Christian Kirksey facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Christian Kirksey

Kirksey with the Cleveland Browns in 2018
No. 58
Position:	Linebacker
Personal information
Born:	(1992-08-31) August 31, 1992 (age 32) St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:	235 lb (107 kg)
Career information
High school:	Hazelwood East (St. Louis)
College:	Iowa (2010–2013)
NFL Draft:	2014 / Round: 3 / Pick: 71
Career history
Cleveland Browns (2014–2019) Green Bay Packers (2020) Houston Texans (2021–2022) Buffalo Bills (2023)*
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles: 726 Sacks: 14.5 Forced fumbles: 4 Fumble recoveries: 6 Pass deflections: 30 Interceptions: 6
Player stats at PFR

Christian Paul Kirksey (born August 31, 1992) is a former American professional football player. He played as a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). Before joining the pros, he played college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes. The Cleveland Browns picked him in the third round of the 2014 NFL draft. He also played for the Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, and Buffalo Bills.

Christian Kirksey's Early Life

Christian Kirksey grew up in Hazelwood, Missouri. He went to Hazelwood East High School. There, he was a star player on the football team. In his senior year, he made an amazing 163 tackles. He also had three sacks and two interceptions, even returning one for a touchdown. He helped his team win the state championship when he was a junior.

Besides football, Christian was also great at track & field. He competed in jumping events and relays. He helped his track team win a state championship too. He placed ninth in the triple jump at a big state competition in 2009.

College Football Journey

After high school, Kirksey went to the University of Iowa. He played for the Iowa Hawkeyes football team from 2010 to 2013.

As a freshman in 2010, he played in 10 games. He mostly played on special teams and made six tackles. In 2011, he became a starter. He played in all 13 games, making 62 tackles and one sack. He also had an interception.

In 2012, he became a team captain. He made 95 tackles and returned two interceptions for touchdowns. One was a 68-yard run against Minnesota. The other was an 18-yard run against Indiana.

As a senior in 2013, he was again a team captain. He led the team with 104 tackles. He also had two recovered fumbles and one interception. He was recognized as an honorable mention for the All-Big Ten Conference team.

Becoming a Pro Football Player

Before the NFL Draft, Christian showed off his skills at the 2014 Senior Bowl. He impressed scouts with his speed and strength. He also attended the NFL combine and Iowa's pro day. He was seen as a promising player for the NFL.

Drafted by the Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns chose Christian Kirksey in the third round of the 2014 NFL draft. He was the 71st player picked overall. He signed a four-year contract with the team.

First Seasons with the Browns (2014-2015)

In his first year (2014), Christian played in all 16 games. He made his first professional start in Week 2. He recorded his first career sack against Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers. He finished his rookie season with 81 tackles.

Kirksey with the Browns in 2015

In 2015, he continued to play an important role. He started five games and made 63 tackles. He also had 3.5 sacks. He sacked Philip Rivers of the San Diego Chargers and Roethlisberger again.

Leading the Browns' Defense (2016-2017)

By 2016, Kirksey became a full-time starter for the Browns. He started all 16 games. He had an amazing season, leading the team with 148 tackles. He also had 2.5 sacks. This was a very impressive year for him.

In 2017, the Browns changed their defensive strategy. Christian moved to a new position, starting as a weakside linebacker. He continued to be a tackling machine. He recorded a career-high 17 tackles in one game against the Tennessee Titans. He finished the season with 136 tackles and 3.5 sacks. He was second on the team in tackles.

Injuries and Leaving Cleveland (2018-2019)

In 2018, Christian started strong. He made 12 tackles against the Baltimore Ravens. He also got his first career interception against Philip Rivers of the Los Angeles Chargers. The next week, he had another interception and recovered a fumble. Unfortunately, a hamstring injury ended his season early.

In 2019, he suffered a chest injury early in the season. This injury also put him on injured reserve. After six seasons with the Browns, he was released in March 2020.

Time with the Green Bay Packers

In March 2020, Christian signed a two-year contract with the Green Bay Packers. He made a great debut in Week 1, leading the team with 12 tackles in a win against the Minnesota Vikings. This was his first Week 1 win in his career! He had another 12 tackles in Week 2.

He was placed on injured reserve in October with a pectoral injury but returned in November. In Week 11, he had 11 tackles and his first interception as a Packer. In Week 16, he sacked and intercepted Ryan Tannehill during a big win. He was released by the Packers in February 2021.

Playing for the Houston Texans

Christian signed with the Houston Texans in March 2021. He became the starting middle linebacker. He played the first eight games before going on injured reserve. He returned to play later in the season.

In March 2022, he signed a new two-year contract with the Texans. He played another full season, starting all 17 games. He was released by the Texans in August 2023.

Retirement with the Buffalo Bills

On August 30, 2023, Christian Kirksey signed with the Buffalo Bills practice squad. However, he announced his retirement from the NFL on September 21, 2023.

On April 15, 2024, Christian announced he would sign a special one-day contract. This allowed him to officially retire as a Cleveland Brown, the team where he started his NFL journey.

Career Stats in the NFL

These tables show Christian Kirksey's performance during his professional football career.

Regular season

Postseason