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Recorded his second consecutive and second career 100-tackle season in 2005 with 106 stops.
Recorded four double-digit tackle games in 2005 and tied his career-best with 14 stops in Detroit (11/13).
Signed with the Cardinals on 3/12/03 after spending two years with the Jets (2001-02) and four years with the Eagles (1997-2000).
Pro Career:
Signed by the Cardinals on 3/12/03, Darling reached the 100-tackle mark for the first time in his career in 2004, finishing the season with 104 tackles and he recorded his second consecutive 100-tackle season in 2005 with 106 stops. The Philadelphia Eagles second-round choice (57th overall) in the 1997 draft, Darling spent four years in Philadelphia before signing with the Jets on 3/21/01.
2005: Notched the second 100-tackle season of his career in 2005 with 106 total tackles deactivated for games two and three of the season due to a knee injury suffered in the season opener @ NYG (9/11) returned to the starting lineup vs. SF (10/2) after suffering a knee injury in the season opener; recorded a team-high eight tackles ... recorded seven tackles vs. Ten (10/23) and broke up a pass that was intercepted by CB David Macklin and returned 60 yards for a touchdown recorded five tackles @ Dal (10/30) recorded seven tackles vs. Sea (11/6) recorded 14 tackles, tying a career-high and sacked Lions QB Joey Harrington for a five-yard loss which forced a third-and-13 and forced the Lions to punt recorded six tackles in the Cards win @ StL (11/20) recorded a team-high 13 tackles vs. Jax (11/27) including 10 solo stops recorded a team-high nine tackles and intercepted Alex Smith in the third quarter @ SF (12/4) recorded 10 tackles including two for a loss vs. Was (12/11) recorded a team-high 11 tackles @ Hou (12/18) notched five solo tackles and a pass defense vs. Phi (12/24) recorded eight tackles and recorded his second interception of the season, the sixth of his career @ Ind (1/1).
2004: Led the Cardinals in tackles with 104, also recording the first 100-tackle campaign of his career started at weakside linebacker in the season opener @ StL (9/12) and recorded seven tackles while forcing a Rams fumble; had an apparent 95-yard interception return for a go-ahead touchdown nullified by penalty in the 4th quarter became the regular starter at weakside linebacker vs. NE (9/19) and recorded his first interception as a Cardinal to end the first half; recorded a game high 11 total tackles recorded a team-high eight solo tackles and nine total tackles vs. NO (10/3); stopped Saints QB Aaron Brooks on the Arizona one-yard line denying a touchdown. On the ensuing play Brooks fumbled the ball, which was recovered by LB Gerald Hayes for a touchback deactivated @ SF (10/10) due to a calf injury, the first time he missed a game since 2000 recorded three tackles vs. Sea (10/24) and stopped RB Shaun Alexander for a six-yard loss which forced Seattle to punt late in the first quarter notched a game-high and season-high 14 tackles @ Buf (10/31) which tied a career high for total tackles and set a new career high in solo tackles recorded five tackles, the most of any Cardinals linebacker, @ Mia (11/7) recorded a team-high nine tackles @ Car (11/21) recorded seven solo tackles and sacked Lions QB Joey Harrington @ Det (12/5) recorded 12 tackles vs. SF (12/12) and forced a 49ers fumble with 2:19 remaining to play which allowed the Cardinals to kick the tying field goal.
2003: Played in all 16 games in his first season with the Cardinals led the club’s non-starters with 21 solo tackles, 15 assists, 2 quarterback sacks, 7 hurries, and 2 tackles for loss also ranked second on team with 16 special teams tackles, third with 67 blocks on return units opened season with two tackles from scrimmage, two more on special teams, @ Det (9/7) extensive playing time in second half at middle linebacker vs. GB (9/21) and registered three tackles from scrimmage, one solo stops on special teams in 2013 win three solo tackles on special teams @ StL (9/28) came off bench in relief of injured Ray Thompson vs. StL (11/23) to post seven tackles and a five-yard sack of Ram passer Marc Bulger in fourth quarter followed with two solo tackles and three hurries @ Chi (11/30) impressive game @ SF (12/7) despite just 22 plays from scrimmage with four solo tackles, three assists, one tackle for loss, a three-yard sack of 49er passer Jeff Garcia, two hurries, and forced San Francisco running back Kevan Barlow to cough up the football in the third quarter, a turnover Arizona capitalized upon with a touchdown drive five combined tackles and a hurry in 1817 win vs. Min (12/28).
