Patrick C. Chukwurah (born March 1,
1979 in Nigeria
) is an
American football defensive end for the Florida Tuskers of the United Football League.
He was drafted by the
Minnesota
Vikings in the fifth round of the
2001 NFL Draft. He played
college football at
Wyoming.
Chukwurah has also been a member of the
Houston Texans,
Denver Broncos and
Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
College career
Chukwurah went to the University of Wyoming. He was a three year
starter there and played in 45 career games while racking up 245
tackles and 27 sacks. As a senior, he earned first team
All-Mountain West Conference honors, recording 100 tackles and
seven sacks. He was UW's defensive captain his senior year. As a
junior, he was a second team all-conference selection and earned
defensive MVP honors. He ranks 11th on UW's tackles list.
Professional career
Minnesota Vikings
He was drafted in the 5th round with the 26th pick of the 2001 NFL
draft by the
Minnesota Vikings. On
June 18, he signed a 3-year contract with the Minnesota Vikings.
During the 2001 season, he played in all 16 games, starting 3 of
them, while recording 9 tackles and 2 1/2 sacks. He made his NFL
debut on September 9, 2001 against the
Carolina Panthers, recording 4 tackles and
becoming the first Viking rookie linebacker to start a game since
Dwayne Rudd did it in 1997 and the first
to start the opener since
Roy Winston
did it back in 1962. On November 19, he started his second career
game against the
New York Giants
recording his first career sack, sacking quarterback
Kerry Collins for a 14 yard loss. That game,
he started at defensive end. On December 16, Chukwurah recorded a
career high 1 1/2 sacks against the Detroit Lions. In 2002, Patrick
Chukwurah played in 11 games, starting two of them. He recorded a
career high 14 tackles, recording 12 of them on special teams. At
the
Chicago Bears on September 8,
2002, he recorded 4 tackles, and on October 13, he recorded a
career high 7 tackles against the
Detroit
Lions. On February 27, 2003, he was cut by the Vikings.
Houston Texans
On March 1, 2003, Chukwurah was acquired from waivers. During the
training camp prior to the 2003 season, Patrick Chukwurah tried out
for the
Houston Texans, however got
cut at the final cutdown on September 1.
Denver Broncos
On December 24, 2003, he signed with the Denver Broncos, but was
only on the 53-man roster for 2 days, and was released on December
26. He re-signed with the Broncos on January 13, 2004 after the
season ended. During the 2004 season, he played in 14 games
recording only 4 tackles appearing primarily as a defensive end on
passing downs. In 2005, he once again played in 14 games recording
9 tackles, two on defence and seven on special teams. He played in
both postseason games that year, recording a special teams tackle
against the
New England
Patriots on January 14, and played against the
Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC
Championship game on January 22. On April 3, 2006, he re-signed
with the Denver Broncos. During the 2006 season, Chukwurah
converted to denfensive end. He made his first career start at
defensive end in week 1 against the St. Louis Rams.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
On March 2, 2007, the first day of free agency, the Bucs signed
Chukwurah to a five-year, $5.5 million contract. They released him
after only one season with the Bucs on June 19, 2008. He later
resigned with them on August 27, 2008, but was released again on
August 30. He was resigned to the Bucs roster on December 17,
2008.
Florida Tuskers
Chukwurah was signed by the
Florida
Tuskers of the
United
Football League on August 25, 2009.
Career statistics
References
External links
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