He played college football for the Miami Hurricanes, and was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the first round of the 2007 NFL draft.
As a senior, Beason rushed for 811 yards and 12 touchdowns at fullback, and made 75 tackles and had five pass interceptions on defense.
[8] As a result, he was a second-team pick on the 2009 All-Pro Team, and also received a spot in the Pro Bowl when Patrick Willis backed out due to injury.
Due to him switching positions, he finished the season with the worst statistical performance of his career, recording only 121 tackles (9 less than fellow Panther James Anderson and the first time in his career he did not place first in team tackles).
[9] On July 28, 2011, Beason and the Panthers agreed to terms on a deal that would make him the highest-paid middle linebacker in NFL history.
On March 12, 2014, he and the New York Giants came to an agreement on a new contract, signing a three-year $16.8 million deal.
[15] Beason tore a ligament and fractured the sesamoid bone in his toe in a June practice and missed all of training camp and all five of the Giants' preseason games.
After his visit with doctors, Beason said in a radio interview that he might have to have the season-ending toe surgery to finally take care of the problem, and that turned out to be the case.