Tahir Whitehead

The veteran linebacker signed with the Panthers in 2020 after spending the last two years with the Raiders and six seasons with the Lions before that. Since 2016, Whitehead ranks fourth in the NFL with 476 tackles.

PRO CAREER

• Started all 16 games for the Raiders in 2019...Finished the year with a team-high 108 tackles...Fourth consecutive season crossing the 100-tackle mark...Also added one pass defensed, one quarterback hit and six tackles for loss.
• Started all 16 contests in his first year with the Raiders in 2018...His 126 tackles led the team and ranked ninth in the NFL…Totaled 100-plus tackles for the third consecutive season…Added his fifth career interception, five passes defensed and one forced fumble.
• Started all 16 games for the first time in his career during the 2017 season with Detroit…Led the team with 110 stops and added one sack, one interception, two passes defensed and four fumble recoveries…With his second consecutive campaign of at least 100 tackles, became just the eighth Lions defender since 1995 to record 100-plus tackles in multiple seasons…Became the first Lions player since 1995 to record four fumble recoveries in a single season.
• Started all 15 games played in 2016 with Detroit...Tallied a team-best and career-high 132 tackles on the season…Became the seventh Lions defender (11th occurrence overall) to record 130-plus tackles in a single season…His 132 stops ranked ninth-most in the NFL…Added five passes defensed and three tackles for loss.
• Played in all 16 games with the Lions in 2015, including eight starts...Posted 47 tackles, a career-high two sacks, one interception, six passes defensed and one fumble recovery.
• Saw action in all 16 games with Detroit in 2014, making 15 starts at linebacker...Earned his first significant playing time on defense…Finished second on the team in tackles and recorded his first two INTs…Posted 77 tackles, two interceptions and five passes defensed…Made his first career start vs the Giants on 9/8/14.
• Played in all 16 contests for the first time in his career in 2013 with the Lions...Was a large contributor on the special teams unit…Finished tied for third on the unit with nine special teams tackles and added one forced fumble.
• Appeared in 14 contests during his rookie campaign with Detroit in 2012...Saw action primarily on special teams…Finished tied for third on the team with 10 tackles on the special teams unit and also recorded one forced fumble...Appeared in his first career game on 9/16 at San Francisco, where he recorded one special teams tackle and one forced fumble that led to a Lions field goal.

TRANSACTIONS: Selected by Detroit Lions in the fifth round (138th overall) of the NFL Draft on 4/28/12…Re-signed by Lions as an unrestricted free agent on 3/11/16…Signed by the Oakland Raiders as an unrestricted free agent on 3/16/18...Signed by the Carolina Panthers as a free agent (3/23/20).

GP/GS: Career (125/86) [2/2]; 2019 (16/16); 2018 (16/16); 2017 (16/16); 2016 (15/15) [1/1]; 2015 (16/8); 2014 (16/15) [1/1]; 2013 (16/0); 2012 (16/0).

COLLEGE

Played in 50 games at Temple over four seasons (2008-11), making 20 starts for the school on defense…Totaled 163 tackles, seven sacks, one interception, five passes defensed, seven forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries…Started 12-of-13 games in 2011 as a senior…Was named to the Butkus Award Watch List and received the Mark Bresani Award for spirit and enthusiasm…Also named second-team All-MAC by Phil Steele after leading the Owls with four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and tying for the team lead with 13.5 tackles for loss…Named the Defensive Most Valuable Player of the 2011 Gildan New Mexico Bowl…In 2010, played in all 12 games and made eight starts at outside linebacker after switching from defensive back…Ranked sixth on the team with 56 stops, including two sacks, while also adding one INT, two passes defensed and two forced fumbles…Majored in criminal justice.

PERSONAL

Attended West Side High School in Newark, N.J.