Shelton Quarles
Current teamTampa Bay Buccaneers
PositionVice president of football operations
Career number53
Birth dateSeptember 11, 1971 (age 55)
Birth placeNashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Height6 ft
Height in1
Weight lb225
High schoolWhites Creek (TN)
CollegeVanderbilt (1990–1993)
Undraftedyear1994
Pastteams
Pastexecutive
  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers (–present)
    • Pro scout (2007–2009)
    • Coordinator of pro scouting (2010–2011)
    • Director of pro scouting (2012–2013)
    • Director of football operations (2014–2024)
    • Senior director of football operations (2025)
    • Vice president of football operations (2026–present)
Highlights
As player
As executive
Statlabel 1Total tackles
Statvalue 1710
Statlabel 2Sacks
Statvalue 213.0
Statlabel 3Forced fumbles
Statvalue 38
Statlabel 4Fumble recoveries
Statvalue 48
Statlabel 5Interceptions
Statvalue 54
Statlabel 6Defensive touchdowns
Statvalue 62
PfrQuarSh20

Shelton Eugene Quarles (born September 11, 1971) is an American football executive and former linebacker who is the vice president of football operations for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Vanderbilt Commodores and was signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 1994. He also played for the BC Lions and the Buccaneers, for whom he played for from 1997 to 2006.

Early life

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.[1] 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.[2]

NFL career statistics

Legend
Won the Super Bowl
BoldCareer high

Regular season

YearTeamGamesTacklesInterceptionsFumbles
GPGSCombSoloAstSckIntYdsTDLngFFFRYdsTD
1997TAM1604130.000000200
1998TAM16012931.000000000
1999TAM16145437170.000000100
2000TAM14135136152.015050250
2001TAM16165234182.01981981000
2002TAM161611374391.02291250000
2003TAM11118057230.000000200
2004TAM151510471333.500000000
2005TAM1616134104301.000004100
2006TAM121210668382.500003000
14811371049121913.041322988850

Playoffs

YearTeamGamesTacklesInterceptionsFumbles
GPGSCombSoloAstSckIntYdsTDLngFFFRYdsTD
1997TAM200000.000000000
1999TAM228620.000000000
2000TAM116600.000000000
2001TAM108530.000000000
2002TAM33221750.000000000
2005TAM1111560.000000000
1075539160.000000000

Executive career

On August 1, 2007, the Tampa Bay 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.[3] On May 29, 2014, the Buccaneers promoted Quarles to director of football operations.[4]

On May 18, 2025, Quarles was promoted once more, this time to the role of senior director of football operations.[5]

Personal life

Upon retiring Quarles was appointed by Florida Governor Charlie Crist to the board of the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority.[6] He served in the position until 2009.

References

  1. ^ "Reed rumbles 108 yards for NFL record | Longest interception returns by team". Pro Football Hall of Fame. November 24, 2008. Retrieved June 2, 2014.
  2. ^ "Buccaneers to release starting MLB Quarles". April 24, 2007.
  3. ^ "Promotions, Additions in Bucs' Front Office". Buccaneers. July 16, 2013. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
  4. ^ Philipse, Sander (May 29, 2014). "Buccaneers overhaul personnel department some more". Bucs Nation. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
  5. ^ "Buccaneers Make Changes In Front Office". profootballrumors.com. Retrieved May 25, 2025.
  6. ^ "Catching Up with Shelton Quarles". Archived from the original on April 8, 2013. Retrieved April 5, 2013.