355-pound former Alabama prep star gets his first NFL interception
On a second-and-6 snap at the Baltimore Ravens 18-yard line with 2:25 to play on Saturday, Cleveland Browns quarterback Bailey Zappe’s pass to running back Jacob Kibodi was intercepted by probably the most unlikely player on the field to get a pick.
In his 99th NFL regular-season game, Ravens nose tackle Michael Pierce got his first NFL interception. The 355-pounder intercepted Zappe at the 16-yard line, ran 6 yards and took a knee, setting off a joyous celebration among his Baltimore teammates.
According to profootballreference.com, only two other players who can match Pierce’s roster weight have intercepted passes.
Ted Washington, a 365-pounder, had two interceptions. Washington returned an interception 5 yards in the Denver Broncos’ 20-15 victory over the San Diego Chargers on Oct. 23, 1994, and had an interception with no return in the Buffalo Bills’ 31-24 victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Oct. 11, 1998.
Barron Tanner, a 360-pounder, returned an interception 17 yards in the Arizona Cardinals’ 31-23 loss to the Washington Redskins on Sept. 8, 2002.
Pierce earned All-State honors as a linebacker for Daphne High School’s undefeated AHSAA Class 6A championship team in 2010 and was the MVP of the Trojans’ 7-6 victory over Hoover in the state-title game.
Pierce joined the Ravens as an undrafted rookie from Samford in 2016.
Pierce’s interception wrapped up Baltimore’s 35-10 victory over the Browns. The win in the Ravens’ regular-season finale clinched the AFC North title, the No. 3 seed in the AFC playoffs and a home game in the first round of the postseason.
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.