Jon Abbate Jon Abbate ( born June 18 , 1985 ) is an American football linebacker , most recently on the roster of the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the United Football League before retiring on September 9 , 2010 . He played college football at Wake Forest University in 2004 - 2006 and was signed as a free agent by the Houston Texans of the NFL in 2007 . Early years . Abbate grew up in Marietta , Georgia , where he attended Carl Harrison High School . His senior season , he was the state of Georgia ' s leading tackler with 207 total , averaging more than 15 tackles a game . He also had 25 tackles for a loss and 10 sacks that season . He was all county and all state every year except for his freshman year . He was the defensive player of the year in the state of GA for his senior season . College career . After redshirting his first year in college , Abbate immediately became a starter in 2004 . During that redshirt freshman season , Abbate had 101 tackles , including 13 tackles for a loss . In 2005 , Abbate only had 76 tackles because of injury problems . During the 2006 season , Abbate led the team in tackles with 120 ( second in the ACC ) . He had a late interception in the endzone against rival University of North Carolina . In the ACC Championship in Jacksonville , Florida , Abbate had 15 tackles against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets . The Deacons won that game 9 - 6 . Abbate was voted as the MVP of the game for ABC . Abbate then played in the Orange Bowl against the University of Louisville . He had 15 tackles in that game , the first Bowl Championship Series bowl game participation for Wake Forest . Abbate was named an All - American ( honorable mention , Sports Illustrated ) and first team All - ACC ( ACSMA , College Football News ) in recognition of his performance throughout his final season during which he averaged 8 . 6 tackles per game . The 2006 season . In February 2006 , Abbate ' s 15 - year - old brother , Luke , was killed in a car accident on the way home from lacrosse practice . Before his junior season , Abbate asked head coach Jim Grobe whether he could switch his jersey number from 40 to 5 , the number his brother wore . Grobe agreed , and Abbate wore the number throughout his junior season . During the 2006 season , Abbate and his family would hold up five fingers before the start of the fourth quarter as a tribute to Luke . As the season progressed , Abbate ' s teammates , Wake Forest fans , and even fans of opposing teams began holding up five fingers as well — a tradition that would garner much media attention during the Deacons ' successful year . Additionally , the Abbate family created the " Five Foundation " to raise awareness among young people of the responsibilities and dangers of driving . A movie about Jon Abbate , his brother Luke , and Wake Forest ' s 2006 football season , entitled " The 5th Quarter " , was released on March 25 , 2011 . Professional career . National Football League . Houston Texans . At the conclusion of the 2006 season , Abbate decided to enter the 2007 NFL Draft . " Unless someone could promise me if I went back that I ' d grow three inches , the decision was pretty easy , " Abbate said . " I could have gone back and been productive again , had another 100 - plus tackles . But I ' d be in the same situation with my height as a knock . " Abbate was not drafted due to tearing his hamstring at the NFL combine but following the draft he signed a three - year contract with the Houston Texans as an free agent . The Texans converted him from linebacker to fullback . Abbate was placed on season - ending injured reserve on September 1 , 2007 , with an ankle injury . He was waived after a failed physical on August 29 , 2008 . However , he was re - signed shortly after on March 1 . He was waived again on July 22 , 2009 . Abbate was re - signed by the Texans again on August 24 , 2008 after wide receiver Harry Williams was placed on injured reserve . Washington Redskins . Abbate was picked up by the Redskins in the 2010 offseason but was then released due to failing his physical . New Orleans Saints . Abbate spent the remainder of the 2010 off season with the Saints after failing his physical with the Redskins . United Football League . Abbate was on the roster of the Sacramento Mountain Lions ( formerly known as the California Redwoods ) for parts of the 2009 and 2010 seasons .