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Kwamie Lassiter

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Not to be confused with Kwamie Lassiter II.

Kwamie Lassiter
No. 42
Position:Defensive back
Personal information
Born:(1969-12-03)December 3, 1969
Hampton, Virginia, U.S.
Died:January 6, 2019(2019-01-06) (aged 49)
Chandler, Arizona, U.S.
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:207 lb (94 kg)
Career information
High school:Menchville
(Newport News, Virginia)
College:Butler County CC (1989–1990)
Kansas (1991–1994)
Undrafted:1995
Career history
Career highlights and awards
  • Second-team All-Big 8 (1994)
NFL records
  • Most passes intercepted in a single game: 4 (tied)
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles:609
Interceptions:25
Defensive touchdowns:2
Player stats at PFR

Kwamie Lassiter (December 3, 1969 – January 6, 2019) was an American football safety. He was signed by the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 1995. He played college football at Kansas.

Early years

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Born in Hampton, Virginia, Lassiter graduated from Menchville High School in Newport News, Virginia in 1989.[1]

College career

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Lassiter played his first two years of college football at Butler County Community College in 1989 and 1990 before transferring to the University of Kansas in 1991. He sat out the 1991 season, played at Kansas from 1992 to 1994, and graduated with a degree in communications.[1][2] After Lassiter suffered a broken collarbone by the third game of the 1993 season, the NCAA granted Lassiter a sixth year of eligibility.[2]

Professional career

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Lassiter played for the Arizona Cardinals from 1995–2002, San Diego Chargers in 2003 and St. Louis Rams in 2004. He finished his career with 609 tackles (437 solo tackles), 25 interceptions, and four sacks.[3]

In the Cardinals' final regular season game of the 1998 season, a 16-13 victory over the San Diego Chargers that clinched the Cardinals' first playoff berth in 15 years, Lassiter intercepted Chargers quarterback Craig Whelihan four times.[4]

After the 2001 season, Lassiter was selected as an alternate for the 2002 Pro Bowl after reaching career highs with 112 tackles and 9 interceptions.[1]

Lassiter spent the 2003 season with the Chargers, but he was cut during the 2004 preseason. The St. Louis Rams signed Lassiter on September 21, 2004.[1]

NFL statistics

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Year Team Games Comb. Tack. Asst. Sacks FF FR INT TDs Def
1995 ARI 5 7 5 2 0.0 0 0 0 0 0
1996 ARI 14 16 13 3 0.0 0 0 1 0 2
1997 ARI 16 39 24 15 3.0 0 0 1 0 2
1998 ARI 16 55 40 15 0.0 2 1 8 0 12
1999 ARI 16 114 80 34 0.0 0 2 2 1 7
2000 ARI 16 101 67 34 0.0 1 1 1 0 2
2001 ARI 16 113 84 29 1.0 1 0 9 0 15
2002 ARI 16 96 65 31 0.0 0 1 2 0 9
2003 SD 10 59 51 8 0.0 1 0 1 1 1
2004 STL 4 9 8 1 0.0 0 0 0 0 0
Career 129 609 437 172 4.0 5 5 25 2 49

Post-playing career

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From 2006 to 2008, Lassiter was a pregame and postgame host for the Arizona Cardinals Radio Network.

From 2009 until his death, Lassiter hosted Kwamie Lassiter's Sports Talk on the VoiceAmerica Internet radio network.[5]

From 2010 until his death, Lassiter was president of the NFL Alumni chapter in Arizona.

From 2009 to 2010, Lassiter was defensive backs coach at Mesa Community College.[6][7] In 2012, Lassiter became defensive backs coach for the Las Vegas Locomotives of the UFL.

Personal life

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Three of Lassiter's sons, Kwamie II, Darius and Kwinton, have played college football or in the NFL. Kwamie II plays for the Cincinnati Bengals, having played college football at his father's alma mater Kansas. Kwinton also plays at Kansas,[8] while Darius plays for BYU[9]

Lassiter's daughter, Darian, is a professional dancer who was on the Arizona Cardinals cheerleaders, the Phoenix Suns dance team, and ultimately a member of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, appearing on season 15 of their reality television show Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team.

Death

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On January 6, 2019, Lassiter died unexpectedly at age 49. He succumbed to a heart attack suffered while working out.[10]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Kwamie Lassiter". St. Louis Rams. Archived from the original on October 23, 2004.
  2. ^ a b Woodling, Chuck (April 21, 2009). "Lassiter undrafted standout". Lawrence Journal-World. Retrieved February 10, 2013.
  3. ^ "Kwamie Lassiter". pro-football-reference. Retrieved February 10, 2013.
  4. ^ Simers, T.J. (December 28, 1998). "Officials and Jacke Help Raise Arizona". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 10, 2013.
  5. ^ "Kwamie Lassiter's Sports Talk | VoiceAmerica™ | Talk Radio | Online Talk Radio". Archived from the original on April 24, 2013. Retrieved February 10, 2013.
  6. ^ "Coach Hargrave and Staff Back from Team Camp - Football - Athletics at Mesa Community College". athletics.mesacc.edu.
  7. ^ "Football Ready To Take On Scottsdale, Broadcast Live On KWSS, 106.7 FM, Saturday, September 4 At 7:00 P.M. - Football - Athletics at Mesa Community College". athletics.mesacc.edu.
  8. ^ "Kwinton Lassiter". Kansas Jayhawks. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  9. ^ "Wide receiver Darius Lassiter joins BYU football program". BYU Cougars. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  10. ^ "Former Arizona Cardinal Kwamie Lassiter dies at age 49". Arizona Sports. January 7, 2019. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
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