Rob Ninkovich biography
Date of birth : 1984-02-01
Date of death : -
Birthplace : Blue Island, Illinois
Nationality : American
Category : Sports
Last modified : 2010-12-06
Credited as : Football player NFL, linebacker for the New England Patriots, Pro Bowl/NFL Draft player
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Rob Ninkovich was signed by the Patriots as a free agent on August 2, 2009 ... Originally drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the fifth round (135th overall) of the 2006 draft ... Waived by New Orleans (9/6/07) ... Claimed off waivers by Miami on (9/7/07) ... Waived by Miami on (9/31/08) ... Signed to the Miami practice squad on (9/3/08) ... signed by Miami to the 53-man roster from the practice squad (11/15/08) ... Waived by Miami on (11/21/08) ... Signed to the Miami practice squad on (11/22/08) ... Signed by New Orleans from the Miami practice squad (12/3/08) ... Waived by New Orleans (7/30/09).
Career Highlights
* A veteran of four NFL seasons with New Orleans (2006, 2008), Miami (2007-2008) and New England (2009)
* Converted from defensive line to linebacker when he entered the NFL as a fifth-round pick of the Saints in 2006.
2010 (9/8)
* Credited with three tackles against Pittsburgh (11/14).
* Started at outside linebacker against the Browns and recorded four tackles (11/7).
* Made three tackles and one special teams tackle against the Vikings, including a stop of Visanthe Shiancoe on third-and-three, forcing a Vikings punt in the third quarter (10/31).
* Returned a Chargers fumble 63 yards to the San Diego 8-yard line, setting up a field goal by Stephen Gostkowski (10/24). The return was the second longest fumble return in Patriots history, second only to Richard Seymour's 68-yard touchdown return (10/3/04). Registered one tackle.
* Registered a career-high nine tackles in his fourth start of the season against Baltimore (10/17).
* Recorded his first two NFL interceptions against Miami (10/4), picking off a QB Chad Henne in the first quarter and again in the second quarter, marking the first two-interception game for a Patriot since Leigh Bodden had three vs. NY. Jets on Nov. 22, 2009. Ninkovich also added his second career sack in the fourth quarter, five tackles and one special teams tackle. Charles Woodson was the only NFL player that had two interceptions and a sack in the same game last season.
* Started his second straight game, recording two tackles against Buffalo (9/26).
* Made his first career start against the Jets, registering five tackles and one special teams tackle (9/19).
* Was credited with his first career fumble recovery when James Sanders stripped RB Cedric Benson in the first quarter of the season opener against the Bengals to give the Patriots a first down on the Bengals 28-yard line (9/12).
2009 (15/0, 1/0)
* Waived by New Orleans late in July and was signed by New England on Aug. 2, 2009.
* Played in a career-high 15 games, while also setting personal bests in tackles (10), passes defensed (2) and special teams tackles (11).
* Was inactive vs. the N.Y. Jets (11/22).
* Saw significant action at outside linebacker at Denver (10/11) and registered his first NFL sack hauling down former Purdue teammate Kyle Orton for a 3-yard loss in the second quarter.
* Tallied a career-high four tackles on defense in the Patriots 59-0 victory vs. Tennessee (10/18).
* Played on special teams in the postseason game vs. Baltimore (1/10).
2008 (1/0 - Miami/New Orleans)
* Began the season on the Miami practice squad.
* Was signed from the practice squad to the 53-man roster on Nov. 15 and saw action in a reserve role vs. Oakland (11/16).
* Was waived by Miami on Nov. 20 and re-signed to the Miami practice squad.
* Signed by New Orleans off the Miami practice squad on Dec. 3 and was inactive for the final four games of the season.
2007 (4/0 - Miami)
* Played in four games for Miami in a reserve role.
* Was inactive for 12 contests.
* Finished the year with two special teams tackles.
2006 (3/0 - New Orleans)
* As a rookie with the Saints, played in three games as a reserve and posted two tackles and a pass defensed on defense and two special teams tackles.
* Sustained a knee injury in a week three game vs. Atlanta (9/25) and was placed on injured reserve.
College
* Was a two-year letterman at Purdue (204-05) during which time he played in 23 games with five starts.
* Amassed 71 tackles, 16 sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery during that time.
* As a senior, was a second-team All-Big Ten selection when he registered 48 tackles, eight sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
* Also caught a 1-yard touchdown pass from Curtis Painter in a 37-3 win over Illinois.
* Matched his single-game career high total for sacks with four against Indiana for the second year in a row.
* Tallied eight sacks as a junior, including two in a 41-16 victory over Notre Dame when he hauled in a 2-yard touchdown pass from Kyle Orton.
* Transferred to Purdue following a two-year stint at Joliet (Ill.) Junior College (2002-03).
* While there, set the school single-season record for sacks with 16 in 2003.
* Helped Joliet Junior College to the NJCAA National Championship as a freshman in 2002.
* Majored in organizational leadership and supervision.
Personal
* Robert Michael Ninkovich was born on Feb. 1, 1984, in Blue Island, Ill.
* Attended Lincoln-Way Central High School in New Lenox, Ill., where he played defensive end and tight end.
* Also lettered in baseball.
Extra
During the summer prior to his sophomore year at junior college, Ninkovich worked with his father, an ironworker, hanging beams on a Chicago construction site 19 stories high. According to his father, the purpose was to give Rob extra incentive to complete his college education.
