Leon Lett attended Fairhope High School in Fairhope, Alabama where he lettered in football and basketball.
23 Facts About Leon Lett
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Leon Lett received a scholarship from Auburn University, but after a low score on the ACT, he had to play two seasons at Hinds Community College in Raymond, Mississippi, compiling 141 tackles, 10 sacks, nine pass deflections and three fumble recoveries.
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Leon Lett was set to move to New Mexico State University, but after having problems with his transfer credits, he accepted a partial scholarship offer from Emporia State University in Kansas.
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Leon Lett earned All-NAIA District 10 recognition as a senior and finished second in the team in sacks, but pro scouts lost interest when he missed his first three games with a right knee injury and wasn't invited to any senior All-Star games or the NFL Scouting Combine.
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Leon Lett was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the seventh round of the 1991 NFL draft.
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However, Leon Lett prematurely began to celebrate and the ball was knocked out of his hand by Bills receiver Don Beebe which resulted in a touchback.
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Leon Lett sacked Frank Reich on the game's final play.
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Leon Lett would be suspended at different times for violating the NFL substance abuse policy, missing a total of 28 games during his career.
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Leon Lett served an additional full 16-game suspension and an eight-game suspension at the start of the 1999 season.
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When Leon Lett was playing, he was one of the most feared defensive players in the game.
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Leon Lett was part of the Super Bowl winning teams in 1992,1993 and 1995.
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Leon Lett played his final season as a reserve player.
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Leon Lett retired with 22.5 career quarterback sacks, 361 tackles, 128 quarterback pressures, 37 tackles for loss, 26 passes deflected, four blocked kicks and seven fumble recoveries in 121 games.
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Leon Lett was involved in two infamous plays that resulted from gaffes he made.
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Late in the fourth quarter, Leon Lett recovered a fumble on the Dallas 35-yard line and ran it back towards the end zone.
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When he reached the 10-yard line, Leon Lett slowed and held the ball out as he approached the goal line.
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Leon Lett later said he was watching the Jumbotron, and trying to do a "Michael Irvin", where he put the ball out across the goal line.
18.
Leon Lett slipped as he went down and knocked the ball forward.
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Since Leon Lett went for the ball and touched it, by rule the play was considered a muffed kick and the Dolphins were given possession on the one-yard line with three seconds showing on the clock.
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The most meaningful impact of Leon Lett's miscue, assuming all remaining results were the same, was that it ensured the team's last game of the season had playoff implications.
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Leon Lett started his coaching career in 2009 as a volunteer assistant at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
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On May 9,2009, Leon Lett graduated from UNLV with a degree in university studies and a concentration in sociology and history.
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Leon Lett was among five Cowboys coaches fired at the conclusion of the 2022 season.