Todd Lyght
Cornerback
Notre Dame
With the Rams 1991 - 2001
10 seasons spent playing for the Rams, who had selected him in the first round fifth overall) of the 1992 NFL Draft… Starter on Rams’ squad that won Super Bowl XXXIV following the 1999 season… Also named to his only Pro Bowl following that season… Mainstay in Rams’ starting lineup throughout his 10 years with that franchise, starting 137 of a possible 143 games from 1991-2000, including six straight seasons of starting all 16 games (1994-99)… Beginning with a span of the last eight games of his rookie season in ’91, he started 132 consecutive games until having the string broken in the eighth game of the 2000 season… Led Rams in passes defended four times - in 1994, ’96 and 1998-99… Career-high six interceptions (tied for second in the NFL) came in 1999 Pro Bowl season.
2001: Was starting left cornerback in place of injured Bryant Westbrook for first twelve games of 2001… Made five tackles (two solo) at Pittsburgh (12/23)… Started at right cornerback in place of the injured Terry Fair vs. Minnesota (12/16). Was the team's defensive MVP of that game, as he return an interception 59 yards for a touchdown, along with four tackles and three passes defensed… Made a season-high eight tackles (five solo), bringing his career total to 805, and had one pass defensed, which put him at the 150 mark on his career at Tampa Bay (12/9)… Posted seven stops (four solo) and a season-high four passes defensed at Chicago (12/2)… Recovered onside kick to give Lions one last drive with 1:17 remaining in the game vs. Green Bay (11/22). Also posted five tackles (two solo) in that game… Had seven tackles (six solo), an interception (third of season; 34th of career) and three passes defensed at Arizona (11/18)… Made seven (six solo) tackles vs. Tampa Bay (11/11)… Had a busy day at San Francisco (11/4) with seven tackles (four solo), an interception, one pass defensed and a special teams tackle… Posted seven tackles (five solo) and two special teams tackles vs. Cincinnati (10/28)… Made momentum-swinging interception as he wrestled a catch from Randy Moss despite a shoulder injury at Minnesota (10/14) that led to a Batch-to-Crowell TD, along with six solo stops… Collected six stops (five solo) at Cleveland (9/23)… Started and posted four tackles (three solo) in first game as a Lion at Green Bay (9/9).
2000: Durability continued as he started his 103rd consecutive game for the Rams at Kansas City (10/22), however that streak ended due to injury… Did start 12-of-14 games on the year… Was tied for sixth on the team with 65 total tackles (44 solo, 21 assists), along with 13 passes defended (tied for second on the team), one sack, two interceptions and 10 special teams tackles… Had first interception of the season at Seattle (9/10)… Recorded season-high 10 tackles at Kansas City (10/22) and vs. Washington (11/20)… Recorded second interception of the season when he intercepted QB Steve Beurlein's pass in first-and-goal situation on the Rams' two yard-line at Carolina (12/3)… Had four tackles and one pass defended in NFC Wild Card playoff loss at New Orleans.
1999: Earned first Pro Bowl appearance of nine-year career… First Ram CB selected for Pro Bowl since Jerry Gray in 1989… Tied for second in the NFC and second in the NFL with career-high six interceptions… Fifth on team with 65 tackles, led team with 15 passes defended, and added four quarterback pressures, one forced fumble and six special teams tackles… Scored fourth career touchdown on 57-yard interception return vs. Carolina (11/14)… First touchdown scored since 25-yard INT return at Baltimore (10/27/96)… Had season-high nine tackles, including three for losses, one interception and season-high three passes defended in season-opening win vs. Baltimore (9/12)… Had consecutive games with interceptions twice, in games 1-2 vs. Baltimore and Atlanta, and games 12-13 at Carolina and at New Orleans, first time since Games 14-15 of 1997 he accomplished feat… Was third on team in tackles in playoffs with 22 tackles with one interception, five passes defended in divisional playoff vs. Minnesota (1/16)… Blocked 47-yard field goal attempt by Al Del Greco in third quarter of Super Bowl XXXIV.
