Julius Peppers played college football for the North Carolina Tar Heels, where he was recognized as a unanimous All-American, and was drafted by the Carolina Panthers second overall in the 2002 NFL Draft, and played for the Chicago Bears from 2010 through 2013 and the Green Bay Packers from 2014 to 2016.
107 Facts About Julius Peppers
2.
Julius Peppers was named to the 2000s and NFL 2010s All-Decade Teams.
3.
Julius Peppers was born in Wilson, North Carolina, and raised in nearby Bailey.
4.
Julius Peppers attended Bailey Elementary School, Southern Nash Middle School, and finally Southern Nash Senior High School where he played football for Coach Ray Davis.
5.
Julius Peppers lettered in basketball and was voted all-conference as a power forward for four consecutive years.
6.
Julius Peppers was rumored to have cleared 2.03 meters in the high jump.
7.
In 2005, Julius Peppers was named by the Rocky Mount Telegram newspaper as one of the 50 Greatest Athletes from the Twin County area.
8.
Julius Peppers attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he played defensive end for the Tar Heels from 1998 to 2001.
9.
Julius Peppers led the nation with 15 quarterback sacks during his sophomore season, and earned first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference and second-team All-American honors.
10.
Julius Peppers won the Chuck Bednarik Award as the nation's top defensive player and the Lombardi Award as the best collegiate lineman and the Bill Willis Trophy as the nation's best defensive lineman.
11.
Julius Peppers is currently ranked second all-time in UNC history with 30.5 sacks.
12.
Julius Peppers accumulated 53 stops behind the line of scrimmage, 167 tackles, 5 interceptions, 2 fumble recoveries, 5 forced fumbles, 13 passes deflected, and 42 quarterback pressures and returned 2 interceptions and 1 fumble recovery for touchdowns.
13.
Julius Peppers was a highly regarded prospect coming into the 2002 NFL draft earning comparisons to Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor for his ability to dominate a football game.
14.
Julius Peppers had five tackles including one for a loss, and a deflected pass.
15.
Julius Peppers got another a few minutes later, and registered his third on the final play of the first half when he drilled Lions quarterback Mike McMahon from behind, knocking the ball loose and leaving McMahon motionless on the ground for several moments.
16.
Julius Peppers would go on to say that he was given a dietary supplement by a friend to help him fight off fatigue.
17.
Julius Peppers said it was an honest mistake on his part and that he would be more cautious in the future.
18.
Julius Peppers recorded 1 tackle, 1 interception, and 1 pass defensed in the game.
19.
Two plays later on the Pats opening drive Julius Peppers was cut blocked by Patriots Offensive Tackle Tom Ashworth, but Julius Peppers recovered quickly and nearly deflected the pass as it whizzed by.
20.
Julius Peppers was double team blocked for the remainder of the Patriots final possession.
21.
Julius Peppers would make a memorable play in Week 15 against the Atlanta Falcons, which was a Saturday night game held on December 18,2004, Julius Peppers would grab a fumble in midair by Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick and race 60 yards the other way for a Panthers touchdown.
22.
Julius Peppers harassed and chased Michael Vick all over the field during the game as he recorded 3 tackles one being for a loss of yards, 1 pass defensed and the 60 yard fumble recovery for a touchdown.
23.
Julius Peppers would set an NFL record by recording 143 total interception return yards which is the most ever recorded in a single season by a defensive lineman.
24.
Julius Peppers had a combined 203 interception and fumble return yards which is the most ever by a defensive lineman in a single season since the NFL merger in 1970.
25.
Julius Peppers would be named the NFC Defensive Player of the Month in November 2004 and finished fourth overall in the voting by the Associated Press for the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award.
26.
Julius Peppers would be named the NFC Defensive player of the Year by the Kansas City Committee, as well as the NFL Alumni Defensive Lineman of the Year.
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Julius Peppers would make his second Pro Bowl for his efforts.
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Julius Peppers contributed 2 tackles, 1 sack, and 1 pass defensed.
29.
Julius Peppers went to the locker room after the play, then returned to the bench but not the game.
