Ifeadi Odenigbo facts for kids

Ifeadikachukwu Anthony Odenigbo (born April 8, 1994) is an American professional football player. He plays as a linebacker, which is a defensive position in football. Ifeadi played college football for the Northwestern Wildcats. The Minnesota Vikings chose him in the 2017 NFL draft.

Early Life and High School Football

Ifeadi Odenigbo was born in Bayonne, New Jersey. His parents, Linda and Thomas Odenigbo, are from Nigeria. Ifeadi was the first person in his family born in the United States.

He went to Centerville High School in Centerville, Ohio. There, he played high school football. He started on offense but later became a linebacker and defensive end. These are both important defensive positions. As a junior, he made 90 tackles and 10.5 sacks. A sack happens when a defensive player tackles the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage.

In 2011, as a senior, he had 50 tackles and 8.5 sacks. He helped his team win the Greater Western Ohio Conference championship. Ifeadi earned many awards, including all-region and all-state honors. He was also chosen for the 2012 U.S. Under-19 National Team.

Track and Field Achievements

Ifeadi was also a talented athlete in track and field. He competed in track for all four years of high school. In 2009, he set a freshman record in the 200-meter dash. He also ran fast times in the 400-meter dash.

As a junior, he was an all-district athlete in the 110-meter and 300-meter hurdles. In his senior year, he ran his fastest 100-meter dash time. He also helped his team finish third in the 4 × 200 m relay at the state championships.

College Football Career

Ifeadi Odenigbo played college football at Northwestern University from 2012 to 2016. In his first year, called his "true freshman" year, he got injured early. But he was allowed to keep his year of eligibility.

In his second season, he became a specialist at rushing the passer on third downs. He finished second on his team with 5.5 sacks. As a sophomore, he played in all 12 games. He tied a Big Ten Conference record by forcing three fumbles in one game. This happened against Western Illinois.

In 2015, his junior year, he helped Northwestern achieve a 10–3 record. He recorded 5 sacks that season. In his final college season, 2016, Ifeadi was one of the best defensive players in the Big Ten Conference. He led the conference with 10 sacks. In one game against Iowa, he had 4 sacks, which tied a school record.

Ifeadi finished his college career with 23.5 sacks. This placed him second in Northwestern school history for total sacks.

Professional Football Career

Ifeadi Odenigbo was chosen by the Minnesota Vikings in the seventh round of the 2017 NFL draft. He was the 220th player picked overall.

Early NFL Years (2017-2018)

After being drafted, Ifeadi spent time with the Vikings' practice squad. A practice squad is a group of players who train with the team but are not on the main roster. He was later waived by the Vikings in September 2018.

He then joined the Cleveland Browns briefly. After that, he played one game for the Arizona Cardinals. In October 2018, he returned to the Vikings' practice squad.

Minnesota Vikings (2019-2020)

In 2019, Ifeadi earned a spot on the Vikings' main roster. In Week 5, he got his first career sack against the New York Giants. In Week 15, he had a big play against the Los Angeles Chargers. He sacked quarterback Philip Rivers and recovered a fumble. He then ran the ball 56 yards for a touchdown!

In Week 17 of 2019, he forced another fumble and recovered it against the Chicago Bears. In July 2020, he was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list but was activated a few days later. He left the Vikings in March 2021.

Later NFL Teams (2021-2023)

In March 2021, Ifeadi signed a one-year contract with the New York Giants. He was released by the Giants in August 2021.

He then joined the Cleveland Browns practice squad in September 2021. He was later moved to their active roster. In Week 14, he recovered a fumble against the Baltimore Ravens.

In June 2022, Ifeadi signed with the Indianapolis Colts. He was released in December 2022. Later that month, he joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers practice squad.

In July 2023, Ifeadi signed with the New York Jets. He was placed on injured reserve in August 2023.

Personal Life

Ifeadi Odenigbo has Nigerian heritage. His brother, Tito Odenigbo, also played football and spent time with the Minnesota Vikings during training camp in 2019.