Today in Patriots History
Shea McClellin
Happy 32nd birthday to Shea McClellin
Born August 1, 1989 in Caldwell, Idaho
Patriot OLB, 2016-2017; uniform #58
Signed as a free agent on March 18, 2016
Shea Keegan McClellin was a first round (19th overall) pick by Chicago in the 2012 NFL draft, from Boise State. He did not really live up to that draft status, largely in part due to poor coaching decisions on how to use him, on a defense that already included Brian Urlacher at MLB, Lance Briggs at LLB and Julius Peppers at RDE. The Bears did not attempt to re-sign McClellin he became a free agent after four seasons in Chicago. The Patriots signed him nine days into the 2016 NFL free agency period.
Playing in the Pats' super bowl win over Atlanta proved to be the highlight of Shea McClellin's short-lived NFL career
May 1, 2012:
5 Reasons Shea McClellin Is A Perfect Fit In Windy City | Bleacher Report
"I've had a chance to hear an awful lot about where he will play," Lovie Smith said. "He's not a linebacker, start with that. He won't be a linebacker. He'll have his hand down in a three-point stance from Day 1."
The Bears entered the NFL draft desperately needing to find another pass-rusher to take some of the pressure off Julius Peppers. The team didn't know whether that would be in the first round or not, but it ended up with one of the best pure pass-rushers in this year's draft class.
Many thought Shea McClellin was best suited for an outside linebacker role in a 3-4 system, similar to the role Clay Matthews plays for the Green Bay Packers.
However, he will line up at end for Chicago. McClellin is not an every-down defensive end, and the Bears did not need that. They have Israel Idonije, who is more suited to defend against the run because of his size. McClellin's value will be on display in passing situations.
August 7, 2015:
BOURBONNAIS, Ill. — The fact that Shea McClellin is settling in as the signal-caller and starting inside linebacker in a completely new defensive scheme is more than a little surprising to those who watched him struggle the past three years in “wrong” positions. It is perhaps even more than a...
www.nbcsports.com
When the new coaching staff got together this year, “one of our first discussions when we got here was where to play him and most people wanted him to play outside including him, himself,” coordinator Vic Fangio said on Friday. “But I didn't see it that way, I said I want to put him at inside first and, ah, I'm glad we did and I think he's glad we did now even though he wanted to play outside first. I think he's found a home in there.”
McClellin had been a hand-on-the-ground defensive end his first two seasons. When it was clear that was no fit, he was moved last year to strong-side linebacker, where he was barely “sufficient,” in the words of one NFL defensive coach.
March 17, 2016:
Bill Belichick thinks he can fix Shea McClellin. He will prove he's truly smarter than everyone else in the NFL, or he's finally become delusional.
beargoggleson.com
The Patriots weren't done with Chicago Bears after their trade for Martellus Bennett earlier Wednesday.
www.windycitygridiron.com
That's right, so follow me here: Many Bears fans wanted Chandler Jones but Phil Emery made his first draft pick McClellin. Then, four years later the Patriots trade Jones to Arizona and sign McClellin as a free agent.
Fair or unfair, many commenters here have compared McClellin to Jones for the last four seasons and pointed to that as a sign of the mistake that Emery made. Now McClellin lands with one of the most successful franchises in the league.
Dec 12, 2016:
The Patriots protected a first-quarter lead with a flawlessly executed field goal block against the Ravens on Monday night. Linebacker Shea McClellin timed his jump over the Ravens’ line to […]
www.boston.com
Patriots’ Shea McClellin jumps over Ravens players to block a field goal attempt in the first quarter.
Shea McClellin blocks FG attempt, leads to Blount TD
Feb 5, 2017:
New England Patriots linebacker Shea McClellin was wrongly called for a penalty on an extra point in the second quarter of the Super Bowl on Sunday. After
larrybrownsports.com
After the Atlanta Falcons scored their second touchdown to go up 13-0, they attempted their extra point. But Matt Bryant didn’t even try his kick because McClellin had hurdled the line, resulting in a failed try.
