Aaron Ross

 

About Aaron

  • Biography

  • American football cornerback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Giants in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football for the University of Texas Longhorns from 2003 to 2006, winning the Jim Thorpe Award for the nation's top defensive back in 2006. He was named the defensive “most valuable player” of the 2006 Alamo Bowl.

    Ross attended John Tyler High School in Tyler, Texas, where he competed as quarterback, wide receiver and running back in his three-year career under coach Allen Wilson. He was named second-team Class 5A All-State after posting six interceptions, three fumble recoveries, three blocked kicks and allowing just one touchdown reception as a senior in 2001. As a junior, he returned a fumble and a blocked punt for a score, adding 350 rushing yards (on 46 carries) and five touchdowns and caught five passes for 200 yards and two scores that year. His career-high of 362 all-purpose yards came against Katy High School in 2001. Ross also registered three interceptions while rushing for a touchdown against Fair Park High School that season. His best game was against Marshall High School, when he amassed 272 all-purpose yards, rushed for two touchdowns and had an interception. As a sophomore, Ross played at Fox Tech High School in San Antonio, Texas. There he rushed for 486 yards and nine touchdowns and caught 11 passes for 382 yards and three scores on offense. He also intercepted five passes and blocked ten kicks. During his time at both schools, he lettered four times as a sprinter in track & field and twice in basketball.

    New York Giants

    Ross was drafted in the first round (20th overall) of the 2007 NFL Draft by the New York Giants. He was one of seven Longhorns selected by professional football teams in the 2007 NFL Draft. The others were Michael Griffin (number 19 overall), Justin Blalock (number 39 overall), Tim Crowder (number 56 overall), Brian Robison (number 102 overall), Tarell Brown (number 147 overall), Kasey Studdard (number 183 overall).[3] Lyle Sendlein and Selvin Young were not drafted but signed with NFL teams as free agents.

    He had first and second career interceptions in week five against the New York Jets, returning his second for his first career touchdown in the same game. As a rookie, Ross recorded 42 tackles, 2.5 tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks, 9 passes defended and 3 interceptions which he returned a total of 51 yards including a 43-yard touchdown. Later that year, Ross helped the Giants win Super Bowl XLII by starting at corner, recording 12 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss and a pass defended in the Giants 4 playoff games.

    In his second NFL season in 2008, Ross recorded 52 tackles (4 for loss), 8 passes defended and 3 interceptions (58 return yards including a 50 yard TD). The Giants went 12-4 that year, good for the best record in the NFC, but fell to the rivaled Philadelphia Eagles in the Divisional Round of the 2008–09 NFL playoffs.

    Ross missed the first 9 games of the 2009 season due to an injured hamstring. He returned in November to play 4 games before re-injuring the hamstring in mid-December. The Giants, despite being out of the playoff picture, ultimately placed Ross on the injured reserve list on December 31, 2009, just days before the final game of the season.

    Just prior to the 2011 campaign, Ross' teammate Terrell Thomas was placed on injured reserve, which landed Ross the starting job for the season. The Giants would go on to win Super Bowl XLVI that season.

    Ross has recorded 200 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 33 passes defended, 10 interceptions in 65 NFL games (41 starts).

    Jacksonville Jaguars

    The Jacksonville Jaguars signed cornerback Ross to a three-year, $15 million contract during the March free agency period in 2012. The transition to Jacksonville was difficult for Ross, who won two Super Bowls in New York, as the Jaguars finished 2-14, tied for the league's worst record.

    Ross was released after the start of free agency on March 8, 2013 by newly hired general manager Dave Caldwell.

    Second stint with Giants

    Ross signed with the New York Giants on March 12, 2013, just four days after being released by the Jaguars.

    Ross was placed on the IR (injured reserve) after week 4 of the 2013 NFL season with a back injury, and his season was over.

    During his early days at Texas in 2003,Ross began dating Longhorn track and field star, Sanya Richards-Ross, who is now a 4-time Olympic Gold Medalist. The two were engaged in 2007 and married on February 26, 2010. Their wedding was featured on an episode of Platinum Weddings.His life with Sanya is partially chronicled in the weekly reality series Sanya's Glam and Gold.