Barrett Ruud
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Career Summary
Barrett Ruud was an NFL linebacker and Nebraska's all-time career tackles leader.
Ruud played eight NFL seasons with Tampa Bay, Tennessee, New Orleans and Houston after a standout Nebraska career. NFL statistics list 116 games, 538 tackles, six sacks and seven interceptions.
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Early Life
Ruud grew up in Lincoln, Nebraska, in a family with deep Nebraska football ties.
Ruud's father Tom, two uncles and great-grandfather had all played at Nebraska. He began his Husker career in 2001 after growing up in Lincoln.
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College Career
Ruud became Nebraska's all-time leading tackler during a four-year linebacker career.
Ruud recorded a school-record 432 career tackles, 90 more than any other Husker. He was a freshman All-American, a three-time All-Big 12 selection and a 2004 third-team All-American, and he played in the 2002 Rose Bowl when Nebraska met Miami for the national championship.
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Path to the NFL
Tampa Bay drafted Ruud 36th overall in the 2005 NFL Draft.
The Buccaneers selected Ruud in the second round after his Nebraska career. Tampa Bay identified him as a linebacker who could begin inside or outside and become an important part of its plans.
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NFL Career
Ruud played 116 games over eight NFL seasons, spending six years with Tampa Bay.
Ruud appeared in all 16 games for Tampa Bay in each season from 2005 through 2006 and from 2008 through 2010, then played for Tennessee in 2011 and New Orleans and Houston in 2012. His 2009 season included 120 tackles, while his 2008 season included career highs of three sacks and two interceptions.
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Career Accomplishments
Ruud led Nebraska's record book and delivered multiple productive NFL seasons.
Ruud's 432 Nebraska tackles remain the program record. He also led the Buccaneers in tackles for four consecutive seasons, according to Nebraska Athletics.
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Playing Style
Ruud was an inside linebacker whose Nebraska coaches relied on for leadership and tackle production.
Entering his senior year, Nebraska called Ruud the headliner and leader of its linebacking corps. His 149 tackles in 2003 were a school record at the time, and he closed that regular season with seven consecutive double-digit tackle games.
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Legacy
Ruud's Nebraska production and family history made him a notable Husker linebacker.
Ruud left Nebraska as its all-time leading tackler and later returned to coach the program's linebackers. Nebraska described him as one of its top Blackshirts in a fan poll marking the tradition's history.
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Post-Career
Ruud began coaching after his NFL career, including roles at Nebraska and UCF.
Ruud served as a Nebraska defensive intern in 2014, worked as UCF's quality control administrator in 2016 and 2017, and became Nebraska's inside linebackers coach in 2018.
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Sources for this section
20844, 00-0023471, 1983-05-20, Barrett Ruud, Barrett, Ruud
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