2002: Played in all 16 games and was a key member of Jets’ special teams finished with 33 solo tackles, 9 assists, 1 quarterback sack, 2 interceptions, 1 pass defensed, and 16 special-teams tackles had five tackles vs. NE (9/15) and intercepted Patriot passer Tom Brady in first quarter for second career pickoff had five tackles vs. Cle (10/27) included 200th career stop in third quarter impressive all-round game in 4413 win @ SD (11/ 3) intercepted Charger quarterback Drew Brees in second quarter and returned the ball 38 yards to set up field goal prior to halftime earned game ball in 3113 win vs. Buf (11/24) with one tackle and a hurry from scrimmage and two special-teams tackles his three solo stops in Monday night loss @ Oak (12/2) included 10-yard sack of Raider passer Rich Gannon won second game ball of the season with three tackles and two pass deflections in 3017 win @ NE (12/22) had three tackles and picked off a Peyton Manning pass near the goal line with nine-yard return to preserve 410 shutout in Wild Card playoff win vs. Ind (1/4).
2001: Signed with the Jets as an unrestricted free agent 3/21 in 16 games, posted 12 tackles and forced one fumble from scrimmage led Jets in special-teams points and finished third with 12 tackles on kick-coverage units his four tackles @ NE (9/23) included a forced fumble by Patriot Marc Edwards at Jets’ seven-yard line to thwart scoring threat in 103 victory four special-teams tackles in 2117 comeback win vs. Mia (10/14).
2000: Played in all 16 games for the Eagles, recording eight tackles and one-half sack from scrimmage 20 tackles on special teams ranked fifth on club teamed with linebacker Carlos Emmons in season-opener @ Dal (9/3) to force Cowboy passer Troy Aikman from the game with a concussion on eight-yard sack in second quarter of 4114 win.
1999: Started 10 of 15 contests for Philadelphia and posted a then career-best 98 total tackles (36 solos), 3 pass deflections, 1 interception, and 15 special-teams tackles ranked fourth on team in tackles despite battling an ankle injury for five games in reserve role started first 10 games at outside linebacker recorded first career interception with theft of Jake Plummer pass vs. Arz (9/12) and 33-yard return to set up a field goal despite suffering broken bone in right hand during practice, notched 10 tackles in 1310 win vs. Dal (10/10) had career-best 14 stops in 2016 win @ Chi (10/17), 11 @ Mia (10/24), and 13 vs. NYG (10/31) 11 total tackles @ Car (11/7) suffered ankle injury vs. Ind (11/21) and concluded the season in a reserve role.
1998: Opened at left outside linebacker for Philadelphia for the first 12 games before knee injury relegated him to reserve status for final four games finished with 31 tackles (22 solos), 2 quarterback sacks, 5 pass deflections, 1 forced fumble, and 5 special-teams tackles logged quarterback sacks in consecutive games @ Den (10/4) and in 1712 win vs. Was (10/11) also deflected three Trent Green passes in the victory over Redskins suffered sprained medial collateral ligament in right knee vs. Dal (11/2), missing next four games returned to reserve duty for final four games.
1997: Rookie season featured starts in final six games for the Eagles had 28 tackles (20 solos) from scrimmage and 10 stops on special teams first extended action from scrimmage in season opener @ NYG (8/31) at middle linebacker in place of injured James Willis came off bench for outside linebacker Darrin Smith (ankle) vs. SF (11/10) first NFL start @ Bal (11/16) in 1010 tie started the final five games at outside linebacker.
College:
Two-year starter and all-Pac-10 Conference middle linebacker at Washington State named second team All-America (1996) at inside linebacker by The Sporting News in 43 career games (20 starts) for the Cougars, recorded 258 tackles, 2.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, and one interception.
Personal:
Full name James Jackson Darling excelled in athletics and the classroom at Kettle Falls (WA) High School basketball and track letterman and three-year prep starter in football as defensive back and running back was also class president, earning eight academic awards zoology major at Washington State raised by maternal grandmother, Vera Darling in Kettle Falls (population of approx. 1,300) he and wife Kim have one son, Dylan and a daughter, Bella in 2004, received the Steve Schoenfeld Good Guy Award from the Phoenix Chapter of the Pro Football Writers Association, an honor bestowed annually on one player for cooperation and insight in dealing with the media. |
