Derek Wolfe

Last updated

Derek Wolfe
Derek Wolfe 2018.JPG
Wolfe playing for the Denver Broncos in 2018
No. 95
Position: Defensive end
Personal information
Born: (1990-02-24) February 24, 1990 (age 34)
Lisbon, Ohio, U.S.
Height:6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight:285 lb (129 kg)
Career information
High school: Beaver Local (Lisbon)
College: Cincinnati (2008–2011)
NFL draft: 2012  / round: 2 / pick: 36
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles:316
Sacks:34.0
Forced fumbles:1
Fumble recoveries:3
Pass deflections:15
Interceptions:1
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Derek Wolfe (born February 24, 1990) is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Cincinnati Bearcats and was selected by the Denver Broncos in the second round of the 2012 NFL draft, playing his first eight years with them before signing with the Baltimore Ravens in 2020. Wolfe announced his retirement on July 28, 2022. [1]

Contents

Early life

Wolfe is from the rural town of Negley, Ohio, near the state line with Pennsylvania. [2] He attended Beaver Local High School in Lisbon, Ohio. [3]

Considered only a two-star recruit by Rivals.com , [4] Wolfe was a standout at Beaver Local High School and is the only player in the school's history ever to be drafted by the NFL.

College career

Wolfe played four years (2008–2011) at the University of Cincinnati. He accumulated 162 total tackles, 37 tackles for loss, and 19 sacks during his tenure with the Bearcats.

Wolfe was named Co-Big East Defensive Player of the Year as a senior. [5]

Wolfe was the first Beaver Local High School graduate to get drafted in the school's history, and the first Mahoning Valley native selected in the 2012 NFL draft.

Professional career

External videos
Nuvola apps kaboodle.svg Derek Wolfe’s NFL Combine Workout
Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 5+1⁄8 in
(1.96 m)		295 lb
(134 kg)		33+1⁄4 in
(0.84 m)		10+3⁄4 in
(0.27 m)		5.01 s1.69 s2.85 s4.44 s7.26 s33.5 in
(0.85 m)		9 ft 0 in
(2.74 m)		33 reps
All values from NFL Combine [6] [7]

Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos selected Wolfe in the second round (36th overall) of the 2012 NFL draft. Wolfe was the fourth defensive tackle drafted in 2012. [8]

External videos
Nuvola apps kaboodle.svg Broncos draft Derek Wolfe 36th overall

On May 21, 2012, the Denver Broncos signed Wolfe to a four-year, $5.20 million contract that includes $3.09 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $2.22 million. [9] [10]

Wolfe playing in the 2012 preseason Derek Wolfe.JPG
Wolfe playing in the 2012 preseason

In his first NFL game in the regular season against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Wolfe came out with 3 tackles and a sack for a loss of 9 yards.

Wolfe finished his rookie season with 40 tackles, six sacks, and two passes defended. His six sacks were third most on the team, behind Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil.

Wolfe had a tough sophomore season. In a preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks, Wolfe suffered a spinal cord injury and was carted off the field. That, along with two bouts of food poisoning, led to him losing 20 pounds, and he was therefore not as productive on the field. On November 29, Wolfe suffered a seizure on the bus ride to Denver International Airport for their Chiefs matchup in Kansas City and after the season, it was reported that the seizure was related to the spinal cord injury. Despite hopes that he might return to the field, he was eventually placed on Injured Reserve. Without Wolfe, the Broncos reached Super Bowl XLVIII where they lost to the Seattle Seahawks.

Wolfe playing for the Denver Broncos in 2014 Derek wolfe 2014.jpg
Wolfe playing for the Denver Broncos in 2014

The 2015 season was the best of Wolfe's career. After serving a four-game suspension for a PED violation, [11] Wolfe returned to establish himself as one of the best-run stuffers in the game, which eventually led to him being named AFC Defensive Player of the Week after the Broncos defense completely neutralized the undefeated Green Bay Packers offense in Week 8.

On January 15, 2016, Wolfe signed a four-year extension with the Broncos worth $36.7 million. [12]

On February 7, 2016, Wolfe was part of the Broncos team that won Super Bowl 50. In the game, the Broncos defeated the Carolina Panthers by a score of 24–10. [13] He had five tackles and 0.5 sacks in the Super Bowl. [14]

In 2016, Wolfe posted a career-high in tackles with 51, and in passes defended with 4.

The Broncos finished the 2016 season with a 9–7 record and missed the playoffs for the first time in Wolfe's career. [15]

On December 5, 2017, Wolfe was placed on injured reserve with a neck injury. [16]

On December 2, 2019, Wolfe was placed on injured reserve after suffering a dislocated elbow in Week 13. [17]

Baltimore Ravens

On March 31, 2020, Wolfe signed a one-year, $3 million deal with the Baltimore Ravens. [18] [19]

In Week 15 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Wolfe recorded his first sack as a Raven on Gardner Minshew and recovered a fumble lost by Minshew during the 40–14 win. [20]

Wolfe agreed to a three-year, $12 million contract extension with the Ravens on March 17, 2021. [21]

On October 2, 2021, Wolfe suffered a hip injury during practice and was placed on injured reserve. On October 26, 2021, Wolfe was designated to return to practice from injured reserve. [22] However, on November 15, 2021, head coach John Harbaugh said that Wolfe was expected to be out for the rest of the season. [23]

On June 14, 2022, Wolfe and the Ravens came to terms on an injury settlement leading to his release from the team. [24]

