Christian Kirksey

Christian Paul Kirksey, known as one of the NFL’s most prominent linebackers, has had an extensive career in professional football. Born on August 31, 1992, Kirksey first made a name for himself playing football for Hazelwood East High School in his home state of Missouri. Under Coach Mike Jones, he became a pivotal member of the team and contributed significantly to their victory in the state championship.

While attending Hazelwood East, Kirksey went beyond football and showcased his athleticism on the track and field team as well. He played a significant role in leading his team to another state championship victory and earned individual recognition with a fourth-place placement in the long jump and a bronze in the triple jump at the 2010 Suburban North Conference Championship.

Kirksey’s talent in football did not go unnoticed, and he was rated as a three-star recruit by Rivals.com. His promising high school football career paved the way for a spot on the Iowa Hawkeyes lineup at the University of Iowa from 2010 to 2013, where he was a consistent performer and was named a team captain in his junior year. He played key roles in most of the games, proving his worth by registering several tackles, sacks, interceptions, forced fumbles, and even scoring touchdowns.

Kirksey’s stellar performance in college and his impressive athleticism caught the eyes of the National Football League. At the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana, Kirksey scored well on the broad jump, vertical jump, and bench press categories. Following the combine, he took part in Iowa’s pro day and continued to dazzle scouts and representatives of 28 NFL teams. Consequently, he was ranked as the 13th best outside linebacker at the NFLDraftScout.com.

Subsequently, in the 2014 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns selected Kirksey in the third round, making him the ninth linebacker selected that year. He signed a four-year contract with the team and went on to compete against veteran players for the starting spot in the lineup.

Kirksey’s professional career took off with the Cleveland Browns, where he proved himself to be a crucial player. Throughout his tenure with the Browns, he registered a high number of tackles, sacks, pass defenses, and forced fumbles, making him a cornerstone of their defense. He also periodically led the team in tackles and showed his leadership by serving as the team captain.

In 2017, the Browns showed their faith in Kirksey by extending his contract for four years, amounting to $38 million, with an impressive $20 million guaranteed. However, ongoing injuries began to hinder his progress, leading to his eventual exit from the Browns after six fruitful seasons.

Kirksey continued his professional career with stints at the Green Bay Packers and Houston Texans. Despite a series of injuries, he contributed significantly to both teams as he recorded several tackles and proved himself to be a valuable asset.

In 2022, after a brief stay with the Texans and a short stint on the practice squad of the Buffalo Bills, Kirksey decided to hang up his boots to retire from professional football. Later, Kirksey chose to sign a one-day contract with the Cleveland Browns to retire as a player of the team he started his professional career with.

Despite retiring, Kirksey’s influence continued to ripple through the sport. His inadvertent contribution to the virtual world of NFL as the first-ever ‘Foottall’ player in EA Sports’ Madden NFL 15 added a quirky and unforgettable footnote to his legacy. The glitch, which resulted in his in-game avatar shrinking to 1 foot 2 inches, was embraced by fans and developers alike, featuring in a trailer for the game.