Ryan Nece

Ryan Clint Nece (born February 24, 1979 in San Bernardino, California) is a former American football linebacker who played in the National Football League. He was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent in 2002. He played college football at UCLA.

Nece is the son of former NFL Hall of Fame safety Ronnie Lott.

College career

Nece graduated from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) and was a four-year starter for the Bruins and finished his career with 281 career tackles (173 solo), with 22 tackles for loss and 10 sacks. He started out in his redshirt year as a safety but converted to linebacker afterwards. He was an honorable mention All-Pac-10 selection and Butkus Award semifinalist as a senior at UCLA.

2000 — Nece, who played the entire year with a shoulder that required post-season surgery, was selected to the 2000 pre-season Watch List for the Butkus Award, which honors the nation’s top linebacker … On the year, Nece ranked second on the squad with 78 tackles and forced two fumbles … He started all 12 games and played at least 40 snaps in every one, including 82 at Oregon, 71 versus Stanford, 67 at Washington and 62 at California … In the season-opening win against Alabama, he tied for the team lead with six tackles. … At Oregon, he made 13 tackles, tying Tony White for the team lead … In the win over Arizona State, he was credited with three tackles and forced a fumble … At California, he ranked second with six tackles, including his first sack of the year, and also forced a fumble … That fumble led to a Bruin touchdown just before halftime … In the victory at Arizona, Nece registered six tackles and added six more stops in the win over Stanford … Against Washington, he led the team with a career-high 14 tackles, the most by a Bruin since Robert Thomas made 14 versus Fresno State in 1999, and added four against USC in the regular-season finale … In the Sun Bowl against Wisconsin, he led the Bruins with 11 tackles, including one for loss.

1999 — Saw action in nine games, all as a starter … Finished third on the team with 65 stops … Also had three stops behind the line, two sacks and the first interception of his career versus Arizona State … Had 10 tackles in his first start vs. Fresno State after serving a two-game suspension for an off-field situation … Blocked a punt vs. Oregon … Had 10 tackles in the Oregon State game, including his first sack of the season … Had 10 more stops vs. Arizona, with seven primary hits … Recovered a fumble and had nine tackles against Washington … Led the Bruins with 10 stops in the USC game, with two tackles for loss … Played at least 50 snaps in six games, including 66 at USC, 61 versus Fresno State and 60 at Oregon State.

1998 — As a redshirt freshman inside linebacker, Nece earned first-team Freshman All-American honors and All-Pac-10 honorable mention in his first year in the lineup … Nece was the team’s No. 2 tackler behind All-American Larry Atkins with 85 and ranked second with six sacks and 10 tackles for losses … He also recovered two fumbles and forced one while defensing five passes … Started the final nine games of the year, moving into the lineup against Arizona, and made at least seven tackles eight times, including each of the last seven games … Played at least 66 defensive snaps in seven games, including 80 at Oregon State, 78 at Washington, 75 versus Oregon and 69 against USC and Stanford … Played at least 50 snaps in nine of 12 contests … He was also a regular on the field goal block unit … In the regular-season finale at Miami, he made a season-high and team-best 12 tackles … Had an outstanding day versus WSU with eight stops and two tackles for loss, including a sack … At Arizona, he added six stops, including a 13-yard sack … In the Oregon game, he made five stops, including a tackle for loss … At California, he made nine tackles, including one sack and a second for a loss … Versus Stanford, he shared team-best honors with eight stops … He had eight stops at Oregon State in addition to a pass breakup and forced fumble … He added seven stops in the win at Washington … In the win over USC, Nece made seven tackles, tied for second on the squad, recovered a fumble and recorded one quarterback sack … In the Rose Bowl, he made eight tackles, including his sixth sack of the season.

1997 — Did not see action in his first year at UCLA … Practiced at safety and shifted to inside linebacker the following Spring.

Professional career

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Nece as a Pro: Intelligent and savvy linebacker who has ability to deliver the big hit... Tremendous work ethic and solid play has helped him work his way from undrafted free agent to starting strongside linebacker for the Buccaneers... Outstanding teammate and community leader who provides strong leadership in the line- backer corps... Appeared in 85 career games with 35 starts... Has also played and started in two postseason contests... Posted 276 career tackles, two interceptions, six passes defensed, 3.5 sacks, 73 special teams stops and one special teams fumble recovery... Originally entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Buccaneers on April 22, 2002. Nece was awarded Rookie of the Year honors with Tampa Bay the same year they won the World Championship at Super Bowl XXXVII in San Diego. Nece was a three-time team elected Captain and served four years as the team elected NFLPA Player Representative while with the Buccaneers.

