James Sanders was drafted by the New England Patriots in the fourth round (133rd overall) of the 2005 NFL Draft ... Signed by the Patriots (7/20/05) ... Re-signed by the Patriots (3/5/09).
 

View James Sanders Career Statistics >>

GP/GS (Playoffs): 69/41 (9/7)

• Sanders enters the 2009 season having played in 55 games with 36 starts over his first four NFL seasons (2005-08), totaling 198 tackles (144 solo), one sack, five interceptions for 112 yards and a touchdown, 10 passes defensed and 21 special teams tackles.
• Sanders enters 2009 having started 29 games at safety for the Patriots over the past two seasons (2007-08), and his 139 tackles over that span lead all Patriots defensive backs.
• In 2008, Sanders started 14 games at free safety and recorded 66 tackles, placing him sixth on the squad. He was part of a Patriots defense that allowed 19.3 points per game, a total that ranked eighth in the NFL.
• Sanders started all 15 games in which he played in 2007, leading all Patriots defensive backs with a career-high 73 tackles. He helped the Patriots defense allow just 288.3 yards per game, the lowest total for the franchise in 25 years.
• In 2006, Sanders started five regular-season games and all three playoff games at safety. He recorded a careerhigh 45 tackles (30 solo) in the regular season and finished third on the team with 17 tackles (12 solo) in the playoffs, a figure that led the Patriots secondary.
• In 2006, Sanders was part of a Patriots secondary that allowed just 10 touchdown passes by opponents, a mark that led the NFL and stands as the fewest allowed in team history for a single season.
• Sanders returned his first career interception 39 yards for a touchdown at Buffalo (12/11/05), grabbing a pass that had been tipped by Tedy Bruschi and racing into the end zone for the score.

2009 (14/5/0/2): Played in 14 games and made five starts at free safety ... Registered his first career fumble recovery, picking up a Michael Turner fumble against the Atlanta Falcons (9/27) ... Tied for the team lead in tackles once (at HOU) and tied for the team lead in special teams tackles once (at BUF).

Buffalo (9/14): Started at free safety in the Patriots' 25-24 comeback victory over the Bills ... Tallied five tackles (4 solo). at N.Y. Jets (9/20): Played in reserve at safety and on special teams coverage units against the Jets ... Registered two tackles in coverage and one special teams tackle. Atlanta (9/27): Played in reserve at safety and on special teams kickoff and punt coverage units in the Patriots' 26-10 victory over the Falcons ... Picked up his first career fumble recovery, scooping up a Michael Turner fumble created on Brandon McGowan's hit in the second quarter, leading to a Stephen Gostkowski field goal ... Tallied three tackles (2 solo). Baltimore (10/4): Played in reserve at safety and on special teams return and coverage units in the Patriots' 27-21 victory over the Ravens ... Made three solo tackles in coverage, as well as one solo special teams tackle. at Denver (10/11): Inactive. Tennessee (10/18): Inactive. at Tampa Bay (10/25): Returned to action, playing in a reserve role at safety and on special teams coverage and return units in the Patriots' 35-7 win over the Buccaneers at Wembley Stadium ... Made one tackle in coverage as well as one special teams tackle. Miami (11/8): Played in reserve at safety and on special teams coverage and return units in the Patriots' 27-17 win over the Dolphins. at Indianapolis (11/15): Saw action in reserve on special teams coverage and return units at the Colts. N.Y. Jets (11/22): Played in reserve at safety and on special teams coverage and return units in the Patriots' 31-14 victory over the Jets. at New Orleans (11/30): Played in reserve at safety and on special teams coverage and return units at the Saints ... Tallied two tackles. at Miami (12/6): Played in reserve on special teams coverage and return units at the Dolphins. Carolina (12/13): Started at free safety in the Patriots' 20-10 win over the Panthers ... Teamed up with Leigh Bodden to drag down DeAngelo Williams for a 2-yard loss on a fourth-quarter carry, forcing the Panthers to a three-and-out ... Disrupted Matt Moore's deep ball attempt for Muhsin Muhammad in the first quarter ... Made five tackles (3 solo). at Buffalo (12/20): Started his second straight game at free safety in the Patriots' 17-10 win over the Bills ... Made four solo tackles and tied for the team lead in special teams tackles with two ... Registered a forced fumble that rolled out of bounds in the second quarter. Jacksonville (12/27): Started at free safety as the Patriots clinched the AFC East title with a 35-7 win over the Jaguars ... Tied a single-game career high with two passes defensed ... Broke up David Garrard's pass intended for Rashad Jennings in the third quarter ... Disrupted Garrard's pass intended for Zach Miller in the third ... Stuffed Maurice Jones-Drew for no gain on a first-quarter carry ... Made four solo tackles. at Houston (1/3): Started at free safety and led the team in tackles with a season-high 10 stops (8 solo) at the Texans.

