There are a few NFL players who prefer to keep a low profile, and Olivier Vernon is one of them. Vernon could easily get in and out of Walmart unnoticed, which can be considered a feat considering how long he’s been in the NFL. Vernon has an average presence in social media and tries as far as possible not to give the tabloids a day off.
He was selected by the Miami Dolphins for the 2012 draft. His defensive skills, which make quarterbacks’ lives difficult on the field, caught the attention of the New York Giants, who signed him in 2016 with a delicious 5-year contract that would not only raise eyebrows but also put many minds at ease and create more interest in his life and career. Here you will find everything you need to know about Olivier Vernon.
Olivier Vernon Bio
Vernon was born Olivier Alexander Vernon on October 7, 1990, in Miami, Florida. A first-generation American, he was born the son of a Swiss-born mother, Bernadette Vernon, and a Jamaican-born father, Lascelles Vernon. Although Vernon rarely talks about his roots, he is often proud of his mixed ethnic background.
Vernon’s parents named him after Sir Laurence Olivier, the legendary British actor who dominated the stage, film, and television in the mid-20th century. Vernon’s mother Bernadette had chosen the name in honor of the actor, who died in July 1989, about a year before Vernon’s birth.
Olivier Vernon’s parents raised him in a middle-class neighborhood in Miami and worked as hard as they could to give their son the best possible life. His father Lascelles worked for 25 years with the Miami Police Department before retiring in 2016. His mother worked in a department store to supplement her husband’s income.
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Although Vernon’s parents worked especially hard to support him, they did not neglect the need to discipline their child and instill in him the value of hard work. He had to do chores around the house, including cleaning and some kind of gardening.
When Vernon was accepted at the American High School in Miami, he was made a defensive player on the school’s football team. The values he had learned from his parents benefited him during high school when Vernon was able to find the right balance between his football work and his academic work. These values have remained with him to this day and have contributed to his current success.
Vernon had an amazing high school career and was rated a 4-star athlete by Rivals.com. He was involved with the University of Miami, where he played for the Hurricanes soccer team for three years. He finished his college career after his junior year with 51 tackles (30 solos), including 20.5 for defeat, nine sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 1 fumble recovery.
NFL Career
Vernon signed up early for the 2012 NFL Draft and was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the third round, No. 72 overall. It was the first time in eight years that the Dolphins selected someone from the University of Miami after Vernon Carey was selected in 2004. Olivier Vernon then played 4 seasons with the team, scoring a total of 196 tackles (143 solos), 29 sacks, three forced fumbles, and a touchdown. He scored his first NFL touchdown and an only touchdown with the team in a game against the New York Jets on October 28, 2012.
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Vernon became a free agent after his contract with the Dolphins ended. As a result, he was signed with the New York Giants in 2016 on an $85 million 5-year contract with a $52.5 million guarantee. The contract was then the largest defensive ending contract in the history of the league. It was a huge leap from his 4-year contract with the Miami Dolphins for $3.68 million. Vernon proved to be worth the big money in his first season with the team when he scored a career highlight with 63 tackles and 8.5 sacks from only 16 games. His performance earned him a place on the second all-pro team in 2016.
Weight, Height, and Body Stats
According to Olivier Vernon’s player profile on the National Football League official website, the Outside Linebacker stands at a height of 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) and weighs 270 lb.
