Derrick Ballard
Encyclopedia
Derrick Ballard is a Canadian football
linebacker
who is currently a free agent
. He was signed by the Chicago Bears
as an undrafted free agent in 2004. He played college football
at Memphis
.
Ballard has also been a member of the Atlanta Falcons
, Amsterdam Admirals
and Toronto Argonauts
.
. Named to the Georgia Sportswriter's All-State team following senior season at Morgan County High School in Madison, GA
Played both running back
and defensive back
. Received All-Area, All-Region and All-State accolades in soccer and basketball.
before switching to safety for his senior season. Closed out career with 314 tackles (227 solos), 31 tackles for a loss and 7 sacks. Added 5 interceptions and recovered 3 fumbles while starting 39 of 45 games. Named to the All-Conference USA third-team after senior season in which he ranked fifth on the team with 91 tackles. Recipient of the Highland Hundred co-Defensive Player-of-the-Year Award.
as an undrafted free agent on April 27, 2004. Waived by the Bears
on August 27. Signed to the Bears
practice squad on December 16.
Waived by the Bears
on September 2, 2005.
to NFL Europe and drafted by the Amsterdam Admirals
in round 6. Started all 10 regular season games for the Admirals
recording 26 tackles, 1 sack, 1 interception, 3 passes defended, 3 forced fumbles and 8 special teams stops. Helped Amsterdam
to victory over Berlin
in World Bowl XIII
.
practice squad. Re-signed by the Falcons
on January 2, 2006. Allocated by the Falcons
to NFL Europe on January 11, Assigned by NFL Europe to the Amsterdam Admirals
on January 27.
which was lost to Frankfurt
. Set NFL Europe record with 95-yard fumble return for a touchdown against Berlin
in week 1.
Released by the Falcons
on August 15, 2006. Re-signed by the Amsterdam Admirals
in November through the Player Continuity Program.
. He was released on June 19, 2009.
Canadian football
Canadian football is a form of gridiron football played exclusively in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide attempting to advance a pointed prolate spheroid ball into the opposing team's scoring area...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
who is currently a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. He was signed by the 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...
as an undrafted free agent in 2004. 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 Memphis
Memphis Tigers football
The Memphis Tigers football team represents the University of Memphis in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. The Tigers compete in Conference USA...
.
Ballard has also been a member of the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Amsterdam Admirals
Amsterdam Admirals
The Amsterdam Admirals were a professional American football team in NFL Europe based in Amsterdam, Netherlands.-History:The Admirals were formed in 1995 as part of the NFL's plan to restart the World League of American Football, to be based entirely in Europe...
and Toronto Argonauts
Toronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
.
Early years
Born in Madison, GAMadison, Georgia
Madison is a city in Morgan County, Georgia, United States. The population was 3,636 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Morgan County....
. Named to the Georgia Sportswriter's All-State team following senior season at Morgan County High School in Madison, GA
Madison, Georgia
Madison is a city in Morgan County, Georgia, United States. The population was 3,636 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Morgan County....
Played both running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
and defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
. Received All-Area, All-Region and All-State accolades in soccer and basketball.
College career
Four-year letterman at Memphis who played his first three years at linebackerLinebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
before switching to safety for his senior season. Closed out career with 314 tackles (227 solos), 31 tackles for a loss and 7 sacks. Added 5 interceptions and recovered 3 fumbles while starting 39 of 45 games. Named to the All-Conference USA third-team after senior season in which he ranked fifth on the team with 91 tackles. Recipient of the Highland Hundred co-Defensive Player-of-the-Year Award.
Chicago Bears
Originally signed with the Chicago BearsChicago 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...
as an undrafted free agent on April 27, 2004. Waived by the 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...
on August 27. Signed to the 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...
practice squad on December 16.
Waived by the 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...
on September 2, 2005.
First stint Amsterdam Admirals
Allocated by the BearsChicago 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...
to NFL Europe and drafted by the Amsterdam Admirals
Amsterdam Admirals
The Amsterdam Admirals were a professional American football team in NFL Europe based in Amsterdam, Netherlands.-History:The Admirals were formed in 1995 as part of the NFL's plan to restart the World League of American Football, to be based entirely in Europe...
in round 6. Started all 10 regular season games for the Admirals
Amsterdam Admirals
The Amsterdam Admirals were a professional American football team in NFL Europe based in Amsterdam, Netherlands.-History:The Admirals were formed in 1995 as part of the NFL's plan to restart the World League of American Football, to be based entirely in Europe...
recording 26 tackles, 1 sack, 1 interception, 3 passes defended, 3 forced fumbles and 8 special teams stops. Helped Amsterdam
Amsterdam Admirals
The Amsterdam Admirals were a professional American football team in NFL Europe based in Amsterdam, Netherlands.-History:The Admirals were formed in 1995 as part of the NFL's plan to restart the World League of American Football, to be based entirely in Europe...
to victory over Berlin
Berlin Thunder
The Berlin Thunder were a professional American football team in NFL Europe, which was a springtime American football league serving primarily as a developmental league for the National Football League. Most of the players were young American professional players assigned by NFL teams to receive...
in World Bowl XIII
World Bowl XIII
World Bowl XIII was NFL Europe's 2005 championship game. It was played at the LTU arena in Düsseldorf, Germany on June 11, 2005. In this match-up, the 6-4 Amsterdam Admirals managed to get back to the World Bowl after losing in World Bowl III and spending nearly a decade being on the outside. ...
.
Atlanta Falcons
On December 15, 2005, he was signed to the Atlanta FalconsAtlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
practice squad. Re-signed by the Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
on January 2, 2006. Allocated by the Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
to NFL Europe on January 11, Assigned by NFL Europe to the Amsterdam Admirals
Amsterdam Admirals
The Amsterdam Admirals were a professional American football team in NFL Europe based in Amsterdam, Netherlands.-History:The Admirals were formed in 1995 as part of the NFL's plan to restart the World League of American Football, to be based entirely in Europe...
on January 27.
Second stint with the Amsterdam Admirals
Started all 10 regular season games and World Bowl XIVWorld Bowl XIV
World Bowl XIV was NFL Europe's 2006 championship game. It was played at the LTU Arena in Düsseldorf, Germany on Saturday, May 27, 2006.The game was between the 7-3 Frankfurt Galaxy and the defending World Bowl Champion Amsterdam Admirals . 36,286 people were in attendance, as the Galaxy stripped...
which was lost to Frankfurt
Frankfurt Galaxy
The Frankfurt Galaxy was a professional American football team that originally played in the World League of American Football and later in the resurrected NFL Europe. The team was based in Frankfurt, Germany and played in the Commerzbank-Arena, formerly called the Waldstadion.-History:In 1991, the...
. Set NFL Europe record with 95-yard fumble return for a touchdown against Berlin
Berlin Thunder
The Berlin Thunder were a professional American football team in NFL Europe, which was a springtime American football league serving primarily as a developmental league for the National Football League. Most of the players were young American professional players assigned by NFL teams to receive...
in week 1.
Released by the Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
on August 15, 2006. Re-signed by the Amsterdam Admirals
Amsterdam Admirals
The Amsterdam Admirals were a professional American football team in NFL Europe based in Amsterdam, Netherlands.-History:The Admirals were formed in 1995 as part of the NFL's plan to restart the World League of American Football, to be based entirely in Europe...
in November through the Player Continuity Program.
Toronto Argonauts
On February 11, 2009, Ballard was signed by the Toronto ArgonautsToronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
. He was released on June 19, 2009.