2009 Postseason (1/1/0/0): Baltimore (1/10): Started at free safety, making his seventh career postseason start ... Led the secondary and finished second on the team with nine tackles, including eight solo stops ... Set a postseason career-high with his nine tackles, which were also the second highest total of his career ... Stonewalled Willis McGahee in the backfield for a 4-yard loss in the first quarter.

2008 (14/14): Started 14 games at free safety and recorded 66 tackles (44 solo) ... His 66 stops placed sixth on the team and ranked second among Patriots defensive backs ... Recorded an interception and three passes defensed ... Tallied four special teams tackles ... Tallied three solo tackles, one pass defensed and a special teams tackle against Kansas City (9/7) ... Started at free safety and tallied six tackles at the N.Y. Jets (9/14) ... Tied for the team lead in special teams tackles with two while making five tackles in coverage against Miami (9/21) ... Grabbed his first interception of the season and the fifth interception of his career, picking off a Jay Cutler pass intended for Nate Jackson against Denver (10/20) ... Tallied five solo tackles ... Racked up a season high seven tackles (4 solo) against the N.Y. Jets (11/13) ... Started at free safety, making five tackles (4 solo) with one pass defensed while breaking up a Chad Pennington pass intended for Anthony Fasano at Miami (11/23) ... Tallied seven tackles with four solo stops while making the start at free safety against Pittsburgh (11/30) ... Returned to action after missing two games due to injury, making the start at free safety in the Patriots' shutout victory at Buffalo (12/28) ... Led the secondary with a single-game season high eight tackles, which included seven solo stops.
 

2007 (15/15/0/1):  Tied for the team lead in tackles with six in the Patriots' 56-10 win over the Buffalo Bills on Nov. 18... Led all secondary players with 73 tackles in 2007... Established single-season career highs in games started (15), tackles (73), solo tackles (60), interceptions (2), passes defensed (5) and special teams tackles (7) in 2007.

at N.Y. Jets (9/9):  Started at safety... Cut short the Jets' promising first drive of the game by dragging down Jerricho Cotchery one yard short of a first down on third and nine... Registered four solo tackles. San Diego (9/16):  Started at strong safety... Teamed up with Santonio Thomas to deny LaDainian Tomlinson for no gain on a third-and-one during the second quarter...  Had four tackles (3 solo) in addition to a special teams tackle.  Buffalo (9/23):  Started at strong safety in the Patriots' 38-7 win over the Bills... Tied for second on the team and led the secondary with total tackles with seven and solo tackles with four... Contributed two special teams tackles in action on coverage units.  at Cincinnati (10/1): Started at strong safety... Contributed two solo tackles in coverage and was second on the team with two special teams tackles.  Cleveland (10/7):  Started at strong safety...  Recorded three tackles (2 solo) in the Patriots' 34-17 victory over the Browns... Also tallied a special teams tackle.  at Dallas (10/14):  Started at strong safety... Contributed five tackles (4 solo) in coverage in the Patriots' 48-27 victory over the Cowboys... Added a special teams tackle.  at Miami (10/21):  Started at strong safety... Racked up five tackles (4 solo) in the Patriots' 49-28 victory over the Dolphins.  Washington (10/28):  Started at free safety... Tallied four tackles (2 solo) in the Patriots' 52-7 win over the Redskins... Stopped Santana Moss short of a first down on a fourth-and-four try after a 1-yard pass from Jason Campbell in the third quarter.  at Indianapolis (11/4):  Started at free safety... Led the secondary in tackles with seven (5 solo) in the Patriots' 24-20 comeback win over the Colts.  at Buffalo (11/18):  Started at free safety... Dropped Anthony Thomas for a loss of three yards on a first-quarter drive, forcing a Buffalo punt... Got to Thomas again later in the first quarter for his second tackle for a loss, dragging him down for a loss of one yard... Forced Dwayne Wright to cough up the ball with a helmet to ball hit, forcing the ball into the air and allowing Ellis Hobbs to gather the loose ball, which he returned for a touchdown with 14:10 remaining in the game ... Tied for the team lead and led the secondary in tackles with six solo tackles in the Patriots' 56-10 rout of the Bills.  Philadelphia (11/25):  Started at free safety... Picked off his first interception of the season while registering five tackles (4 solo) in the Patriots' 31-28 win over the Eagles... Capped off the Patriots' victory with an interception of an A.J. Feeley pass intended for Reggie Brown with 11 seconds remaining in the game.  at Baltimore (12/3):  Started at free safety... Picked off a Kyle Boller pass intended for Devard Darling with 10:22 remaining in the fourth quarter and ran with it for a 42-yard return... Stood up Willis McGahee at the line for no gain in the fourth quarter... Tallied five tackles (3 solo) in the Patriots' 2-7-24 comeback win over the Ravens.  Pittsburgh (12/9):  Started a free safety... Tallied a single-game season high with eight tackles (7 solo) in the Patriots' 34-13 win over the Steelers... Came up with his first career fumble recovery by corralling a Chris Hanson punt that was touched by the Steelers' William Gay in the second quarter.  N.Y. Jets (12/16):  Inactive.  Miami (12/23):  Started at free safety... Tallied four solo tackles in coverage while picking up a pass defensed in the Patriots' 28-7 victory over the Dolphins... Batted down a Cleo Lemon pass intended for Ted Ginn, Jr. in the first quarter, helping to force a Dolphins' punt.  at N.Y. Giants (12/29):  Started at free safety... Contributed four solo tackles in coverage as the Patriots became the fourth team in NFL history to finish its regular-season undefeated in a 38-35 comeback victory over the Giants.

