Sheldon Richardson
A powerful and agile defensive tackle whose first-round talent flashed with disruptive plays for multiple NFL teams over a decade.
Born 1990 (age 36)·American football player·Birthday: November 29·Millennials
Biography
Sheldon Richardson won the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award in 2013. The New York Jets drafted him 13th overall that year, and he immediately disrupted offensive lines with his rare blend of size and athleticism. In 2014 he made the Pro Bowl as a versatile defensive lineman capable of playing nose tackle or outside linebacker. His career then became a tour across the NFL: Seattle, Minnesota, Cleveland, and back to Minnesota. He never again reached the consistent dominance of his early Jets seasons, but he remained a valued starter. Richardson shed blocks and produced tackles for loss. He brought a respected veteran presence to every locker room. His path illustrates the life of a talented journeyman in a league that constantly churns its roster.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Sheldon was born in 1990, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Sheldon Was Born
The biggest hits of 1990
#1 Movie
Home Alone
Best Picture
Dances with Wolves
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Sheldon's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1990Born
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1995Started school
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2003Became a teenager
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Could drive
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2008Could vote
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2011Turned 21
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2020Turned 30
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 36 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2013 after a standout season with the New York Jets.
- Selected to the Pro Bowl in 2014 as a key member of the Jets' formidable defensive line.
- Recorded a career-high 8.0 sacks during his Pro Bowl season in 2014.
- Was a first-round draft pick (13th overall) by the New York Jets in the 2013 NFL Draft.
Did You Know?
In high school, he was a highly recruited tight end before fully transitioning to the defensive line in college.
He played college football at the University of Missouri alongside other NFL defensive linemen like Aldon Smith and Michael Sam.
Richardson scored two defensive touchdowns in his NFL career, one on a fumble recovery and one on an interception return.
He was traded from the Jets to the Seahawks in 2017 in exchange for wide receiver Jermaine Kearse and a draft pick.
“I play defensive line. My job is to disrupt the backfield and create chaos.”
