Herring came to New Orleans in 2011 after spending his first four NFL seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, who originally picked him in the fifth round of the 2007 NFL Draft. In 65 appearances with ten starts with extensive action at both outside linebacker positions, he’s posted career totals of 85 tackles (65 solo), one sack, two interceptions, four passes defensed, and two forced fumbles. The former Auburn standout has also been a stalwart on special teams units with 40 stops. In 2012, Herring appeared in all 16 games with one start and posted seven tackles (four solo), while tying for second on the team with 14 special teams stops.
NFL CAREER – Herring came to New Orleans in 2011 after spending his first four NFL seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, who originally picked him in the fifth round of the 2007 NFL Draft. In 65 appearances with ten starts with extensive action at both outside linebacker positions, he’s posted career totals of 85 tackles (65 solo), one sack, two interceptions, four passes defensed, and two forced fumbles. The former Auburn standout has also been a stalwart on special teams units with 40 stops. In 2012, Herring appeared in all 16 games with one start and posted seven tackles (four solo), while tying for second on the team with 14 special teams stops.
CAREER TRANSACTIONS – Agreed to terms on a one-year contract, 3/21/13; Contract terminated, 3/12/13; Placed on Injured Reserve, 1/4/12; Agreed to terms with New Orleans (UFA-Sea.), 7/29/11; Signed by Seattle to a four-year contract, 7/3/07; Chosen by Seattle Seahawks in the fifth round (161st overall) of the 2007 NFL Draft.
2012 – Appeared in all 16 contests with one start, finishing with seven tackles (four solo), while tying for second on the team with a career-high 14 special teams stops…Saw action at defense and on special teams in opener vs. Washington, Sept. 9 and had four tackles (two solo) and one special teams stop…Led special teams units with three stops vs. Kansas City, Sept. 23…Started at weakside linebacker at Green Bay, Sept. 30 and made one solo stop…Posted team-high three special teams stops vs. Tampa Bay, Dec. 16. 2011 – Played in games 1-3 and 9-16, inactive for five contests with a hamstring injury and was placed on injured reserve, 1/4/12, with a knee injury…Had ten tackles (five solo), one interception, one pass defense and seven special teams stops…In Black and Gold debut, started at strongside linebacker in NFL season opener at Green Bay, Sept. 8 and had three tackles (two solo)…Intercepted an Eli Manning pass in the end zone in first quarter and added a special teams tackle vs. N.Y. Giants, Nov. 28…Led special teams unit with three tackles vs. Detroit, Dec. 4…Started and recorded three tackles (two solo) vs. Atlanta, Dec. 26. 2010 – Played in 15 regular season games and two postseason contests in his final season in Seattle…Inactive against Tampa Bay, Dec. 26, (hamstring)…Finished the season with 26 tackles (22 solo), one sack, one interception, two passes defensed, one forced fumble and ten special teams stops…Replaced starter Aaron Curry (hamstring) in second quarter and recorded three solo tackles vs. San Diego, Sept. 26…Registered two solo tackles and one sack for a loss of 12 yards at St. Louis, Oct. 3…Gained five tackles (three solo), one pass defense, and his first career interception, when he picked off quarterback Sam Bradford, after returning from hamstring injury at home against St. Louis, 1/2/11 in contest that captured NFC West for Seahawks and propelled them into the playoffs…Had four tackles (three solo) and one pass defense in extensive action at linebacker in the 41-36 NFC Wild Card Playoff game victory over the Saints…Recorded two solo tackles and one forced fumble at Chicago in NFC Divisional Playoff game, seeing action at linebacker. 2009 – Played in all 16 games with seven starts at linebacker for Seattle…Replaced both Curry (shoulder) and Leroy Hill (groin) in his starts…Posted 38 tackles (30 solo), one pass defense, one forced fumble and eight special teams stops…Recorded a career-high eight tackles (five solo) at Green Bay, Dec. 27…Registered seven tackles (six solo) and his first career forced fumble against Tennessee, 1/3/11. 2008 – Appeared in 11 games, starting one at linebacker in his second season for the Seahawks and recorded 11 tackles (eight solo) with two special teams stops…Registered five tackles (four solo) against the N.Y. Jets, Dec. 21…Gained six tackles (four solo) at Arizona, Dec. 28. 2007 – Played in 12 games as a rookie and recorded 13 special teams tackles…Played in two postseason games, recording two special teams tackles…Recorded three special teams tackles against Cincinnati, Sep. 23.
COLLEGE – Played in 52 games at Auburn…Recorded 237 tackles, seven interceptions, two sacks, four fumble recoveries and one forced fumble…Redshirted his freshman year in 2002…Named Coaches and AP All-Southeastern Conference Second-Team in 2005…Named first-team Freshman All-SEC by The Sporting News and conference coaches in 2003…Received Eddie Welch Attitude and Effort Award after moving from FS to LB in 2006…Among inaugural class of 345 inductees into National Football Foundation’s National Honor Society…Majored in exercise science.
PERSONAL – Attended Opelika (Ala.) HS, where he was a three-year starter at quarterback and led team to a 30-6 record…Recorded 2,638 yards passing with 22 touchdown passes…Gained 1,632 yards rushing with 27 touchdowns…Two time school offensive MVP…Also played baseball…Has owned and operated Herring 24-Hour Fitness Gym in Auburn, Ala since 2011…Herring and his wife Ashley, have one daughter, Madilyn Grace…Super Bowl XLVII week assisted “Super Baskets of Hope” group, where he, Chris Chamberlain and100 volunteers assembled gift baskets to be delivered to patients at local hospitals…Born August 28, 1983.