2007 Postseason (3/3/0/0):  Jacksonville (1/12):  Started at strong safety... Made eight tackles (6 solo) and one special teams tackle in the Patriots' 31-20 win over the Jaguars.  San Diego (1/20):  Started at free safety in the Patriots' 21-12 victory over the Chargers in the AFC Championship Game... Made three solo tackles in coverage.  N.Y. Giants (2/3):  Started at free safety in Super Bowl XLII... Made four tackles (3 solo).

2006 (16/5, 3/3): Played in all 16 regular season contests, starting five games at safety ... Started all three postseason games at safety ... Finished the regular season with a career-high 45 tackles (30 solo) and led the secondary with 17 playoff tackles, a total that placed third on the team ... Tied for the team lead in tackles once (vs. DET) ... Tied for the team lead in quarterback hits once (at TEN) ... Tied for the team lead in sacks once (at TEN) ... Tied for the team lead in special teams tackles twice (at CIN, at BUF).

Denver (9/24): Saw significant action at safety in the second half and registered a tackle ... Teamed with Tedy Bruschi to stonewall Tatum Bell for a 2-yard loss on a rush off left end in the fourth quarter. Cincinnati (10/1): Played in a reserve role on special teams coverage units ... Tied for the team lead with two special teams stops ... Teamed with Willie Andrews to tackle Kenny Watson at the Bengals' 18- yard line on a kickoff return in the second quarter. Buffalo (10/22): Made a tackle on special teams coverage units. Minnesota (10/30): Collected a special teams tackle. Indianapolis (11/5): Collected a special teams tackle on coverage units. N.Y. Jets (11/12): Played in a reserve role at safety in nickel situations and registered two tackles. Green Bay (11/19): Started at safety ... Recorded three tackles (2 solo). Chicago (11/26): Started at safety and collected a career-high seven tackles (5 solo) and a quarterback hit ... Teamed with Ty Warren to stuff Thomas Jones for no gain on a rush off right end in the first quarter. Detroit (12/3): Started at safety ... Tied for the team lead with 11 tackles (5 solo). Miami (12/10): Started at safety and notched three tackles (1 solo). Houston (12/17): Started at safety ... Notched seven solo tackles and an interception ... Made a one-handed interception after Tedy Bruschi deflected a David Carr pass intended for Eric Moulds in the first quarter. Jacksonville (12/24): Saw significant action in a reserve role as the nickel back ... Registered four tackles (3 solo) ... Teamed with Ellis Hobbs to stop Matt Jones for a 7-yard gain on a third-and-nine play in the first quarter ... Made a nice open-field tackle on Maurice Jones-Drew to limit him to a 6-yard gain on a third-and-eight play in the opening stanza. Tennessee (12/31): Saw significant action at safety after Rodney Harrison left the game in the second quarter ... Posted seven tackles (6 solo) and a sack ... Dropped Vince Young for a 5-yard sack late in the second quarter.

2006 Postseason (3/3):  N.Y. Jets (1/7): Made the start at safety ... Recorded four tackles (2 solo) ... Knocked down a pass intended for Jerricho Cotchery in the fourth quarter. at San Diego (1/14): Started at safety ... Posted six tackles (5 solo) and a sack ... Sacked Philip Rivers for a 10-yard loss on a third-and-17 play in the third quarter. at Indianapolis (1/21): Started at safety ... Finished tied for second on the team with seven tackles (5 solo) ... Collected a solo tackle on special teams coverage units.

