Adewale Ogunleye
 | |||||||||
No. 90, 93, 99 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Defensive end | |||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||
| Date of birth: August 9, 1977 | |||||||||
| Place of birth: Brooklyn, New York | |||||||||
| |||||||||
Career information | |||||||||
| High school: Staten Island (NY) Tottenville | |||||||||
| College: Indiana | |||||||||
| Undrafted in 2000 | |||||||||
| Debuted in 2001 for the Miami Dolphins | |||||||||
| Last played in 2010 for the Houston Texans | |||||||||
Career history
| |||||||||
Career highlights and awards
| |||||||||
Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
| |||||||||
Adewale Ogunleye (/ˌɑːdeɪˈwɑːleɪ oʊɡuːnˈleɪjeɪ/; born August 9, 1977) is a former American football defensive end who played eleven seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He was signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2000. He played college football at Indiana.
Early years
Ogunleye is of Nigerian background, and his grandfather was the Yoruba king of the city-state of Emure in Ekiti State.[1] Ogun in his surname means "The god of iron." His father is a social worker employed by the City of New York.
Ogunleye played high school football at Tottenville High School in his hometown of Staten Island, New York City, New York. He was a classmate of Major League baseball All Star starting pitcher Jason Marquis and a teammate of three-time Super Bowl winning offensive guard Joe Andruzzi.[2]
College career
Ogunleye played college football at Indiana University, where he was a four-year starter.
Professional career
Miami Dolphins
Ogunleye signed with Miami in 2000 as an undrafted free agent. He spent the first year of his NFL career on injured reserve due to a knee injury suffered during his senior year at Indiana
In 2002, Ogunleye had 57 tackles, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and 9.5 sacks (sixth in the AFC) for 62 yards in losses for the season. During the 2003 NFL season, while playing for the Miami Dolphins, he led the AFC with 15 sacks. Ogunleye was named to the Pro Bowl at the conclusion of the season.[3]
Chicago Bears
He was traded by the Dolphins to Bears for wide receiver Marty Booker and a 3rd round pick in the 2005 NFL draft after holding out during the month of August before the 2004 NFL season.
During the 2005 NFL season, Ogunleye spearheaded the Bear's defensive line by recording ten sacks. Ogunleye helped the Bears reach Super Bowl XLI in Miami, where he began his career, during the 2006 season. As of 2008, Ogunleye has compiled 290 total tackles and 55.5 sacks in his career.
Ogunleye was named the "NFL's Defensive Player of the Day" for the 2008's first day after recording one safety and made a key fourth down stop against the Indianapolis Colts.
On December 20, 2009 in a game against the Baltimore Ravens, Ogunleye fractured his left fibula. He was placed on season-ending injured reserve on December 26.
Houston Texans
On September 14, 2010 Ogunleye signed a one-year tender with the Houston Texans worth $800,000 after his release from the Chicago Bears as a result of Chicago signing Julius Peppers. As of Week 7 Ogunleye had registered just one tackle and 1 assist with no recorded sacks on the 2010 season. On Tuesday, November 2, 2010 Ogunleye was released by the Texans.[4][5]