Unfortunately for New England, McClellin was called for a penalty for illegal formation, which ticked off Pats head coach Bill Belichick. FOX rules analyst Mike Pereira later said the penalty call was incorrect because McClellin cleared the gap between the guard and center instead of going over the center.
Feb 6, 2017:
Marsing's Shea McClellin rides second chance all the way to the Super Bowl with the Patriots | Idaho Statesman
Feb 15, 2017:
Shea McClellin signed a three-year, $9 million contract last offseason, the biggest contract the Patriots awarded to an external free agent in 2016. He ended the season having played just 37 percent of the defensive snaps and 49 percent of the special teams snaps, logging 16 solo tackles, two...
www.patspropaganda.com
Shea McClellin signed a three-year, $9 million contract last offseason, the biggest contract the Patriots awarded to an external free agent in 2016. He ended the season having played just 37 percent of the defensive snaps and 49 percent of the special teams snaps, logging 16 solo tackles, two fumble recoveries and one sack.
That’s not great production for that much money and in 2017 McClellin is currently slotted to be the 10th highest-paid Patriot. The Pats could save $1.6 million in cap space if they were to cut McClellin. Should they when there’s already a lot of uncertainty with some key front seven players?
Nov 8, 2017:
FOXBORO – It doesn’t look like the Patriots will get any reinforcements for its linebacker corps after all. Once thought to be headed back to the playing field, Shea McClellin will not join his Pa…
www.fosters.com
According to multiple reports, McClellin suffered a setback in practice after returning to practice 21 days ago. The linebacker, who missed multiple games due to a concussion last year, was placed on the IR in September due to another head injury. The news is a blow for the Patriots depth wise.
Originally, it looked like McClellin's return (he was eligible to play this weekend in Denver) was coming at the perfect time. The linebacker's potential return coincided with Dont'a Hightower going down with a season-ending pectoral injury. Although McClellin doesn't play at the same level as Hightower, he'd give the Patriots another veteran piece at a time of need.
In a sense, McClellin was viewed as a mid-season pickup for the Patriots, like Dion Lewis was last season. Instead, the setback hurts the Patriots in a few different ways. Now, they'll move on with Kyle Van Noy, Elandon Roberts, David Harris, Marquis Flowers and Trevor Reilly at linebacker. The team also loses one of their injured reserve return spots.
May 16, 2018:
Shea McClellin joins Mountain View High | Idaho Statesman
Former New England Patriots linebacker Shea McClellin will serve as an assistant coach at an Idaho high school this season, according to a release on the school's site.
www.masslive.com
March 19, 2018:
The Patriots on Monday released Shea McClellin with a failed physical designation. The 28-year-old linebacker missed all of last season due to concussions. McClellin signed a 3-year, $8.95-million co…
www.enterprisenews.com
The Pats release linebacker Shea McClellin, who missed all of last season after suffering a concussion.
www.patriotledger.com
Shea McClellin will be blocking kicks for somebody else next season. The Patriots announced Monday they’ve released the veteran linebacker, ending his tenure with the team after two seasons. ESPN’s Field Yates broke the news. The Pats signed McClellin to a three-year deal prior to the 2016...
www.nbcsports.com
The Patriots have announced the release of veteran linebacker Shea McClellin. It was with a failed physical designation.McClellin, who was signed in 2016, did not play at all last season, as he was…
www.bostonherald.com
Shea McClellin played in 14 games for the New England Patriots, making four starts. He was in for 380 defensive snaps, and 218 plays on special teams. During that time McClellin made 39 tackles, two fumble recoveries, one sack, three quarterback hits and one tackle for a loss. Shea also played in all three 2016 postseason games, earning a ring from the "28-3" super bowl comeback against Atlanta.
Over the course of his NFL career the Idaho native appeared in 66 games with 35 starts, registering 200 tackles, 8½ sacks, 23 QB hits and 17 TFL.
