Dan Morgan

Daniel Thomas "Dan" Morgan, Jr. (born December 19, 1978 in Clifton Heights, Pennsylvania) is a former American football linebacker for the New Orleans Saints and the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Panthers 11th overall in the 2001 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Miami.

Morgan earned a Pro Bowl selection with the Panthers in 2004.

Early years
Dan grew up playing football for the Clifton Heights Rams of the Bert Bell Football League near Philadelphia. After playing freshman football at Upper Darby High School (Pa.), Morgan attended J. P. Taravella High School in Coral Springs, Florida. As a senior, he was an "All-County" pick at tailback, linebacker, and strong safety. As a junior tailback, he rushed for 1,322 yards and 13 touchdowns.

College career
Morgan started playing college football as a fullback at the University of Miami, but was switched to weakside linebacker one week before the season started. He became the first freshman linebacker to start for the Hurricanes since Ray Lewis in 1993. As a freshman, he was named second-team freshman All-American by the Sporting News after posting 105 tackles, three sacks, and one forced fumble.

As a sophomore, he became the first sophomore team captain in team history, and made the All-Big East Team, after leading the team with 150 tackles. He was a finalist for the Butkus Award and the Nagurski Trophy as a junior, and was rewarded with a second-team All-Big East for collecting 139 tackles and 5 sacks. He finally captured both awards, as well as the Bednarik Award, becoming the first player in NCAA history to win all three awards in a career (and the same year).

Morgan left Miami as an All-American and was the 2000 Big East Defensive Player of the Year. Upon graduating, Morgan held the Miami school and Big East conference records for most career tackles with 532.

Awards and honors

 * Second-team Sporting News Freshman All-American (1997)
 * First-team All-Big East Conference|Big East (2000)
 * Big East Defensive Player of the Year (2000)
 * Consensus First-team All-American (2000)
 * Dick Butkus Award (2000)
 * Bronko Nagurski Trophy (2000)
 * Chuck Bednarik Award (2000)

Dan was inducted into the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame at the 43rd Annual Induction Banquet held on March 24, 2011 at Miami's Jungle Island.

Carolina Panthers
Dan Morgan was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the first round, with the 11th overall selection, in the 2001 NFL Draft.

In the 2001 season, he started 11 games at weakside and strongside linebacker, posting 75 tackles, 1 sack, 1 interception and 1 fumble recovery.

His second season, Morgan helped turn the Panthers from the worst defense in the 2001 NFL season to the second-ranked defense, becoming the first team to make such an improvement in one season. Morgan was also an integral part of the Panthers defense that led the team to Super Bowl XXXVIII, where he posted a total of 18 tackles (11 solo, 7 assists). For the 2004 NFL season, he collected 109 tackles, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and five sacks en route to being named the starting linebacker for the NFC in the 2004 Pro Bowl. In the 2005 NFL season, he was second on the team in tackles, behind Marlon McCree.

On November 6, 2007, Morgan was placed on injured reserve by the Panthers due to an ankle injury. The Panthers eventually released him on February 11, 2008.

New Orleans Saints
Morgan was signed by the New Orleans Saints for the 2008 season. However on May 19, 2008, Morgan announced his retirement from the NFL, citing the slow recovery of injuries, particularly a partially torn Achilles tendon suffered during the 2007 season.

After sitting out the 2008 season, Morgan confirmed on January 26, 2009 that he had filed reinstatement papers with the NFL and expected to rejoin the New Orleans Saints; Morgan stated that he was completely healthy and ready to play. He was reinstated on February 12. Morgan worked out with the Saints through the off-season, but he strained his calf muscle during a minicamp practice on June 5, 2009. On June 8, Morgan's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, announced that Morgan had informed the Saints that he would retire for the second time due to his continued injuries.

Career statistics
Regular season

Playoffs