Brian Orakpo

Early years

Orakpo was born in Houston, Texas to parents Gloria and Arthur Orakpo, who are immigrants from Nigeria. His siblings are Jennifer (born 1988) and Michael (born February 5, 1991). He played high school football at Lamar High School in Houston, Texas. He played defensive end and tight end and was a two-time First-team all-district selection for the Texans football team. He also played basketball from his freshman to junior years.

College career

Orakpo attended the University of Texas, where he played for coach Mack Brown's Texas Longhorns football team from 2004 to 2008. He was redshirted as a freshman in 2004, but in 2005 he played in all 13 games and started in one. He made an immediate impact for the Longhorns, helping them finish 10th in the nation at defense, recording 27 Tackles, a half sack, a forced fumble and recovered fumble. His play earned him Defensive Freshman of the Year and first-team Freshman All-America by The Sporting News.

As a sophomore in 2006, he played all 13 games, recording 26 tackles and 4.5 sacks and was named one of the Lowe's Most Improved Defensive Players. As a junior in 2007 he played in nine games and missed four due to right knee injury suffered against Arkansas State. He was the Defensive MVP of the 2007 Holiday Bowl after recording six tackles and two sacks during the game. He finished the season with 37 tackles and 5.5 sacks.

As a senior in 2008, Orakpo recorded 40 tackles and 11 sacks and was the Associated Press Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. He also was the winner of the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, given to the best defensive player, the Ted Hendricks Award, given to the top defensive end, The Bill Willis Trophy given to the top collegiate defensive lineman, and the Lombardi Award, given to the best lineman or linebacker. He was recognized as a unanimous first-team All-American, after receiving first-team honors from the Associated Press, American Football Coaches Association, Football Writers Association of America, The Sporting News, and the Walter Camp Football Foundation. He was the first Texas Longhorn defensive end to earn All-American honors since Tony Brackens in 1995.

In his college career, Orakpo recorded 132 tackles, 22 sacks, 38 tackles for loss, 62 pressures, six passes broken up, six forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery.

NFL Combine

Orakpo arrived at the 2009 NFL Combine with much anticipation following him with his well-known status as a "workout warrior". He put up 31 repetitions of 225 pounds in the bench press, which was second best for a defensive end and seventh best amongst all defensive linemen. His 39.5-inch vertical jump was second for all defensive lineman and showed his great speed and acceleration while recording a 4.63 40-yard dash time. He bench pressed 515 pounds, squatted 600 pounds, and power cleaned 380 pounds.

2009 season

Orakpo was drafted by the Washington Redskins 13th overall in the 2009 NFL Draft. On July 31, he signed a five-year deal worth $20 million, which includes $12.1 million guaranteed. On December 13, 2009 against the Oakland Raiders, Orakpo tied a Redskins record with four sacks in a game and was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week.

He was selected to the 2009 Pro Bowl as a reserve, one of only 6 rookies to do so, along with Chicago Bears Return Specialist Johnny Knox, Minnesota Vikings Return Specialist Percy Harvin, and Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews out of the NFC, with Houston Texans LB Brian Cushing and Buffalo Bills S Jairus Byrd from the AFC, all of which were reserve or replacement players. Orakpo became the first rookie Redskin to make the Pro Bowl since RB/KR Tony Green in 1978.

2010 season

In 2010, Orakpo had 56 tackles, 8.5 sacks, and a forced fumble. He made his second Pro Bowl replacing Clay Matthews.

2011 season

In Week 4 of the 2011 season against the St. Louis Rams, Orakpo was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week. He was credited with 2.5 sacks, five tackles (two for a loss), three quarterback hits and a forced fumble. In Week 17 against the Philadelphia Eagles, Orakpo suffered an injury to his left shoulder and pectoral muscle after sacking Michael Vick in the second quarter. He didn't play for the rest of the game. On January 10, 2012, it was confirmed that Orakpo had surgery on his shoulder. Orakpo was chosen as an alternate for the 2012 Pro Bowl along with teammates, London Fletcher and Lorenzo Alexander.

2012 season

Orakpo tore his left pectoral muscle again in Week 2 against the St. Louis Rams. Head coach Mike Shanahan confirmed the next day that he would have surgery and miss the remainder of the season to be placed on injured reserve.

2013 season

Orakpo recorded his first career interception and returned it 29 yards for his first career touchdown in the 45-41 Week 7 win against the Chicago Bears. Originally an alternate, Orakpo would replace Ahmad Brooks in the 2014 Pro Bowl.

2014 season

Set to become a free agent during the 2014 offseason, it was announced on March 3, 2014, that the Redskins had placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Orakpo. This would allow the Redskins to match any offer by other teams that could have attempted to sign him. On March 27, he signed his one-year franchise tender. On October 19, 2014 Orakpo tore his pectoral muscle against the Tennessee Titans and was ruled out for the season.

2015 season

On March 13, 2015, Orakpo signed a four-year contract worth up to $32 million with the Tennessee Titans. He was named a defensive captain for the Titans on October 21.

2016 season

On December 20, 2016, Orakpo was named to the 2017 Pro Bowl roster. He was also ranked 78th on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2017.

Personal life

Among Orakpo's endorsement contracts included one he signed in August 2011 with Geico, and he has appeared in several commercials with one of that company's "caveman" spokespeople. While with the Redskins, Orakpo also appeared in several commercials for Eastern Motors, a D.C. area car dealership.