Comments concerning NFL protests

During the discussion concerning kneeling during the national anthem, Wolfe sent comments to ESPN stating the following: this is the "greatest country in the world and if you don't think we are the greatest country in the world and you reside here, then why do you stay?" [25]

Retirement

On July 29, 2022, Wolfe announced his retirement from professional football, signing a one-day contract with the Denver Broncos to retire as a member of the team. [26]

NFL career statistics

Legend
Team won the Super Bowl
BoldCareer high

Regular season

YearTeamGPGSTacklesInterceptionsFumbles
CombTotalAstSckSFTYPDefIntYdsAvgLngTDFF
2012 DEN 16164026146.0—2——————
2013 DEN 1111161154.0————————
2014 DEN 16163524111.5—1——————
2015 DEN 12124935145.5—1——————
2016 DEN 14145138135.5—4——————
2017 DEN 11113118132.0————————
2018 DEN 16164331121.5—6122.02——
2019 DEN 12123423117.0—1—————1
2020 BAL 14145119321.0—2——————
2021 BAL 00DNP
Total11010435022512534.0017122.0201

Playoffs

YearTeamGPGSTacklesInterceptionsFumbles
CombTotalAstSckSFTYPDefIntYdsAvgLngTDFF
2012 DEN 11321—————————
2014 DEN 11321—————————
2015 DEN 33151052.5—1——————
2020 BAL 227521.0————————
Total77281993.501000000

Source: [27]

Broadcasting career

On October 3, 2022, Wolfe joined 104.3 The Fan in Denver as a sports-talk radio host on the station's marquee show, "The Drive." [28]

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References

  1. ↑ "Derek Wolfe | Cincinnati, DT : 2012 NFL Draft Scout Player Profile". Nfldraftscout.com. September 21, 2006. Archived from the original on October 28, 2017. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  2. ↑ Lindsay H. Jones (April 28, 2012). "Derek Wolfe, Broncos' top draft pick, reaches his NFL dream". The Denver Post. Retrieved April 28, 2012.
  3. ↑ "Home - Beaver Local School District". www.Beaver.k12.oh.us. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
  4. ↑ "Ben Kenyon - Yahoo! Sports". Rivals.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on April 26, 2014. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  5. ↑ Patrick_the_Ruminator over 1 year ago 1 comment (December 9, 2011). "Isaiah Pead, Derek Wolfe, Khaseem Greene, Tavon Austin Named Big East Players Of The Year". Big East Coast Bias. Retrieved July 23, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. ↑ "Derek Wolfe Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  7. ↑ "2012 Draft Scout Derek Wolfe, Cincinnati NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  8. ↑ "2012 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Spotrac.com: Derek Wolfe contract". Spotrac.com. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
  10. ↑ McIntyre, Brian (May 21, 2012). "Denver Broncos, top pick Derek Wolfe agree to terms". NFL.com. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
  11. ↑ Sessler, Marc (July 24, 2015). "Broncos DE Derek Wolfe dealt four-game suspension". NFL.com. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
  12. ↑ Bergman, Jeremy (January 15, 2016). "Broncos sign Derek Wolfe to 4-year contract extension". NFL.com. Archived from the original on January 16, 2016. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
  13. ↑ "Super Bowl 50 - Denver Broncos vs. Carolina Panthers - February 7th, 2016". Pro-Football-Reference.com . Retrieved August 31, 2017.
  14. ↑ "Super Bowl 50 - National Football League Game Summary" (PDF). NFL.com. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  15. ↑ "2016 Denver Broncos Statistics & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
  16. ↑ DiLalla, Aric (December 5, 2017). "Broncos place Derek Wolfe on IR, make pair of practice squad moves". DenverBroncos.com.
  17. ↑ Legwold, Jeff (December 2, 2019). "Broncos' Derek Wolfe expected to miss rest of season". ESPN.com.
  18. ↑ Baca, Michael (March 28, 2020). "Derek Wolfe agrees to 1-year deal with Ravens". NFL.com .
  19. ↑ Mink, Ryan (March 29, 2020). "Ravens Officially Sign 'Perfect Fit' Derek Wolfe". BaltimoreRavens.com. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
  20. ↑ "Jacksonville Jaguars at Baltimore Ravens - December 20th, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  21. ↑ Mink, Ryan (March 16, 2021). "Derek Wolfe Returns to Baltimore on Three-Year Deal". BaltimoreRavens.com. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
  22. ↑ Mink, Ryan (October 2, 2021). "Le'Veon Bell Elevated From P-Squad, Derek Wolfe Placed on IR". BaltimoreRavens.com.
  23. ↑ Mink, Ryan (November 15, 2021). "Derek Wolfe Expected to Miss the Rest of the Season". BaltimoreRavens.com.
  24. ↑ Mink, Ryan (June 14, 2022). "Ravens Waive Derek Wolfe After Reaching Injury Settlement". Baltimore Ravens. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  25. ↑ Alper, Josh (September 24, 2017). "Derek Wolfe: If you don't think America is greatest country, why do you stay?". NBC Sports. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  26. ↑ Swanson, Ben (July 29, 2022). "Super Bowl 50 champion Derek Wolfe announces retirement from the NFL". DenverBroncos.com.
  27. ↑ "Derek Wolfe Stats". NFL. Retrieved January 16, 2015.
  28. ↑ "104.3 The Fan adds Broncos legend Derek Wolfe to "The Drive"". DenverFan.com. October 4, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
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