Stephen Nicholas

Stephen Leron Nicholas (born May 1, 1983) is an American football linebacker for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Falcons in the fourth round of the 2007 NFL draft. He played college football at South Florida.

Early years
Nicholas played high school football at Robert E. Lee High School in Jacksonville, Florida. As a senior he was a class 3A all-state linebacker and was invited to play in the Shrine Bowl.

College career
Nicholas played college football at the University of South Florida. During his senior year he was a Big East first team selection. He finished his college career with 326 tackles, 20 sacks, and a school record 53.5 tackles for loss.

Atlanta Falcons
Nicholas was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He finished his rookie year with 37 tackles and one sack. In 2008, he saw action in all 16 games during the season. In 2009, He started 14 games, totaling 82 tackles, 3 sacks. He started his first career game against Miami on September 13.

During his 2008 season, it was little known that Nicholas' 10 month-old son, Stephen Nicholas Jr., was waiting for a heart transplant at Children's Hospital Boston. The infant was kept alive by tubes for four months before a suitable heart became available. In order for Nicholas to spend time with his wife and sick child, he would fly to Boston every Sunday after the game and be back with his team in Atlanta in time for Wednesday's practice. A few weeks after the taxing surgery, Stephen Nicholas Jr. was delightedly given a clean bill of health, and he and his mother were finally able to return home to be permanently reunited with Nicholas.