Yannick Ngakoue

Ngakoue, 29, was released by Baltimore on Nov. 7, 2024. The 6-foot-3, 250-pounder, is a veteran of eight NFL seasons with Jacksonville (2016-19), Minnesota (2020), Baltimore (2020 and 2024), Las Vegas (2021), Indianapolis (2022) and Chicago (2023). He originally entered the NFL as a third-round draft pick (69^th overall) of Jacksonville out of Maryland. Ngakoue has played in 128 NFL games with 115 starts and has 229 total tackles, 70½ sacks, 2 interceptions with one returned for a touchdown, 13 passes defensed and 2 forced fumbles. He was signed by Baltimore to the practice squad on Oct. 5, 2024, and was elevated to the active roster for two games. He was then signed to the 53-man roster on Oct. 15 and played in three more games before being released.

CAREER TRANSACTIONS

Ngakoue, 29, was released by Baltimore on Nov. 7, 2024. The 6-foot-3, 250-pounder, is a veteran of eight NFL seasons with Jacksonville (2016-19), Minnesota (2020), Baltimore (2020 and 2024), Las Vegas (2021), Indianapolis (2022) and Chicago (2023). He originally entered the NFL as a third-round draft pick (69^th overall) of Jacksonville out of Maryland. Ngakoue has played in 128 NFL games with 115 starts and has 229 total tackles, 70½ sacks, 2 interceptions with one returned for a touchdown, 13 passes defensed and 2 forced fumbles. He was signed by Baltimore to the practice squad on Oct. 5, 2024, and was elevated to the active roster for two games. He was then signed to the 53-man roster on Oct. 15 and played in three more games before being released.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• Pro Bowl selection (2017).
• In his first six seasons, he recorded 173 tackles (145 solo), 57.0 tackles for loss, 55.5 sacks, 13 passes defensed, two interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), 20 forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries in 95 games (87 starts.)
• Since 2016, he is tied for fourth in the NFL in forced fumbles.
• Ranks second in Jaguars franchise history in career sacks (37.5)

SEASONAL REVIEWS

2024 (3/0 - NEW ENGLAND)

• Claimed off waivers from Baltimore and awarded to the New England Patriots on November 8, 2024.
• Inactive at Chicago (11/10).
• Made his debut as a Patriot vs. the L.A. Rams (11/17) in the first quarter.
• Recorded 2 total tackles vs. Indianapolis (12/1).

2024 (5/0 - Baltimore)

• Signed by Baltimore to the practice squad on Sept. 24.
• Elevated to the active roster for 2 straight weeks with Baltimore; at Cincinnati (10/6), and vs. Washington (10/13).
• Registered a sack of QB Jayden Daniels for a 3-yard loss in the fourth quarter vs Washington (10/13) as a reserve linebacker.
• Signed to the 53-man roster from the practice squad on Oct. 15.
• Credited a ½ sack of QB Jameis Winston for a 1-yard loss at Cleveland (10/27).

2023 (13/13- chicago)

• Started all 13 games he played with Chicago, totaling 22 tackles (13 solo), 4 sacks, and 7 quarterback hits.
• Sacked QB Jordan Love for an 8 yard loss in the second quarter vs. Green Bay (9/10).
• Started at defensive end at Washington (10/5), recording a sack of QB Sam Howell for a 4-yard loss in the fourth quarter.
• Recorded a sack in his second straight game vs. Miami (9/17). Sacked QB Tua Tagovailoa in the third quarter for a loss of 5 yards.
• Registered a sack of QB Bryce Young for a 5-yard loss in the third quarter vs. Carolina (11/9).
• In week 14, sacked QB Jared Goff for a 8-yard loss in the first quarter vs. Detroit (12/10).

2022 (15/15- indianapolis)

• Played in 15 games with Indianapolis, starting in all of them. Recorded 29 total tackles (18 solo), 9.5 sacks, 16 quarterback hits, and 1 forced fumble.
• Added 2 quarterback hits vs. Kansas City (9/25). Sacked QB Patrick Mahomes for a 5-yard loss in the second quarter.
• Totaled 1.5 sacks at Denver (10/6), including a 4-yard sack of QB Russell Wilson in the first quarter, and a 7-yard sack with DE Dayo Odeyingbo in the fourth quarter.
• Registered a 9-yard sack of QB Ryan Tannehill in the second quarter at Tennessee (10/23).
• Credited with ½ a sack vs. Washington (10/30), splitting the 12-yard sack with DE Ifeadi Odenigbo in the third quarter.
• Split a ½ sack with DT DeForest Buckner at New England (11/6), sacking QB Mac Jones for a 3-yard loss in the first quarter.
• Recorded a ½ sack with DT DeForest Buckner at Las Vegas (11/13), sacking QB Derek Carr for a 7-yard loss in the fourth quarter.
• Totaled 1.5 sacks vs. Philadelphia (11/20), including a 6-yard ½ sack of QB Jalen Hurts with LB Zaire Franklin in the first quarter. Forced a fumble on a 9-yard sack of QB Hurts in the third quarter.
• Registered 2 total sacks vs. Pittsburgh (11/28), totaling 17 yards lost on offense.
• Recorded a sack of QB Kirk Cousins for a 7-yard loss in the third quarter at Minnesota (12/17).

