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Takeo Spikes provides the 49ers with a proven leader and playmaker at LB. The 12-year veteran had another solid season, finishing 2nd among LBs and 4th on the team with 95 tackles. He also registered 4.0 sacks, his highest total since 2001.

TRANSACTIONS: Originally a 1st round (13th pick overall) draft choice by Cin. in 1998...Signed by Buf. on 3/10/03...Traded to Phi. from Buf. on 3/26/07 as part of a three-player trade...Waived by Phi. on 3/6/08...Signed by SF as a free agent on 8/10/08...Signed by SF as an unrestricted free agent on 2/27/09.

2009 CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
DOWN BY T.K.O.
Throughout his 12-year career, LB Takeo Spikes has consistently had a nose for the ball, registering 1,394 career tackles, which ranks 9th in the NFL among active players.

YOU'RE IN GOOD HANDS WITH SPIKES
LB Takeo Spikes has shown the ability to be a threat in the pass defense. Since 2003, Spikes ranks t-7th among NFL LBs.

LEARNING FROM THE BEST
LB Patrick Willis made an impact in his 1st season in the NFL, being named 2007 Defensive Rookie of the Year and making the Pro Bowl his 1st season in the league. When LB Takeo Spikes joined the team in 2008, Willis became even more confident when he knew that he would have a player of Spikes’ caliber and experience playing alongside him at inside linebacker, both on and off the field.

"Having him out there with me, I gain confidence from it," Willis said. "I know any guy that has played the game for that many years and is that consistent is a good player. He helps me by the things that he makes me aware of and he always makes me feel comfortable. I went over to his place and we would watch film together and he showed me how he studied film and then on the field, whether it just be a tip that he gets before the play starts, he makes me aware of it and that helps me to make the play."

2009 SEASON HIGLIGHTS:
SECOND LEVEL OF DEFENSE
The 49ers sported one of the tougher run defenses in the NFL in 2009, but if a running back manages to get to the second level, they still have quite the challenge with LB Takeo Spikes and LB Patrick Willis waiting for them in the middle. The 49ers ranked 5th in the NFL (1st in the NFC) in 2009 in fewest rushes of 10-or-more yds. allowed.

The 49ers’ defense ranks 3rd in the NFL (1st in the NFC) in rushes of 10-or-more yds. allowed since Mike Singletary took over as head coach on 10/20/08.

LEANING ON THE LINEBACKERS
The 49ers’ LBs wreaked havoc on opposing QBs in 2009, finishing ranked 3rd in the NFC and 6th in the NFL in sacks from their linebacking corps.

2009 GAME HIGHLIGHTS:
•Tallied 10 tackles at Min. (9/27) with a PD.
•Registered 1st sack of the season (QB Kyle Boller) while recording 11 tackles vs. StL (10/4).
•Sacked QB David Garrard vs. Jax. (11/29).
•Notched his 4th sack of the season at Sea. (12/6).

GOLDMINE: 
•Takeo was appointed by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, in conjunction with the NFLPA, to the first-ever NFL Player Advisory Council in 2007. Spikes, Jaguars S Donovin Darius, Vikings FB Tony Richardson, Redskins WR James Thrash, and free-agent S Troy Vincent composed the six-man committee that was established to help regularly advise commissioner Goodell on a wide range of issues that affect NFL players. "This is a tremendous honor and I’m going to take it seriously. I am looking forward to being a link between the players and the league, the players and management."
•His parents named him “Takeo” after Japanese Prime Minister Takeo Miki, who served from 1974-76. “They didn’t know a lot about him, but they’re big into name research. Takeo means ‘great warrior’ in Japanese. I guess that’s what sealed the deal.”
•Launched 51 Ways, Inc. with former Eagles/Giants LB Carlos Emmons in 2003. Both Spikes and Emmons grew up in Georgia and have lost family members to cancer. The foundation is dedicated to supporting families of children diagnosed with cancer and/or blood disorders by providing financial, spiritual, and physical resources. To learn more about 51 Ways, Inc. and their upcoming events, log on to www.TakeoSpikes51.com.

AWARDS & HONORS:
•Named 2009 Perry/Yonamine Unity Award winner, voted on by the players and given to the 49ers player who exhbits an exceptional commitment to promoting unity within the team and in their community.
2001: AFC Player of the Week (2)
2003: AFC Pro Bowl
2004: AFC Pro Bowl, AP All-Pro
2008: Matt Hazeltine Award

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
•A two-time Pro Bowl selection (2003-04) and All-Pro (2004).
•Has totaled nine 100-plus tackle seasons in his 11-year career.
•His 15 career INTs rank tied for 8th among active NFL linebackers during that span.
•Posted INTs in 3 consecutive games in 2008, marking the longest streak by a 49ers linebacker in team history.

2008 (San Francisco)
•Ranked 2nd on team with 122 tackles and tied for 1st with 3 INTs and 2 FFs. Took over starting inside linebacker role 4 games into season after alternating with LB Jeff Ulbrich in first 3 contests.
•Tallied 5 tackles, 1 FF and 1 PD vs. Det. (9/21).
•Made first start as a 49er at NO (9/28) and posted 6 tackles, 1 INT and 1 PD. Picked off a QB Drew Brees pass in 1st qtr., marking his first INT since 2004 when he had 5.
•Recorded a season-high 14 tackles and an INT vs. NE (10/6). The pick came off a tipped ball by DT Aubrayo Franklin on third play of game.
•Posted an INT for the 3rd consecutive week vs. Phi (10/12). The INT occurred in 3rd qtr. off QB Donovan McNabb as Eagles were driving deep into 49ers territory.