30.
In week 3 against the Cleveland Browns, Julius Peppers, who was playing with a sore ankle, would be a nightmare all game long for QB Charlie Frye and the Browns offensive line.
31.
Browns fullback Lawrence Vickers took a handoff right but pulled up to pass the ball, Julius Peppers, playing left end, read the play before it began to develop, sprinted downfield and tipped the ball away from tight end Kellen Winslow II.
32.
In Week 6 against the Baltimore Ravens, Julius Peppers became the Panthers' all-time sacks leader after registering 2 sacks during the game.
33.
Julius Peppers had 8 tackles and a forced fumble in yet another game that Julius Peppers looked like the most dominant defensive player in the NFL.
34.
Julius Peppers was so dominant in the game that ESPN Monday Night Football analyst Joe Theismann compared him to Lawrence Taylor, whom Joe had played against while he was a Quarterback for the Washington Redskins, and Taylor a Linebacker for the New York Giants.
35.
Julius Peppers earned the NFC Defensive Player of the Month Award for the month of October 2006, his second such award.
36.
Julius Peppers finished the season with 49 solo tackles, 9 assisted tackles, 13 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, 6 passes defensed, 7 stuffs, and 2 blocked kicks.
37.
Julius Peppers had a down season in 2007 after only recording 30 solo tackles, 8 assisted tackles, 2.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 interception, 5 passes defensed, 1 stuff, and 2 blocked kicks.
38.
Julius Peppers missed the final two games of the season with a sprained MCL in his right knee.
39.
The 2008 season was a bounce back year for Julius Peppers who reverted to his usual dominant self after recording a career-high 14.5 sacks.
40.
Julius Peppers would earn his second NFC Defensive Player of the Week Award after his performance.
41.
Julius Peppers finished the season with 40 solo tackles, 11 assisted tackles, 14.5 sacks, 5 forced fumbles, 5 passes defensed, 4 stuffs, and 1 blocked kick.
42.
Julius Peppers expressed the desire or willingness to convert from a defensive end to an outside linebacker.
43.
Julius Peppers said he would request a trade if franchise tagged.
44.
Beason would later admit that he was wrong about saying this about Peppers and said he thought that Julius would go down as one of the best players to ever play in the NFL.
45.
Julius Peppers bounced back in Week 5 of the 2009 season against the Washington Redskins by recording 5 tackles, 2 sacks, and along with the help of Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis, tackled Redskins Running Back Clinton Portis in the end zone for a safety.
46.
In Week 15 against the Minnesota Vikings, Julius Peppers played one of his best games of his career, although only recording 1 tackle, 1 sack, and 1 pass defensed, Peppers had 5 quarterback hurries and was all over the field, causing sports writer Peter King to say that Peppers looked like Lawrence Taylor and Deacon Jones rolled into one dominant force.
47.
Julius Peppers played so well he caused Vikings Pro Bowl left tackle Bryant McKinnie to be benched by Vikings head coach Brad Childress.
48.
Julius Peppers recorded 3 tackles, 1 interception, and 1 pass defensed.
49.
The interception Julius Peppers recorded was, at the time, thought to be the final play of his Panthers career, but Julius Peppers would eventually return to his home state team before the 2017 NFL season.
50.
Julius Peppers finished the season with 36 solo tackles, 6 assisted tackles, 10.5 sacks, 5 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 2 interceptions, 5 passes defensed, 3 stuffs, 1 blocked kick, and 1 defensive touchdown.
51.
Julius Peppers was voted to his fifth Pro Bowl and earned Second-Team All Pro honors.
52.
On February 22,2010, Adam Schefter reported that the Panthers would not place the franchise tag on Julius Peppers, leaving him an unrestricted free agent, free to pursue a contract with another team.
53.
Julius Peppers made an immediate impact in Week 1 vs the Detroit Lions by sacking quarterback Matthew Stafford and forcing a fumble with 29 seconds to go in the first half.
54.
The hit Julius Peppers put on Stafford knocked him out for the remainder of the game.
55.