2021 (17/17, 1/1 - LAS VEGAS)

• Signed by Las Vegas as an unrestricted free agent on March 17, 2021.
• Continued his streak of at least 8.0 sacks in six-consecutive seasons, joining Aaron Donald (eight seasons) and Von Miller (seven seasons) as the only NFL players to have an active streak of 8.0-plus sack seasons.
• Named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week in Week 7 for his performance vs. Philadelphia (10/24), recording 4 tackles (2 solo), 2 sacks, 2 quarterback hits, 2 tackles for loss and 2 passes defense in a 33-22 victory.
• Started in the Wild Card round at Cincinnati (1/15), recording 1 assisted tackle.

2020 (9/3, 2/1 - baltimore)

• Became one of four players since 1982 to start his career with five-consecutive seasons with at least 8.0 sacks.
• Acquired by the Baltimore Ravens in a trade with Minnesota on Oct. 22.
• Started three of the nine games he played with Baltimore, adding 11 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, 3 quarterback hits 1 pass defensed and 2 forced fumbles.
• Started one of two playoff games played.

2020 (6/5 - MINNESOTA)

• Acquired by the Minnesota Vikings in a trade with Jacksonville on Aug. 31, 2020.
• Played in six games with Minnesota, starting five. Finished with 12 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 5.0 sacks, 8 quarterback hits and 2 forced fumbles.

2019 (15/15 – JACKSONVILLE)

• Started all 15 games he appeared in and had a single-season career-highs in tackles (41) and solo tackles (36). Added 13.0 tackles for loss, 8.0 sacks, 6 passes defensed, 1 interception returned for touchdown, 4 forced fumbles and 1 fumble recovery.
• Scored his first touchdown when he returned an interception 23 yards in a 27-17 win at Cincinnati on Oct. 20.
• Finished his career in Jacksonville ranked second in franchise history in sacks with 37.5

2018 (16/16 – JACKSONVILLE)

• Started all 16 games for the second-straight season and recorded 28 tackles (25 solo), 13.0 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks and 1 pass defensed.

2017 (16/16, 3/3 – JACKSONVILLE)

• Named to his first-career Pro Bowl after leading the league with 6 forced fumbles. In addition, finished with 30 tackles (24 solo), 10.0 tackles for loss, a single-season career-high 12.0 sacks and 2 fumble recoveries.
• Recorded 2.5 sacks twice: at Indianapolis (10/22) and at Cleveland (11/19).
• Had 7 quarterback hits in a 27-0 win at Indianapolis (10/22).
• Started in all three playoff games: Wild Card vs. Buffalo (1/7/18), Divisional Round at Pittsburgh (1/14/18) and the AFC Championship at New England (1/21). Totaled 4 tackles, 1 sack, 3 quarterback hits, 1 forced fumble and 1 pass defensed.

2016 (16/15 – Jacksonville)

• Named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team after playing in all 16 games, starting 15. Finished with 23 tackles (20 solo), 6.0 tackles for loss, 8.0 sacks, 2 passes defensed, 1 interception and 4 forced fumbles.
• Recorded his first-career NFL sack in Week 2 at San Diego (9/18) when he took down QB Philip Rivers for a 1-yard loss.
• Forced a fumble in three-straight weeks: at San Diego (9/18), vs. Baltimore (9/25) and vs. Indianapolis (10/2).
• Secured his first-career interception vs. Indianapolis (10/2).

COLLEGE

• Played in 38 games with 24 starts at Maryland (2013-15) and totaled 85 tackles (57 solo), 33.0 tackles for loss, 21.5 sacks, 4 passes defensed, 1 interception and 3 forced fumbles. Finished tied for fourth on Maryland's all-time list for sacks.
• Named a First Team All-Big Ten selection in 2015 when he set a single-season school record for sacks with 13.5 and a single-season career-high of 15.0 tackles for loss.

PERSONAL

• Named the 2012 D.C. Gatorade Player of the Year.
• Growing up, his father would rent the family house to immigrants from Africa, and there was often little to no food and brutal living conditions. He witnessed his father abuse his mother as a young child and vowed to make it to the NFL and take care of his mom, which he accomplished.