2007: Appeared in 15 contests and inactive for one other (at San Francisco) on the season... Also started lone playoff contest... Totaled five defensive tackles and 16 special teams tackles... Recorded two special teams tackles at Seattle (9/9)... Had one tackle and one special teams stop vs. New Orleans (9/16)... Registered one tackle and led the team with two special teams tackles vs. St. Louis (9/23)... Tallied two special teams tackles vs. Tennessee (10/14)... Registered two special teams tackles vs. Jacksonville (10/28)... Totaled two special teams stops vs. Arizona (11/4)... Tallied two special teams stops at Atlanta (11/18)... Led team with three special teams tackles at New Orleans (12/2)... Had three tackles in late action vs. Atlanta (12/16)... Made first start of the season for the injured LB Cato June in NFC Wild Card game vs. N.Y. Giants (1/6), posting six tackles.

2006: Appeared in 15 contests (all but vs. Carolina) with 11 starts (all but vs. Carolina, 

vs. New Orleans, at Carolina, at Dallas and vs. Seattle)… Served as the squad’s special teams captain… Ranked fifth on the team with 93 tackles… Totaled 93 tackles, two passes defensed and six special teams tackles… Also posted 1.5 sacks… Had six tackles and one special teams stop in season opener vs. Baltimore (9/10)… Recorded first sack of the sea- son at Atlanta (9/17), dropping QB Michael Vick for a six-yard loss… Added two tackles and one TFL against the Falcons… Inactive at Carolina (9/24) because of knee injury… Had five tackles, including one TFL, at New Orleans (10/8)… Led team with a season-high nine tackles vs. Cincinnati (10/15)… Matched his season high with nine tackles vs. Philadelphia (10/22)… Finished contest at N.Y. Giants (10/29) with a season-high tying nine tackles… Did not start vs. New Orleans (11/5) as defense opened up with five defensive backs, but finished with eight tackles and one pass defensed… Also had two special teams tackles against the Saints… Did not start for the second consecutive week as defense opened with five defensive backs at Carolina (11/13)… Totaled six tackles, including one TFL, against the Panthers… Had two tackles and one pass defensed vs. Washington (11/19)… Finished con- test at Dallas (11/23) with nine tackles, including one TFL… Posted six tackles, including one TFL, at Pittsburgh (12/3)… Recorded seven tackles and 0.5 sack of Vick vs. Atlanta (12/10)… Added one special teams tackle against the Falcons… Posted seven tackles, including one TFL, at Chicago (12/17)… Posted eight tackles and one special teams tackle in season finale vs. Seattle (12/31).

2005: Played in all 16 games with 14 starts (all but vs. Buffalo and at New England)… Also started in playoff game vs. Washington… Ranked fourth on the team with a career-high 104 tackles, and ranked seventh on the team with 15 special teams tackles… Added two sacks and one pass defensed on the year… Totaled three tackles and three special teams stops at Minnesota (9/11)… Part of a defense that did not surrender an offensive touchdown against Minnesota and limited the Vikings to just 33 rushing yards… Totaled four tackles vs. Buffalo (9/18)… Added one special teams tackle against the Bills… Part of a defensive effort that lim- ited the Bills offense to 147 total yards, eight first downs and one field goal… Recorded first career sack at Green Bay (9/25)… Recorded seven tackles and two special teams stops against the Packers… Notched six tackles and three special teams stops against Detroit (10/2)… Led the team with a career-high 11 tackles at N.Y. Jets (10/9)… Added one pass defensed and a fourth quarter sack of Jets’ QB Vinny Testaverde… Totaled seven tackles vs. Miami (10/16)… Added one special teams stop against the Dolphins… Recorded six tackles and one special teams stop at San Francisco (10/30)… Part of a defense that limited the 49ers to 50 passing yards… Finished contest vs. Carolina (11/6) with six tackles… Had six tackles vs. Washington (11/13)… Added one special teams tackle against the Redskins… Totaled seven tackles and two special teams stops at Atlanta (11/20)… Had nine tackles vs. Chicago (11/27)… Posted four tackles at New Orleans (12/4)… Totaled six tackles at Carolina (12/11)… Recorded five tackles and one special teams stop at New England (12/17)… Notched eight tackles vs. Atlanta (12/24)… Finished regular season with nine tackles vs. New Orleans (1/1)… Totaled six tackles, including one TFL, in NFC Wild Card game vs. Washington (1/7)… Also had one special teams tackle against the Redskins.

