Biography
NFL CAREER – Returning to New Orleans in 2020, where he first established himself as one of the NFL's most intelligent and instinctive defensive backs, Malcolm Jenkins is one of only two safeties in team history to have been selected as an AP All-Pro. Entering 2021, his six career interception returns for touchdowns are tied for third in the NFL since 2009.
NFL CAREER – Returning to New Orleans in 2020, where he first established himself as one of the NFL's most intelligent and instinctive defensive backs, Malcolm Jenkins is one of only two safeties in team history to have been selected as an AP All-Pro. Entering 2021, his six career interception returns for touchdowns are tied for third in the NFL since 2009. The Piscataway, N.J. native's a veteran of 12 NFL seasons, playing his first five in New Orleans and the next six with the Philadelphia Eagles before returning to New Orleans in 2020. Since being selected in the first round (14th overall) out of Ohio State by New Orleans in the 2009 NFL Draft, Jenkins has played in 183 career regular season games with 175 starts and has career totals of 1,205 tackles (858 solo), 12 sacks, 20 interceptions, 125 passes defensed,16 forced fumbles, 10 fumble recoveries and 44 special teams stops. He has played in 14 career postseason contests with 12 starts and has recorded 87 tackles (62 solo), two sacks and eight passes defensed. In his first season back in New Orleans in 2020, the durable Jenkins started all 16 regular season games at safety for the seventh straight season and finished with 91 tackles (69 solo), good for second on the team, a career-high tying three interceptions, 2.5 sacks, ten passes defensed, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble. He added 14 stops and three passes defensed in two postseason contests. During his tenures with the Saints and Eagles, Jenkins has been one of the most socially conscious and community-minded players in the NFL.
CAREER TRANSACTIONS – Agreed to terms with New Orleans on a four-year contract, 3/18/20; Declared free agent by Philadelphia, 3/17/20; Re-signed by Philadelphia to a contract extension, 3/22/16; Signed by Philadelphia to a three-year contract (UFA-NO); Placed on Injured Reserve by New Orleans, 12/15/12; Signed to a five-year contract by New Orleans, 8/10/09; Selected by New Orleans in the first round (14th overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft.
HONORS – 2018: Pro Bowl; 2017: Pro Bowl; 2016: Byron "Whizzer" White Award; 2015: Pro Bowl; 2011: USA Football All-Fundamentals Team; Jim Finks Good Guy Award (cooperation with local media); Saints Man of the Year (Club nominee for Walter Payton Man of the Year); 2010: Associated Press second-team All-Pro; USA Today All-Joe; NFC Defensive Player of the Week (Weeks 12 and 14); GMC Never Say Never Moment of the Week (Week 12).
2020 – Voted as one of three season-long defensive captains along with Demario Davis and Cameron Jordan…Started all 16 games in his first season back in New Orleans and finished second on the team with 91 tackles (69 solo), a career-high tying three interceptions, a career-high tying 2.5 sacks, 10 passes defensed, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble. Added 14 stops and three passes defensed in two postseason contests…Recorded a postseason career-high 11 tackles (eight solo) and a postseason career-high tying three passes defensed in NFC Divisional Playoff vs. Tampa Bay, 1/17/21…Finished with three tackles (two solo) in NFC Wild Card Playoff vs. Chicago, 1/10/21…Recorded four tackles, a pass defense (the 125th of his career), and an interception in regular season finale at Carolina, 1/3/21. Moved his season total to 10 pass breakups for the seventh consecutive season and three picks, which matches his career-best set in 2014 and 2016…Finished with seven total tackles (six solo), a forced fumble and a split sack vs. Minnesota, Dec. 25. Entering with 1,194 total stops, recorded the 1,200th tackle of his career…Finished second on team with season-high 13 tackles (ten solo), his first game of the season with double-digit stops, vs. Kansas City, Dec. 20…Finished with five tackles (four solo) and one fumble recovery at Philadelphia, Dec. 13…Finished with three solo tackles at Atlanta, Dec. 6… Finished with three tackles vs. Atlanta, Nov. 22…Recorded an interception for second consecutive game. Had recorded interceptions in consecutive games one other time in his career, recording interceptions in Weeks 2, 3, and 4 of 2014, as member of Eagles. Added four tackles (two solo) and two passes defensed, marking 23rd career game with multiple pass defenses and second such game in 2020 vs. San Francisco, Nov. 15…Played in his 175th career game, recording his first interception since Week 12 of 2018, as a member of the Eagles, and tied for team lead with five tackles at Tampa Bay, Nov. 8…Tied for the team lead with eight tackles (five solo) at Chicago, Nov. 1. Added his first sack of the season and two passes defensed…Led Saints with nine tackles (eight solo), vs. Green Bay, Sept. 27… Recorded six tackles (three solo) and one pass breakup vs. Tampa Bay, Sept. 13.
