Yannick Ngakoue Bio
Yannick Ngakoue is an American professional football linebacker of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Maryland Terrapins and was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the third round of the 2016 NFL draft. Across his career, he has played for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Minnesota Vikings, Baltimore Ravens, Las Vegas Raiders, Indianapolis Colts, Chicago Bears, and New England Patriots.
Known for his explosive pass-rushing ability, Ngakoue earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2017 and was tied for the league lead in forced fumbles that same season. Standing 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing around 245 pounds, he has built a reputation as a disruptive edge rusher since entering the league.
Early Life and Background
Yannick Ngakoue was born on March 31, 1995, in Washington, D.C., to a Cameroonian father and a Martiniquais mother. Growing up in the nation’s capital exposed him early to a competitive football culture, and he developed a passion for the sport during his childhood years.
He attended Friendship Collegiate Academy Public Charter School in Washington, D.C., where he was teammates with fellow future NFL defensive lineman Eddie Goldman. As a senior, Ngakoue recorded 17 sacks and was named the Gatorade Football Player of the Year for Washington, D.C. He was rated as a four-star recruit by Rivals.com and ranked as the fourth-best outside linebacker in his recruiting class.
Following his standout high school career, Ngakoue committed to the University of Maryland, College Park, to play college football for the Maryland Terrapins. His combination of size, speed, and instincts made him one of the most highly regarded defensive prospects from the Washington, D.C. area.
Path to Professional Football
Ngakoue arrived at Maryland in 2013 and quickly made an impact as a true freshman, playing in all 13 games and recording nine tackles, two sacks, and an interception. As a sophomore in 2014, he became a full-time starter, starting all 12 games and posting 37 tackles and six sacks.
His junior season in 2015 was his most productive at the collegiate level. Ngakoue set a Maryland school record with 13.5 sacks, earning First-team All-Big Ten honors. Following that dominant campaign, he announced his decision to forgo his senior season and enter the 2016 NFL draft.
The Jacksonville Jaguars selected Ngakoue in the third round, 69th overall, of the 2016 NFL draft. He was the seventh defensive end taken that year and signed a four-year rookie contract with the team shortly after the draft.
Yannick Ngakoue Career
Early Career (2016)
Ngakoue made his NFL debut in the Jaguars’ season opener against the Green Bay Packers. By the second week, he earned his first start and recorded his first career sack and forced fumble on quarterback Philip Rivers during a road game against the San Diego Chargers.
He finished his rookie season with 22 combined tackles, eight sacks, two pass deflections, an interception, and a forced fumble across 16 games and 15 starts. His eight sacks broke a Jaguars rookie record previously held by Tony Brackens, and he was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.
Jacksonville Jaguars Breakthrough (2017)
Ngakoue’s second season in the NFL was his breakout year. Named the starting left defensive end opposite Calais Campbell, he opened the campaign with a dominant performance against the Houston Texans, recording two sacks and two forced fumbles in a 29–7 road victory. He added 2.5 sacks against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 7 and scored his first NFL touchdown on a 67-yard fumble recovery against the Tennessee Titans.
He finished the 2017 regular season with 30 combined tackles and 12 sacks, tying for eighth in the league and ranking second on the Jaguars behind Campbell. Ngakoue also led the NFL with six forced fumbles, helping fuel a defensive unit that became known as “Sacksonville.”
In the playoffs, Ngakoue recorded a sack in a loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game. He was later named to the 2018 Pro Bowl as an injury replacement for teammate Calais Campbell, and was ranked 88th on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2018.
Ngakoue remained productive in 2018, finishing with 9.5 sacks, 28 tackles, and 33 quarterback hits, though the Jaguars slipped to a 5–11 record. In 2019, he added eight sacks, four forced fumbles, and his first career interception returned for a touchdown, finishing his Jacksonville tenure with 37.5 career sacks.
Minnesota Vikings (2020)
On August 31, 2020, after requesting a trade, Ngakoue was dealt to the Minnesota Vikings. He recorded his first sack as a Viking on Philip Rivers in Week 2 and added two more sacks on Deshaun Watson in a Week 4 win over the Houston Texans, contributing as a rotational pass rusher during his lone Vikings season.
