NFL Alumni Association names former KU football player Aqib Talib defensive back of year

By J-W Staff Reports     Feb 9, 2011

Former Kansas University standout cornerback Aqib Talib was named the 2010 Defensive Back of the Year by the NFL Alumni Association on Tuesday.

Talib, who plays for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, intercepted six passes in 11 games last season. He returned one for a touchdown.

The third-year pro from Richardson, Texas, has 15 interceptions in his Bucs career.

Arguably his most memorable moment at KU was when he intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown in KU’s 24-21 Orange Bowl victory over Virginia Tech in 2008. The 12-1 squad was the winningest team in KU football history.

Talib’s six picks in 2010 trailed Baltimore’s Ed Reed, who had eight.

Talib earned the NFC’s Defensive Player of the Week on Nov. 3, 2010, after he picked off two passes against Arizona, returning one for a score. He became the first Tampa Bay player since Donnie Abraham (1999-2001) to record at least four interceptions in three straight seasons.

The 6-foot-1, 205-pound Talib was a first-round draft pick (20th overall) of Tampa Bay in the 2008 draft.

Also on Tuesday, Kansas City’s Todd Haley received the NFL Alumni’s Coach of the Year.

The Chiefs won the AFC West and finished 10-6 before bowing out of the playoffs to Baltimore. Haley made significant progress with the Chiefs, who finished 4-12 and last in the AFC West just two seasons ago.

Other awards on Tuesday from the NFL Alumni included: Quarterback of the Year: Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers; running back: Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville Jaguars; wide Receiver: Roddy White, Atlanta Falcons; tight end: Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys; offensive lineman: Josh Sitton, Green Bay Packers; defensive lineman: Ndamukong Suh, Detroit Lions; linebacker: Patrick Willis, San Francisco 49ers; special teams: Devin Hester, Chicago Bears; spirit award: Felix Jones, Dallas Cowboys; Player of the Year: Troy Polamalu, safety, Pittsburgh Steelers.

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37221NFL Alumni Association names former KU football player Aqib Talib defensive back of year