Shelton Quarles
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. Early years 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 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. 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. Executive career Tampa Bay Buccaneers 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. On May 29, 2014, the Buccaneers promoted Quarles to director of football operations. Personal life 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. He served in the position until 2009. References External links Tampa Bay Buccaneers profile 1971 births Living people African-American players of American football African-American players of Canadian football American football middle linebackers BC Lions players Canadian football linebackers Miami Dolphins players National Conference Pro Bowl players Players of American football from Nashville, Tennessee Tampa Bay Buccaneers players Tampa Bay Buccaneers scouts Vanderbilt Commodores football players National Football League executives National Football League scouts Tampa Bay Buccaneers executives