Israel Idonije life and biography

Israel Idonije is a Nigerian-Canadian defensive end for the National Football League's Chicago Bears.

NFL Career:

Participated in 86 games (8 starts) over the past six seasons with the Bears, registering 119 tackles, 8.0 sacks, 7 TFLs and 10 PBUs... Tallied 36 special teams tackles and 6 blocked kicks during his career... Posted 6.0 sacks over the last two seasons (2008-09)... His 6 blocked kicks rank tied for fourth in NFL history since 1992 when stat first was recorded... Has appeared in 46 consecutive games gating back to 2006... Blocked a kick in three consecutive games (9/16-9/30) during the 2007 season... Has appeared in 4 postseason contests, gathering 1 sack among 2 tackles... Joined Chicago's practice squad during the second half of the 2003 season after beginning his NFL career with Cleveland.

HONORS AND AWARDS: 2009 - Ed Block Courage Award.

2009 SEASON: Saw action in 15 games prior to being placed on Injured Reserve (12/30)... Finished with 2.5 sacks, the second highest total of his career... Credited with 20 tackles (9 solo), 1 forced fumble and 1 TFL... Added 7 special teams stops and 2 blocked kicks.

2008 - Appeared in all 16 games (3 starts), posting career highs with 28 tackles (18 solo) and 3.5 sacks... Also matched or established career highs in games played, games started, and PBUs (6)... Added 2 TFLs and 4 special teams stops... Set a career high with 1.5 sacks vs. JAX (12/7).

2007 - Tallied 23 tackles while appearing in all 16 games for the first time in his career, including a career-high 3 starts... Added career-high 3 blocks on special teams... Posted blocks in three straight weeks, blocking a 48-yard Dave Rayner field goal (9/16 vs. KC), a Nick Folk 23-yard field goal (9/23 vs. DAL) and a Jason Hanson extra-point (9/30 at DET)... Credited with career-high 5 tackles in three straight games (12/6 at WAS, 12/17 at MIN, 12/23 vs. GB)... Saw action in all 16 games, starting Games 14-16 at NT.

2006 - Registered 11 tackles with 1 PBU and 2 fumble recoveries... Blocked a 37-yard field goal attempt vs. MIA (11/5)... Added a career-high 10 special teams tackles while participating in 13 games, starting Game 5 at LDE; Inactive Games 1-3 due to an ankle injury... Participated in all 3 playoff contests recording 1st career postseason sack in the NFC Championship Game vs. NO (1/21/07).

2005 - Recorded 16 tackles with 1 sack while starting 1 of the 11 games played... Participated on special teams and as a reserve DL in Games 5-9, 11-16; Inactive Games 1-4, 10.

2004 - Participated in 15 games as a reserve D-lineman and on special teams recording 21 tackles including 1 sack... Tallied first NFL sack vs. SF (10/31).

2003 - Finished rookie season on Chicago's practice squad after beginning the campaign with Cleveland before being waived injured (9/30)... Member of Bears practice squad for Weeks 12-17.

College:

As a senior in 2002, led Manitoba Bisons with career-high 9 sacks and 31 tackles en route to team MVP honors... Also named Canada West All-Star, CIS first-team All-Canadian selection, Manitoba Male Athlete-of-the-Year and the 2002 Canada West J.P. Metras Trophy winner, for outstanding lineman in Canadian University Football... Majored in arts.

Personal:

Created The Israel Idonije Foundation in 2007 with the focus of the Foundation a program called "IZZYz KIDz", which is designed to encourage and sustain students' regular school attendance, high achievement and good citizenship... Traveled to Africa in each of the last three offseasons to do charitable work with teammate Tommie Harris, former teammate Adewale Ogunleye and other NFL players... Met a four-year-old girl, Segun Ashman, in Africa and helped pay for her flight to the United States in order for her to have heart surgery in Austin, Texas; a surgery she would not have otherwise been able to afford... Named the winner of the H.L. Krug Crawford Award, emblematic of sporting excellence in Western Manitoba, making him the first-ever football player to receive the recognition... Named the Manitoba Male Athlete-of-the-Year by the Manitoba Sportswriters and Sports Broadcasters Association in 2002... Inducted into Manitoba's Order of the Buffalo Hunt in 2007, which recognizes individuals who have made outstanding and distinctive contributions to society and their community... Born in Lagos, Nigeria.

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