Bilal Nichols

Bilal Nichols's Biography

Bilal Nichols, with his birth date etched down on September 14, 1996, is an accomplished professional American football player. His area of expertise is playing as a defensive end and he is currently signed by the Arizona Cardinals, a well-renowned team under the National Football League (NFL).

From an early age, Nichols demonstrated exceptional skills on the football field, and following his passion for the sport, he embarked on a path that would lead him to the big stage. His journey professionally initiated as part of Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens, his college football team that nurtured and honed his skills further, preparing him for the challenges that lay ahead.

In 2017, Nichols’ league performance piqued the attention of many, due to his outstanding record. He managed to score 56 crucial tackles including 6.5 for loss, 5.5 sacks, along with an interception, four pass break-ups, and a blocked kick. His sterling performance on the field led him to be named the first-team All-Colonial Athletic Association for his season.

Being a standout performer in his college league, Nichols was selected by the Chicago Bears in the fifth round (145th overall) of the 2018 NFL draft. This wasn’t just a professional step for him, the Chicago Bears was a team whose head coach Matt Nagy, like Nichols, was a Delaware alumnus, and an assistant coach too Brian Ginn was associated with his university priorly.

Nichols’ first NFL start came in Week 10 of the 2018 season wherein he locked horns against the Detroit Lions. demonstrating an exemplary performance, he recorded his first full sack on seasoned quarterback Matthew Stafford paving his team’s victory by 34–22. In the season finale, Nichols managed a second sack on the Minnesota Vikings’ Kirk Cousins contributing to the Bears’ win of 24-10.

The 2019 season was a difficult one for Nichols as he suffered a broken hand in Week 2 against the Denver Broncos. Yet, his determined spirit saw him return, filling in for the injured Akiem Hicks at tackle. During the final game of the year against Minnesota, he showcased his excellent skills by recovering a fumble by Mike Boone on the Vikings’ opening drive.

The 2020 season was when Nichols took over the slot of nose tackle Eddie Goldman, who opted out due to COVID-19. During the Bears’ Week 6 face-off against the Carolina Panthers, Nichols successfully sacked Teddy Bridgewater at the Panthers’ one-yard line, paving the way for a touchdown by the Bears.

He made headlines in Week 13 against the Lions, wherein he not only recorded a sack on Matthew Stafford but also his first career interception. Nichols was the first Bears defensive tackle to intercept a pass since Tommie Harris in 2009, carving out another stellar graph in his success story.

Nichols, in recent years, penned a two-year, $11 million contract with the Las Vegas Raiders on March 17, 2022. As a Raider, he scored his first career touchdown during a week 16 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, by recovering a fumble by the star quarterback, Patrick Mahomes.

On March 14, 2024, Nichols underwent yet another transformation, signing a three-year contract with the Arizona Cardinals. With this promising team, he is writing the newest chapters in his already illustrious career. The football field continues to witness the exceptional talent and skill of Bilal Nichols, an epoch-making player, time after time.