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Have you ever heard of the three-time Ohio State All-American who spent seven seasons with the St. Louis Rams? If you haven’t, have no fear. Indeed, the man is James Laurinaitis, who retired from the National Football League in 2017 following an eight-year career.

To clarify, Laurinaitis is a former American football player who spent time with the St. Louis Rams and New Orleans Saints as a linebacker. Notably, he is the son of Joseph Laurinaitis, a professional wrestler for World Wrestling Entertainment and a WWE Hall of Famer known by the ring name ‘Road Warrior Animal.’

What is the Net Worth of James Laurinaitis?

James Laurinaitis has had a tremendous NFL career, spending eight years in the league’s top echelon. As a result, he has amassed a wealth worth $35.4 million solely as a player. Indeed, he was signed to a $2.7 million per year contract with the New Orleans Saints prior to his retirement.

AS OF JANUARY 2018, JAMES LAURINAITIS HAS A NET WORTH OF APPROXIMATELY $3 MILLION. In 2023, Not to mention, James owns a magnificent mansion in Missouri that is valued at $2.3 million and has 7000 square feet. Additionally, he worked for television networks such as Big Ten Network and SportsTime Ohio. As a result, it can be concluded that he leads a nice lifestyle and possesses sufficient wealth.

The Formative Years, Family, and Education

Laurinaitis was born on December 3, 1986, in Wayzata, Minnesota, a city in Hennepin County. To clarify, his father was a former WWE Hall of Famer known as Joe Laurinaitis, dubbed the ‘Road Warrior Animal.’ Apart from that, Julie was her mother, and Jessica and Joseph Jr. are his younger siblings. Indeed, his family was more athletic, as his uncles, John and Marcus, were also professional wrestlers.

Soon after, he enrolled at Wayzata High School, where he developed an interest in football and hockey. Indeed, he was on the verge of being drafted into the National Hockey League.

James, on the other hand, had other aspirations, as he desired a football career despite a stellar high-school hockey career. Additionally, he had 193 tackles and five sacks during his senior season, which saw the school also compete in the Class 5A state title game.

College career of James Laurinaitis

In 2005, shortly after graduating from high school, James enrolled at Ohio State University to play football for the Buckeyes. In his rookie year, he was ranked second on the depth chart and appeared in all 12 games for the team. Notably, he started in a Fiesta Bowl victory over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

The following season, he led the club with 115 tackles, five interceptions, and four sacks. Similarly, he got the Nagurski Award as the nation’s finest defensive player. Additionally, he w=as named to the All-Big Ten first team and the consensus All-American first team. Without a doubt, his levels climbed the following season, as he was named to the 2007 All-American first team. He won several awards the next year, including the Rotatory Lombardi Award and the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award. Indeed, he has led his club in tackles for the last three years.

Professional career of James Laurinaitis

Laurinaitis was undoubtedly excellent in college, which encouraged him to fight for NFL teams’ draft picks. As a result, he joined the NFL Scouting department, where he performed all of the duties associated with his position. Notably, evaluators such as Mike Mayock graded him as the No. 2 prospect at inside linebacker.

Selection and Premiere

Finally, the St. Louis Rams selected him in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft. Indeed, he was selected as the fourth linebacker in the season’s draft. Soon after, he signed a four-year, $5.1 million agreement with the Rams, with $3.3 million guaranteed. He immediately began practicing with the team as a starting middle linebacker, a position confirmed later by coach Steve Spagnuolo.

Indeed, he made his debut in the regular-season opener against the Seattle Seahawks, recording 14 combined tackles in a 28-0 defeat. Additionally, his first interception came against Mike Zimmer’s Minnesota Vikings in October. Similarly, he recorded his first career sack on Matt Hasselbeck in week 12 against the Seahawks. He finished his rookie season with 120 total tackles (107 solo), two interceptions, and two sacks in 16 appearances.

Meanwhile, Laurinaitis had established a firm foothold at his position and earned a berth in the starting lineup. In a similar fashion, he totaled eight tackles, a sack, and an interception in a 20-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers in October 2010. Laurinaitis, likewise, had 11 combined tackles in both losses to the Atlanta Falcons and Kansas City Chiefs.

Indeed, he started all sixteen games of the 2010 season, totaling 114 tackles, three sacks, and an interception. Similarly, during the 2011 season, he produced 13 solo tackles against the Seahawks and 14 combined stops against the New York Giants. Not to mention, he finished the 2011 season with 142 combined tackles, two interceptions, and three sacks in 16 appearances.

Contract extension and team restructuring

Notably, the head coach and general manager were fired in early 2012 to make way for Jeff Fisher. To clarify, Laurinaitis signed to a five-year contract extension worth $42.12 million, including a $2 million signing bonus. Laurinaitis has 14 combined tackles in Week 7 of the 2012 season against Desmond Howard’s Green Bay Packers.

Additionally, he made 12 combined tackles and two pass deflections against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in week 16. He finished the season with 142 total tackles and two interceptions. With Tim Walton as the new defensive coordinator, it’s unsurprising that Laurinaitis was also the Rams’ starting middle linebacker in 2013. Indeed, with his performance improving each season, he finished the season with two interceptions, 3.5 sacks, and nine pass deflections.

The Rams’ Crucial Player and Departure

Regardless of who was the team’s coach or defensive coordinator, James was always a vital element of the defensive linebacker position. He recorded 1.5 sacks against the Washington Redskins in Week 14 of the 2014 season, thanks to a deflected throw. After all, he finished the season with 109 combined tackles and 3.5 sacks in 16 games.

To emphasize, his first career safety came in Week 8 of the 2015 season against the San Francisco 49ers, who included Reggie Bush and Colin Kaepernick. Similarly, he totaled 109 tackles, including one pass deflection, one sack, and one interception. Laurinaitis totaled 852 tackles, 34 pass deflections, and ten interceptions in eight seasons with the Rams. Additionally, he had started each of their regular-season games. In light of this, he was released by the squad in February 2016.

Saints of New Orleans and Retirement

Soon after, he signed a three-year, $8.25 million contract with the New Orleans Saints in March 2016, which includes a $1.8 million signing bonus. Similarly, he was named to the starting lineup against the Oakland Raiders as a middle linebacker in the season opener.

James had a streak of 115 consecutive starts until being injured in a game against the Atlanta Falcons. In November, he re-injured his quadriceps and was released from the injured reserve. He announced his retirement the following April.

Public broadcasting

He accepted an offer to work as a college football analyst for the Big Ten Network shortly after retiring from the NFL. Similarly, he began co-hosting a weekly Ohio State show on SportsTime Ohio, a regional sports network.

Awards and Recognitions for James Laurinaitis

Although James had a respectable NFL career, he did not win any notable accolades or titles during his time in the league. He was, however, excellent during his collegiate years, winning several regional and national championships.

Notably, he is the only player in Big Ten history to have won the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year award twice. Likewise, he is a three-time consensus All-American and a three-time first-team All-Big Ten selection. As a defensive player, he has earned the Lott Trophy, Butkus Award, and Bronko Nagurski Trophy.

James Laurinaitis – Family

James is, in fact, a married man. Indeed, he has been in a relationship with Shelly Williams for a lengthy period of time, dating all the way back to their days at Ohio State University. After several years of dating, the pair married in March 2013.

Similarly, in September 2014, the couple welcomed their first child, a daughter called London. Additionally, they welcomed a second daughter, Hayden, in April 2017. Currently, the couple is raising their daughters happily. Additionally, he has not been mentioned in connection with any affairs until now.

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