Corey Chavous
Encyclopedia
Corey Lamonte Chavous (ˈtʃeɪvəs; born January 5, 1976 in Aiken, South Carolina
) is an American football
safety who is currently retired. Chavous played 11 years in the NFL for three different teams, primarily as a safety but also as a cornerback
. Chavous was known as one of the most instinctive safeties of his era and was a Pro Bowl
selection in 2003. During his career, he was a regular NFL draft television
analyst. He is the founder of the media company and website DraftNasty.com, which specializes in coverage of the major sports with an emphasis on scouting and professional drafts.
Chavous was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals
in the second round of 1998 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Vanderbilt
. Chavous played four years for the Minnesota Vikings
and three years for the St. Louis Rams
. He appeared on ESPN's coverage of the NFL Draft from 1999-2004. He was one of the initial main athletes involved in ESPN's Players Roundtable during the coverage of the draft.
Chavous went on to be one of the lead analysts on the NFL Network's first ever coverage of the draft in Radio City Music Hall in 2005. Along with host Rich Eisen and NFL Network draft guru Mike Mayock, the trio covered all of the NFL Network's two-day weekend.
Chavous is the nephew of former Denver Broncos
defensive end
Barney Chavous
. He is also the cousin of Fred Vinson
, former NFL and Vanderbilt University
football player.
. In football, he was an All-Area, and an All-District pick, and in track, he was an All-State choice and was part of a 4×100 relay team which won the state title. He was a high school teammate of former Chicago Bears
and Vikings wide receiver
D'Wayne Bates
.
. He finished his career with 12 interceptions (which ranks 4th on the school's all-time list), and made 199 tackles, and batted down 31 passes. He graduated with a degree in human and organizational development.
in the second round (33rd overall) in the 1998 NFL Draft
. In his rookie season he played in 16 games recording 28 tackles and two interceptions, his first coming at the Kansas City Chiefs
on November 30. In 1999, he played in 15 games recording 40 tackles and one interception. The following year he made 48 tackles and one interception. In his final year with the Cardinals, Chavous made 74 tackles and one interception.
as an unrestricted free agent. In his debut season he started in all 16 games recording 83 tackles, three interceptions and one touchdown, the first of his career at the Detroit Lions
on December 29. In 2003, he made 86 tackles, a career-high eight interceptions and one touchdown. His performances that season earned him a trip to the 2003 Pro Bowl
. The following year, he made 81 tackles and one interception. In his final season with the Vikings, Chavous started all 16 games for a fourth straight season, recording 71 tackles and two interceptions.
as an unrestricted free agent. In his first season, he equaled his career-high of 86 tackles and made one interception. In 2008 he started 14 games making 74 tackles and 3.5 sacks.
On February 13, 2009, Chavous was released by the Rams.
Aiken, South Carolina
Aiken is a city in and the county seat of Aiken County, South Carolina, United States. With Augusta, Georgia, it is one of the two largest cities of the Central Savannah River Area. It is part of the Augusta-Richmond County Metropolitan Statistical Area. Aiken is home to the University of South...
) is an American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
safety who is currently retired. Chavous played 11 years in the NFL for three different teams, primarily as a safety but also as a cornerback
Cornerback
A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
. Chavous was known as one of the most instinctive safeties of his era and was a Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
selection in 2003. During his career, he was a regular NFL draft television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
analyst. He is the founder of the media company and website DraftNasty.com, which specializes in coverage of the major sports with an emphasis on scouting and professional drafts.
Chavous was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the second round of 1998 NFL Draft
1998 NFL Draft
The 1998 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 18-19, 1998...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt Commodores football
The Vanderbilt Commodores football program is a college football team that represents Vanderbilt University. The team currently competes in NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Southeastern Conference...
. Chavous played four years for the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
and three years for the St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
. He appeared on ESPN's coverage of the NFL Draft from 1999-2004. He was one of the initial main athletes involved in ESPN's Players Roundtable during the coverage of the draft.
Chavous went on to be one of the lead analysts on the NFL Network's first ever coverage of the draft in Radio City Music Hall in 2005. Along with host Rich Eisen and NFL Network draft guru Mike Mayock, the trio covered all of the NFL Network's two-day weekend.
Chavous is the nephew of former Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
Barney Chavous
Barney Chavous
Barney Lewis Chavous is a former American football defensive end/defensive tackle in the NFL. He played his entire thirteen year career with the Denver Broncos from 1973-1985. He ranks third on the Broncos' all-time sacks list with 75 and is tied with Tom Jackson for third in Broncos' career...
. He is also the cousin of Fred Vinson
Fred Vinson (American football)
Fred Vinson , is a former American football defensive back.He is the cousin of National Football League safety Corey Chavous and is also related to Barney Chavous, former defensive end/defensive tackle for the Denver Broncos.- High school & college :When he was ten years old, Vinson competed in the...
, former NFL and Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
football player.
High school career
Chavous attended Silver Bluff High School in Aiken, South CarolinaAiken, South Carolina
Aiken is a city in and the county seat of Aiken County, South Carolina, United States. With Augusta, Georgia, it is one of the two largest cities of the Central Savannah River Area. It is part of the Augusta-Richmond County Metropolitan Statistical Area. Aiken is home to the University of South...
. In football, he was an All-Area, and an All-District pick, and in track, he was an All-State choice and was part of a 4×100 relay team which won the state title. He was a high school teammate of former Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and Vikings wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
D'Wayne Bates
D'Wayne Bates
D'Wayne L. Bates is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League. Bates played three seasons with the Chicago Bears and two with the Minnesota Vikings...
.
College career
Chavous attended Vanderbilt UniversityVanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
. He finished his career with 12 interceptions (which ranks 4th on the school's all-time list), and made 199 tackles, and batted down 31 passes. He graduated with a degree in human and organizational development.
Arizona Cardinals
Chavous was selected by the Arizona CardinalsArizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the second round (33rd overall) in the 1998 NFL Draft
1998 NFL Draft
The 1998 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 18-19, 1998...
. In his rookie season he played in 16 games recording 28 tackles and two interceptions, his first coming at the Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
on November 30. In 1999, he played in 15 games recording 40 tackles and one interception. The following year he made 48 tackles and one interception. In his final year with the Cardinals, Chavous made 74 tackles and one interception.
Minnesota Vikings
On March 25, 2002, Chavous signed a four-year contract with the Minnesota VikingsMinnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
as an unrestricted free agent. In his debut season he started in all 16 games recording 83 tackles, three interceptions and one touchdown, the first of his career at the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
on December 29. In 2003, he made 86 tackles, a career-high eight interceptions and one touchdown. His performances that season earned him a trip to the 2003 Pro Bowl
2003 Pro Bowl
The 2003 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl was played on February 2, 2003 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. The final Score was AFC 45, NFC 20. Ricky Williams of the Miami Dolphins was the game's MVP.-Offense:-Defense:-Special teams:-Offense:-Defense:...
. The following year, he made 81 tackles and one interception. In his final season with the Vikings, Chavous started all 16 games for a fourth straight season, recording 71 tackles and two interceptions.
St. Louis Rams
On March 13, 2006, Chavous signed a three-year contract with the St. Louis RamsSt. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
as an unrestricted free agent. In his first season, he equaled his career-high of 86 tackles and made one interception. In 2008 he started 14 games making 74 tackles and 3.5 sacks.
On February 13, 2009, Chavous was released by the Rams.