Lee Anthony Heath Jr. (born September 11, 1987) is an American former professional

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...

cornerback A cornerback (CB) is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in gridiron football. Cornerbacks cover Wide receiver, receivers most of the time, but also blitz and defend against such Play from scrimmage, offensive running plays as sweep ...

. Heath was signed by the

Jacksonville Jaguars The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida. The Jaguars compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC South, South division. The team ...

of the

National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a Professional gridiron football, professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams, it is divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National ...

(NFL) as an

undrafted free agent In professional sports, a free agent is a player or manager who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises; i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term is also used in reference to a player who is under a contract at present ...

in 2011. He played

college football College football is gridiron football that is played by teams of amateur Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. It was through collegiate competition that gridiron football American football in the United States, firs ...

for

Jacksonville State University Jacksonville State University (JSU or Jax State) is a public university in Jacksonville, Alabama, United States. Founded in 1883, Jacksonville State offers programs of study in six academic schools leading to bachelor's degree, bachelor's, mas ...

. Heath was also a member of the

Cincinnati Bengals The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional American football team based in Cincinnati. The Bengals compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC North, North division. The team plays its h ...

Buffalo Bills The Buffalo Bills are a professional American football team based in the Buffalo–Niagara Falls metropolitan area. The Bills compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East div ...

Cleveland Browns The Cleveland Browns are a professional American football team based in Cleveland. The Browns compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC North, North division. The team is named after ...

Miami Dolphins The Miami Dolphins are a professional American football team based in the Miami metropolitan area. The Dolphins compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East division. The team ...

Carolina Panthers The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Panthers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC South, South division. The t ...

Atlanta Falcons The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta. The Falcons compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC South, South division. The Falcons were founded o ...

, and

New York Giants The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Giants compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East division. The ...

of the NFL, and the

Toronto Argonauts The Toronto Argonauts (officially the Toronto Argonaut Football Club and colloquially known as the Argos) are a professional Canadian football team based in Toronto, Ontario. The Argonauts compete in the East Division (CFL), East Division of t ...

Winnipeg Blue Bombers The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a professional Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The Blue Bombers compete in the Canadian Football League (CFL) as a member club of the league's West Division (CFL), West division. They play thei ...

, and

Montreal Alouettes The Montreal Alouettes (Canadian French, French: ''Les Alouettes de Montréal'') are a professional Canadian football team based in Montreal, Quebec. Founded in 1946, the team has disbanded twice and been re-established thrice. The Alouettes compe ...

of the

Canadian Football League The Canadian Football League (CFL; , LCF) is a Professional gridiron football, professional Canadian football league in Canada. It comprises nine teams divided into two divisions, with four teams in the East Division (CFL), East Division and f ...

(CFL).

College career

Heath played 3 years for

Jacksonville State Gamecocks football The Jacksonville State Gamecocks football program is the intercollegiate American football team for Jacksonville State University (JSU) located in the U.S. state of Alabama. The team competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS ...

in Division I FCS. Over three years of on field play from 2007-2009, Heath played in 34 games, amassing 112 tackles, forced 3 fumbles, recovered 2 fumbles, and blocked 2 kicks. Heath also defended 29 passes, intercepting 8 of them; he managed to return two interceptions for touchdowns. During his junior season, Heath was a second team All-America selection.

Professional career

Jacksonville Jaguars

Heath was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars following the 2011 NFL draft, he was released by the Jaguars on July 31, 2012.

Cincinnati Bengals

He was signed by the Bengals on August 4, 2012, then released on August 31, 2012.

Buffalo Bills

Heath signed with the Buffalo Bills practice squad on September 3, 2012. Buffalo released him on August 31, 2013, prior to the start of the regular season.

Cleveland Browns

Heath signed with the

practice squad on December 4, 2013. The Browns released Heath on August 25, 2014.

Miami Dolphins

In November 2014, he was signed by the

to their practice squad and promoted to the active roster on December 13, 2014.