Baltimore Ravens First Stint (2020)
Midway through the 2020 season, Ngakoue was traded to the Baltimore Ravens, reuniting him with former Jacksonville teammate Calais Campbell. He recorded his first sack as a Raven on Ryan Tannehill in Week 11 and later posted two sacks on Gardner Minshew in a Week 15 win over his former Jaguars team.
Las Vegas Raiders (2021)
On March 19, 2021, Ngakoue signed a two-year, $26 million contract with the Las Vegas Raiders. He led the team in sacks during the 2021 season and earned AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors in Week 7 after recording two sacks and two passes defensed in a win over the Philadelphia Eagles. The campaign marked his first double-digit sack season since 2017.
Indianapolis Colts (2022)
On March 16, 2022, Ngakoue was traded to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for cornerback Rock Ya-Sin. He started 15 games and recorded 29 tackles, a forced fumble, and a team-leading 9.5 sacks. His season ended when he was placed on injured reserve with a throat injury in late December 2022.
Chicago Bears Era (2023)
Ngakoue signed a one-year, $10.5 million contract with the Chicago Bears on August 3, 2023. He started 13 games and served as a veteran presence on Chicago’s defensive line before a broken ankle in Week 14 ended his season prematurely.
Baltimore Ravens Return (2024)
On September 24, 2024, Ngakoue signed with the Baltimore Ravens practice squad and was elevated to the active roster for a Week 6 matchup against the Washington Commanders, recording a sack of rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. He was signed to the active roster on October 15, 2024, before being waived on November 7, 2024.
New England Patriots (2024)
On November 8, 2024, Ngakoue was claimed off waivers by the New England Patriots. His time in New England was brief, as he was released on December 31, 2024.
Driving Style and Strengths
Ngakoue is recognized for his quick first step, relentless motor, and ability to convert speed into power at the line of scrimmage. He excels at pursuing quarterbacks from the edge and has consistently produced forced fumbles throughout his career, leading the league with six in 2017. His experience across multiple defensive schemes has made him a reliable situational pass rusher.
Notable Events and Milestones
Some of the defining moments of Ngakoue’s career include his 2017 Pro Bowl selection, his school-record 13.5 sacks at Maryland in 2015, and his record-breaking eight sacks as a Jacksonville rookie in 2016. He has also produced a league-leading six forced fumbles in a single season and an interception returned for a touchdown during the 2019 campaign.
Yannick Ngakoue Career Wins
Across his NFL career, Yannick Ngakoue has recorded more than 70 sacks, multiple Pro Bowl appearances, and All-Rookie Team recognition. His most productive stretch came during his time with the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he established himself as one of the league’s most disruptive young pass rushers.
NFL Highlights
Ngakoue’s first NFL sack came on Philip Rivers in 2016, and his most recent verified sack came during the 2024 season with the Baltimore Ravens. He has registered double-digit sack seasons in 2017 and 2021, and led the NFL in forced fumbles during the 2017 campaign.
Other Performances
At the college level, Ngakoue set a Maryland single-season record with 13.5 sacks in 2015, earning First-team All-Big Ten honors. He was also named the Gatorade Football Player of the Year for Washington, D.C. following his senior season at Friendship Collegiate Academy.
Yannick Ngakoue Family
Family Background and Heritage
Yannick Ngakoue was raised in Washington, D.C., by a Cameroonian father and a Martiniquais mother. His multicultural background and Washington upbringing shaped his path into football from an early age.
Personal Life
Public details about Ngakoue’s personal life, including his marital status and family, are not widely documented in verified sources.
2025 Season Outlook
Following his release from the New England Patriots on December 31, 2024, Yannick Ngakoue entered the 2025 offseason as an unrestricted free agent. At 30 years old, he brings more than a decade of NFL experience and remains a capable pass-rushing specialist capable of contributing to a defensive rotation.
Several teams in need of veteran edge depth were expected to evaluate Ngakoue as a potential low-cost signing heading into training camp. His track record of forcing fumbles and producing double-digit sack seasons could position him as a valuable situational addition for contenders.
Should he sign with a team for the 2025 campaign, Ngakoue would likely serve as a rotational defensive end focused on third-down pass-rushing duties. His experience across multiple schemes, combined with his familiarity with AFC and NFC systems, gives him flexibility to fit a variety of defensive game plans.