Jesse Solomon

Jesse William Solomon (born November 4, 1963) is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Minnesota Vikings, Dallas Cowboys, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Atlanta Falcons, and Miami Dolphins. He played college football at Florida State University.

Early years
Solomon attended Madison High School but he didn't play football until his junior year when he started on the defensive line. He was not allowed to play in his senior season because of differences with the school administration. He also practiced track.

He moved on to North Florida Junior College where he played intramural football for one season.

In 1983, he walked on at Florida State University and spent a year with the scout team. As a junior, he became a backup linebacker and special teams player. As a senior, he blocked a punt and recovered it in the end zone for a touchdown against Tulane University. He finished his college career with 99 tackles, one interception and 2 fumble recoveries.

Professional career

Minnesota Vikings
Solomon was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the twelfth round (318th overall) of the 1986 NFL Draft, after a private workout with scout Ralph Kohl and being rated high for his athletic abilities. As a rookie he led the team with 17 special teams tackles and was third on the team with 96 defensive tackles, despite missing 3 games due to an injury and starting only 4 others. One of his starts came at middle linebacker.

In his second season, he became a full-time starter at left outside linebacker and led the team in tackles (126) when Chris Doleman was moved to defensive end. He also had 2 sacks, one interception, 3 passes defensed and 3 forced fumbles.

In 1988, he led the top-ranked Vikings defense with 121 tackles (95 solo), while also making 4 interceptions, one pass defensed, one forced fumble, 2 fumble recoveries and 2.5 sacks. He suffered a knee injury in the season finale against the Chicago Bears, forcing him to sit the playoffs. Against the New Orleans Saints, he had 10 tackles, one sack and returned an interception 78 yards for a touchdown.  Against the Green Bay Packers, he had a career-high 17 tackles. 

On October 12, 1989, he was sent to the Dallas Cowboys as part of the Herschel Walker trade. At the time he started one game and had 8 tackles.

Dallas Cowboys
In 1989, he didn't start because there were conditional draft picks attached to the Vikings traded players and the Dallas Cowboys wanted the selections instead of keeping Solomon and the others. Head coach Jimmy Johnson eventually had second thoughts on the February 1 deadline and traded three future draft choices (third-round and tenth-round in 1990 and a third-round in 1991) to the Vikings for the right to retain the original full package of draft choices, plus Solomon, Issiac Holt and David Howard. He split snaps with Ken Norton at weakside linebacker during the second half of the season, with his only start coming as an outside linebacker when the team went to a 3-4 defense against the Miami Dolphins. He had 7 tackles in the twelfth game against the Philadelphia Eagles. He finished with 43 tackles (15 solo), one quarterback pressure and one forced fumble.

In 1990, he missed all of training camp in a contract holdout and reported to the team after the seventh game of the regular season. He played mostly in pass situations rest of the season, registering 13 tackles, one sack, one quarterback pressure, 2 passes defensed and 2 forced fumbles.

On August 21, 1991, when told of his demotion to the second team from his starting strongside linebacker position, he walked out of the Cowboys' training camp and would eventually be traded to the New England Patriots in exchange for a sixth round draft choice (#149-Fallon Wacasey) on September 15.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
On September 18, 1991, the New England Patriots traded Solomon to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for a fifth round draft choice (#116-Dwayne Sabb). It has been speculated that the Patriots were used as a bridge team, because of a clause in the Herschel Walker trade that prohibited the Dallas Cowboys from sending any of the players involved to a team in the NFC Central division.

Reunited with his former Vikings defensive coordinator Floyd Peters, Solomon went on to record 128 tackles (91 solo) in just 12 starts. On August 21, 1992, a contract holdout caused him to be released.

Atlanta Falcons
On September 4, 1992, he signed with the Atlanta Falcons. On December 13, when he played against his former team the Buccaneers, he persuaded head coach Jerry Glanville to let him carry the ball as a running back after the Falcons had run up the score, posting 2 carries for 12 yards. He finished with 147 tackles as the starter at inside linebacker.

In 1993, the team changed to a 4-3 defense and he was moved to middle linebacker. He wasn't re-signed at the end of the year.

Miami Dolphins
On September 14, 1994, he signed as a free agent with the Miami Dolphins. He only made one tackle in two stints with the team, even though the Dolphins reached the AFC Divisional Playoff game. He wasn't re-signed at the end of the season.

Coaching career
Solomon earned a coaching certificate and degree from Florida State University and was the head coach for Forest Hill High School in West Palm Beach, Florida between 2001 and 2003.

References

External links
A New Song For Solomon
Vikings' Wise Move - Solomon

1963 births
Living people
People from Madison, Florida
Players of American football from Florida
American football linebackers
Florida State Seminoles football players
Minnesota Vikings players
Dallas Cowboys players
Tampa Bay Buccaneers players
Atlanta Falcons players
Miami Dolphins players
High school football coaches in Florida