Carolina Panthers

Heath was signed on August 5, 2015 following the retirement of Chris Houston. On September 5, 2015, he was released by the Panthers.

Atlanta Falcons

Heath was signed on November 16, 2015 to the practice squad of the Falcons. On December 8, 2015, he was released from the practice squad.

New York Giants

On December 30, 2015, the

signed Heath to their practice squad.

Toronto Argonauts (first stint)

Heath entered the Canadian Football League with the

for the 2016 season. He got off to a fast start, with 3 interceptions in his first 5 games. He played 10 games with the Argos, and was named player of the week following a two interception performance before being traded to the

Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Heath's trade to the Bombers involved two high draft picks and Heath, in exchange for quarterback

Drew Willy Drew Willy (born November 13, 1986) is an American former professional Canadian football quarterback. He was signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He played college football at Buffalo Bulls football, Buffalo. Willy ...

. While Willy's stint with the Argos lasted only a few games, missing out on the playoffs, and being released after the following preseason, Heath picked up where he left off by recording an interception in back to back regular season games against the

BC Lions The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team based in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Lions compete in the West Division (CFL), West Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL), and play their home games at BC Place. The Lions playe ...

and helping Winnipeg reach the postseason; the Bombers lost a revenge game to the Lions in the Western semi-final. Despite playing a majority of his season in the Eastern Division, Heath's outstanding first year in the CFL culminated in his being named a West Division All-Star, having recorded a total of 51 defensive tackles, 5 special teams tackles, and 7 interceptions, leading the league along with Bombers teammate Maurice Leggett. Heath was further honored by being named to the League All-Star team. During the 2017 season, Heath continued his strong play for Winnipeg, playing in all 18 games and recording 64 defensive tackles and a sack. Heath had 5 more interceptions on the year, with 4 coming in the first 3 games of the season. Heath did not intercept another pass until week 17, but returned it for a touchdown. Following Winnipeg's playoff defeat, Heath was again named both a Divisional and League-wide All-Star.

Toronto Argonauts (second stint)

After being named the #8 available free agent for 2018, Heath returned to Toronto on a one-year contract. However, much like his first sting with Toronto, Heath was traded to another team following a hot start to the year, with 24 tackles and 2 interceptions in Toronto's first 6 games.

Montreal Alouettes

Toronto traded Heath to the

in exchange for National lineman

Ryan Bomben Ryan Bomben (born May 16, 1987) is a Canadian former professional football offensive guard who played in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the Montreal Alouettes, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and Toronto Argonauts. He was a four-time East Division A ...

in early August, following a slew on injuries to Montreal's secondary, which forced Heath to make his Alouettes debut on only 3 days of practise. Heath did not learn about the move until he saw the news on

Twitter Twitter, officially known as X since 2023, is an American microblogging and social networking service. It is one of the world's largest social media platforms and one of the most-visited websites. Users can share short text messages, image ...

. Playing in 12 games with Montreal meant that Heath's combined stats for the year were 18 games played, recording a career high 70 tackles and 3 interceptions. His one interception with Montreal came late in the year against the Argonauts. Heath did not sign with another team or an alternate league (such as the AAF or the XFL) following the 2018 season, and finished his CFL career with 185 defensive tackles, 5 special teams stops, one sack, one defensive touchdown, and 15 interceptions. Despite only three years of play in the CFL, he was named as eligible for the All-Decade Team.

References

External links

Cincinnati Bengals bioJacksonville Jaguars bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Heath, T. J. 1987 births Living people American football cornerbacks Canadian football defensive backs Players of Canadian football from Alabama Atlanta Falcons players Buffalo Bills players Carolina Panthers players Cincinnati Bengals players Cleveland Browns players Jacksonville Jaguars players Jacksonville State Gamecocks football players Miami Dolphins players New York Giants players Toronto Argonauts players Winnipeg Blue Bombers players People from Calhoun County, Alabama Players of American football from Alabama Montreal Alouettes players