Ifeadi Odenigbo

BIOGRAPHY

Ifeadikachukwu Anthony Odenigbo, commonly known as Ifeadi Odenigbo, was born on April 8, 1994. Son to Nigerian parents Linda and Thomas Odenigbo, he was the first member of the family to be born on American soil and raised in Bayonne, New Jersey. His early life revolved around athletics, and it was during his high-school years in Centerville, Ohio, that he discovered his passion for football.

During his time at Centerville High School, Odenigbo first played on offense before transitioning to a linebacker and defensive end. His exceptional performances, including 90 tackles and 10.5 sacks as a junior and 50 tackles and 8.5 sacks as a senior in 2011, were instrumental in leading Centerville to a 7–4 record and a Greater Western Ohio Conference championship. This astonishing performance earned him numerous accolades, including all-region, all-state and all-area player of the year honors. In recognition of his talent, USA Football selected him to the 2012 U.S. Under-19 National Team, and he also competed in the Under Armour All-American Game and the International Bowl.

However, Odenigbo’s talents were not confined to the football field. He also distinguished himself in track and field throughout his four years in Centerville High School (known as the Elks). He set a freshman record in the 200-meter dash and recorded the third-fastest time in the 400-meter dash in his school. As a senior, he posted a personal best in the 100-meter dash at regional championships and contributed to his team securing third place in the 4x200m relay at state championships.

In 2012, Odenigbo enrolled at Northwestern University to play college football. Despite enduring a season-ending injury in his freshman year, his subsequent on-field performances once reestablished him as a standout player. He made an impression as a third-down pass-rushing specialist and came second on the team with 5.5 sacks. As a sophomore, he made headlines within the Big Ten Conference by becoming the first player since Bob Sanders to record 3 forced fumbles in a single game. His final year at Northwestern saw him leading the Big Ten Conference with ten sacks.

On entering professional football, Odenigbo was drafted in the seventh round by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2017 NFL draft, ultimately ending in the 220th position. Despite being waived initially in September, he was signed back to the practice squad the following day and later granted a reserve/future contract in January 2018. The subsequent years were a rollercoaster, with Odenigbo being waived, claimed, and signed by several teams, including the Cleveland Browns, Arizona Cardinals, and back to the Vikings.

It was during his return to the Vikings in 2019 that Odenigbo secured his spot on the 53-man roster, which led to his first career sack in Week 5 against the New York Giants. Odenigbo’s streak continued with notable performances against the Los Angeles Chargers and Chicago Bears. However, 2020 brought a slowdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Odenigbo was activated in early August after temporarily being placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

After leaving the Vikings in March 2021, Odenigbo had brief stints with the New York Giants, Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, bouncing between active rosters and practice squads. In July 2023, he signed with the New York Jets only to be placed on injured reserve the following month due to an undisclosed injury.

Despite his professional football journey being marked by many transitions, Odenigbo’s dedication and skillful performance have been a constant. In addition, his Nigerian heritage has always been a strong influence, a connection further highlighted by his brother Tito Odenigbo’s participation in the 2019 Vikings training camp.