Vince Wilfork life and biography

Vince Wilfork is an American football defensive lineman for the New England Patriots of the National Football League.

Vince Wilfork was drafted by the New England Patriots in the first round (21st overall) of the 2004 NFL Draft ... Signed by the Patriots (7/19/04) ... Re-signed by the Patriots (3/5/10).

Career Highlights

* Wilfork enters the 2010 season having played in 90 games with 80 starts over six seasons with the Patriots (2004-09). The Patriots own a 68-22 (.756) record in Wilfork's 90 career regular-season games.
* Was selected to serve as a defensive co-captain by his teammates in 2008 and 2009.
* In 2007, Wilfork earned his first career Pro Bowl selection and was named to the Associated Press All-Pro Second Team.
* Named to second Pro Bowl in 2009 after leading the defense line with 65 total tackles.
* During his six seasons, Wilfork has helped the Patriots' defense finish in the top 10 four times: 2004 (9), 2006 (6), 2007 (4) and 2008 (10).
* In 2007, Wilfork was a leader on the first team in NFL history to complete a 16-0 regular season, as the Patriots tied the NFL's all-time mark with 18 overall victories and set a league record for point differential, outscoring opponents by 315 points.

2010 (9/9)
* Started at nose tackle and registered two tackles against the Steelers (11/14).
* Started at left defensive end and made eight tackles against Cleveland (11/7).
* Made eight tackles against the Vikings, including a combined stop with Brandon Spikes on Adrian Peterson for a 1-yard loss on first-and-goal from the 10-yard line late in the second quarter, sparking a defensive stand that ended in Spikes and Jermaine Cunningham stopping Peterson for a 2-yard loss on fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line (10/31).
* Tallied three tackles in a start at left defensive end against San Diego (10/24).
* Started at right defensive end and made 10 tackles against the Ravens (10/17). Combined with Gerard Warren to stop Joe Flacco for no gain on a quarterback sneak on third-and-1 in the fourth quarter, forcing a punt on the next play and setting up Stephen Gostkowski's game-tying field goal with 1:51 remaining in regulation.
* Started at left defensive end before returning to nose guard. Made three tackles against the Dolphins (10/4).
* Registered four tackles in the season opener against Cincinnati (9/12) and six tackles and a pass defensed against the Jets (9/19).

2009 (13/13, 1/1)
* Earned his second Pro Bowl berth after starting in 13 games and finishing with 65 total tackles, two passes defensed and one forced fumble.
* His 65 tackles led the Patriots defensive linemen.
* Named defensive co-captain by his teammates.
* Missed the final three regular-season games due to injury.
* Registered his first career forced fumble at the N.Y. Jets (9/20), stripping Leon Washington on a first quarter carry, allowing Leigh Bodden to recover and set up a field goal drive.
* Had a team-leading 10 total tackles vs. the N.Y. Jets (11/22).
* Set a single-game career high in tackles with 18 in a Wild Card playoff game vs. Baltimore (1/10).

2008 (16/16)
* Started all 16 games at nose tackle and finished second on the team with 85 tackles, the second highest single-season total of his career.
* Recorded two sacks, three quarterback hits and a pass defensed.
* Named a defensive captain by his teammates for the first time.
* Led the team with five solo tackles at San Diego (10/12).
* Tallied seven tackles (5 solo) with one quarterback hit against Buffalo (11/9).
* Tied a then season high with eight tackles and tallied his first sack of the season against the N.Y. Jets (11/13).
* Tied for the team lead with six tackles (5 solo) and added his second sack in as many weeks at Miami (11/23).
* Tallied seven tackles, including five solo stops at Oakland (12/14) and blocked Sebastian Janikowski's extra point attempt, the first blocked PAT by a Patriot since 2002.
* Tallied a season high 10 tackles in the Patriots' first shutout victory since 2006 at Buffalo (12/28).