2019 – Started all 16 games in his final season in Philadelphia and led team with 118 tackles (82 solo), a career-high-tying 2.5 sacks, 12 passes defensed, a career-high four forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, two special teams tackles and a blocked field goal…In NFC Wild Card Playoff vs. Seattle, 1/5/20, posted ten tackles (seven solo) and sacked Russell Wilson for seven-yard loss in the fourth quarter…Forced career-high fourth fumble against Daniel Jones in the fourth quarter at N.Y. Giants, Nov. 29, to go with nine tackles (eight solo) and two passes defensed...Recovered a fumble in the third quarter of the 17-9 victory vs. Dallas, Dec. 22, along with eight tackles (five solo)…Combined for six tackles, including one stop for loss, while adding two passes defensed and one forced fumble in the 23-17 overtime victory vs. N.Y. Giants, Dec. 9…Led Eagles' 6.0-sack performance with a career-high 2.0 quarterback takedowns of Wilson vs. Seattle, Nov. 24…Registered his second forced fumble of 2019 to go with 11 tackles (season-high nine solo) at Minnesota, Oct. 13…Blocked a 44-yard field goal attempt by Matt Prater and also posted eight tackles (five solo) and one pass defensed vs. Detroit, Sept. 22…Forced a fumble and added four tackles (two solo), at Atlanta, Sept. 15. 2018 – Started all 16 games for Eagles and earned his third career Pro Bowl nod as he led team with 136 tackles (103 solo), one sack, one interception, 11 passes defensed, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and four special teams stops…In two postseason starts, made 18 tackles (13 solo)…Totaled 11 tackles (eight solo) in NFC Divisional Playoff loss at New Orleans, 1/13/19…Totaled career-high-tying 14 tackles (10 solo) in the 30-23 victory at L.A. Rams, Dec. 16…Recorded eight tackles (six solo), one interception, three passes defensed and one forced fumble in the 25-22 win vs. N.Y. Giants, Nov. 25. Intercepted Eli Manning at the Philadelphia two-yard line and returned the ball 25 yards to the Philadelphia 27 at the end of the second quarter…Recovered a fumble forced by Avonte Maddox and returned the ball 11 yards in the win at Jacksonville, Oct. 28, adding seven solo tackles and two passes defensed…Punched ball out of Mike Evans' hands to go with nine tackles (five solo) at Tampa Bay, Sept. 16. 2017 – Earned his second career Pro Bowl nod after finishing the regular season with a team-high 119 tackles, to go with one sack, two interceptions, 12 passes defensed, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, eight special teams stops and one blocked field goal…Led the Eagles with three passes defensed in Super Bowl LII vs. New England, 2/4/18, which tied a single-game career-high…With Raiders threatening to break a 10-10 tie late in the fourth quarter vs. Oakland, Dec. 25, ripped the ball away from Jalen Richard and recovered fumble…Blocked second career field goal in fourth quarter at N.Y. Giants, Dec. 17, to preserve Philadelphia's lead in an eventual 34-29 win that secured a first round bye. . 2016 – For Philadelphia, posted 114 tackles (82 solo), one sack, three interceptions returned 98 yards with two TDs, adding 13 passes defensed, a forced fumble and three special teams stops…Posted two picks, returned 34 yards, including one for a TD and three passes defensed in 19-5 win vs. N.Y. Giants, Dec. 22…Recovered a fumble in 21-10 win vs. Minnesota, Oct. 23. 2015 – In second season with Eagles, posted 120 tackles (92 solo), two interceptions, including a 99-yard return for a TD, a career-high 15 passes defensed, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and nine special teams stops…Returned Tom Brady pass 99 yards for a TD in 35-28 win at New England, Dec. 6…Forced two fumbles in 24-17 win at N.Y. Jets, Sept. 27…Forced a fumble in 27-7 victory at N.Y. Giants, Oct. 19. 2014 – In first season in Philadelphia, posted 113 tackles (68 solo), three interception returns for 67 yards, including a 53-yard touchdown, 14 passes defensed, one fumble recovery, four special teams stops and one coverage forced fumble…Posted each of his picks in Weeks Two-Four. 2013 – Voted by teammates as one of two season-long team defensive team captains along with Curtis Lofton. Started all 14 games he appeared in and recorded 69 tackles (46 solo), a career-high 2.5 sacks, two interceptions, six passes defensed, two forced fumbles and one special teams stop. Started both postseason contests and made 12 tackles (five solo)…Forced fumble in second quarter of opener vs. Atlanta, Sept. 8, that was recovered by Roman Harper at midfield and advanced to the Falcons 31, setting up a game-tying touchdown three plays later…Had a third quarter interception at Tampa Bay, Sept. 15…Had a sack and forced fumble of Jay Cutler in the first quarter at Chicago, Oct. 6…Had 1.5 takedowns of Brady at New England, Oct. 13…Dec. 8, vs. Carolina, posted a season-high nine tackles (seven solo)…Intercepted Cam Newton in rematch at Carolina, Dec. 22. 