#165 - Haloti Ngata - Super Bowl Champion & One of the Greatest Players Over the Past 15 Years Shares His Amazing Story In & Out of the NFL

Published: Sept. 30, 2019, 6:53 a.m.

Guest Bio:

Haloti Ngata is a popular American football player who started his professional
career with the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). He
entered the big league after the Ravens secured his services in the first round
with the 12th overall pick during the 2006 NFL Draft. The defensive tackle who
now plays for the Philadelphia Eagles is a five-time Pro Bowler. He played college
football for the University of Oregon where he earned a consensus first-team All-
American, the school’s first in 43 years.

He attended Highland High School in Salt Lake, Utah, where he actively played
football and rugby. During his senior and junior years, he led his team to the
state quarterfinals with over 200 tackles; made a 12-2 record and a berth in the
State Championship. With his outstanding high school record including the 2001
Utah Gatorade Player of the Year title and as first-team All-USA selection, Ngata
graduated a five-star recruit and #2 overall prospect in the nation.

Coming out of college football a year earlier with a reputation as a dangerous
special teams player, the Baltimore Ravens selected Ngata in the first round with
the 12th overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft. His five-year contract with the
franchise was worth $14 million.

Ngata debuted his pro career in all 16 games and finished with one sack, one
interception and 31 tackles. He doubled up his performance the following season
to record up to 63 tackles and three sacks.

He made his career-high records in the 2008 season, starting in all 16 games to
finish with 77 total tackles, two interceptions, one sack and 5 passes. The same
year, Ngata became a first time Pro Bowler as well as earned Second-Team All-
Pro honors.

Through the rest of the seasons (2009-2014), Ngata was selected to the 2010
All-Fundamentals Team by USA Football and the NFL Players Association; earned
the franchise tag on February 15, 2011, and signed a five-year retention contract
worth $61 million. He scored his first career regular-season touchdown on
September 11, 2011, in the match against the Pittsburgh Steelers, leading the
team to a 35-7 victory.

Also, his 10 solo tackles and 3 assisted tackles, helped the Ravens attain victory
in Super Bowl XLVII in 2012.