# Michael Boley

Michael Jerome Boley (born August 24, 1982) is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Southern Miss Golden Eagles and was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the fifth round of the 2005 NFL draft.
Boley was also a member of the New York Giants and Cincinnati Bengals.

## Early life

Boley played high school football for Elkmont High School as a safety, wide receiver, and running back.

## College career

Boley played college football for Southern Mississippi. In 2004, he won the Conerly Trophy, which is awarded to the best college football player in the state of Mississippi. During his entire career he finished with 423 tackles, 28.5 sacks, nine forced fumbles and was a three-time First-team All-Conference USA selection. In Boley's last season at Southern Miss he was voted as the conference's defensive most valuable player. He was also a finalist for several national defensive awards, including the Butkus Award, the Bednarik Award and the Lott Impact Trophy. He made 125 tackles as a senior and recorded five forced fumbles, two interceptions, and nine sacks.

## Professional career
### Atlanta Falcons

Boley was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the fifth round of the 2005 NFL draft. He took over as a starter in his rookie year after Edgerton Hartwell went down with an Achilles tendon injury. In four years with the Falcons, he started 52 of 64 games, recording 330 tackles, six sacks, and five interceptions. He became a free agent after the 2008 season.

### New York Giants

On February 27, 2009, Boley signed a five-year, $25 million deal with the New York Giants. He won his first championship ring with the Giants in Super Bowl XLVI against the New England Patriots.
On February 5, 2013, Boley was released by the New York Giants.

### Cincinnati Bengals

On October 1, 2013, Boley signed with the Cincinnati Bengals.

## NFL career statistics

Legend :
| | Led the league |
| Bold | Career high |

### Regular season

| Year | Team | Games | Games | Tackles | Tackles | Tackles | Tackles | Tackles | Interceptions | Interceptions | Interceptions | Interceptions | Interceptions | Fumbles | Fumbles | Fumbles | Fumbles |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | TFL | Int | Yds | TD | Lng | PD | FF | FR | Yds | TD |
| 2005 | ATL | 16 | 11 | 64 | 43 | 21 | 0.0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2006 | ATL | 16 | 13 | 88 | 69 | 19 | 3.0 | 7 | 2 | 44 | 0 | 40 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2007 | ATL | 16 | 16 | 110 | 93 | 17 | 3.0 | 5 | 2 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 | ATL | 16 | 12 | 73 | 63 | 10 | 0.0 | 2 | 1 | 16 | 0 | 16 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 | NYG | 11 | 11 | 84 | 65 | 19 | 1.0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2010 | NYG | 16 | 15 | 85 | 63 | 22 | 1.0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2011 | NYG | 14 | 13 | 93 | 74 | 19 | 1.0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 78 | 1 |
| 2012 | NYG | 16 | 11 | 92 | 65 | 27 | 0.5 | 4 | 3 | 74 | 0 | 51 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 70 | 1 |
| 2013 | CIN | 10 | 1 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | | 131 | 103 | 699 | 542 | 157 | 9.5 | 37 | 8 | 146 | 0 | 51 | 44 | 8 | 9 | 148 | 2 |

### Playoffs

| Year | Team | Games | Games | Tackles | Tackles | Tackles | Tackles | Tackles | Interceptions | Interceptions | Interceptions | Interceptions | Interceptions | Fumbles | Fumbles | Fumbles | Fumbles |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | TFL | Int | Yds | TD | Lng | PD | FF | FR | Yds | TD |
| 2008 | ATL | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2011 | NYG | 4 | 4 | 27 | 22 | 5 | 2.0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2013 | CIN | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | | 6 | 5 | 28 | 22 | 6 | 2.0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

## Personal life

In February 2013, Boley was arrested for child abuse.