Red Bryant Joseph Anthony " Red " Bryant ( born April 18 , 1984 ) is an American football defensive end for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League . He was drafted by the Seahawks in the fourth round of the 2008 NFL Draft . He played college football at Texas A & M . Early years . Born and raised in Jasper , Texas , Bryant graduated from Jasper High School in 2003 . where he played both basketball and football . As a sophomore , he was named the District Defensive Player of the Year as well as the Southeast Texas Defensive Player of the Year by " The Beaumont Enterprise " . As a junior , he made 94 tackles and forced 10 sacks . In his senior year , he earned District and Golden Triangle Defensive MVP honors . He was also selected to the first - team Division 3A All - state team by the Texas Sports Writers Association , and was a finalist for the Willie Ray Smith Award , which is presented to the top offensive and defensive players in Southeast Texas . When it came to college recruiting , Rivals . com gave him a 3 - star rating and ranked him No . 83 out of all the Texas players in his 2003 recruiting class . He was recruited for college play by Texas A & M , Arkansas , Colorado , Nebraska , Notre Dame , Oklahoma , and Texas . He chose to sign with Texas A & M to play for head coach Dennis Franchione . College career . In his first 2003 season at Texas A & M , though Bryant was redshirted , he was named a team captain . In his freshman season , he became a defensive tackle and started in all games . He earned All - American and All - Big 12 honors from " The Gridiron Report " after making 34 tackles ( 3 . 5 of which led to a loss of nine yards ) , two deflected passes , and a blocked kick . In 33 defensive plays against the option , he was able to hold the opposing team down to 1 . 85 yards per carry . In his sophomore season , he started in 10 games , but saw action in all 11 . He produced 28 tackles , 7 . 5 of which led to a loss of yardage , forced two fumbles and three sacks . In 31 plays against the option , he held opposing teams to a minus - 27 yards , or minus - 0 . 87 - yard average . The Texas A & M defense , however , finished the 2004 season ranked 107th out of 119 Division I teams , after allowing 443 . 82 offensive yards per game . In his junior season , he was voted a permanent team captain . He started in 8 games and played in nine before agreeing to end his season by having surgery on his anterior cruciate ligament that he tore . He produced a total of 19 tackles , 1 sack , 1 blocked kick , and 5 pass blocks . When he was benched in the final five games of the season , the Aggie defense gave up 229 . 2 rushing yards . However , at the end of the season , the defense improved to a national ranking of 46 , after allowing 322 . 62 offensive yards per game . In his senior season , Bryant recorded 41 tackles , 1 sack that led to a safety , 1 field goal block that led to a touchdown drive , and six stops for losses of 19 yards . In the team ' s first ten games , he allowed only 43 rushing yards on 42 plays directed at him . The Aggie defense had allowed 160 . 9 yards per game overall . Along with 8 other Aggie players , Bryant received an all - Big 12 Honorable Mention . After completing his senior season play , Bryant participated in the 2008 Senior Bowl , playing for the South team . At one of the practices prior to the game , he got into a fight with teammate Chris Williams , causing the coaches to break it up . In the game , he recovered one fumble made by quarterback John David Booty . The South team won the game 17 – 16 . Professional career . Pre - draft . At the 2008 NFL Scouting Combine , Bryant weighed 318 pounds . He lifted 225 pounds 20 times , and ran 4 . 98 seconds in the 40 yard dash . His dash time was the second best of all the defensive tackles who participated . Seattle Seahawks . He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the fourth round of the 2008 NFL Draft . Tim Ruskell , the president of the Seahawks , commented : " We ' re real happy to get Red Bryant . He fills a need for us . This is a big man that can stuff the middle . Coach ( Mike ) Holmgren has always looked for that guy , and I think we found him with Red . " On July 18 , he agreed to a contract with the team . In late July 2008 , Bryant injured cartilage in his left knee during one the Seahawks ' training camp practices . He underwent surgery and was able to play in Week 1 . He sprained his ankle in the game against the Philadelphia Eagles on November 2 , 2008 . In his rookie season , he recorded 8 total tackles , and was inactive for 12 games . In the 2009 season , he compiled 8 more tackles and was inactive for 10 games . During the 2010 offseason , he was moved to defensive end by head coach Pete Carroll . In 2010 Red Bryant was injured during a week 8 contest against the Oakland Raiders in the 1st half of the game . After the game Red Bryant was place in Injured Reserve for the remainder of the season . In the 2011 season , he blocked four kicks , breaking the franchise single - season record . In week 15 against the Chicago Bears , Bryant had an interception returned for a touchdown after an attempt by Caleb Hanie of the Bears to get the ball away after being pressured . Just before the Seahawks last home game of the season against the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday , December 24 began , Bryant was presented with the club ' s Steve Largent Award . The Steve Largent Award is given by the Seahawks annually to the team contributor ( s ) best exemplifying the spirit , dedication , and integrity of former Seahawk wide receiver Steve Largent . On March 13 , 2012 the Seahawks resigned Bryant to a five - year , $ 35 million deal with $ 14 . 5 million in guaranteed money . Personal . In December 2007 , Bryant graduated from Texas A & M , receiving a degree in agricultural leadership and development . He believes that this was his greatest and most fulfilling achievement . He is also the first college graduate in his immediate family . He also overcame dyslexia . On February 29 , 2009 , Bryant married Jannelle Green , who is the daughter of former Texas A & M and Seattle Seahawks player Jacob Green . Janelle played for the Texas A & M soccer team from 2002 – 05 . According to Bryant , he got the nickname " Red " because " his mom said that ( he ) was a red baby . "