Patrick Chukwurah
Encyclopedia
Patrick C. Chukwurah is a Nigerian defensive end
of American football
who is currently a free agent
. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings
in the fifth round of the 2001 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Wyoming
.
Chukwurah has also been a member of the Houston Texans
, Denver Broncos
, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
and Florida Tuskers.
. On June 18, he signed a 3-year contract with the Minnesota Vikings. During the 2001 season, he played in all 16 games, starting 3 of them, while recording 9 tackles and 2½ sacks. He made his NFL debut on September 9, 2001 against the Carolina Panthers
, recording 4 tackles and becoming the first Viking rookie linebacker to start a game since Dwayne Rudd
did it in 1997 and the first to start the opener since Roy Winston
did it back in 1962. On November 19, he started his second career game against the New York Giants
recording his first career sack, sacking quarterback Kerry Collins
for a 14 yard loss. That game, he started at defensive end. On December 16, Chukwurah recorded a career high 1½ sacks against the Detroit Lions. In 2002, Patrick Chukwurah played in 11 games, starting two of them. He recorded a career high 14 tackles, recording 12 of them on special teams. At the Chicago Bears
on September 8, 2002, he recorded 4 tackles, and on October 13, he recorded a career high 7 tackles against the Detroit Lions
. On February 27, 2003, he was cut by the Vikings.
, however got cut at the final cutdown on September 1.
on January 14, and played against the Pittsburgh Steelers
in the AFC Championship game on January 22. On April 3, 2006, he re-signed with the Denver Broncos. During the 2006 season, Chukwurah converted to denfensive end. He made his first career start at defensive end in week 1 against the St. Louis Rams.
, Chukwurah led the league in sacks.
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
of American football
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...
who is currently a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
in the fifth round of the 2001 NFL Draft
2001 NFL Draft
The 2001 NFL Draft took place on April 21–22, 2001 at the theater at Madison Square Garden, in New York City. This was the 66th National Football League draft in league history. The draft was broadcast on ESPN both days and eventually moved to ESPN2. No teams elected to claim any players in the...
. 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 Wyoming
Wyoming Cowboys football
The Wyoming Cowboys are a college football team that represents the University of Wyoming. They compete in the Mountain West Conference of the Football Bowl Subdivision of NCAA Division I. The team has won 15 conference titles...
.
Chukwurah has also been a member of the Houston Texans
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
and Florida Tuskers.
College career
Chukwurah went to the University of Wyoming. He was a three year starter there and played in 45 career games while racking up 245 tackles and 27 sacks. As a senior, he earned first team All-Mountain West Conference honors, recording 100 tackles and seven sacks. He was UW's defensive captain his senior year. As a junior, he was a second team all-conference selection and earned defensive MVP honors. He ranks 11th on UW's tackles list.Minnesota Vikings
He was drafted in the 5th round with the 26th pick of the 2001 NFL draft by the Minnesota VikingsMinnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
. On June 18, he signed a 3-year contract with the Minnesota Vikings. During the 2001 season, he played in all 16 games, starting 3 of them, while recording 9 tackles and 2½ sacks. He made his NFL debut on September 9, 2001 against the 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...
, recording 4 tackles and becoming the first Viking rookie linebacker to start a game since Dwayne Rudd
Dwayne Rudd
Dwayne Rudd is an American football linebacker who is a free agent in the National Football League, having not played in the NFL since 2003. During his career he played for the Minnesota Vikings, the Cleveland Browns and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers...
did it in 1997 and the first to start the opener since Roy Winston
Roy Winston
Roy Charles Winston is a former professional American football player.Roy Winston graduated from Louisiana State University, where he starred as an offensive guard...
did it back in 1962. On November 19, he started his second career game against the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
recording his first career sack, sacking quarterback Kerry Collins
Kerry Collins
Kerry Michael Collins is an American football quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Carolina Panthers with the fifth overall pick of the 1995 NFL Draft, the first choice in the franchise's history...
for a 14 yard loss. That game, he started at defensive end. On December 16, Chukwurah recorded a career high 1½ sacks against the Detroit Lions. In 2002, Patrick Chukwurah played in 11 games, starting two of them. He recorded a career high 14 tackles, recording 12 of them on special teams. At the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
on September 8, 2002, he recorded 4 tackles, and on October 13, he recorded a career high 7 tackles against the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
. On February 27, 2003, he was cut by the Vikings.
Houston Texans
On March 1, 2003, Chukwurah was acquired from waivers. During the training camp prior to the 2003 season, Patrick Chukwurah tried out for the Houston TexansHouston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, however got cut at the final cutdown on September 1.
Denver Broncos
On December 24, 2003, he signed with the Denver Broncos, but was only on the 53-man roster for 2 days, and was released on December 26. He re-signed with the Broncos on January 13, 2004 after the season ended. During the 2004 season, he played in 14 games recording only 4 tackles appearing primarily as a defensive end on passing downs. In 2005, he once again played in 14 games recording 9 tackles, two on defence and seven on special teams. He played in both postseason games that year, recording a special teams tackle against the New England PatriotsNew England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
on January 14, and played against the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
in the AFC Championship game on January 22. On April 3, 2006, he re-signed with the Denver Broncos. During the 2006 season, Chukwurah converted to denfensive end. He made his first career start at defensive end in week 1 against the St. Louis Rams.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
On March 2, 2007, the first day of free agency, the Bucs signed Chukwurah to a five-year, $5.5 million contract. They released him after only one season with the Bucs on June 19, 2008. He later resigned with them on August 27, 2008, but was released again on August 30. He was resigned to the Bucs roster on December 17, 2008.Florida Tuskers
Chukwurah was signed by the Florida Tuskers of the United Football League on August 25, 2009. In the league's first season2009 UFL season
The 2009 United Football League season -- referred to by the professional American football league as the UFL Premiere Season -- was the inaugural season of the United Football League...
, Chukwurah led the league in sacks.
Career statistics
| Season | Team | GP | Tckl | Ast | Total | SCK | INT | Fum Rec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Minnesota Vikings Minnesota Vikings The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960... |
16 | 8.0 | 5 | 13 | 2.5 | 0 | 0 |
| 2002 | Minnesota Vikings Minnesota Vikings The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960... |
11 | 11.0 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2003 | Denver Broncos Denver Broncos The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2004 | Denver Broncos Denver Broncos The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
14 | 6.0 | 3 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2005 | Denver Broncos Denver Broncos The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
14 | 6.0 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2006 | Denver Broncos Denver Broncos The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
14 | 18.0 | 7 | 25 | 4.5 | 0 | 0 |
| 2007 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tampa Bay Buccaneers The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West... |
9 | 11 | 1 | 12 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Totals | 78 | 60.0 | 21 | 81 | 9.0 | 0 | 0 | |