JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Jaguars have agreed to terms with unrestricted free agent and fifth-year LB Joe Schobert on a five-year contract, the club announced today.
“We really feel great about the things Joe has been able to do and what he adds to our team,” said Head Coach Doug Marrone. “He brings an ability to tackle and diagnose plays. He’s a true middle linebacker and has played it at a high level. He’s really going to help us, not only at the MIKE linebacker position, but he also helps us overall across our whole linebacking corps. This gives us the ability to move Myles Jack to outside linebacker, which I feel is a more natural position for him. Myles and I spoke about the change and he’s excited.”
Schobert, 6-1, 245, was originally drafted by Cleveland in the fourth round (99th overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft. In his four years with the Browns, he played in 61 games, including all 16 games in three seasons, with 49 games started at linebacker and has totaled 394 tackles (228 solo), 20 passes defensed, 8.5 sacks, seven forced fumbles and six INTs. His 378 tackles since 2017 are the fourth-most in the NFL.
In 2019, Schobert led the Browns with 133 tackles, four INTs and two forced fumbles. He was the only player in the NFL last season to tally at least 130 tackles and at least four INTs and was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week after posting five tackles, four passes defensed and two INTs against Miami in Week 12.
The former Wisconsin Badger standout was selected to his first career Pro Bowl in 2017 after finishing with 142 tackles, tied for the second-most in the NFL, and four passes defensed, 3.0 sacks, three forced fumbles and one INT. Schobert was one of only three players in the NFL to play in every defensive snap during the 2017 season.
Schobert played in all 16 games as a rookie in 2016 and posted 16 tackles from scrimmage and a team-leading 12 special teams tackles.
The Cudahy, Wisc. native played in 45 games for the Badgers and amassed 172 tackles, 13.5 sacks and seven forced fumbles. He earned All-American honors in 2015 after first joining the team as a walk-on in 2012, when he won the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association All-Star Game dunk contest after a between-the-legs throw down. He attended Waukesha West (Waukesha, Wisc.) High School, where he set the state championship rushing record as a junior, earning all-state, all-region and all-conference honors at running back and safety. Schobert also lettered in basketball, baseball and track.
He and his wife, Megan, have one son, Simon, who was born last week.
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