NFL CAREER – Signed to the practice squad in late November and appearing in two games for New Orleans, where he recorded five tackles, Finch originally came into the National Football League in 2018 as an undrafted free agent out of Temple with the Tennessee Titans. In 28 career contests with three starts with the Saints, Titans and New York Jets, he has recorded 40 career tackles, 3.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and eight special teams stops. At Temple, Finch appeared in 53 games with 25 starts and posted 144 tackles, 32 stops for loss, 14.5 sacks, two interception returns for 91 yards and a touchdown, five forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries with a touchdown and is the NCAA's career leader with five blocked punts. This athletic outside linebacker who features a multitude of pass rush moves, while possessing the strength and leverage to set the edge in the run game will compete for a roster spot.
CAREER TRANSACTIONS – Signed by New Orleans Saints to a reserve/future contract, 1/11/21; COVID-19 practice squad elevation by New Orleans, 12/27/21; Signed by New Orleans to practice squad, 11/29/21; Waived by Tennessee, 10/9/21; Signed by Tennessee to active roster from practice squad, 10/1/21; Signed by Titans to practice squad, 9/28/21; Waived by Jets, 6/1/21; Signed by Jets to active roster from practice squad, 1/2/21; Standard elevation from Jets practice squad, 12/26/20; Standard elevation from Jets practice squad, 12/19/20; Signed to Jets practice squad, 11/3/20; Bears practice squad contract terminated, 10/23/20; Signed to Bears practice squad, 9/29/20; Waived by Raiders, 9/1/20; Signed by Raiders, 8/25/20; Waived by Bengals, 12/24/19; Signed by Bengals, 12/23/19; Waived by Titans, 12/21/19; Signed by the Titans as an undrafted free agent, 5/11/18
2020 – Sandwiched between stints on Titans and Saints practice squad, appeared in one game apiece for both clubs…Posted career-high-tying five tackles in Saints debut vs. Miami, Dec. 27. 2020 – Appeared in three games for Jets, recording one special teams tackle in season finale at New England, 1/3/21. 2019 – Played in eight games with three starts for Tennessee Titans and finished with 13 tackles (ten solo) and a career-high two sacks…Finished with career-high five tackles (three solo) and one sack at Cleveland, Sept. 8…Posted one sack at Carolina, Nov. 3. 2018 – Played in 15 games as rookie for Tennessee Titans and collected 22 tackles, 1.5 sacks, two quarterback pressures, two stops for loss, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Registered seven special teams tackles on coverage units. Led or tied for the team lead in special teams tackles three times in 2018 (vs. NE, at HOU, vs. NYJ). Tied for the team lead in sacks once in 2018 (vs. PHI). Tied for the team lead in quarterback pressures once in 2018 (vs. NYJ). Saw action in his first career NFL game at outside linebacker at Miami Sept. 9…Registered his first career sack against Philadelphia, Sept. 30 with two tackles, dropping Carson Wentz for a nine-yard loss late in the second quarter…At Jacksonville, Sept. 23, saw action as a reserve at outside linebacker and posted two tackles…Against Baltimore, Oct. 14, played as a reserve at outside linebacker and amassed three tackles…Against New England, Nov. 11, led team with three special teams tackles. Saw action as a reserve at outside linebacker and notched three tackles, including a stop for loss and a quarterback pressure. Stonewalled Sony Michel for a two-yard loss on a rush off left tackle late in fourth quarter…At Indianapolis, Nov. 18, played as a reserve at outside linebacker and collected two tackles and a forced fumble. Registered a tackle on special teams. Stuffed Nyheim Hines for a one-yard loss and forced a fumble that bounced out of bounds in third quarter…At Houston, Nov. 26, saw action as a reserve at outside linebacker and recorded a tackle. Led the team with two special teams tackles…Against N.Y. Jets, Dec. 2, played as a reserve at outside linebacker and tallied a stop for loss and a quarterback pressure. Registered a special teams tackle on coverage units. Sniffed out a screen pass and dropped Isaiah Crowell for a four-yard loss in the second quarter…Against Jacksonville, Dec. 6, saw action as a reserve at outside linebacker and amassed two tackles, including a half sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Combined with Jurrell Casey to sack Cody Kessler for an 11-yard loss while personally forcing and recovering a Kessler fumble in the third quarter.
COLLEGE – • Appeared in 53 games with 25 starts over five seasons at Temple and ranks as NCAA career leader with five punt blocks. Posted 144 total tackles, 32.0 stops for loss, 14.5 sacks, two interceptions for 91 yards and a score, five forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries with one TD…As a fifth-year senior (2017), played in 13 contests with 12 starts and tallied 55 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, one pass defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. His team-leading 8.5 sacks were a single-season career high. Recorded two sacks in three different contests, against Massachusetts (9/15), against Navy (11/2) and against Central Florida (11/18). Played in his 53rd career game in 2017 and tied for first place in career games played in program history. Earned Second Team All- American Athletic Conference and ECAC First Team All-East recognition…As senior (2016), limited to four games (knee) and was granted a medical redshirt. Notched 11 tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack and two forced fumbles. Blocked his fifth career punt against Army (9/2)…As a junior (2015), saw action in 13 games and made one start in the defensive end rotation. Totaled 13 tackles, three tackles for loss, a sack, one interception and blocked three punts. Blocked two punts at East Carolina (10/7)…As a sophomore (2014), appeared in 12 contests with 10 starts for the Owls and posted 35 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. Forced a fumble on his opponent's first offensive play and recovered the ball in the end zone for a TD against Navy (9/6). Returned a 65-yard interception for a score vs. Delaware State (9/20). Earned Midseason All-AAC First Team recognition by Phil Steele Publications…As a freshman (2013), saw action in 11 games with two starts and recorded 30 tackles, four tackles for loss and two sacks. Graduated in 2016 with a communications degree.
PERSONAL – • Attended Henrico (Va.) High School where he posted 123 tackles and seven sacks as a senior…Son of the late Wendy and Gregory Finch…Finch's father, Gregory, passed away as a result of a heart attack on July 30, 2018, while Finch was participating in his rookie training camp…It came three years after his mother, Wendy, died as a result of breast cancer…Finch wears a set of dog tags with their names and photo and an inscription that reads "everything is for you."…Finch has 20 siblings and he is the youngest of the group…Finch enjoys playing the piano in his free time…As a senior at Temple, Finch was issued a single-digit jersey number, which are awarded to the team's toughest players…Follow Finch on Twitter at @S_Finch6…Follow Finch on Instagram at @Sfinch6…Born Sharif Jarel Gregory Wayne Finch on Oct. 1, 1995 in Henrico, Va.
