Undrafted out of Saginaw Valley State and forced to take the scenic route through the CFL and arena league before a brief cup of coffee in Detroit, Paul Spicer landed in Jacksonville in 2000 as a determination-driven edge project. His initial foot in the door yielded just three appearances as a reserve, but his relentless pursuit and heavy hands quickly earned him a permanent residence in the defensive line rotation.
Spicer spent his early years bringing high-octane energy off the bench, stepping up with timely stops in the backfield whenever called upon. He broke out in 2005, earning a full-time starting role at defensive end and matching his career best with 7.5 sacks, forcing four fumbles, and anchoring an aggressive front four that spearheaded a playoff run.
That 2005 breakthrough launched a four-year run as a mainstay upfront. Working alongside Marcus Stroud and John Henderson, Spicer’s leverage and motor made him an underrated run defender who could still collapse the pocket on third down. He matched his 7.5-sack total in 2007, serving as a crucial pass-rush engine for an 11–5 roster that advanced to the Divisional Round.
After nine years as a locker-room pillar and frontline anchor in North Florida, Spicer attended one final summer camp with New Orleans in 2009 before hanging up his cleats and beginning a coaching career. In Jacksonville, he recorded 28.5 sacks, 241 total tackles, 32 tackles for loss, and nine forced fumbles.


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