May 29, 2018:
Shea McClellin prepared to move on from playing career because of cumulative effect of concussions| Mike Reiss, espn
Linebacker Shea McClellin said he isn't officially retiring from the NFL but is prepared to have played his last game because of the cumulative effect of concussions.
www.espn.com
"I'm still staying ready, still working out. I've learned to never say never, there's always a chance that I could still play again, but for now all my focus is on coaching high school," said the 28-year-old McClellin, who has accepted a position as linebackers coach at Mountain View High School in Meridian, Idaho.
A star defensive end at Boise State from 2008-2011, McClellin said he has had five documented concussions in his career.
May 29, 2018:
Some people have had some mean things to say about the Patriots this offseason, but one former player says he had an absolute blast during his brief time in New England.
boston.cbslocal.com
Days after Cassius Marsh blasted the Patriots, saying he “hated” his time with the team, another former New England edge defender is singing a different tune. Linebacker Shea McClellin called his two years with the Patriots “awesome.” “First year we won the Super Bowl, can’t complain about...
nesn.com
June 3, 2018:
Shea McClellin came to the defense of his former team -- and the so-called "Patriot Way" -- in light of shots at Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots.
www.upi.com
Not every former Patriots player harbors the same resentful feelings that Cassius Marsh shared this week.
www.espn.com
"I definitely think it starts from the top, Bill [Belichick] and Mr. Kraft, and then it just trickles down," he said. "Then you have leaders like Tom [Brady] and Matt [Slater] and Dev [Devin McCourty] -- the captains. When you come in as a new guy or a young guy, and you see how laid-back and easy-going the captains are; they'll just come up and talk to you and genuinely want to know about how you're doing and how your life is. I think that's something that makes the chemistry and camaraderie that much better. When the older guys really care about you, it makes you want to play for them and for your teammates, and not just for yourself."
McClellin said he's still following the team closely and will be a "Patriots fan for life." He added he hopes to return to attend a game at some point in the 2018 season.
As for those critical of the Patriots, he pointed out that it's hard for those who haven't played for the team to have an educated opinion.
"I would say a lot of guys don't know what they're talking about, because they haven't experienced it," he said. "When you have a winning culture, everyone is going to hate on it. That's what comes with it, it's the way it is. It's hard for someone who hasn't been in the situation to say, ‘Oh, it's like this, it's like that.' It's a winning culture and you're going to get slander and hate -- that's just the way it is. From my standpoint, I absolutely enjoyed my time there -- from the coaches to the owners, players and trainers."
Jan 30, 2019:
Former Patriot McClellin talks Super Bowl, NFL Life | Idaho Statesman (podcast)
After a six-year NFL career, former Boise State standout Shea McClellin is hanging up the cleats — at least for now — and picking up a whistle.
Mountain View High announced Wednesday that McClellin is joining the Mavericks' staff as a linebackers coach.
"I don't like to pass up good opportunities, and it was a really good one," McClellin said.
McClellin, who spent last year on injured reserve for the New England Patriots, was the No. 19 overall pick by the Chicago Bears in 2012. A Marsing High graduate, he was sidelined with concussions last season that kept him out as the Patriots lost to the Eagles in the Super Bowl. He played in the Patriots' Super Bowl LI win over the Falcons in February 2017.
March 25, 2020:
The former Boise State star struggled with what to do after his NFL career was cut short until he tried to go pro in a much different sport.
theathletic.com
McClellin’s NFL career ended when he was only 28. As a multi-sport star in high school, one of the best defensive players in Boise State history and the No. 19 pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, his whole identity was based on what he accomplished in sports. Then it was gone.
He knows he carries the “bust” label, but McClellin isn’t offended. He knows Chicago, and how it used him, wasn’t a good fit. After he starred as a defensive end/outside linebacker at Boise State, the Bears tried to make him a defensive end, then an inside linebacker, when by NFL standards his frame and skill set left him better suited at outside linebacker, where he was eventually used by the Patriots. Before the draft, the Bears weren’t even on his radar as a potential landing spot.
In 2017, McClellin was placed on injured reserve just before the season and did not play all year as the Patriots reached Super Bowl LII, falling to the Eagles. Concussions had taken their toll, and even though he felt he had a good four or five seasons left physically, he knew that was likely the end of his career.
patriotsalumni.com
