Rob Ninkovich
Encyclopedia
Robert Michael Ninkovich (born February 1, 1984) is an American football
linebacker
for the New England Patriots
of the National Football League
(NFL). He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints
in the fifth round of the 2006 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Purdue
.
Ninkovich has also played for the Miami Dolphins
.
. Following seventh grade, Rob's family relocated to New Lenox, Illinois
. He attended Lincoln-Way Central High School
in New Lenox where he played defensive end
, tight end
, and fullback
. Rob earned All-State honors for defensive end during his senior year. He also lettered in baseball
.
in Joliet, Illinois
. As a freshman, he recorded 36 tackles and seven sacks as his team won the NJCAA
national championship.
During the summer prior to his sophomore year, Ninkovich worked with his father, an ironworker, hanging beams on a Chicago
construction site 19 stories high. According to his father, the purpose was to give Rob extra incentive to complete his college education.
As a sophomore at Joliet in 2003, Ninkovich earned third-team NJCAA All-America
n honors after recording 95 tackles (68 solo), five forced fumbles, four fumble recovering and a school-record 16 sacks.
in 2004 and played in all 12 games that season. Despite being a reserve, Ninkovich was tied for the team lead and ranked second in the Big Ten
with eight sacks. In an October 2 contest against Notre Dame
, Ninkovich recorded two sacks on defense and also caught a goal-line touchdown pass from Kyle Orton
. Against Indiana
on November 20, he tied a school record with four sacks.
As a senior in 2005, Ninkovich earned second-team All-Big Ten honors after recording 48 tackles, eight sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. He recorded four sacks against Indiana for the second straight season, giving him two of the three individual four-sack performances in school history. In a 37-3 victory over Illinois
, he caught a one-yard touchdown pass from Curtis Painter
. Following the season, he was invited to play in the East-West Shrine Game
.
in the fifth round (135th overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft
. He signed a three-year contract with the team on July 18.
In a preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys
on August 21, Ninkovich recorded two sacks and two forced fumbles but was also flagged for a costly unnecessary roughness penalty which led to a Cowboys touchdown. He finished the preseason with three sacks.
During the regular season, Ninkovich appeared in three games for the Saints as a reserve defensive end before suffering a knee injury against the Atlanta Falcons
on September 25. He was placed on season-ending injured reserve
on September 29, finishing the year with four tackles.
During an afternoon practice on July 30, 2007, Ninkovich was carted off the field with a knee injury that caused him to miss the preseason. He was waived by the team prior to the regular season opener.
on September 7, 2007. He appeared in four games for the team that season as a reserve defensive end while being inactive for the other 12 games. Ninkovich finished the season with two tackles, recording one each against the New York Jets
(Sept. 23) and New York Giants
(Oct. 28).
Ninkovich, who converted to outside linebacker when the Dolphins switched to a 3-4 defense in 2008, tied Dolphins defensive end
Randy Starks
with a team-high two sacks during the 2008 preseason. He was released by the team on August 31 and re-signed to the practice squad on September 3.
On November 15, 2008, Ninkovich was promoted to the active roster. He played against the Oakland Raiders
in a reserve role on November 16 but did not record any tackles. On November 20, he was released to make room for linebacker
Erik Walden
. Ninkovich was re-signed to the practice squad the following day.
on December 3, 2008. He was released on July 30, 2009 after the Saints signed long snapper
Jason Kyle
. Ninkovich had previously been considered as a long snapping option for the Saints in the offseason.
signed Ninkovich on August 2, 2009. He made the Patriots' 53-man roster and recorded his first NFL sack in Week 5 against the Denver Broncos
. He received a contract extension through the 2011 season on November 6, 2009. Overall, he played in 15 games for the Patriots in 2009
, finishing with 23 tackles and one sack.
Ninkovich returned in 2010
, beginning the season as a starter at outside linebacker. In the team's Week 4 game against the Miami Dolphins
on Monday Night Football
, Ninkovich recorded his first career interception, and later in the game added another interception and a sack. He finished the season with a career-high 62 tackles, four sacks, and two interceptions in 16 games played (10 starts).
During the 2011 NFL season, Ninkovich recorded his first NFL touchdown when he intercepted a pass from New York Jet's QB Mark Sanchez
and returned it 12 yards for the touchdown. He also had another interception in the 3rd quarter of the same game when Jerod Mayo
tipped it and Ninkovich caught it.
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...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
for the New England Patriots
New 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...
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 drafted by the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
in the fifth round of the 2006 NFL Draft
2006 NFL Draft
The 2006 National Football League Draft, the 71st in league history, took place in New York City at Radio City Music Hall on April 29 and April 30, 2006. For the 27th consecutive year, the draft was telecast on ESPN and ESPN2, with additional coverage offered by ESPNU and, for the first time, by...