2007 (Philadelphia)
•Finished 2nd on team with 139 tackles despite spending final 2 games on Injured Reserve (12/19) due to a torn rotator cuff.
•Recorded 9 or more tackles in 12 contests, which includes 8 games with double-digit tackles.
•Registered 11 tackles and 1 sack vs. Sea. (12/2).
•Suffered a torn rotator cuff at Dal. (12/16), but managed to finish game.

2006 (Buffalo)
•Sacked QB Tom Brady and forced a fumble that was returned for a TD by LB London Fletcher at NE (9/10).
•Posted 13 tackles in season-finale at Bal. (12/31).

2005 (Buffalo)
•Started 3 contests and tallied 18 tackles, 1 sack and 1 FF before being placed on Injured Reserve with a torn Achilles suffered in third game of season vs. Atl. (9/25).
•Tallied 6 tackles, 1 sack and 1 FF vs. Hou. (9/11).

2004 (Buffalo)
•Earned 2nd straight Pro Bowl appearance after posting 111 tackles, 3 sacks, 5 INTS (2 returned for TDs), 17 PDs and 3 FFs.
•Posted 2 tackles and returned an INT 11 yards for a TD vs. Mia. (10/17).
•Tallied 7 tackles, 1 INT and 3 PDs vs. StL (11/21).
•Recorded 4 tackles, 3 PDs and 1 sack at Sea. (11/28).
•Registered 7 tackles, 1 INT, 1 FF and 2 PDs at Mia. (12/5).
•Had 7 tackles, 2 FFs and 1 sack vs. Cle. (12/12).
•Returned an INT for a TD (62 yds.) and recovered a fumble at Cin. (12/19).

2003 (Buffalo)
•Earned first trip to Pro Bowl after helping team rank 2nd overall in defense.
•Tallied 7 tackles and first 2-INT game of his career as he picked off two QB Tom Brady passes vs. NE (9/7).
•Recorded 7 tackles and recovered one fumble, which he returned 29 yds. at Mia. (9/21).
•Registered a season-high 13 tackles vs. Hou. (11/16).

2002 (Cincinnati)
•Led team with 171 tackles.
•Posted a career-high 18 tackles vs. SD (9/8).
•Scored 2nd career TD after recovering a fumble from a muffed Panthers handoff and going 45 yds. for a score that put Bengals ahead 24-23 in 3rd qtr. at Car. (12/8).
•Registered 8 tackles and 2 FRs vs. NO (12/22).
•Had 16 tackles, 1 FF, 1 FR and a half sack at Buf. (12/29).

2001 (Cincinnati)
•Led team with 173 tackles to go along with a career-high 6 sacks.
•Named AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his 11-tackle, 1 INT performance vs. Bal. (9/23). Took a 4th qtr. INT 66 yds. for a TD, which extended Bengals lead to 21-10.
•Led team with 17 tackles at Cle. (11/25), and posted 17 stops at Bal. (12/23).

2000 (Cincinnati)
•Recorded 128 tackles and a team-high 3 FRs.
•Opened season with 6 tackles vs. Cle. (9/10) and intercepted a QB Tim Couch pass on final play of 1st half.
•Recovered a RB Emmitt Smith fumble at Bengals’ 1-yd. line in 1st qtr. at Dal. (11/12), and in 3rd qtr.
•Closed season at Phi. (12/24) with 2 FRs in 3rd qtr.

1999 (Cincinnati)
•Had team-highs of 3 FFs and 4 FRs.
•Recorded a sack at Ten. (9/12), forcing a fumble which he also recovered.
•Made first NFL INT at Sea. (11/7), picking off a QB Jon Kitna pass in 3rd qtr.
•Led team with 12 tackles vs. Ten. (11/14), which included a FF on RB Eddie George.

1998 (Cincinnati)
•Became first rookie to lead Bengals in tackles (112) since James Francis in 1990.
•Posted first NFL sack vs. GB (9/20), dropping QB Brett Favre for a 12-yd. loss on a 4th-and-3 play with 1:53 to play.

COLLEGE:
Chose to enter draft following junior season at Auburn, a year in which he was named national Defensive Player of the Year by Football News and first-team All-American by The Sporting News. Led the 1997 Auburn club with 136 tackles as Tiger advanced to SEC Championship game. Tied for team lead in 1997 with 9 tackles for loss. As a sophomore, had 119 tackles and was only sophomore named a semifinalist in competition for Dick Butkus Award.

PERSONAL:
•Earned All-America honors and was named Georgia Player of the Year as a senior at Washington County (Sandersville, GA) HS.
•Goes by nicknames “TKO” and “Spikedog.”
•Has one daughter, Jakai, which means “beautiful flower” in Japanese.
•Was raised by father, Jimmie, and mother, Lillie. Jimmie worked in a chalk mining plant and Lillie was a special education teacher for children in grades 9-12. Takeo’s first job was working with his father in the chalk mining plant.
•Born Takeo Gerard Spikes (12/17/76) in Sandersville, GA.