In Week 3 against the Packers on Monday Night Football, Julius Peppers recorded just two tackles, but was a thorn in the side of the Packers offensive line and Quarterback Aaron Rodgers all game long, forcing multiple false start and holding penalties, and hurrying Rodgers in the pocket all game long.
56.
Julius Peppers finished the game with 4 tackles, 1 interception, and 1 pass defensed.
57.
In Week 11 against the Miami Dolphins, Julius Peppers recorded his first three-sack performance as a member of the Chicago Bears, he finished the game with 6 tackles, 3 sacks, and 1 pass deflection that was intercepted.
58.
Julius Peppers earned the fourth NFC Defensive Player of the Week Award of his career for his efforts.
59.
Julius Peppers finished the season with 43 solo tackles, 11 assisted tackles, 8 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 2 interceptions, 9 passes defensed, 5 stuffs, and 1 blocked kick.
60.
Julius Peppers's impact was most felt with regards to putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks, redirecting running plays, or assisting on the tackle.
61.
Julius Peppers was voted to his sixth Pro Bowl and was named to his third, First-Team All Pro team.
62.
Julius Peppers finished fourth in voting for the NFL's 2010 AP Defensive Player of the Year Award, which was won by Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu.
63.
There's no question the return of Brian Urlacher at the pivot point of the defense has been a significant addition, but Julius Peppers has been the most important reason the Bears have become the Monsters of the Midway again, and that's why he's my defensive player of the year.
64.
Julius Peppers improved on his 2010 season in 2011 starting all 16 games and leading the Bears defense with 11 sacks despite facing constant double teams, and playing much of the season with a sprained MCL in his left knee that he injured in Week 5 against the Detroit Lions.
65.
Julius Peppers recovered a career-high four fumbles, which tied for the league lead.
66.
Julius Peppers finished the season with 32 solo tackles, 7 assisted tackles, 11.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 4 fumble recoveries, 2 passes defensed, 3 stuffs, and 1 blocked kick.
67.
Julius Peppers was named to the 2013 Pro Bowl, his fifth consecutive, and eighth of his career, and was selected to the NFL's 2012 All-Pro Second Team.
68.
Julius Peppers received the Bears Brian Piccolo Award given annually to the player that best exemplifies the courage, loyalty, teamwork, dedication and sense of humor of the late Bears running back Brian Piccolo.
69.
Julius Peppers finished the season with 31 solo tackles, 14 assisted tackles, seven sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, one interception, three passes defensed, two stuffs, and one defensive touchdown.
70.
On March 11,2014, Julius Peppers was released by the Chicago Bears after attempts to trade him were unsuccessful.
71.
Julius Peppers signed a three-year deal with the Green Bay Packers on March 15,2014.
72.
In Week 3 of the 2014 NFL season, Julius Peppers recorded his first sack as a Green Bay Packer and recorded his 40th career forced fumble and 15th career fumble recovery on the same play.
73.
In Week 5 of the 2014 NFL season Julius Peppers recorded his tenth career interception and raced across the field and down the sideline 49 yards to score the fifth touchdown of his career.
74.
Julius Peppers became the first player since sacks became an official statistic in 1982 to record at least a half-sack and an interception-return touchdown in three different games.
75.
Julius Peppers recorded 4 tackles, 2 passes defensed, and a sack, forced fumble, and fumble recovery on the same play against Bears quarterback Jay Cutler.
76.
In Week 11, Julius Peppers recorded 2 tackles and his 11th career interception which he returned 52 yards for a touchdown, becoming the first player in NFL history to record at least 100 sacks and 4 interception-return touchdowns.
77.
Julius Peppers finished the season with 29 solo tackles, 15 assisted tackles, 7 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries, 2 interceptions, 2 defensive touchdowns, 11 passes defensed, and 4 stuffs.
78.
Julius Peppers ranked first among all linebackers and defensive linemen in the NFL with 101 interception return yards.
79.
Julius Peppers started his fourteenth NFL season off with a bang against his former team, the Chicago Bears.
80.