. 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 Purdue
Purdue Boilermakers football
The Purdue Boilermakers football team is the intercollegiate football program of the Purdue University Boilermakers. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I Bowl Subdivision, and the team competes in the Big Ten Conference. The Boilermakers have an all-time record of...
.
Ninkovich has also played for the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Early years
Rob Ninkovich was born in Blue Island, IllinoisBlue Island, Illinois
Blue Island is a city in Cook County, Illinois. The population was 22,556 at the 2010 census. Blue Island was established in the 1830s as a way station for settlers traveling on the Vincennes Trace, and the settlement prospered because it was conveniently situated a day's journey outside of Chicago...
. Following seventh grade, Rob's family relocated to New Lenox, Illinois
New Lenox, Illinois
New Lenox is a village in Will County, Illinois, United States. The village population is estimated to be 24,938 as of 2006. The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning forecasts New Lenox will have a population of 90,652 in 2030.-Geography:...
. He attended Lincoln-Way Central High School
Lincoln-Way Central High School
Lincoln Way Central High School or LWCHS, is a public four-year high school located approximately 3.5 miles south of Interstate 80 near the intersection of Schoolhouse Rd. and the Lincoln Highway in New Lenox, Illinois, a southwest suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States...
in New Lenox where he played defensive end
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...
, tight end
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
, and fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
. Rob earned All-State honors for defensive end during his senior year. He also lettered in baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
.
Joliet Junior College
Following high school, Ninkovich spent two years at Joliet Junior CollegeJoliet Junior College
Joliet Junior College , a community college based in Joliet, Illinois, was the first public community college founded in the United States. JJC offers pre-baccalaureate programs for students planning to transfer to a four-year university, as well as occupational education leading directly to...
in Joliet, Illinois
Joliet, Illinois
Joliet is a city in Will and Kendall Counties in the U.S. state of Illinois, located southwest of Chicago. It is the county seat of Will County. As of the 2010 census, the city was the fourth-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 147,433. It continues to be Illinois' fastest growing...
. As a freshman, he recorded 36 tackles and seven sacks as his team won the NJCAA
National Junior College Athletic Association
The National Junior College Athletic Association , founded in 1938, is an association of community college and junior college athletic departments throughout the United States. It is held as Divisions and Regions. The current NJCAA holds 24 separate regions.-History:The idea for the NJCAA was...
national championship.
During the summer prior to his sophomore year, Ninkovich worked with his father, an ironworker, hanging beams on a Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
construction site 19 stories high. According to his father, the purpose was to give Rob extra incentive to complete his college education.
As a sophomore at Joliet in 2003, Ninkovich earned third-team NJCAA All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n honors after recording 95 tackles (68 solo), five forced fumbles, four fumble recovering and a school-record 16 sacks.
Purdue University
Ninkovich transferred to PurduePurdue University
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...
in 2004 and played in all 12 games that season. Despite being a reserve, Ninkovich was tied for the team lead and ranked second in the Big Ten
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
with eight sacks. In an October 2 contest against Notre Dame
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...
, Ninkovich recorded two sacks on defense and also caught a goal-line touchdown pass from Kyle Orton
Kyle Orton
Kyle Orton is an American football quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He played college football at Purdue, where he started four straight bowl games. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
. Against Indiana
Indiana Hoosiers football
The Indiana Hoosiers football program represents Indiana University Bloomington in NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football and in the Big Ten Conference.-Bowl games:...
on November 20, he tied a school record with four sacks.
As a senior in 2005, Ninkovich earned second-team All-Big Ten honors after recording 48 tackles, eight sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. He recorded four sacks against Indiana for the second straight season, giving him two of the three individual four-sack performances in school history. In a 37-3 victory over Illinois
Illinois Fighting Illini football
The Illinois Fighting Illini are a major college football program, representing the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. They compete in NCAA Division I-A and the Big Ten Conference.-Current staff:-All-time win/loss/tie record:*563-513-51...
, he caught a one-yard touchdown pass from Curtis Painter
Curtis Painter
Curtis Jeffrey Painter is a quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts. He was drafted in the sixth round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football for the Purdue Boilermakers.-High school career:...
. Following the season, he was invited to play in the East-West Shrine Game
East-West Shrine Game
The East–West Shrine Game is an annual post-season college football all-star game played each January since 1925. The game is sponsored by the fraternal group Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and the net proceeds are earmarked to some of the Shrine's charitable works, most notably the Shriners...
.
Pre-draft
At his Pro Day on March 10, 2006, Ninkovich posted 40-yard dash times of 4.79 and 4.81 seconds.First stint with Saints
Ninkovich was drafted by the New Orleans SaintsNew Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
in the fifth round (135th overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft
2006 NFL Draft
The 2006 National Football League Draft, the 71st in league history, took place in New York City at Radio City Music Hall on April 29 and April 30, 2006. For the 27th consecutive year, the draft was telecast on ESPN and ESPN2, with additional coverage offered by ESPNU and, for the first time, by...
