Ebenezer Ekuban

Early years

Ekuban started playing football during his junior year of high school, as a tight end and defensive lineman for Bladensburg High School in Bladensburg, Maryland. He was an honor student and soon turned into a standout player, which led to a scholarship from the University of North Carolina.

As a tight end, he had only 6 receptions for 66 yards and one touchdown in his first two years. He was converted to defensive end between his sophomore and junior seasons. As a junior, he played in 10 games (2 starts). He became a full-time starter as a senior and went on to register 96 tackles, 7 sacks and a school record 23 tackles for loss. He received second-team All-American and All-ACC honors.

Dallas Cowboys

Although the Dallas Cowboys had invested their first draft choice in selecting a defensive end in 3 of the previous 5 drafts, they were still looking to replace the production of Charles Haley and Tony Tolbert. With only two years of total experience at defensive end, the team thought that Ekuban was coming into his own, so they traded to the Seattle Seahawks the 22nd (Lamar King) and 140th (Floyd Wedderburn) selections, in exchange for the 20th pick, in order to select him in the first round of the 1999 NFL draft.

The Cowboys wanted Ekuban to become the pass-rushing bookend to former Tar Heel teammate Greg Ellis. As a rookie, he played in 16 games (2 starts) and was named to the NFL All-Rookie team. In 2000, he remained in a reserve role and although he missed 4 games with a dislocated toe, he still led the team with 6.5 sacks and 2 forced fumbles.

In 2001, he was named the starter at right defensive end, but suffered a herniated disc in the season-opener and was placed on the injured reserve list. The next year in 15 starts, he registered 1 sack, 1 forced fumble and at the time career-highs of 43 tackles and 20 quarterback pressures. Although he played a key role in the defense, he was still one of just five starting defensive ends in the NFL with one or no sacks.

In 2003, he had a nice start with 1.5 sacks against the New York Giants, but found himself in new head coach Bill Parcells' dog house and was eventually deactivated in a December game against the Philadelphia Eagles. This led to a brief public confrontation between the two in the media.

At the end of the year, the Cowboys did not make an attempt to re-sign him, preferring to instead sign free agent defensive end Marcellus Wiley. Ekuban left as a first round disappointment, that came into the league as a speed rusher, but could only produce 13 sacks in 5 seasons.

Cleveland Browns

He signed with the Cleveland Browns as a free agent in 2004, reuniting with defensive coordinator Dave Campo. Playing alongside Gerard Warren and Courtney Brown, who were also considered first round disappointments, he went on to have a strong season with 39 tackles and a career-high 8 sacks in 16 games (11 starts).

In the 2005 offseason, new head coach Romeo Crennel changed the defensive line personnel, in order to implement a new 3-4 front. Ekuban was traded to the Denver Broncos, along with defensive tackle Michael Myers, in exchange for running back Reuben Droughns.

Denver Broncos

With the Broncos also signing free agent Courtney Brown, as well as obtaining Ekuban, Myers and Gerard Warren in separate trades with the Browns, the local media referred to the Broncos new defensive line as the "Browncos", since all four starters were also the Browns starters the year before, under new defensive line coach Andre Patterson. In 2005, he registered 27 tackles and 4 sacks in 16 games (4 starts). The next year, he had 63 tackles and 7 sacks in 15 starts.

Ekuban missed the entire 2007 season due to a right achilles tendon tear, suffered in a preseason game against his former team, the Dallas Cowboys.

In 2008, he was re-signed to a one-year $3.12 million contract, to compete with Jarvis Moss and John Engelberger for the left defensive end position. Ekuban was the last remaining "Brownco", as Warren was traded to the Oakland Raiders the year before and Brown and Myers were waived in previous years. He finished the season with 38 tackles and 5 sacks in 15 games (10 starts).

In the 2009 offseason, new head coach Josh McDaniels implemented a 3-4 defense and decided not to re-sign him, since he was not considered a good fit for the scheme.

Personal life

In the fall of 2010, Ekuban assisted the football staff at Regis Jesuit High School in Aurora, Colorado as an assistant coach. He also was hired by the Denver Broncos to serve in their player development department.

Trivia

Ekuban has been said to have "the perfect name for an evil wizard" by BioWare video game writer Brad Prince.