NFL CAREER –Acquired by the Saints via trade in the middle of the 2020 season, Alexander made an immediate impact by adding veteran experience and leadership to the linebacker corps. In eight starts, he posted 29 tackles (18 solo), four passes defensed, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. Originally selected in the fourth round (124th overall) of the 2015 NFL Draft by Tampa Bay, he became an immediate starter and was selected to his first Pro Bowl in 2017. In 2019, the LSU product signed with San Francisco in free agency and helped the 49ers reach Super Bowl LIV in his first postseason appearance. Entering 2021, Alexander has started all 67 games he's appeared in, posting 503 tackles (355 solo), seven interceptions with one returned for a touchdown, 9.5 sacks, 30 passes defensed, ten forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries.
CAREER TRANSACTIONS – Re-signed by Saints to a one-year contract, 8/4/21; Contract terminated by Saints, 3/10/21; Placed on Injured Reserve by New Orleans Saints, 12/28/20; Acquired by Saints from 49ers, 11/2/20; Activated from Injured Reserve by 49ers, 1/10/20; Placed on Injured Reserve by 49ers, 11/5/19; Signed to a four-year contract with 49ers (UFA-TB), 3/13/19; Placed on Injured Reserve (knee) by Buccaneers, 10/22/18; Signed by Tampa Bay to a four-year contract, 5/12/15; Selected in fourth round (124th overall) of the 2015 NFL Draft by Buccaneers.
HONORS –2017: Pro Bowl; 2015: PFWA All-Rookie, NFC Special Teams Player of the Week (Week 8).
2020 – In 13 games for both New Orleans and San Francisco started all 13 contests he appeared in and posted 59 tackles (40 solo), one sack, four passes defensed, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. In eight starts for the Black and Gold finished with 29 stops (18 solo), four passes defensed, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries before suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon injury vs. Minnesota, Dec. 25. Posted three solo tackles and two passes defensed at Atlanta, Dec. 6 in helping secure season sweep. Recorded three solo tackles and a pass defense vs. Atlanta, Nov. 22. 2019 – Started all eight games in which he appeared for San Francisco and registered 34 tackles, a split sack, an interception and tied career-high with two forced fumbles, before being placed on Injured Reserve, Nov. 5 (pectoral)…Activated from Injured Reserve, 1/10/20...Appeared in all three postseason games with two starts and registered three tackles and a pass defensed…Intercepted Andy Dalton at Cincinnati, Sept. 15, marking his first pick as a 49er and seventh of his career. Recorded of split sack of Baker Mayfield vs. Cleveland, Oct 7…Forced an Adrian Peterson fumble at Washington, Oct. 20, his first of the season…In the NFC Divisional Playoff, helped 49ers defense hold Vikings to 147 total net yds. (21 rushing, 126 passing) vs. Minnesota, 1/11/20. 2018 – Started all six games he appeared in for Tampa Bay Buccaneers before suffering a season-ending knee injury and registered 45 tackles, two forced fumbles, two passes defensed and one sack…Forced a fumble at New Orleans, Sept. 9…Sacked and forced a Nick Foles fumble, tying his single season career high for forced fumbles vs. Philadelphia, Sept. 16. 2017 – Started all 12 games which he appeared in for Tampa Bay and recorded 97 tackles, four passes defensed, three interceptions and one forced fumble…One of just five players to record 95-or-more tackles and three-or-more interceptions on season…Intercepted Mike Glennon and returned it 22 yards vs. Chicago, Sept. 17…Registered four tackles, one pass defensed and one forced fumble vs. N.Y. Jets, Nov. 12…Recorded eight tackles, one pass defense and one interception at Miami, Nov. 19...Tallied eight tackles, one pass defensed and one interception at Carolina, Dec. 24. 2016 – Started all 16 games for Tampa Bay and registered 145 tackles, seven passes defensed, three sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and an interception return for a TD…145 tackles tied for third-most in the NFL…Led the team with 17 tackles and one sack at Atlanta, Sept. 11…Recorded seven tackles, and an interception returned for a TD vs. L.A. Rams, Sept. 25…Registered seven tackles and a sack vs. Denver, Oct. 2…Tallied five tackles and one fumble recovery vs. Chicago, Nov. 13…Registered six tackles and one sack vs. Seattle, Nov. 27…Recorded a career-high 21 tackles and one forced fumble at Dallas, Dec. 18. 2015 – Started all 12 games in which he appeared in for Tampa Bay and recorded 93 tackles, nine passes defensed, 3.0 sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and one fumble recoveries…Despite missing four games, his 93 tackles ranked third in NFL among rookies…Registered 10 tackles, two passes defensed and his first career pick at Houston, Sept. 27...Recorded five tackles, two passes defensed and a sack vs. Jacksonville, Oct. 11…Led team with 11 tackles, an interception, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a pass defense at Atlanta, Nov. 11…Registered four tackles and a sack vs. Dallas, Nov. 15…Recorded 10 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble at Atlanta, Dec. 6.
COLLEGE – Started 23-of-32 career games played at LSU (2012-14)…Started all 12 games he played as a junior in 2014, tallying 90 tackles, two forced fumbles, 1.5 sacks and a pass defensed…Earned first-team All-SEC honors from ESPN.com and second-team All-SEC recognition from the AP…Part of a defense ranked third in the NCAA in passing defense (164.2 yards per game) and ninth in total defense (316.8 yards per game), both which led the SEC. Defense also tied for the fourth-fewest points allowed per game (17.5 ppg.), a figure that stood as second-best mark in SEC…Notched first career sack against Alabama (11/8/14)…As sophomore in 2013, started 9-of-13 games, totaling 65 tackles and four passes defensed…Played in seven games, with two starts as freshman in 2012, finishing with 11 tackles, two fumble recoveries, a pass defensed and a forced fumble…Made his first career start at Florida (10/6/12)…Made his LSU debut in 2012 season opener against North Texas (9/1/12), registering a pair of tackles and a fumble recovery…Majored in sport administration.
PERSONAL – Attended Oxford (Ala.) HS…Played in the Under Armour All-American Game as senior…Chosen as a finalist for the High School Butkus Award, given annually to the nation's top linebacker…Named to the 2011 ESPN All-Alabama Football Team and earned Class 6A All-State honorable mention…A top recruit, ranking 19th on Scout.com's Final Southeast Top 150, 29th in the ESPNU 150, 45th in the Press-Register Super Southeast 120 and was listed in MaxPreps' Top 100…Earned four-star recruit honors from ESPN.com, Rivals.com and Scout.com…Born on August 3, 1994 in Oxford, Alabama.
