Will Witherspoon William " Will " Cordell Witherspoon ( born August 19 , 1980 ) is an American football linebacker for the St . Louis Rams of the National Football League . He was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft . He played college football at Georgia . Witherspoon has also played for the Philadelphia Eagles and Tennessee Titans . Early years . Witherspoon ' s father served in the US Air Force , and so Witherspoon moved around as a child . However , his family never lived on the military bases , instead deciding to live in the community so the children could experience the culture . In addition to speaking English , he knows how to speak German , and is learning both Arabic and Swedish . He attended Good Shepherd Lutheran School in middle school . He played running back for Rutherford High School in Panama City , Florida , but switched to linebacker before his senior year . He was chosen as the USA Today Florida Player of the Year for his efforts as a senior , where he posted 112 tackles , 3 sacks , and three interception s . Witherspoon and his wife , Rebecca have 3 daughters . College career . He played college football at the University of Georgia , where he was a starter for three years . After playing every game as a true freshman , he started most of the Bulldogs ' games for the remainder of his time at Georgia , switching between the middle , strong - side , and weak - side linebacker positions . He graduated with 211 tackles , 3 . 5 sacks , one forced fumble , and one fumble recovery . He was a landscape architecture major . Professional career . Carolina Panthers . Witherspoon was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the third round ( 73rd overall ) of the 2002 NFL Draft . Witherspoon was the latest addition to new coach John Fox ' s overhaul of the defense , and Witherspoon ' s versatility at linebacker helped the Panthers total the second - best defense in the league . He replaced Dan Morgan at middle linebacker halfway through the season after Morgan went down with injury . He finished the season with 71 tackles and 1 . 5 sacks , his first half sack coming at the Cleveland Browns on December 1 . During the 2003 NFL season , Witherspoon was the only Panther linebacker to start every game , where he once again filled in for an injured Morgan at middle linebacker . He intercepted his first pass off New Orleans Saints quarterback Aaron Brooks . During Super Bowl XXXVIII , Witherspoon posted a career - high 16 tackles . He ended the campaign with a total of 99 tackles , one sack and one interception . The following year , " Spoon " was one of the few defensive players to start every game for the Panthers , who were wracked with injuries . Despite the loss of key personnel like defensive tackle Kris Jenkins , the Panthers led the league in interceptions . Witherspoon set personal bests with three sacks and four interceptions and a then career - high of 103 tackles . In 2005 , his final year with the Panthers , Witherspoon played in 15 games and finished the season 81 tackles , 2 . 5 sacks and two interceptions . St . Louis Rams . On March 12 , 2006 , as an unrestricted free agent , he signed a six - year , $ 33 million contract ( including $ 15 million guaranteed ) with the St . Louis Rams In his first season ( 2006 ) with the Rams , he played in all 16 games and recorded a career - high 113 tackles and three sacks . In 2007 he recorded 110 tackles and a career - high seven sacks and was named Team MVP for 2007 . Philadelphia Eagles . On October 20 , 2009 Witherspoon was traded from the Rams to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for wide receiver Brandon Gibson and a fifth round draft pick in 2010 . In his first game as an Eagle against the Washington Redskins on October 26 , 2009 , Witherspoon recorded six tackles , an interception ( returned for a touchdown ) , sack , and a forced fumble . During the season , he played in 17 games , unusual for players to do so ( he was traded prior to St . Louis ' s bye week to the Eagles after the Eagles bye week ) . He was released on March 5 , 2010 . Tennessee Titans . Witherspoon was signed by the Tennessee Titans on March 9 , 2010 . He was voted by his teammates as the Titans Ed Block Courage Award recipient Second stint with Rams . On July 18 , 2013 , Witherspoon signed with the St . Louis Rams . Personal Life . Withespoon is passionate about producing healthy and nutritious food . He owns the sustainable Shire Gate Farm near Owensville , MO . He ' s vocal about the benefits of grass fed , high welfare meat . Witherspoon says " My cattle are raised as nature intended , on grass , and aren ' t fed growth hormones , antibiotics or other unnatural additives . I can ' t take over - the - counter cold medicine without letting my trainer know about it . So why would I want my kids eating beef from cattle fed hormones or routine antibiotics ? "