Eric Ogbogu

Last updated
Eric Ogbogu
No. 99, 92, 90
Position: Defensive end / Outside linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1975-07-18) July 18, 1975 (age 47)
Irvington, New York, U.S.
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:270 lb (122 kg)
Career information
High school: White Plains (NY) Archbishop Stepinac
College: Maryland
NFL Draft: 1998  / Round: 6 / Pick: 163
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played:90
Tackles:64
Sacks:9.0
Fumble recoveries:4
Player stats at NFL.com  ·  PFR

Eric O. Ogbogu (born July 18, 1975) is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) for the New York Jets, Cincinnati Bengals, and Dallas Cowboys. He previously played college football at the University of Maryland.

Contents

Early years

Ogbogu attended Archbishop Stepinac High School. He didn't start practicing football until his freshman year in high school, because he suffered from Blount's disease as a child.

He played fullback, linebacker and sometimes tight end. As a senior, he rushed for 1,803 yards and was one of the top ranked running backs in the state, while averaging 8 tackles per game as a linebacker. He also lettered in basketball.

College career

Ogbogu accepted a football a scholarship from the University of Maryland. He played 5 games at tight end as a freshman. As a sophomore, he almost quit school after his father was killed in a carjacking in his native Nigeria. [1] He was moved to defensive end that season, recording 45 tackles (12 for losses) and led the team with 6 sacks. [2]

As a junior, he posted 64 tackles and led the team with 7 sacks. As a senior, he was limited with a sprained ankle and had 43 tackles (eighth on the team), 4 sacks, 3 forced fumbles and 3 fumble recoveries.

He finished ranked fifth in school history in career sacks (18½). [3] He was named the MVP for the winning South team in the 1998 Hula Bowl after registering 4 sacks. [4]

Professional career

New York Jets

Ogbogu was selected by the New York Jets in the sixth round (163rd overall) of the 1998 NFL Draft. [5] [6] As a rookie, he had 8 tackles in 12 games. In 1999, he made 12 tackles, one sack, one pass defensed and 2 fumble recoveries in 14 games (2 inactive).

In 2000, he entered training camp as the starter at right defensive end, but suffered a shoulder injury before the first preseason game. He was waived/injured on August 5 and was placed on the injured reserve list on August 7. [7] In 2001, he had 24 tackles and one fumble recovery.

Cincinnati Bengals

On April 29, 2002, he was signed as a free agent by the Cincinnati Bengals. [8] He registered 4 tackles in 12 games (4 inactive). He wasn't re-signed after the season.

Dallas Cowboys

On August 11, 2003, he signed with the Dallas Cowboys as a free agent, reuniting with Bill Parcells, who coached him with the New York Jets. He collected 30 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 10 quarterback pressures and 3 forced fumbles.

Ogbogu was mostly a backup at defensive end and outside linebacker, but had a memorable game on Thanksgiving Day in 2004 against the Chicago Bears, racking up 3½ sacks, second most in franchise history (Bob Lilly and Jim Jeffcoat are first with five sacks). He finished 11 tackles, 4.5 sacks (third on the team), 6 quarterback pressures, one pass defensed and one fumble recovery. In 2005, he was declared inactive in 10 games, had 2 quarterback pressures and wasn't re-signed at the end of the season.

Personal life

Ogbogu is also the official star and spokesperson of the Under Armour brand, and is named "Big E" in the Under Armour commercials, after being hired by founder and former Maryland teammate Kevin Plank. [9] His saying, "We must protect this house!" has been made famous from these advertisements. He was featured as "Big E" on EA Sports Fight Night Round 3 . He also starred in the movie The Game Plan as the defensive end Drake.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Derrick Johnson</span> American football player (born 1982)

Derrick O’Hara Johnson is a former American football linebacker. He played college football at the University of Texas at Austin, where he earned consensus All-American honors twice. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs with the 15th overall selection in first round the 2005 NFL Draft. In his 13 seasons with the Chiefs, he made four Pro Bowls. He also played 6 games for the Oakland Raiders.