2005 (10/2/0/6): Saw action in first career NFL contest against Atlanta (10/09/05) … Made his first career start at safety against Denver (10/16/05) … Registered his first career interception and returned it 39 yards for a touchdown against Buffalo (12/11/05) … Collected 14 tackles (10 solo) and an interception return for a touchdown in 10 games. Oakland (9/8): Inactive. at Carolina (9/18): Inactive. at Pittsburgh (9/25): Inactive. San Diego (10/2): Inactive. at Atlanta (10/9): Saw action as a reserve at safety and on special teams coverage units in the Patriots’ 31-28 win over the Falcons. at Denver (10/16): Made his first career NFL start and collected two solo tackles. Buffalo (10/30): Inactive. Indianapolis (11/7): Inactive. at Miami (11/13): Saw limited action at safety and tallied a solo tackle in defensive play during the Patriots’ 23-16 road victory over the Dolphins … Recorded a special teams tackle on coverage units. New Orleans (11/20): Saw limited action at safety and on special teams coverage units in the Patriots’ 24-17 win over the Saints. at Kansas City (11/27): Played primarily on special teams coverage units. N.Y. Jets (12/4): Saw action as the dime back and notched two tackles in defensive play during the Patriots’ 16-3 victory over the Jets … Tied for the team lead with two special teams stops … Limited Justin Miller to a 7-yard kickoff return with a bonecrushing special teams tackle in the third quarter. at Buffalo (12/11): Collected a tackle and an interception return for a score in the Patriots’ commanding 35-7 road victory over the Bills … Blitzed from the edge and forced JP Losman to throw an incompletion on third-and-11 late in the third quarter … Grabbed a tipped pass by Tedy Bruschi and returned the interception 39 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Tampa Bay (12/17): Saw limited action as a defensive back in the Patriots’ 28-0 shutout victory over the Buccaneers … Played on special teams coverage units in the win. at N.Y. Jets (12/26): Saw action as the dime back and notched a solo tackle in the Patriots’ 31-21 victory over the Jets … Recovered a fumble after Adam Vinatieri’s kickoff bounced off David Barrett’s leg late in the second quarter. Miami (1/1): Started at safety and registered seven tackles (6 solo) … Tied for the team lead with two special teams stops.

2005 Postseason (2/0/0/0): Jacksonville (1/7): Saw action on special teams coverage units in the Patriots' 28-3 AFC Wild Card victory over the Jaguars. at Denver (1/14): Registered a solo special teams tackle on coverage units.

Started 32 of 40 games over three seasons for Fresno State ... Recorded 238 tackles (120 solo) and 24 tackles for losses totaling 80 yards ... Intercepted seven passes, returning one for a touchdown, and recorded 18 passes defensed ... Also tallied seven sacks, forced two fumbles and recovered two ... Blocked three kicks on special teams. 2004 (Junior): Earned All-Western Athletic Conference honors for the second-straight year ... Started all but one game ... Finished third on the team with 63 tackles (29 solo) ... Had two sacks for 16 yards and 6.5 stops for losses of 35 yards ... Recovered and caused two fumbles ... Intercepted three passes for 60 yards and a touchdown. 2003 (Sophomore): The only sophomore on the All-Western Athletic Conference first-team ... Played in every game, starting 10 contests at strong safety ... Led the team with a career-high 93 tackles (55 solo), including two sacks for minus 11 yards and 8.5 stops for losses of 25 yards ... Intercepted two passes and deflected four. 2002 (Freshman): First-team Freshman All- American selection by the Football Writers of America and third-team honors from The Sporting News ... Honorable mention All-WAC ... Played in every game and started 11 at strong safety ... Finished second on the team with 82 tackles (36 solo) ... Credited with three sacks for minus nine yards and nine stops for losses of 20 yards ... Intercepted two passes for 23 yards in returns and had nine pass defl ections.

James Sanders was born son of Kathy and Keith Thompson on November 11, 1983 in Porterville, Calif. ... Attended Monache (Porterville, Calif.) High School ... Was team captain and MVP in 2000 ... Named to the Fresno Bee All-Star firstteam defensive squad ... Also played receiver, running back and returned punts and kicks ... Was a Health Science major at Fresno State ... James and his wife Elysia have a son, James Jr., and a daughter, Jordyn.

• James is the oldest of six children, and began taking care of his five younger siblings at an early age.
• The starting defensive backfield from James' junior season at Fresno State all play in the NFL. Cornerback Richard Marshall plays for Carolina, cornerback Marcus McCauley plays for Minnesota and safety Tyrone Culver plays for the Miami Dolphins.