Noah Igbinoghene facts for kids

Noah Igbinoghene (born November 27, 1999) is an American professional football player. He plays as a cornerback for the Washington Commanders in the National Football League (NFL). Before joining the NFL, he played college football for the Auburn Tigers. The Miami Dolphins picked him in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft. He has also played for the Dallas Cowboys.

About Noah Igbinoghene's Early Life

Noah Igbinoghene has Nigerian family roots. He even lived in Nigeria for some time during his childhood. Both of his parents, Festus and Faith, were amazing athletes. They both competed in track and field at the Olympic Games.

Noah went to Hewitt-Trussville High School in Trussville, Alabama. He was a star on the football team, playing as a wide receiver. In his senior year, he gained over 1,700 total yards and scored 18 touchdowns. He also won many state championships in track and field. He earned eight titles in the long jump and triple jump for the Alabama High School Athletic Association.

Noah's College Football Journey

Noah received a football scholarship to Auburn University. He played for the Auburn Tigers from 2017 to 2019. In his first year, he was a backup wide receiver. He mostly played on special teams, helping with kickoffs and punts. He caught 6 passes and returned 24 kickoffs.

In his second year, he switched positions to cornerback. This happened during the spring practice sessions. He quickly became a starter and made 50 tackles. He also broke up 11 passes that season. In one game, he returned a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown! He also forced a fumble.

As a junior, he continued to play well, making 42 tackles. He also broke up 7 passes. He set a school record in a bowl game with another 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. After this season, he decided to enter the NFL Draft. He finished his college career with 92 tackles and two kickoff return touchdowns. He also continued to compete in track and field while at Auburn.

Noah's Professional Football Career

Playing for the Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins chose Noah Igbinoghene as the 30th overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft. He was the youngest player in the entire NFL when he joined. His first season was unusual because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This meant no preseason games and limited practice time.

In his second NFL game, a starting player got hurt. This meant Noah had to step in and play a lot. He played in all 16 games that year, starting two of them. He made 10 tackles and recovered two fumbles.

In 2021, he played in 7 games and started one. He made 4 tackles on defense. He also missed some games due to injury and being on the COVID-19 list.

In 2022, he played in 9 games and started two. He made 10 tackles and got his first career interception. This interception happened in the final seconds of a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. It helped his team win 16-10!

Before the 2023 season, the Dolphins decided not to extend his contract. This meant he would become a free agent later.

Time with the Dallas Cowboys

On August 29, 2023, the Dolphins traded Noah to the Dallas Cowboys. In his very first game with the Cowboys, he scored a touchdown! He returned a blocked field goal 58 yards. This play helped the Cowboys win 40-0 against the New York Giants. He played in 5 games for the Cowboys, mostly on special teams.

Joining the Washington Commanders

Noah Igbinoghene signed with the Washington Commanders on March 18, 2024. Here, he reunited with coach Dan Quinn, who was his defensive coordinator with the Cowboys. When a starting cornerback got injured, Noah stepped up. He took over the starting nickelback position. He kept this starting role even after the injured player returned.