Phillip Buchanon life and biography

Phillip Buchanon is entering his ninth NFL season. He has had NFL stints with the Oakland Raiders, Houston Texans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Detroit Lions. For his career, he has played in 105 games, with 76 starts, and has amassed 18 interceptions, five of which he has returned for touchdowns. The latter total is the sixth-highest among active players. In addition, Buchanon has also returned 118 punts for 1,075 yards (9.1 avg.) and three touchdowns in his career.

Highlights
PRO:
* Has played in 105 career games with 76 career starts.
* For his career has recorded 18 interceptions, five of which were returned for touchdowns.
* His interceptions return for touchdown number (five) is the sixth-highest among active players.
* Has returned 118 punts for 1,075 yards (9.1 avg.) and three touchdowns in his career.

2009 (Lions)
* Played in 13 games with 11 starts; was active but did not play at Washington (9/27), and declared inactive at New Orleans (9/13) with a neck injury, and at San Francisco (12/27) with a shoulder injury.
* Recorded 42 tackles (37 solo), four passes defensed, two forced fumbles, and the first sack of his career.
* Started at cornerback vs. Minnesota (9/20) and recorded five tackles (four solo).
* Notched a season-high seven tackles (all solo) at Minnesota (11/15).
* Made five stops (three solo) and recorded his first career sack on a sack-fumble at Cincinnati (12/6).

2008 (Buccaneers)
* Started in all 16 regular season games.
* Finished the season with 48 tackles and two touchdowns, including one returned for 26-yard touchown.
* Also recorded six passes defensed, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.

2007 (Buccaneers)
* Played in all 16 games with 13 starts.
* Played and started in sole playoff game.
* Finished the season with a career-high 63 tackles, and finished second on the team with three interceptions and third on the team with a career-high 11 passes defensed.
* Part of a defense that surrendered a league low 170.5 passing yards per game and ranked second in the league, surrendering 278.4 yards per game.
* Also had one forced fumble, returned a team-high 16 punts for 55 yards and returned two kickoffs for 15 yards.

2006 (Texans/Buccaneers)
* Played in 14 games (four with Houston and 10 with Tampa Bay) with four starts (with Tampa Bay: vs. Atlanta, at Chicago, at Cleveland, and vs. Seattle).
* Notched 30 tackles, two interceptions, one fumble recovery, and eight passes defended.
* Added 14 punt returns for 95 yards, and returned five kickoffs for 106 yards.
* Released by Houston on October 16.
* Signed with the Buccaneers on October 17.

2005 (Texans)
* Played in 10 games with six starts.
* Totaled 35 tackles and four passes defended.

2004 (Raiders)
* Started in 14 games.
* Finished the season with 59 tackles, 0.5 sack, one fumble recovery, three interceptions, and nine passes defensed.
* Led the team in interceptions (three) and passes defensed (nine).
* Returned one interception for a touchdown.
* Averaged 5.8 yards on 21 punt returns.

2003 (Raiders)
* Played in all 16 games with 11 starts.
* Registered 44 tackles, two forced fumbles, and led the team with a career-high six interceptions.
* Led the team with 10 passes defensed.
* Interception total was tied for second in the AFC and fifth in the NFL.
* Racked up 176 return yards on his six picks (29.3 avg), returning two for touchdowns.
* Ranked second in the AFC and sixth in the NFL in punt return average.

2002 (Raiders)
* Played in six games with three starts.
* Posted 21 tackles, two interceptions, and fives passes defensed.
* Returned one interception for an 81-yard touchdown, the first defensive touchdown of his career.
* Returned 15 punts for 178 yards (11.9 avg.) and one touchdown.
* Made his NFL debut vs. Seattle (9/8), returning one punt for 22 yards.
* Made his first NFL start vs. Tennessee (9/29) and posted seven tackles and recorded his first career interception and returned one punt 83 yards for his first career touchdown.
* Earned AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors.
* Placed on injured reserve on Oct. 25 with a wrist injury.

College
# Lettered three seasons at Miami (Fla.) amassing 88 tackles and seven interceptions in 32 career games.
# Returned 32 punts for 477 yards (14.9 avg.) and two touchdowns.
# Collected 23 tackles and five picks as a senior.
# Led the Big East with a 15-yard punt return average and two touchdowns.
# Earned All-American honors as a returner and was a finalist for the Mosi Tatupu Award for the nation’s most outstanding special teams player.
# Had three tackles and one sack in the Rose Bowl win over Nebraska, helping Miami capture their fifth title in school history.
# Posted a career-high 44 tackles as a sophomore, adding two interceptions, returning one for a 78-yard touchdown against Pittsburgh.
# Also returned a fumble against West Virginia 77 yards for a touchdown.
# Recorded 21 tackles as a freshman.

Personal
* Enrolled in the NFL Business Management and Entrepreneurial Program at the Harvard Business School and the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University in the 2007 offseason.
* All-State selection as a senior at Lehigh High School in Ft. Myers, Florida, racking up 102 tackles and seven picks.
* Lettered in baseball and track.
* Member of the school’s honor roll.
* Cousin, Jevon Kearse, played for the Tennessee Titans (1999-2003) and the Philadelphia Eagles (2004-2007).

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