1998: Started all 16 games at left corner and played on special teams… Finished fifth on team in tackles with 87 and first in passes defended with 20, along with three interceptions, 1.5 sacks and three forced fumbles… Only Rams defensive player to start 16 games for five consecutive seasons… Recorded five tackles, first sack and a forced fumble that led to the Rams' first touchdown vs. N.Y. Jets (10/11)… Led all players with team-high and season-high seven passes defended in addition to six tackles and third interception of the season vs. New England (12/13).
1997: Fourth straight year starting all 16 games at left cornerback… Finished third on squad with career-high 107 tackles
1996: Third year in a row starting all 16 games at left cornerback… Established career-highs in tackles (105), interceptions (five) and team-high pass deflections (19)… Ranked fourth on club in tackles and second in interceptions… Also added career-high 10 special teams tackles… Career-high 13 tackles at Arizona (9/29)… Scored third career touchdown on a 25-yard return of an interception at Baltimore (10/27).
1995: Started all 16 games at left cornerback for second straight year and finished second on team with then-career-high four interceptions, in addition to 81 tackles and 10 passes broken up… Recorded back-to-back interceptions for the first time in his career in games vs. New Orleans (9/10) and vs. Carolina (9/17)… Received game balls from coaches for efforts in both games - had seven tackles, two passes broken up and game-winning 29-yard interception return for a touchdown in game with Saints… Also received game ball for effort vs. Atlanta (10/12) with seven-tackle game that included three stops for loss.
1994: First of six consecutive seasons of starting all 16 games saw him establish career-highs in tackles (84) and tie his career-high with team-high 14 passes defended… Tackle tally for the season was fourth on the squad… Scored Rams’ first touchdown of the season vs. Arizona (9/4) when he recovered a fumble and rambled 74 yards for the score. That play was his first career touchdown and the second-longest in team history.
1993: Limited to only nine games by knee injury suffered in pre-game drills vs. Washington (11/21), which landed him on Injured Reserve two days later… Despite missed time, still tied for team-lead in interceptions (two) and made 44 tackles and knocked down nine passes… One of his best games came vs. Detroit (10/24) as he led the squad with then-career-high 10 tackles and an interception.
1992: Established as Rams’ starting left cornerback who started in all 12 games in which he appeared… Made 65 tackles, three interceptions and 14 pass deflections… Missed four games after dislocating his shoulder vs. Miami (9/20)… Named NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his effort vs. New England (9/13) when he made then-career-high nine tackles and had the only two-interception game of his career.
1991: Began rookie season as reserve due to assorted early-season minor injuries, but made his way into the starting lineup for the last eight games at left cornerback… His string of starts at the end of the year began a 132-game string of consecutive starts that lasted until the eighth game of t he 2000 campaign… Finished the year with 37 tackles and an interception… First career start came vs. New Orleans (11/3)… First career interception came vs. San Francisco (11/25)… Registered season-high eight tackles vs. Atlanta (12/8).
Personal:
Attended Luke Powers Catholic High School in Flint, Mich…. Lettered twice as wide receiver and defensive back… Served as team captain during senior year… Caught 38 passes for 877 yards with nine touchdown and intercepted 19 passes as senior… Lettered three times in track and field… Established series of scholarships at St. Mary’s Elementary School (Alexandria, Va.), L.M. Powers Catholic H.S. and Notre Dame… In 1995, donated $50,000 to United Negro College Fund as part of NFL’s Golden Circle… Father, William, is deputy chief of police in Savannah, Ga., and retired Lt. Colonel… Born in Kwajalein, Marshall Islands.
College:
Finished career with 161 total tackles and 11 interceptions for 55 yards at Notre Dame… Intercepted eight passes (two shy of school record) as junior and registered 47 total tackles (27 solo)
