FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - Veteran LB Rob Ninkovich announced his retirement today. A two-time co-captain, Ninkovich spent the last eight seasons with the Patriots and was a part of two Super Bowl Championship teams.
Ninkovich joined the Patriots on Aug. 2, 2009, and after playing mainly on special teams in 2009, he became a regular in the starting lineup, seeing action as a defensive lineman and a linebacker. Ninkovich started all 16 games for five straight seasons from 2011 through 2015. He became the first Patriots player since Hall of Famer Andre Tippett to record at least eight sacks in three straight seasons (2012-14). Ninkovich's 14 fumble recoveries since 2010 are the most in the NFL over that span. His best statistical season was in 2013 when he started all 16 games and registered a career-high 93 total tackles, eight sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
Take a look back at Rob Ninkovich's career with the Patriots.
New England Patriots outside linebacker Rob Ninkovich (50) celebrates following the NFL AFC Championship football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. The Patriots defeated the Steelers 36-17 to advance to Super Bowl LI. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) gets strip sacked by New England Patriots defensive end Trey Flowers (98) and New England Patriots outside linebacker Rob Ninkovich (50) during the 2016 NFL week 11 regular season football game against the New England Patriots on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016 in Santa Clara, Calif. The Patriots won the game 30-17. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
New England Patriots linebacker Rob Ninkovich (50) defends during an NFL game against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016, in Santa Clara, Ca. The Patriots won the game, 30-17. (Greg Trott via AP)
New England Patriots linebacker Rob Ninkovich (50) defends during an NFL game against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016, in Santa Clara, Ca. The Patriots won the game, 30-17. (Greg Trott via AP)
New England Patriots linebacker Rob Ninkovich (50) defends during an NFL game against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016, in Denver, Colo. The Patriots won the game, 16-3. (Greg Trott via AP)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) is pursued by New England Patriots outside linebacker Rob Ninkovich (50) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots linebacker Rob Ninkovich (50) lines up in a three-point stance during an NFL Super Bowl 51 football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017, in Houston, TX. The Patriots defeated the Falcons 34-28 in overtime. (Kevin Terrell via AP)
New England Patriots outside linebacker Rob Ninkovich (50) in action during an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. Seattle won 31-24. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
New England Patriots' Rob Ninkovich (50) tackles Buffalo Bills' Jerome Felton (42) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 30, 2016, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Bill Wippert)
New England Patriots defensive lineman Rob Ninkovich (50) has a quiet moment before the divisional playoff game against the Houston Texans Saturday January 14, 2017 in Foxboro, Mass. (Damian Strohmeyer via AP)
New England Patriots linebacker Rob Ninkovich (50) rushes the passer in action against the New York Jets Sunday November 27, 2016 in East Rutherford, N.J. (Damian Strohmeyer via AP)
New England Patriots defensive end Rob Ninkovich (50) is seen during an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016 in Cleveland. New England won 33-13. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
New England Patriots linebacker Rob Ninkovich (50) pursues Buffalo Bills running back Mike Gillislee (35) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 30, 2016, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jarvis Landry (14) runs with the ball after a catch in front of New England Patriots outside linebacker Rob Ninkovich (50) during an NFL football game on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017, in Miami Gardens, Fla. New England won 35-14. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
New England Patriots linebacker Rob Ninkovich (50) rushes the passer in action against the Atlanta Falcons Sunday February 5, 2017 in Houston, Texas, site of Super Bowl LI. (Damian Strohmeyer via AP)
New England Patriots outside linebacker Rob Ninkovich (50) in action during to an NFL AFC divisional playoff football game against the Houston Texans on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. New England won 34-16. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
New England Patriots outside linebacker Rob Ninkovich (50) rushes the quarterback during an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016, in Santa Clara, Calif. The Patriots defeated the 49ers, 30-17. (Ryan Kang via AP)
New England Patriots outside linebacker Rob Ninkovich before an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. Sunday, oct. 16, 2016. (Winslow Townson/AP Images for Panini)
New England Patriots outside linebacker Rob Ninkovich before an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016. (Winslow Townson/AP Images for Panini)
New England Patriots outside linebacker Rob Ninkovich during an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016. (Winslow Townson/AP Images for Panini)
New England Patriots linebacker Rob Ninkovich (#50) celebrates on the field after the New England Patriots defeated the Atlanta Falcons during Super Bowl LI held at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas on February 5, 2017. (Photo by Samuel Rigelhaupt) * Please Use Credit from Credit Field*(Sipa via AP Images)
New England Patriots Rob Ninkovich (50) recovers the fumble during the AFC championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass.
(Tom DiPace via AP)
New England Patriots linebacker Rob Ninkovich (50) looks for a loose ball in the first quarter during the NFL football Super Bowl LI game Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017 in Houston. The play was called back and the Patriots defeated the Atlanta Falcons 34 - 28 in overtime. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)
Houston Texans quarterback Brock Osweiler (17) is tackled for a loss by New England Patriots linebacker Rob Ninkovich (50) in divisional playoff action Saturday January 14, 2017 in Foxboro, Mass. (Damian Strohmeyer via AP)
New England Patriots outside linebacker Rob Ninkovich (50) in action during to an NFL AFC divisional playoff football game against the Houston Texans on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. New England won 34-16. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
New England Patriots Rob Ninkovich (50) salutes the Patriots fans after the AFC championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass.
(Tom DiPace via AP)
Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor (5) breaks a tackle by New England Patriots' Rob Ninkovich (50) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 30, 2016, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Ninkovich, 33, originally entered the NFL as a fifth-round draft choice of the New Orleans Saints in 2006 out of Purdue. His journey to the Patriots was not easy. He was waived four times and split his time with the Saints and Miami Dolphins from 2006 to 2008 and saw action in just eight NFL games. Ninkovich spent the 2009 offseason trying to make the New Orleans team as a long snapper.
Overall, Ninkovich played in 131 NFL games with 101 starts and recorded 425 total tackles, 46 sacks, five interceptions, including one he returned for a touchdown, 22 passes defensed, 10 forced fumbles, 14 fumble recoveries and 28 special teams tackles. In addition, he played in 17 postseason games with 16 starts and finished with 64 total tackles, six sacks, one interception, seven passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
In a testament to his versatility of moving between a defensive end and linebacker, Ninkovich was originally recruited to Purdue as a tight end. He caught a 1-yard touchdown pass former NFL QB Curtis Painter in a win against Illinois and a 2-yard touchdown pass from QB Kyle Orton.
