Shelton Eugene Quarles (born September 11, 1971) is an American football executive and former linebacker who is the director of football operations for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Vanderbilt and was signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 1994. He also played for the BC Lions and the Buccaneers, the team he played for from 1997 to 2006.

Shelton Quarles
refer to caption
Quarles in 2014
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Position:Director of football operations
Personal information
Born: (1971-09-11) September 11, 1971 (age 53)
Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:225 lb (102 kg)
Career information
High school:Whites Creek (TN)
College:Vanderbilt
Undrafted:1994
Career history
As a player:
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
As an executive:
Career highlights and awards
As player

As executive

Career NFL statistics
Total tackles:710
Sacks:13.0
Forced fumbles:8
Fumble recoveries:8
Interceptions:4
Defensive touchdowns:2
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Early life

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Quarles is an alumnus of Whites Creek High School in Nashville, Tennessee and was a student and a letterman in football. In football, he won a first-team All-State honors as a senior, and finished his career with 30 sacks, 505 tackles, and five interceptions. He was also a member of National Honor Society. Shelton Quarles graduated from Whites Creek High School in 1990.

Playing career

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Quarles played college football in Vanderbilt earning second-team All-Southeastern Conference honors as a senior and signed as an undrafted free agent by the Miami Dolphins in 1994 but was cut in training camp. Quarles then played for two seasons (1995-96) with the Canadian Football League's BC Lions before signing with the Buccaneers as a free agent in 1997.

Quarles helped lead the Buccaneers to their first Super Bowl championship in the 2002 season. Quarles also holds the record for the longest play in Buccaneers' history with a 98-yard interception return for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers in 2001.[1] On April 24, 2007, it was announced that the Bucs were going to release him before the 2007 NFL draft after he failed a physical.[2]

Executive career

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On August 1, 2007, the Buccaneers hired Quarles as a pro scout in their personnel department.

On January 20, 2011, the Buccaneers promoted Quarles to Coordinator of Pro Scouting.

On July 16, 2013, the Buccaneers promoted Quarles to director of pro scouting.[3]

On May 29, 2014, the Buccaneers promoted Quarles to director of football operations.[4]

Personal life

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Quarles is married to his wife, Damaris, and have three children together: a daughter, Gabriela Nicole, and sons, Shelton Eugene Jr. and Carlos Antonio. They reside in Tampa Bay, Florida.

Quarles launched the IMPACT Foundation whose mission is to benefit at-risk children, youth, and their families by providing assistance, programs, and events designed to build self-esteem, provide unique life changing opportunities, and beneficiaries to set and achieve life goals.

Upon retiring Quarles was appointed by Florida Governor Charlie Crist to the board of the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority.[5] He served in the position until 2009.

References

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  1. ^ "Reed rumbles 108 yards for NFL record | Longest interception returns by team". Pro Football Hall of Fame. November 24, 2008. Retrieved June 2, 2014.
  2. ^ "Buccaneers to release starting MLB Quarles". April 24, 2007.
  3. ^ "Promotions, Additions in Bucs' Front Office". Buccaneers. July 16, 2013. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
  4. ^ Philipse, Sander (May 29, 2014). "Buccaneers overhaul personnel department some more". Bucs Nation. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
  5. ^ "Catching Up with Shelton Quarles". Archived from the original on April 8, 2013. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
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