Takeo Spikes (born December 17, 1976 in Sandersville, Georgia) is an American football linebacker who currently plays for the Buffalo Bills. In high school at Washington County High School in Georgia he earned All-American honors from Parade and USA Today and was named Georgia's "Mr. Football" by state coaches as a senior. Takeo was also named Georgia Player of the Year as a senior.
Takeo entered Auburn University, majoring in liberal arts. In the 1997 campaign, he led Auburn with 136 tackles as Auburn advanced to the SEC Championship.
In 1998 Takeo entered the NFL Draft and was drafted in the first round by the Cincinnati Bengals. In his rookie season he started all the preseason games and all the regular season games. He became the first rookie to lead the Bengals in tackles since James Francis led them in 1990. He also led the team by total snaps played on offense and defense, which added up to 997.
In 1999 he was the team captain, playing in all his games as a Right Inside Linebacker and a Right Linebacker. He forced 4 fumbles and recovered 4, leading the team in that as well.
In 2000 he played every game as a Right Linebacker and recorded 128 tackles. He passed the 100 tackle mark for the third straight time and led the team in tackles and fumble recoveries.
2001 Takeo started at RLB for all of the 15 games he played that season. He once again led the team in solo and total tackles in the 2001 campaign. Takeo missed Game 5 because of his father, Jimmie's, death.
2002 was his final season with the Bengals, as he played all 16 games. In his tenture with the Bengals, he played 79 of a possible 80 games, missing one for his father's funeral. He led the team in solo and total tackles once again and scored his second defensive TD by way of fumble recovery.
2003 was the first season Takeo played with the Bills, earning his first Pro Bowl appearance and started all 16 games once more. He recorded 126 tackles, with the addition of a pair of sacks, a pair of interceptions, and a pair of fumble recoveries.
2005 On September 25, Takeo suffered a season-ending tear to his right Achilles' tendon while tackling Michael Vick during the Bills 24-16 loss to the Atlanta Falcons in Week 3.
According to Spikes, his nickname TKO also stands for "The Knock Out" (with emphasis on "The"), which refers to any single event or action that decidedly alters the course of any game or sports-related activity. He's now dating T-Boz of TLC.
