Anthony Spencer

On April 10, 2015, Spencer signed a one-year contract with the New Orleans Saints as a free agent. During preseason, he was playing outside linebacker with the first team unit and was expected to replace Junior Galette, but after suffering an injury that kept him out of action since the first preseason game, he was placed on the injured reserve list on September 1, before being released on October 20.

After remaining a free agent for over a month, Spencer re-signed with the Cowboys with a one-year deal on April 26. Recovering from career threatening knee surgery, there were questions of how much he would play in 2014. His recovery ramped up at the end of training camp and was able to come back for the fourth game against the New Orleans Saints.

For the second year in a row, the Cowboys put the franchise tag on Spencer. The tender is worth $9.6 million. Under Monte Kiffin as new defensive coordinator, both Spencer and DeMarcus Ware were expected to play as defensive ends as the team reverted to a 4–3 defense. He missed all of the preseason after a surgical procedure that at the time was said to be for a bone bruise on his left knee. He came back to play against the Kansas City Chiefs registering 2 tackles and one quarterback hurry. After experiencing pain in his knee following the game, he underwent season-ending microfracture surgery.

On March 5, the Dallas Cowboys placed the franchise tag on Spencer. More than a month later, and just before the 2012 NFL Draft, He officially signed the franchise tag, guaranteeing him a salary of $8.856 million for the 2012 season.

In the 2011 NFL season (and the last year of Spencer's rookie contract), Spencer recorded 51 solo tackles, 15 assist tackles, for a total of 66 tackles. Spencer also recorded 6 sacks, 1 pass deflection and 4 forced fumbles in 15 starts as the Dallas Cowboys finished the season 8-8 with no playoff appearance.

After two years in Dallas's defensive system, he became a starter with the departure of Greg Ellis. He would put together a solid 2009 campaign, recording a career best 67 tackles and 6 sacks, along with 2 forced fumbles and his first career interception. Spencer started all 16 regular season games for the Cowboys in 2009, starting at outside linebacker opposite teammate DeMarcus Ware.

Spencer followed up his 2009 season with a very solid 2010 season, as he again started all sixteen games. For the first time in Spencer's Dallas career, the team finished with a losing record, at 6-10 (the Cowboys were 13-3 in 2007, 9-7 in 2008, and 11-5 in 2009). Despite the overall disappointment of Dallas's season, Spencer put in a solid 16 starts, recording 63 tackles, 5 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles.

As a former Indiana high school all-star who also excelled at Purdue, Spencer was co-recipient of the 2007 Rabold Award given by the Indiana Football Coaches Association. Spencer also was invited to play in the 2007 Senior Bowl.

Spencer was selected 26th overall by the Dallas Cowboys in the 2007 NFL Draft. After trading their first round selection to the Cleveland Browns, the Cowboys traded back into the first round to draft him. The Cowboys traded their 2007 second round pick (#36-Kevin Kolb), 2007 third round pick (#87-Stewart Bradley) and a 2007 fifth round pick (#159-C.J. Gaddis) to their division rival Philadelphia Eagles, in exchange for their 1st round pick (26th overall).

Spencer had a great senior season in 2006. He finished the season ranked second in the nation with 26.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage, the fifth-best season total in Big Ten Conference history. He finished second on the team with 93 tackles (a high number for a defensive lineman) and first with 10.5 sacks. He also caused five fumbles and recovered another while batting away six passes and blocking one kick. He was named the Purdue football team's Most Valuable Player.

Even though he started all 11 games in 2005, Spencer failed to match his 2004 performance due to several minor injuries. He was limited to 23 tackles, three sacks, and 7.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage. He caused three fumbles and recovered another while also deflecting one pass.

In 2004, Spencer played in 12 games and started in 11. He registered 33 tackles and finished third on the team with 7.5 sacks and 9.5 stops for losses. He also batted down six passes and forced three fumbles, earning All-Big Ten Conference honorable mention.

Spencer committed to Purdue University on July 8, 2003. He also had FBS scholarship offers from Michigan State.

Spencer was a two-time All-state selection and three-time all-area and all-conference selection while playing in the Summit Athletic Conference. He was named the Indianapolis Star's Defensive Lineman of the Year as a senior, when his team went undefeated and won the 2002 Class 2A state championship.

In his 3 years as a starter, Spencer and the Luers team lost a total of 3 games. In addition to the 2002 championship, Luers lost two games on their way to the 2000 Class 2A championship, and their only loss in 2001 came in the 2001 Class 2A championship game.

Spencer accepted a scholarship to play college football at Purdue University. He spent the 2002 season on the Purdue scout team as a redshirt freshman. He appeared in ten games during the 2003 season, recording six tackles and one stop behind the line of scrimmage.

Anthony E. Spencer II (born January 23, 1984) is a former American football outside linebacker who played nine seasons in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints. He played college football at Purdue University and was drafted by the Cowboys 26th overall in the 2007 NFL Draft.