Shamar Stephen

•  Returned to Minnesota in 2019 after spending the 2018 season with the Seattle Seahawks.

• Appeared in nearly 40% of defensive snaps for the Vikings #1 ranked defense in 2017.

• The 1st player from UConn drafted by the Vikings since RB Vince Clements (1971).

•  Notched 51 tackles, 2nd only to LB Anthony Barr among Vikings rookie defenders in 2014.

OFF THE FIELD

• Received bachelor's degrees in economics and sociology.

• Father served in U.S. Air Force.

• Participates in many Vikings community outreach efforts.

• Surname pronounced STEF-en.

•  Returned to Minnesota in 2019 after spending the 2018 season with the Seattle Seahawks.

• Appeared in nearly 40% of defensive snaps for the Vikings #1 ranked defense in 2017.

• The 1st player from UConn drafted by the Vikings since RB Vince Clements (1971).

•  Notched 51 tackles, 2nd only to LB Anthony Barr among Vikings rookie defenders in 2014.

OFF THE FIELD

• Received bachelor's degrees in economics and sociology.

• Father served in U.S. Air Force.

• Participates in many Vikings community outreach efforts.

• Surname pronounced STEF-en.

PRO

• Drafted in the 7th round (#220 overall) in the 2014 NFL Draft.

• Signed by Seattle as a free agent on 3/26/18.

• Rejoined Vikings by signing a 3-year contract on 3/11/19.

2019: MINNESOTA VIKINGS

• Appeared in 15 games with 15 starts in 2019, finishing with 36 total tackles.

• Recorded a season-high 6 tackles, 1 TFL and his 1st sack of the season at Chicago (9/29).

• Made 3 solo tackles vs. Philadelphia (10/13), giving him 100 solo tackles for his career.

• Notched his 1st-career PBU at Detroit (10/20).

• Recorded the 3rd fumble recovery of his career and 1st of 2019 vs. Washington, also tallying 1 TFL (10/24).

• Forced his 1st career fumble on the 1st play of the 2nd half  at LA Chargers (12/15), finishing the game with 2 tackles 1 QBH and 1 PD.

• Made 1st career postseason start as a Viking in Wild Card game at New Orleans, recording 2 tackles (1/5/20).

•  Recorded 2 solo tackles in the Divisional game at San Francisco (1/11/20).

2018: SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

•  Played in 15 games with 14 starts in his 1st season as a Seahawk, totaling 25 tackles, 2.0 sacks and 3 QBHs.

• Posted a season-high3 tackles vs. Dallas (9/23).

• Made 2 solo stops in his 1st game against Minnesota (12/10), the team that drafted him.

• Started at Dallas (1/5/19) in the Wild Card round.

2017: MINNESOTA VIKINGS

•  Posted the 1st sack of his career vs. Tampa Bay (9/24), finishing with 2 total tackles (1 solo), 1 TFL and 1 QBH.

• Tallied 5 tackles (3 solo) and a QBH vs. Baltimore (10/22).

• Tallied 2 QBH at Washington in his 1st start of the year (11/12).

• Registered 4 tackles (3 solo) at Carolina (12/10).

• Posted 2 solo tackles and a QBH vs. Cincinnati (12/17) to help the Vikings clinch the NFC North title.

• Played on defense vs. New Orleans (1/14/18) in the Divisional

• Round before leaving due to injury.

2016: MINNESOTA VIKINGS

• Started all 16 games for the 1st time in his career and collected a career-best 57 tackles.

• Had 5 tackles and a career-high 5 QB hurries at Carolina (9/25).

• Posted 6 tackles (2 solo) and the first TFL of his career at Washington (11/13).

• Registered a season-high 7 tackles (3 solo) vs. Indianapolis (12/18).

2015: MINNESOTA VIKINGS

• Saw action in 5 games before being sidelined with toe injury that placed him on Injured Reserve.

• Recovered 1st career fumble vs. Detroit (9/20), scooping up a Theo Riddick fumble forced by Harrison Smith.

• Had season-best 2 tackles vs. San Diego (9/27) in season-high 20 defensive snaps.

2014: MINNESOTA VIKINGS

• Played in all 16 games, the only Vikings rookie to do so, and started 3 times.

• Had a tackle in every game.

• Played in season opener at St. Louis (9/7) and notched 2 tackles.

• Had season-high 4 tackles at New Orleans (9/21).

• Made 1st career start vs. Green Bay (11/23), replacing Shariff Floyd at DT against the Packers, matching his career-best with 4 tackles in the game.

•  Started 2nd career game vs. Carolina (11/30) and notched career-best 10 tackles, with 5 solo stops.

• Had season-high 4 QB hurries at Miami (12/21).

COLLEGE

• Started 30 of 46 games, including the final 22 games.

•  Named 2nd-Team All-American Athletic Conference after recording 60 tackles, 3 sacks and 10 TFLs as a senior.

• Named Team MVP for 2013 season and team captain.

• Started final 10 games of 2012 season after missing the first 2 due to an injury.

• Registered 26 tackles, 4 passes defensed and 2 TFLs as a junior.

• Earned Honorable Mention Freshman All-American honors as a redshirt freshman in 2010, recording 27 tackles, 4 TFLs and

2.0 sacks.

PREP

• Two-sport standout at Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, New York) High School, playing football and basketball.

•  Earned All-American Lutheran Team honors after guiding school to 7-2 record as a senior.

•  Finished final prep year with 57 tackles, 12.0 sacks and 2 blocked kicks.

• Played 1 season of basketball with Philadelphia 76ers player Tobias Harris.