Scott Allen Shanle is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the St. Louis Rams, Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints. He played college football at the University of Nebraska.

Michael Myers is a retired American football defensive tackle who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos and Cincinnati Bengals. He played college football at the University of Alabama.

Kevin Lamont Hardy is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Dallas Cowboys, and Cincinnati Bengals. He played college football for the Illinois Fighting Illini.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Akin Ayodele</span> American football player (born 1979)

Akinola James Ayodele is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins, and Buffalo Bills. He was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football at Purdue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manny Lawson</span> American football player (born 1984)

Manny Lawson is a former American football outside linebacker. He played college football at North Carolina State, and was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft. Lawson also played for the Cincinnati Bengals and Buffalo Bills.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darrin Smith</span> American football player (born 1970)

Darrin Andrew Smith is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, Seattle Seahawks and New Orleans Saints. He played college football at the University of Miami.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Randy Starks</span> American football player (born 1983)

Randolph Starks Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end for 12 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Maryland Terrapins. Starks was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the third round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He also played for the Miami Dolphins and Cleveland Browns.

Chad Everett Eaton is a former American football defensive tackle in the National Football League for the Cleveland Browns, New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks and Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at Washington State University.

Barron Winfred Wortham is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Houston Oilers / Tennessee Oilers / Tennessee Titans and Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at the University of Texas-El Paso.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nick Hayden</span> American football player (born 1986)

Nick Hayden is a former American football defensive tackle in the National Football League for the Carolina Panthers, Cincinnati Bengals and Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at the University of Wisconsin and was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dont'a Hightower</span> American football player (born 1990)

Qualin Dont'a Hightower is an American former football linebacker who played in the National Football League (NFL) for nine seasons with the New England Patriots. He played college football at the University of Alabama, receiving consensus All-American honors and winning two BCS National Championships. Hightower was selected in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the Patriots, where he was named to two Pro Bowls and won three Super Bowl titles.

Victor Allen Butler is a former American football outside linebacker. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at Oregon State University.

Martez Jerome Wilson is a former American football outside linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the New Orleans Saints, Oakland Raiders and Dallas Cowboys. He also was a member of the Toronto Argonauts in the Canadian Football League. He played college football at the University of Illinois.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Courtney Upshaw</span> American football player (born 1989)

Courtney Tremaine Upshaw is a former American football defensive end. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft. He played college football at Alabama.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Preston Brown (linebacker)</span> American football player (born 1992)

Michael Preston Brown is a former American football linebacker. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the third round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He played college football at Louisville.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">C. J. Mosley (linebacker)</span> American football player (born 1992)

Clint Mosley Jr. is an American football linebacker for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Alabama, and was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft.

Ryan Davis Sr. is a former American football defensive end. He was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent in 2012. He played college football at Bethune-Cookman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tarell Basham</span> American football player (born 1994)

Tarell Basham is an American football defensive end for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Ohio, and was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Milano</span> American football player (born 1994)

Matthew Vincent Milano is an American football linebacker for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Boston College.

References

  1. ↑ "Tragedy, Homecoming Inspire Jet Draft Pick". New York Daily News . 23 April 1998. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
  2. ↑ "Terrapins' Ogbogu is taken by Jets". 20 April 1998. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
  3. ↑ "Eric Ogbogu - Archbishop Stepinac High School Graduate". Creators Media Group, Inc. Retrieved May 27, 2018.[ dead YouTube link ]
  4. ↑ "Defense key for South in Hula Bowl" . Retrieved March 5, 2018.
  5. ↑ "1998 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  6. ↑ Eskenazi, Gerald (25 August 1998). "A Jets Rookie Gets Sacks and Criticism". The New York Times. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
  7. ↑ Battista, Judy (8 August 2000). "As the Defense Takes Heat, Jones Takes No Prisoners". The New York Times. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
  8. ↑ "Bengals sign Ogbogu". Chicago Tribune . 13 December 2003. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Under Armour gets serious" . Retrieved March 5, 2018.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.