Ifeadi Odenigbo facts for kids
| Position: | Linebacker | ||||||||||
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| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born: | April 8, 1994 Bayonne, New Jersey, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight: | 258 lb (117 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school: | Centerville (Centerville, Ohio) | ||||||||||
| College: | Northwestern (2012–2016) | ||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2017 / Round: 7 / Pick: 220 | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of 2023 | |||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||
Ifeadikachukwu Anthony Odenigbo (born April 8, 1994) is an American professional football player. He plays as a linebacker, which is a defensive position. Ifeadi played college football for Northwestern University. The Minnesota Vikings chose him in the seventh round of the 2017 NFL draft.
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Early Life and High School Sports
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 to be born in the United States.
He went to Centerville High School in Centerville, Ohio. There, he played football, starting on offense. Later, he became a strong player on defense as a linebacker and defensive end.
In his junior year, he made 90 tackles and 10.5 sacks. A sack is when a defensive player tackles the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage. In his senior year (2011), he had 50 tackles and 8.5 sacks. He helped his team win a championship and earned many awards. He was even chosen to play for the 2012 U.S. Under-19 National Team.
Ifeadi was also a talented track and field athlete for all four years. He set a freshman record in the 200-meter dash. He also ran fast times in the 400-meter dash and hurdles. In his senior year, he ran his fastest 100-meter dash and helped his relay team finish third at the state championships.
College Football Career
Ifeadi played college football at Northwestern University from 2012 to 2016. In his first year, he got injured early but was able to keep his year of eligibility.
The next 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 3 fumbles in one game.
In 2015, his junior year, he helped Northwestern have a great season with 10 wins and 3 losses. He recorded 5 sacks that year.
In his final college season, Ifeadi was one of the best 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. He finished his college career with 23.5 sacks, which is the second-most in Northwestern history.
Professional Football Career
Before joining the NFL, Ifeadi showed off his skills at the NFL Combine. Here are some of his measurements:
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand size | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
258 lb (117 kg) |
32+5⁄8 in (0.83 m) |
10+1⁄2 in (0.27 m) |
4.72 s | 1.66 s | 2.76 s | 4.40 s | 7.26 s | 31.5 in (0.80 m) |
10 ft 8 in (3.25 m) |
25 reps | |
| All values from 2017 NFL Combine | ||||||||||||
Minnesota Vikings (First Time)
The Minnesota Vikings picked Ifeadi in the seventh round of the 2017 NFL draft. He was the 220th player chosen overall. He was later released by the team but then signed to their practice squad. A practice squad is a group of players who train with the team but don't usually play in games. He signed a contract to stay with the Vikings for the future.
In September 2018, the Vikings released him again.
Cleveland Browns (First Time)
The Cleveland Browns picked him up shortly after. However, he was released by the Browns a few weeks later.
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals then signed Ifeadi. He played in one game for them before being released again in October 2018.
Minnesota Vikings (Second Time)
Ifeadi returned to the Vikings' practice squad in October 2018. He signed another future contract with them in January 2019.
In August 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 sacked Philip Rivers and recovered a fumble, running it back 56 yards for a touchdown! In Week 17, he forced another fumble and recovered it.
In 2020, he was briefly placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list but was activated a few days later. He left the Vikings in March 2021.
New York Giants
In March 2021, Ifeadi signed a one-year contract with the New York Giants. He was released by the Giants in August 2021.
Cleveland Browns (Second Time)
He then joined the Cleveland Browns' practice squad in September 2021. He was later moved to the active roster. In Week 14, he recovered a fumble in a win against the Baltimore Ravens.
Indianapolis Colts
In June 2022, Ifeadi signed with the Indianapolis Colts. He was released by the team in December.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
In December 2022, Ifeadi joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' practice squad.
New York Jets
In July 2023, Ifeadi signed with the New York Jets. He was later placed on injured reserve in August 2023.
Personal Life
Ifeadi Odenigbo has Nigerian heritage. His brother, Tito Odenigbo, also spent time with the Vikings during training camp in 2019.
