Yannick Ngakoue

Yannick Ngakoue's Biography

Yannick Ngakoue, regarded as a top notch defensive end in American professional football, was born in Washington, D.C. on March 31, 1995. Known for his exceptional defensive abilities, he has played for several teams in the National Football League (NFL), including the Baltimore Ravens, Jacksonville Jaguars, Minnesota Vikings, Las Vegas Raiders, Indianapolis Colts, and most recently, the Chicago Bears.

Descending from a Cameroonian father and a Martiniquais mother, Ngakoue spent his high school years at Friendship Collegiate Academy Public Charter School in Washington, D.C. There he was teammates with Eddie Goldman and marked an exceptional senior year by securing a record of 17 sacks and being named the Gatorade Football Player of the Year for Washington D.C.

Ngakoue’s prowess on the field caught the eye of several colleges, but his commitment went to the University of Maryland, College Park, where he shone as a formidable force on the Terrapins team. He made his debut as a true freshman in 2013, playing in all 13 matches, and recorded an impressive nine tackles, two sacks, and one interception.

In 2014, his sophomore year saw him becoming a regular starter for all 12 games, during which he registered 37 tackles and six sacks. 2015, his junior year, was especially stellar as he set a new school record of 13.5 sacks. However, following this triumphant season, Ngakoue decided to forego his senior season at Maryland to enter the 2016 NFL Draft.

This decision paid off monumentally when the Jacksonville Jaguars selected him in the third round (69th overall). He was the seventh defensive end to be picked up in the draft. Shortly afterward, on June 22, 2016, Ngakoue signed a four-year contract with the Jaguars worth $3.48 million, and this also included a signing bonus of $856,176. Despite competing against seasoned players like Dante Fowler, Chris Smith, and Jared Odrick for the starting defensive end position during training camp, Ngakoue was determined to put up a strong front.

Making his NFL debut in a match against the Green Bay Packers, he recorded two tackles but the team fell to a 27-23 loss. He soon bounced back to secure his first NFL start, recording three tackles and his first NFL sack on San Diego Chargers’ Philip Rivers. Ngakoue ended his rookie year on a high note with 22 combined tackles, eight sacks, two pass deflections, an interception, and a forced fumble in 16 games.

These stats saw him breaking a Jaguars rookie record previously held by Tony Brackens, only to see this record broken three years later by teammate Josh Allen in 2019. This victorious rookie season also saw Ngakoue being named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team. The Jaguars, however, in the wake of a tumultuous season concluded with a 3-13 record, saw head coach Gus Bradley fired after Week 15, replaced by offensive line coach Doug Marrone.

From 2017 to 2019, Ngakoue continued cementing his reputation as a valued player. He was named to his first Pro Bowl as an injury replacement for teammate Calais Campbell and.was ranked 88th by his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2018.

2020 saw Ngakoue taking firm decisions about his professional future when he took to Twitter in March to announce he wished to be traded from the Jaguars. In spite of this, the Jaguars placed the franchise tag on him. Later, he was traded to the Minnesota Vikings. His tenure with the Vikings was cut short when he was traded to the Baltimore Ravens the same year.

In 2021, Ngakoue signed a contract with the Las Vegas Raiders and notched up an exceptional season, emerging as the team’s leading player in sacks. On March 16, 2022, he was traded to the Colts in exchange for defensive back Rock Ya-Sin, following the Raiders’ signing of Chandler Jones.

After playing 15 games with the Colts and recording 29 tackles, a forced fumble, and leading the team with 9.5 sacks, he was forced on to injured reserve with a throat injury on December 31, 2022. Ngakoue once again changed teams in 2023, signing a one-year, $10.5 million deal to play with the Chicago Bears. However, he suffered a broken ankle in Week 14 that ended his season.

Despite the setback, Ngakoue was not done with football. In 2024, he signed with the Baltimore Ravens practice squad. He was then elevated to the active roster for the Week 6 match against the Washington Commanders and recorded a sack of Jayden Daniels, assisting the team in a 30-23 win. Officially joining the active roster on October 15, Ngakoue is currently a key part of the Baltimore Ravens’ defensive lineup.