his sixth interception of the season...He intercepted his seventh pass of the season in the first quarter Week 14 against Buffalo…it’s tied for the fourth-most picks in a season in team history… The Bills stopped the Chargers in three plays at a pivotal point in the third quarter, but facing a 4th-and-2 from their own 30, Norv Turner called for a fake punt and up-back Eric Weddle sprinted 10 yards for a first down...Made a great play Week 16 against Detroit in the end zone in the first quarter to break up an apparent 32-yard touchdown pass to Calvin Johnson on a 3rd-and-11 play, forcing a Lions’ field goal try...Weddle also recovered an onside kick to set up a field goal Week 16 against Detroit...

2010: Second-team Associated Press All-Pro...touchdown saving pass defensed in end zone during 29-23 win at Houston Nov. 7...Game Ball after 41-yard interception return touchdown off Peyton Manning and two deep passes defensed vs. Reggie Wayne in 36-14 win at Indianapolis Nov. 28...tied career-high with 12 tackles Dec. 26 at Cincinnati.

2009: Game Ball for first-career INT return for TD (31 yards) Sept. 27 vs. MIA for 23-6 lead...Game Ball Dec. 25 at TEN in win that clinched No. 2 seed in playoffs...INT pass late 3Q off Vince Young and helped force punt on next series with two-yard TFL vs. NFL’sleading rusher, Chris Johnson.

2008: FR TD (86 yards) Wk 12 vs. ATL…team-high 12 stops in pivotal Wk 15 win at TB and in AFC West clinching win over DEN Dec. 28…led team with three PBUs and shared 4Q TFL in Jan. 5 Wild Card vs. IND…sack among 11 TT in Jan. 11 Divisional
Playoffs at PIT.

2007: Series of third-down big plays in first half of first-career game vs. CHI…third-down TFL, two QB pressures and sack on consecutive series...first-career INT to seal 35-10 win over HOU Oct. 28…one-handed INT prevented TD in 3Q of Divisional Playoff win at IND.

COLLEGE: MWC Defensive POY in 2005 and ’06… second-team All-America as junior, first-team as senior and first-teamAll-MWC both…Def. MVP of 2005 Emerald Bowl…second-team all-conference, honor roll, Dean’s List student and elected to school’s Football Leadership Committee as soph in ’04…Frosh All America, All-MWC honorable mention and Academic All-MWC pick in '03…school-record nine FFs…MWCrecord and second in school annals with 18 career INTs…also second at Utah with three INT TD returns…tied MWC record, eighth in nation and second in school history with seven INTsas senior...only player in school and MWC history to score TDs passing, rushing, on INT return and FR in season (2006) and career…Walter Camp National POW after '06 game vs. San Diego State with three INTs, two returns for TDs and rush score…also in '06, on field for 90 plays vs. Air Force, scoring two rushing TDs and holding for GW FG in 17-14 victory…INT late in 4Q of '06 Armed Forces Bowl vs. Tulsa sealed win in final collegiate game…played at Utah from 2003-06…special education major.

PERSONAL: Born in Fontana, California…two-time Mt. Baldy League Offensive and Defensive MVP, three-time all-league choice, two-time All-CIF selection and league Rookie of Year at Alta Loma (Calif.) HS…led Braves to '00 Mt. Baldy League championship…lettered in basketball and baseball.