Adewale Ogunleye

Adewale Ogunleye
No. 90, 93, 99
Position: Defensive end
Personal information
Date of birth: August 9, 1977
Place of birth: Brooklyn, New York
Height: 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight: 260 lb (118 kg)
Career information
High school: Staten Island (NY) Tottenville
College: Indiana
Undrafted: 2000
Career history
Career highlights and awards
  • Second-team All-Big Ten (1998)
  • Pro Bowl (2003)
  • All-Pro (2003)
  • AFC sacks leader (2003)
  • NFC Champion (2006)
  • Indiana University Football Hall Of Fame (2014)
Career NFL statistics
Tackles: 387
Quarterback sacks: 67.0
Forced fumbles: 17
Stats at NFL.com

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. He was also a three time ALL-BIG TEN selection. In 1999, he received his Bachelor of Arts in English Degree from Indiana University. Athletically, Adewale went on to become a 4-year starter at defensive end as well as a team captain. From 1996-1999, Adewale recorded 34.5 sacks and 64 tackles for a loss. Both are all-time Indiana football records. His sacks and TFL’s rank him sixth and seventh, respectively, in the Big Ten Conference’s all time record books. At Indiana, Ogunleye was a three time All-Big selection. In 1999, he was also named to the prestigious Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list. As one of the nation's top defensive players, Ogunleye was recognized as a preseason All-America by numerous publications including Playboy Magazine. Mel Kiper Jr., a well-respected draft guru, rated Ogunleye as the number 1 NFL draft prospect heading into his senior year at Indiana. Mid-way through his senior season, Ogunleye suffered multiple tears in the ligaments of his left knee, ending his college career.


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 2001, Ogunleye had recovered well enough to lead the team during the preseason in sacks and that earned him a spot on the Dolphins’ 53-man roster. By the end of his fourth season with the Miami Dolphins, Ogunleye had been voted starter in the 2004 NFL Pro Bowl. He led the AFC with 15 sacks in the 2003-2004 NFL season. He was given the Dan Marino Most Valuable Player of the year award, by the Miami Dolphins, that same season.

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. Ogunleye quickly signed a record-breaking 6-year contract with the Bears. During the next six seasons Ogunleye became a mainstay on the Bears top ranked defense. During the 2005 NFL season, Ogunleye spearheaded the Bear's defensive line by recording ten sacks. Ogunleye was named team captain and helped the Bears reach Super Bowl XLI in Miami during the 2006 season. At the end of the 2011 season, Ogunleye would end his professional playing career. He finished with 11 NFL seasons under his belt. He finished with career totals of 389 Tackles, 67.5 Sacks, 17 forced fumbles, and 14 fumble recoveries, 2 safeties and 1 Interception.

Ogunleye, along with Tommie Harris, Alex Brown and Mark Anderson during training camp in 2008

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.

Ogunleye was named the "NFL's Defensive Player of the week" 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 after his contract with the Chicago Bears had expired. [4][5]

NFL stats

Year Team GP COMB TOTAL AST SACK FF FR FR YDS INT IR YDS AVG IR LNG TD PD
2001 MIA 7 3 1 2 0.5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2002 MIA 16 44 32 12 9.5 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 3
2003 MIA 16 62 43 19 15.0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 5
2004 CHI 12 37 28 9 5.0 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
2005 CHI 15 40 36 4 10.0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 5
2006 CHI 14 43 28 15 6.5 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 4
2007 CHI 16 58 53 5 9.0 6 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 3
2008 CHI 16 62 48 14 5.0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 4
2009 CHI 14 38 25 13 6.5 1 3 -2 0 0 0 0 0 0
2010 HOU 4 2 1 1 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Career 130 389 295 94 67.0 17 14 0 1 0 0 0 0 26

[6]

Key

References

External links