2004: Appeared in all 16 contests… Ranked fourth on the team with 16 special teams tack- les… Recorded second career interception against Atlanta (12/5)… Finished season with two tackles, one interception, one pass defensed and one special teams fumble recovery… Recorded two special teams tackles and one special teams fumble recovery at Oakland (9/26)… Tied for the team lead with three special teams tackles at St. Louis (10/18)… Finished contest against San Francisco (11/21) with two tackles and one special teams tackle… Posted two special teams tackles at Carolina (11/28)… Recorded a fourth quarter interception of QB Michael Vick against Atlanta (12/5)… Finished contest against the Falcons with one pass defensed and one special teams tackle… Tied for the team lead with two special teams tackles at Arizona (1/2).

2003: Played in 15 games (all but vs. Green Bay) with 10 starts at SLB (all but at Washington, at San Francisco, vs. Dallas, at Carolina, vs. Green Bay and vs. Houston)… Ranked sixth on the team with 70 tackles in his first year as a starter… Finished the season with one interception, two passes defensed and nine special teams tackles… Posted six tackles in first career start at SLB at Philadelphia (9/8)… Helped defense post third shutout in last 16 regular season games… Added two special teams tackles… Notched six tackles in start at SLB vs. Carolina (9/14)… Notched first career interception against QB Doug Johnson at Atlanta (9/21)… Finished game with nine tackles and one pass defensed… Helped defense limit the Falcons to 136 total yards, the seventh best defensive effort in club history… Posted five tackles in start at SLB against Indianapolis (10/6)… Had nine stops at San Francisco (10/19) and led team with two special teams stops… Did not start against Dallas (10/26) as team opened up with five defensive backs… Totaled three tackles and a pass defensed vs. the Cowboys… Helped the defense post its second shutout of the season… Started at SLB against New Orleans (11/2), recording five tackles before leaving the game with a sprained right ankle… Did not start at Carolina (11/9) because of ankle injury… Was inactive against Green Bay because of ankle injury (11/16)… Totaled three tackles and two special teams stops in start at SLB against the N.Y. Giants (11/24)… Part of a defensive effort that held the Giants offense to 212 total yards… Recorded seven tackles in start at SLB at Jacksonville (11/30)… Totaled seven tackles at New Orleans (12/7)… Helped limit Saints RB Deuce McAllister to 69 rushing yards on 22 carries (3.1 avg.)… Also added one special teams tackle against the Saints… Posted three tackles against Houston (12/14)… Part of a defensive effort that surrendered just 107 total yards to the Texans, tying for the second lowest total in team history… Notched four tackles in start against Atlanta (12/20).

2002: Played in the first eight games as a reserve linebacker and on special teams in his rook- ie campaign before tearing his left ACL at Carolina (10/27)... Was placed on injured reserve on October 29, ending his season... Totaled two tackles and 11 special teams stops on the year... Appeared on special teams in first NFL game, leading the team with two special teams stops against New Orleans (9/8)... Recorded first defensive tackle of the season against St. Louis (9/23)... Finished game with two tackles and added two special teams stops... Saw majority of action on special teams at Cincinnati (9/29) recording one stop... Played exten- sively on special teams at Atlanta (10/6), tying for a team-high three special teams tackles... Posted one special teams tackle vs. Cleveland (10/13)... Registered one special teams stop at Carolina (10/27) before sustaining a season-ending left ACL tear in the fourth quarter.

Detroit Lions

On August 31, 2008, Nece was signed by the Detroit Lions. The move reunited him with Lions head coach Rod Marinelli, who was an assistant coach for the Buccaneers during Nece's first four seasons in Tampa Bay. In Detroit, Nece was the only player in the NFL to be a starter on defense and lead his team in special teams snaps and tackles. Nece was also elected as the NFLPA representative by his teammates.

Broadcasting career

The United Football league announced on September 14, 2010 that Nece would be doing sideline reporting during live games on the Versus network.

External links

• Detroit Lions bio
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers bio