2012 – Voted by teammates as one of three season-long team defensive captains along with Roman Harper and Jonathan Vilma. Started all 13 games he appeared in at free safety, missing the final three contests (hamstring) and finished tied for third on team with 95 tackles (70 solo), five passes defensed, a blocked field goal and an interception returned 55 yards for a TD…Totaled nine stops (seven solo) at Carolina, Sept. 16…Posted nine tackles (seven solo) and a pass defensed vs. Kansas City, Sept. 23…Recorded nine tackles (eight solo) for third consecutive week at Green Bay, Sept. 30…Registered 11 stops (nine solo), including a third quarter touchdown-saving tackle in which he chased down Vincent Jackson at the one-yard line following a 95-yard gain that set up a successful goal-line stand at Tampa Bay, Oct. 21…Totaled 13 tackles (seven solo) vs. Philadelphia, Nov. 5…Totaled seven stops (six solo) and an interception of Carson Palmer that he returned 55 yards for a TD, the second interception return for a score in his career at Oakland, Nov. 18…Contributed seven tackles (four solo), a pass defensed and fourth quarter blocked field goal vs. San Francisco, Nov. 25…Saw action on defense and special teams at N.Y. Giants, Dec. 9, before suffering hamstring injury and being placed on Injured Reserve. 2011 – Started first 15 games at free safety, missing season finale (neck) and totaled 97 tackles (66 solo), a sack, 11 passes defensed, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Started two postseason games and contributed seven solo tackles, a pass defensed and a sack…Finished with five solo tackles and a pass defensed vs. Chicago, Sept. 18…Had team-best 13 tackles and broke up team-high three passes at Tampa Bay, Oct. 16…Made eight tackles (five solo) and a pass defensed and sacked A.J. Feeley and forced him to cough up ball, resulting in a recovery for a TD by Vilma at Rams, Oct. 30…Recorded 11 tackles (seven solo) and made a key overtime stop on fourth-and-one that helped set up the game-winning field goal at Atlanta, Nov. 13…Registered seven tackles (six solo) and one pass defensed vs. N.Y. Giants, Nov. 28…Totaled nine solo tackles and a pass defense at Tennessee, Dec. 11…Recorded a solo tackle, two passes defensed and a fumble recovery he returned 30 yards for a touchdown vs. Atlanta, Dec. 26…Registered five solo tackles, one pass defensed, and his first career postseason sack in NFC Divisional Playoff at San Francisco, 1/14/12. 2010 – Started all 15 regular season games he played in, 12 at free safety and three at cornerback due to injuries in secondary. Finished second in defensive backfield with 82 tackles (56 solo), two interceptions to tie for team lead, one returned for a TD, one sack, a club-best 11 passes defensed, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries. Added four special teams stops. Named NFC Defensive Player of the Week twice in three-weeks following weeks 12 and 14, the most weekly conference honors by a Saints defender in a season since 2001…In first start at new position in NFL Opener vs. Minnesota, Sept. 9, made five tackles with a pass defensed…At San Francisco, Sept. 20, helped avert a potential 49ers score when he recovered a fumble forced by Vilma at the Saints three-yard line and added eight tackles (five solo)…Vs. Carolina, Oct. 3, fourth quarter sack for a four-yard loss set up a fourth-and-16 situation for Panthers, putting them out of field goal range to preserve 16-13 win…Shifted back to cornerback due to secondary injuries vs. Cleveland, Oct. 24, and finished with team-best nine tackles (seven solo)…In second start of 2010 at old position vs. Pittsburgh, Oct. 31, posted seven tackles and team-high three passes defensed…Returned from missing game (neck) vs. Seattle, Nov. 21, to make one of the season's most spectacular plays at Dallas, Nov. 25. Stripped WR Roy Williams of the ball at the Saints 11-yard line with just over three minutes left to get the offense the ball back to set up the game-winning drive…Second quarter 96-yard interception return for a touchdown vs. St. Louis, Dec. 12, gave New Orleans a 21-6 lead. Added another pick in the red zone in second half for five yards, making his 105 return yards second-most in club history, also adding five tackles (four solo) and a pass defense…Knee injury suffered vs. Tampa Bay, 1/2/11, caused him to miss NFC Wild Card Playoff at Seattle. 2009 – Played in 14 regular season games with six starts at cornerback, missing two (ankle) and recorded 51 tackles (41 solo) with an interception and five passes defensed. Special teams standout made nine tackles, forcing two fumbles and recording a recovery. In postseason, appeared in two games and registered five tackles (four solo), a pass defensed and a special teams stop…Made NFL debut in opener vs. Detroit, Sept. 13, on defense and special teams, saving a touchdown on a long kickoff return with tackle inside the New Orleans 20-yard line…Stripped the ball from Ellis Hobbs on a kickoff return, which was recovered and helped set up a quick touchdown at the beginning of the second half in addition to one defensive tackle at Philadelphia, Sept. 20…Made another big play on special teams at Buffalo, Sept. 27, when he forced Roscoe Parrish to fumble on a punt return and he recovered it, setting up the go-ahead field goal, adding a defensive tackle…Recorded one defensive stop and one special teams tackle, also downing a punt at the two-yard line vs. Carolina, Nov. 8…Registered four tackles and two passes defensed in his most extensive defensive action to date and made a key block on Courtney Roby's third quarter 97-yard kickoff return for a TD at Rams, Nov. 15…Made first career start in place of injured Tracy Porter at Tampa Bay, Nov. 22, and intercepted a second quarter pass for first NFL pick, finishing with eight tackles (four solo) and a pass defensed…Started and made nine tackles vs. Tampa Bay, Dec. 27…In Super Bowl XLIV, played in nickel package, making four solo tackles, a pass defensed and a special teams stop.