In Week 15 against the Oakland Raiders, Julius Peppers recorded 4 tackles and 2.5 sacks which moved him past fellow North Carolina alumni and former New York Giants legendary linebacker Lawrence Taylor into tenth place on the all-time NFL sacks list, giving him 135 career sacks.
81.
Julius Peppers finished the season with 25 solo tackles, 12 assisted tackles, 10.5 sacks, and 2 stuffs.
82.
Julius Peppers was selected to his ninth career Pro Bowl.
83.
In Week 13, Julius Peppers sacked Texans quarterback Brock Osweiler, moving into the top five on the NFL's all-time sack list with 142.5, passing former New York Giants Hall of Fame Defensive End Michael Strahan for fifth place.
84.
Julius Peppers finished the season with 15 solo tackles, 8 assisted tackles, 7.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 3 passes defensed, and 1 stuff.
85.
Julius Peppers ended another Giants drive on third down when he batted a pass that was nearly intercepted, and another on a later play by hitting Eli Manning just as he released the pass, causing an incompletion.
86.
On March 10,2017, Julius Peppers signed a one-year contract to return to the Carolina Panthers.
87.
Julius Peppers had another dominant performance recording 4 tackles, 2 sacks, 3 QB hits, and nearly had another sack and forced fumble right before halftime as he helped to disrupt Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, and the New England offense throughout the game, despite playing through a right shoulder injury of his own that he had in a brace.
88.
In Week 5, Julius Peppers recorded a sack of Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford and had a big 4th down tackle for a 4-yard loss which resulted in a turnover on downs.
89.
In Week 6 against the Philadelphia Eagles, Julius Peppers recorded his 150th career sack, making him the fifth player in NFL history to achieve that milestone.
90.
Julius Peppers forced a fumble on the same play, which gave him 48 career forced fumbles and tied him for second most all time with former Defensive End John Abraham.
91.
In Week 8 win against Tampa Bay, Julius Peppers recorded his 151st sack, moving him past Chris Doleman for fourth most all-time.
92.
Julius Peppers recorded his 49th career forced fumble on the same play, which moved him into sole possession of second place on the all-time forced fumbles list.
93.
Julius Peppers became only the third player in NFL history at age 37 or older to record at least 10 sacks in a season.
94.
Julius Peppers finished the season with 21 solo tackles, 12 assisted tackles, 11 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, and 3 stuffs.
95.
Julius Peppers helped the Panthers make the playoffs, and they faced off against the New Orleans Saints in the wild card round.
96.
On March 14,2018, Julius Peppers signed a one-year contract extension with the Panthers.
97.
In week 6 against the Washington Redskins, Julius Peppers recorded a sack and a forced fumble which gave him 50 forced fumbles for his career.
98.
Julius Peppers is only the second player in NFL history to record at least 50 forced fumbles, the first being Robert Mathis.
99.
In week 17 against the New Orleans Saints, in what would be his last NFL game, Julius Peppers would have yet another dominant performance, one of many in his Hall of Fame worthy career.
100.
Julius Peppers finished the season with 14 solo tackles, 8 assisted tackles, 5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 6 passes defensed, and 3 stuffs.
101.
Julius Peppers sacked 77 different quarterbacks, tied with Hall of Famer Reggie White for the most since sacks became official in 1982.
102.
Julius Peppers recorded at least one sack against 30 of the NFL's 32 franchises.
103.
Julius Peppers had 51 forced fumbles 21 fumble recoveries, 11 interceptions, 82 passes defensed, 6 defensive touchdowns scored 60 stuffs, and 13 blocked kicks.
104.
Julius Peppers played in 266 of a possible 272 games in his career - the sixth most games played by a defensive player in NFL history.
105.
On May 8,2019, Julius Peppers was hired as a special assistant of business operations with the Carolina Panthers.
106.
Julius Peppers' name was the basis for the character "Julius Pepperwood", written by Nick Miller in the show New Girl.
107.
In February 2009, Julius Peppers donated $500,000 to a scholarship program that supports black students at his alma mater of North Carolina.