3 historical NFL free agency “traitors” of the AFC East

ARLINGTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 02: Quarterback Chad Pennington #10 of the Miami Dolphins walks off the field against the Dallas Cowboys during a preseason game at Cowboys Stadium on September 2, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 02: Quarterback Chad Pennington #10 of the Miami Dolphins walks off the field against the Dallas Cowboys during a preseason game at Cowboys Stadium on September 2, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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NFL Free Agency
NFL Free Agency; LB Junior Seau (55) looks to the sideline for the defensive alignment. The Indianapolis Colts defeated the New England Patriots by the score of 27 to 20 at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts, United States on 11/05/2006. (Photo by Arthur Anderson/Getty Images) /

Junior Seau: Miami Dolphins > New England Patriots

Junior Seau was not only a Hall-of-Famer but he played an incredible career that spanned 20 seasons, unheard of in today’s NFL.

Drafted in the first round by the San Diego Chargers in 1990, Seau would go on to play 13 seasons for the team before being traded prior to the 2003 season to the Miami Dolphins.

During his time with Miami, Seau would play in 30 games (out of a possible 48) due to injury and account for:

  • Five passes defenses
  • One fumble recovery
  • 189 tackles
  • Five sacks

He would go on to retire from football on August 14th, 2006. Just four days later, he would return to the game and sign a contract with the division-rival New England Patriots. Seau would go on to play 38 games for the Patriots over the next four seasons, including every game of the undefeated 2007 season, and starting 16 total games over that span.

As a Patriot, Seau would contribute:

  • Five passes defensed
  • One fumble recovery
  • 178 tackles
  • 4.5 sacks

In the end, he certainly had a more successful stint as a member of the New England Patriots, including playing in a Super Bowl, even if it was in his age 37-40 seasons.