. He signed a three-year contract with the team on July 18.
In a preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
on August 21, Ninkovich recorded two sacks and two forced fumbles but was also flagged for a costly unnecessary roughness penalty which led to a Cowboys touchdown. He finished the preseason with three sacks.
During the regular season, Ninkovich appeared in three games for the Saints as a reserve defensive end before suffering a knee injury against the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
on September 25. He was placed on season-ending injured reserve
Injured reserve
The injured reserve list is a list of reserved players who are injured and unable to play for a period of time, used most prominently in the National Hockey League and National Football League . It is used because these leagues have a maximum number of players on the team roster, so placing a...
on September 29, finishing the year with four tackles.
During an afternoon practice on July 30, 2007, Ninkovich was carted off the field with a knee injury that caused him to miss the preseason. He was waived by the team prior to the regular season opener.
Miami Dolphins
Ninkovich was claimed off waivers by the Miami DolphinsMiami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
on September 7, 2007. He appeared in four games for the team that season as a reserve defensive end while being inactive for the other 12 games. Ninkovich finished the season with two tackles, recording one each against the 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...
(Sept. 23) and 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...
(Oct. 28).
Ninkovich, who converted to outside linebacker when the Dolphins switched to a 3-4 defense in 2008, tied Dolphins defensive end
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...
Randy Starks
Randy Starks
Randolph "Randy" Starks, Jr. is an American football defensive end for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the third round of the 2004 NFL Draft...
with a team-high two sacks during the 2008 preseason. He was released by the team on August 31 and re-signed to the practice squad on September 3.
On November 15, 2008, Ninkovich was promoted to the active roster. He played against the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in a reserve role on November 16 but did not record any tackles. On November 20, he was released to make room for linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
Erik Walden
Erik Walden
Erik Lashawn Walden is an American football linebacker for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft...
. Ninkovich was re-signed to the practice squad the following day.
Second stint with Saints
Ninkovich signed off the Dolphins' practice squad by the New Orleans SaintsNew Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
on December 3, 2008. He was released on July 30, 2009 after the Saints signed long snapper
Long snapper
In American football and Canadian football, the term long snapper refers to a player who is a specialized center during punts, field goals, and extra point attempts. His job is to snap the ball as quickly and accurately as possible....
Jason Kyle
Jason Kyle
Jason Campbell Kyle is an American football long snapper who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the fourth round of the 1995 NFL Draft...
. Ninkovich had previously been considered as a long snapping option for the Saints in the offseason.
New England Patriots
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...
signed Ninkovich on August 2, 2009. He made the Patriots' 53-man roster and recorded his first NFL sack in Week 5 against the 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...
. He received a contract extension through the 2011 season on November 6, 2009. Overall, he played in 15 games for the Patriots in 2009
2009 New England Patriots season
The 2009 New England Patriots season was the 40th season for the team in the National Football League and 50th season overall. They finished with a 10–6 record and a division title before losing to the Baltimore Ravens in the playoffs....
, finishing with 23 tackles and one sack.
Ninkovich returned in 2010
2010 New England Patriots season
The 2010 New England Patriots season was the 41st season for the team in the National Football League and 51st season overall. The Patriots improved on their 10–6 record from 2009 by finishing with a league-best 14–2 record and clinching the top seed in the AFC, before losing to the New York Jets...
, beginning the season as a starter at outside linebacker. In the team's Week 4 game against the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
on Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football is a live broadcast of the National Football League on ESPN. From to it aired on ABC. Monday Night Football was, along with Hallmark Hall of Fame, and the Walt Disney anthology television series, one of the longest running prime time commercial network television series...
, Ninkovich recorded his first career interception, and later in the game added another interception and a sack. He finished the season with a career-high 62 tackles, four sacks, and two interceptions in 16 games played (10 starts).
During the 2011 NFL season, Ninkovich recorded his first NFL touchdown when he intercepted a pass from New York Jet's QB Mark Sanchez
Mark Sanchez
Mark Travis John Sanchez is an American football quarterback for the New York Jets of the National Football League . He was drafted in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft as the fifth overall selection by the Jets and the second quarterback taken overall...
and returned it 12 yards for the touchdown. He also had another interception in the 3rd quarter of the same game when Jerod Mayo
Jerod Mayo
-2008 season:Mayo was drafted by the New England Patriots with the tenth overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. He was signed on July 24, 2008, to a five-year contract worth $18.9 million, including $13.8 million in bonuses and guarantees...
tipped it and Ninkovich caught it.