Washington attended Irving High School in Irving, Texas, where he was named all-district defensive player of the year after he totaled 168 tackles with four sacks as a senior. Washington attended Texas Christian University, where he played for the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs football team from 2006 to 2009.
He played college football for Texas Christian University (Texas Christian University), and was chosen by the Arizona Cardinals in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He was selected to play in the Texas-Oklahoma Oil Bowl All-Star Game. As a true freshman in 2006, he contributed at linebacker and on special teams.
He recorded 16 tackles for the season (14 solo).
In his sophomore year, he blocked a nation-best three punts, while also registering 32 tackles for the season (25 solo). Although still primarily a back-up and special teams player, Washington was Texas Christian University"s fourth-leading tackler with 63 stops in 2008.
He started the 2008 Poinsettia Bowl and posted six tackles and three pass breakups in Texas Christian University"s victory over Boise State. He started at middle linebacker in 2009 and established himself as one of the leaders Texas Christian University"s defense, which was one of the best in the nation.
He was named one of 12 semifinalists for the 2009.
He earned first-team All-MWC and All-American selections. 2010 NFL Draft Projected a second-round selection by Sports Illustrated, Washington was ranked as the Number. 4 outside linebacker available in the 2010 NFL Draft.
He was selected 47th overall by the Arizona Cardinals.
Arizona Cardinals In 2010 Washington had 78 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble, and one interception that he fumbled. Having started at inside linebacker since his rookie-season in 2010, Washington has emerged to become among the best linebackers in NFL, being named to the 2012 All-Pro Team as well as being selected to participate in the 2013 Pro Bowl as an alternate for the NFC roster.
Washington agreed to a six-year contract extension on September 6, 2012. NFL stats Key General Practice: games played COMB: combined tackles TOTAL: total tackles Air Service Training: assisted tackles SACK: sacks FF: forced fumbles First Revision: fumble recoveries First Revision YDS: fumble return yards INT: interceptions International Rectifier YDS: interception return yards AVG International Rectifier : average interception return Liquefied Natural Gas: longest interception return Territorial Decoration: interceptions returned for touchdown Privatdozent : passes defensed Banned substance abuse On April 3, 2013, the NFL announced that Washington will be suspended for the first four games of the 2013 season for violating the league"s substance policy.
On May 30, 2014, the NFL announced that Washington will be suspended for at least the 2014 season for once again violating the league"s substance policy bringing his personal credibility and character into question after his statement from the 2013 violation: "I promise to work even harder and to not let you guys down anymore." Assault On May 3, 2013, Washington was arrested in Phoenix, Arizona on two counts of aggravated assault (and one count of criminal trespass in the first-degree) from an incident on May 1, 2013 involving his 27-year-old ex-girlfriend with whom he shares a daughter.
The altercation concerns a custody dispute over the 5-month-old child. Phoenix Police accuse him of pushing her with two hands, causing her to fall and break her right collarbone. On March 24, 2014, he pleaded guilty to the crime of aggravated assault, a class 6 felony.
Washington was sentenced to one-year of supervised probation on April 23, 2014.
