Hawthorne appeared in 11 games with 10 starts at multiple linebacker positions in his first season in New Orleans, recording 43 tackles (20 solo) despite missing five contests due to an injured hamstring. The former Texas Christian standout came to New Orleans following a breakout 2011 campaign with the Seattle Seahawks where he was originally signed as an undrafted free agent in 2008. Overall, Hawthorne has played in 72 games with 51 starts and has totaled 379 tackles (260 solo), six sacks, seven interceptions, one returned for a touchdown, 15 passes defensed, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and 15 special teams tackles. He looks to return healthy to the Saints linebacker unit and contribute in the club’s new 3-4 defensive alignment in 2013.
NFL CAREER – Hawthorne appeared in 11 games with 10 starts at multiple linebacker positions in his first season in New Orleans, recording 43 tackles (20 solo) despite missing five contests due to an injured hamstring. The former Texas Christian standout came to New Orleans following a breakout 2011 campaign with the Seattle Seahawks where he was originally signed as an undrafted free agent in 2008. Overall, Hawthorne has played in 72 games with 51 starts and has totaled 379 tackles (260 solo), six sacks, seven interceptions, one returned for a touchdown, 15 passes defensed, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and 15 special teams tackles. He looks to return healthy to the Saints linebacker unit and contribute in the club’s new 3-4 defensive alignment in 2013.
CAREER TRANSACTIONS – Agreed to terms on a five-year contract with New Orleans (UFA-Sea.), 4/3/12; Signed to a one-year contract extension by Seattle, 12/1/10; Re-signed by Seattle to a one-year contract (ERFA), 5/15/10; Signed by the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted rookie free agent, 4/27/08.
HONORS – 2011: NFC Defensive Player of the Week (Week 13).
2012 – Played in 11 games with 10 starts at both the weakside and strongside positions for Saints, recording 43 tackles (20 solo) despite missing five contests due to a hamstring injury (weeks 4-9)…Registered season-high seven tackles (three solo) in season opener vs. Washington, Sept. 9…Returned from injury to start first game of season at strongside linebacker and tallied five stops (two solo) vs. Atlanta, Nov. 11…Contributed six tackles (three solo) at Oakland, Nov. 18…Earned six tackles (one solo) vs. San Francisco, Nov. 25…Recorded five stops (season-high four solo) at N.Y. Giants, Dec. 9. 2011 – Played in 15 games with 14 starts at middle linebacker in last season in Seattle. Led Seahawks with 115 tackles (73 solo), two sacks, three interceptions, one returned for a touchdown, six pass breakups and a fumble recovery. Became fifth Seahawk to total at least 100 tackles in three straight seasons…Inactive at San Francisco, Sept. 11, (knee)…Registered nine tackles (six solo) vs. Arizona, Sept. 25…Led the Seahawks defense with 10 tackles (three solo) vs. Atlanta, Oct. 2…Tallied 11 tackles, a sack, an interception and a pass defense at Cleveland, Oct. 23…Totaled eight tackles (six solo) at Dallas, Nov. 6…Made seven tackles (five solo) and returned an interception 34 yards to Baltimore’s eight-yard line vs. Baltimore, Nov. 13…Registered four tackles (three solo) and recovered a fumble at St. Louis, Nov. 20…Tied for the team-lead with six tackles (three solo) and returned an interception 77 yards for first-career touchdown vs. Philadelphia, Dec. 1, as he was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week…Led the defense with 10 tackles (five solo) vs. St. Louis, Dec. 12…Posted seven tackles (six solo) at Chicago, Dec. 18…Recorded seven tackles (three solo) and a pass defense vs. San Francisco, Dec. 24…Had season-high 13 tackles (nine solo) and a sack in the finale at Arizona, 1/1/12. 2010 – Started all 16 contests and both postseason games. Finished with team-best 105 tackles (74 solo), one interception, four passes defensed, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and two special teams stops. Had 18 tackles (14 solo), a pass defense and a fumble recovery in playoffs, leading Seattle to NFC Divisional Round…Made nine tackles (six solo) and forced Mike Tolbert to fumble vs. San Diego, Sept. 26…Posted five tackles (four solo) vs. Arizona, Oct. 24…Recorded four tackles (two solo) and one special teams stop at Oakland, Oct. 31…Registered 12 tackles (nine solo) and one fumble recovery vs. N.Y. Giants, Nov. 7…Posted 12 tackles (10 solo), an interception of Drew Brees and one pass defense at New Orleans, Nov. 21…Registered 12 tackles (seven solo) vs. Kansas City, Nov. 28…Totaled a season-high 14 tackles (11 solo) vs. Carolina, Dec. 5…Had six tackles (five solo) and forced a fumble vs. Atlanta, Dec. 19…Tallied eight tackles (five solo) and a special teams stop at Tampa Bay, Dec. 26…Recorded nine tackles (six solo), a recovery of a fumble by Julius Jones and one pass defense in NFC Wild Card Playoff vs. New Orleans, 1/8/11…Posted nine tackles (eight solo) in NFC Divisional Playoff game at Chicago, 1/16/11. 2009 – Started 11 of the 16 games he played in. Finished with a career-high 116 tackles (93 solo), four sacks, three interceptions, five passes defensed, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery…Took over starting duties in middle in week six for injured Lofa Tatupu…Made first career start and had career-high 16 tackles (15 solo) with an interception and a pass defense vs. Chicago, Sept. 27. Tackle total tied for third-highest in club history…Made five solo tackles, a sack and a forced fumble vs. Arizona, Oct. 18…Posted career-high two sacks in addition to eight tackles (five solo) and a forced fumble at Dallas, Nov. 1…Recorded 11 tackles (10 solo) at Arizona, Nov. 15…Registered 15 tackles (11 solo) at Minnesota, Nov. 22…Tallied seven tackles and a third down sack of Kyle Boller to force a punt at St. Louis, Nov. 29…Posted 10 tackles (six solo) and a fumble recovery at Houston, Dec. 13…Totaled 10 tackles (six solo) vs. Tampa Bay, Dec. 2. 2008 – Appeared in 14 contests as rookie on special teams…Totaled 12 special teams tackles…Posted two special teams stops at N.Y. Giants, Oct. 5…Tallied two special teams tackles at Arizona, Dec. 28.
COLLEGE – Started 38 games, including all but three contests over his last three seasons and posted 186 career tackles…Played as a graduate student in 2007 and finished second on team, with 84 tackles along with five sacks…Had a total of 43 tackles in 2006…Received a bachelor’s degree in communications and a master’s degree in liberal arts.
PERSONAL – Attended Corsicana (Texas) HS, where as a senior, recorded 142 tackles, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, two interceptions and scored three defensive touchdowns…Three-year football letterman and two-year basketball letterman…Earned school’s Head Hunter award on the gridiron and named Mr. Defense in basketball…Born May 14, 1985 in Corsicana, Texas.