COLLEGE – A consensus All-American as senior in 2008, Jenkins was honored with the Jim Thorpe Award, recording a career-high 57 tackles, three forced fumbles, three interceptions, two blocked punts and a sack…An All-Big 10 selection his final three years, departed with 11 interceptions, including two he returned for TDs…Started 45-of-49 career games and totaled 196 stops, 18 passes defensed, three blocked punts and four forced fumbles…As a junior in 2007, an All Big-Ten first-team choice, second-team Associated Press All-American and Thorpe Award semifinalist…Earned first-team All-American honors from several publications…Started all 13 games and led secondary with 44 tackles (27 solo). Tied career-high with four interceptions for 53 yards in returns, including a touchdown. Had 23-yard interception return vs. LSU in BCS Championship at the Superdome…As sophomore in 2006, a first-team All-Big Ten selection, starting all 13 games, posting 55 tackles (40 solo) and four interceptions for 99 yards in returns, including a 61-yard TD vs. Penn State. Added four passes defensed, a forced fumble and a blocked punt…Graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications.
PERSONAL – Attended Piscataway (N.J.) HS, where he led the team to three consecutive state titles playing wide receiver and defensive back…A senior All-State and All-American selection…Also excelled at track, winning the state title in the 400-meter dash as a junior…Took third place in 200-meters as a junior and finished third in the hurdles as senior at state meet…A leader in the Omega Psi Phi fraternity…During first Saints tenure, made a positive impact not only on the football field, but also as an agent of change in the New Orleans community. Recognizing the many challenges confronting youth today, in 2010 Jenkins launched the Malcolm Jenkins Foundation to effectuate positive change in the lives of youth, particularly those in underserved communities; by providing resources, innovative opportunities and experiences that will help them succeed in life and become contributing community members. The foundation offers several programs in New Orleans, his home state of New Jersey, his college state of Ohio and Philadelphia to enhance life performance through both academics and athletics…Through his Project REWARDS program, offered Life Skills, Mentoring and Scholarships to 200 youth grades 9-12 in an after-school setting in partnership with the Urban League of Greater New Orleans College Track program. Most students involved are and will be the first in their families to attend college…In New Orleans alone, since 2012, the foundation's scholars program has awarded more than $128,000 in scholarships, of which 70% of the scholars are first-generation college students…Some other causes he supported through the foundation in his first Saints stint included Super Baskets of Hope, a "Supermarket Sweep" at a local supermarket to raise money for the hungry as well as a wine tasting event at City Park…Active in community outreach in New Orleans working to discourage and prevent violence…In 2017, co-founded the Players Coalition to organize a group of NFL players' fight for racial and social equality…After being named to 2011 USA Football All-Fundamentals Team, donated $1,500 equipment grant to his high school…Awarded by the Ohio State Alumni Association the 2012 Jesse Owens Influential Athlete Award, given to an African-American alumnus and former student-athlete who exemplifies great character and talent, demonstrates exceptional professional success and continues to reflect the highest qualities of a consummate athlete and humanitarian…Was the 2013 winner of the John Wooten Professional Leadership Award, recognizing a lifetime commitment to service and unparalleled leadership on and off the field…In 2019, he was nominated for the NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Award for the third time and was the recipient of the 2017 NFLPA Byron "Whizzer" White Award for extraordinary philanthropic and on-field performance…Serving as executive producer of "Black Boys", a documentary examining black male identity and opportunity at the intersection of sports, education and social justice.