Cullen Jenkins
Encyclopedia
Cullen Darome Jenkins is an American football
defensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles
of the National Football League
(NFL). He was signed by the Green Bay Packers
as an undrafted free agent in 2003. He played college football
at Central Michigan
.
He is the younger brother of former Carolina Panthers
and New York Jets
defensive tackle Kris Jenkins
.
played at Belleville High School under Bob LaPointe.
, where he recorded 40 tackles, seven tackles for a loss, 4½ sacks, and two passes defensed during his senior year.
, and took over the starting role the final month of the 2006 season. As the starter for the last month of games, he recorded a career-high 6½ sacks that year, including his first three-sack game vs. Detroit on December 17, 2006.
In the 2008 season, the Packers decided to start Jenkins instead of Gbaja-Biamila for the second season in a row. He could only play four games though, before he suffered a torn pectoral muscle against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on September 28, 2008. Two days later, he was placed on injured reserve.
signed Jenkins to a five-year, $25 million contract on July 30, 2011.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
defensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
(NFL). He was signed by the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
as an undrafted free agent in 2003. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Central Michigan
Central Michigan Chippewas football
The Central Michigan Chippewas football team is a college football program in Division I FBS, representing Central Michigan University. They are a top 25 program in terms of all-time winning percentage and top five amongst all teams from non-BCS automatic qualifying conferences...
.
He is the younger brother of former Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
and New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
defensive tackle Kris Jenkins
Kris Jenkins
Kristopher Rudy-Charles Jenkins is a former American football nose tackle who played for the Carolina Panthers and New York Jets of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Panthers in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft...
.
Early years
Both he and his brother Kris JenkinsKris Jenkins
Kristopher Rudy-Charles Jenkins is a former American football nose tackle who played for the Carolina Panthers and New York Jets of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Panthers in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft...
played at Belleville High School under Bob LaPointe.
College career
Jenkins played college football at Central Michigan UniversityCentral Michigan University
Central Michigan University is a public research university located in Mount Pleasant in the U.S. state of Michigan...
, where he recorded 40 tackles, seven tackles for a loss, 4½ sacks, and two passes defensed during his senior year.
2004–2006
Cullen Jenkins was originally signed by Green Bay as a rookie free agent after the '03 draft. One year later, after an impressive NFL Europe season and strong training camp, landed a spot on the Packers' roster. From 2004 to November 2006, Jenkins was the backup for Kabeer Gbaja-BiamilaKabeer Gbaja-Biamila
Muhammed-Kabeer Olanrewaju Gbaja-Biamila , commonly referred to as "KGB", is an American football defensive end who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the fifth round of the 2000 NFL Draft...
, and took over the starting role the final month of the 2006 season. As the starter for the last month of games, he recorded a career-high 6½ sacks that year, including his first three-sack game vs. Detroit on December 17, 2006.
2007–2008
On February 26, 2007, Jenkins signed a four year, $16 million contract extension. Jenkins batted down nine passes in 2007, the most by a Packers defensive lineman since the team began recording the statistic in 1980.In the 2008 season, the Packers decided to start Jenkins instead of Gbaja-Biamila for the second season in a row. He could only play four games though, before he suffered a torn pectoral muscle against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on September 28, 2008. Two days later, he was placed on injured reserve.
2009–2010
In the 2009 season Jenkins returned as a starting defensive end because the Packers had switched from a 4-3 to a 3-4 defense. Jenkins had two productive seasons with effective play against both the pass and the run. In the 2010 season Jenkins missed 5 games with a calf injury, but returned by the end of the season to win Super Bowl XLV with the Packers.Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia EaglesPhiladelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
signed Jenkins to a five-year, $25 million contract on July 30, 2011.