Adewale Ogunleye

Adewale Ogunleye

No. --     free agent
Defensive end
Personal information
Date of birth: August 9, 1977 (1977-08-09)
Place of birth: Brooklyn, New York
Height: 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	Weight: 260 lb (118 kg)
Career information
College: Indiana
Undrafted in 2000
Debuted in 2001 for the Miami Dolphins
Career history
Miami Dolphins (2000–2003) Chicago Bears (2004–2009) Houston Texans (2010)
Roster status: Active
Career highlights and awards
Second-team All-Big Ten (1998) Pro Bowl selection (2003) All-Pro selection (2003)
Career NFL statistics as of 2009
Tackles	387
Sacks	67
Forced fumbles	17
Stats at NFL.com

Adewale Ogunleye ( /ˌɑːdeɪˈwɑːleɪ oʊɡuːnˈleɪjeɪ/; born August 9, 1977 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American football defensive end who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2000. He played college football at Indiana.

Early years

Ogunleye is of Nigerian background, and his grandfather was the Yoruba king of the city-state of Emure in Ekiti State. Ogun in his surname means "The god of iron." His father is a social worker employed by the City of New York. He also currently has family "The Awopetu's" in Staten Island, New York.

Ogunleye played high school football at Tottenville High School in his hometown of Staten Island, New York City, New York. He was a classmate of Major League baseball All Star starting pitcher Jason Marquis and a teammate of three-time Super Bowl winning offensive guard Joe Andruzzi.

College career

Ogunleye played college football at Indiana University, where he was a four-year starter.

Professional career

Miami Dolphins

Ogunleye signed with Miami in 2000 as an undrafted free agent. He spent the first year of his NFL career on injured reserve due to a knee injury suffered during his senior year at Indiana

In 2002, Ogunleye had 57 tackles, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and 9.5 sacks (sixth in the AFC) for 62 yards in losses for the season. During the 2003 NFL season, while playing for the Miami Dolphins, he led the AFC with 15 sacks. Ogunleye was named to the Pro Bowl at the conclusion of the season.

Chicago Bears

He was traded by the Dolphins to Bears for wide receiver Marty Booker after holding out during the month of August before the 2004 NFL season.

During the 2005 NFL season, Ogunleye spearheaded the Bear's defensive line by recording ten sacks. Ogunleye helped the Bears reach Super Bowl XLI in Miami, where he began his career, during the 2006 season. As of 2008, Ogunleye has compiled 290 total tackles and 55.5 sacks in his career.

Ogunleye was named the "NFL's Defensive Player of the Day" for the 2008's first day after recording one safety and made a key fourth down stop against the Indianapolis Colts.[1]

On December 20, 2009 in a game against the Baltimore Ravens, Ogunleye fractured his left fibula. He was placed on season-ending injured reserve on December 26.

Houston Texans

On September 14, 2010 Ogunleye signed a one-year tender with the Houston Texans worth $800,000 after his release from the Chicago Bears as a result of Chicago signing Julius Peppers. As of Week 7 Ogunleye has registered just one tackle and 1 assist with no recorded sacks on the 2010 season. On Tuesday, November 2, 2010 Ogunleye was released by the Houston Texans. [2][3]

External links

• Adewale Ogunleye on Myspace
• Chicago Bears bio