2007 (16/16, 3/3)
* Started at nose tackle in all 16 regular-season games for the second time in his career.
* Earned his first Pro Bowl selection.
* Named to the Associated Press All-Pro Second Team.
* Recovered a fumble by quarterback Philip Rivers on a strip-sack by Rosevelt Colvin while making five tackles against San Diego (9/16).
* Tied for the team lead in tackles with eight in a win over Cleveland (10/7) and registered his first sack of the season.
* Tied a season high with eight tackles at Baltimore (12/3).
* Picked up his second sack of the season, taking down Ben Roethlisberger for an 8-yard loss vs. Pittsburgh (12/9).
* Tallied two tackles for a loss or no gain as the Patriots improved to 16-0 at the N.Y. Giants (12/29).
* Made six tackles in the Patriots' AFC Division playoff win over Jacksonville (1/12).
* Tied for the team lead in tackles with seven in the Patriots' victory over San Diego in the AFC Championship Games (1/20).
* Made five tackles (4 solo) in Super Bowl XLII against the New York Giants (2/3).

2006 (13/13, 3/3)
* Despite missing the final three regular season contests, finished fourth on the team with 81 tackles (46 solo).
* Registered seven tackles (5 solo), a sack and a quarterback hit vs. the N.Y. Jets (9/17).
* Finished tied for second on the team with 10 tackles (7 solo) against Denver (9/24).
* Notched six tackles (5 solo), a fumble recovery and a pass defensed against Buffalo (10/22).
* Registered three tackles (2 solo), a fumble recovery and a quarterback hit in a Wild Card game vs. the N.Y. Jets (1/7).
* Scooped up a Chad Pennington lateral that was batted down by Rosevelt Colvin and rumbled 31 yards to the Jets' 15-yard line in the third quarter.
* Tied for second on the team with seven tackles (6 solo) in the AFC Championship at Indianapolis (1/21).

2005 (16/16, 2/2)
* Started all 16 games and both playoff contests.
* Led all Patriots defensive linemen and ranked second on the team with a career-high 91 tackles.
* In the playoffs, ranked fifth on the team with 13 tackles (6 solo) and a half sack.
* Notched a then career-high 12 tackles (8 solo) against Buffalo (10/30).
* Was part of a defensive front that allowed an average of just 31.3 rushing yards per game in the month of December.
* Finished with seven tackles (4 solo), including a split sack against Carolina (9/18).
* Teamed with Rosevelt Colvin to drop Jake Delhomme for an 8-yard sack.
* Finished second on the team with a career-high 12 tackles (8 solo) against Buffalo (10/30).
* Notched eight tackles (3 solo) and a shared sack in the divisional playoffs against Denver (1/14).

2004 (16/6, 3/1)
* Played in all 16 games as a rookie with six starts at nose tackle and played in each of the Patriots' three postseason games, including a start in Super Bowl XXXIX.
* Led all Patriots rookies with 57 tackles (35 solo) including two sacks.
* Collected his first career sack (10/3).
* Helped the Patriots defense rank sixth in the NFL against the run.
* Started at nose tackle and recorded seven tackles (4 solo) in his NFL debut against Indianapolis (9/9) and preserved the Patriots' lead by recovering a fumble caused by Eugene Wilson in the fourth quarter.
* Started at nose tackle and registered five tackles (2 solo) and collected his first career sack on Drew Bledsoe vs. Buffalo (10/3).
* Finished second on the team with a season-high 10 tackles (7 solo), including a sack and a pass defensed against Miami (10/10).
* Collected three tackles and a fumble recovery against Miami (12/20).
* Started at nose tackle in the Patriots' victory over the Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX.

College

* Recorded 148 tackles (73 solos) with 14 sacks for losses of 60 yards and 37.5 stops for losses of 110 yards during his career from 2001-03.
* Also credited with 42 quarterback pressures, five forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries in 36 games at Miami.
* As a junior in 2003, was an All-American Dream Team selection and rated the best defensive tackle in the country by The NFL Draft Report and was an unanimous All-Big East Conference first-team choice.
* Finished fourth on the team with 64 tackles (31 solos), tied for the squad lead with six sacks for losses of 29 yards.
* Played in 11 games as a sophomore in 2002 and finished with 43 tackles (19 solos), ranked second on the team with seven sacks and placed fourth with 15 stops for losses.
* Played in every game as a reserve defensive tackle as a freshman and recorded 41 tackles (23 solos), including one sack while ranking third on the team with 11 stops for losses.
* Also excelled on the Hurricanes track and field team, performing in the shot put.

Personal

* Vincent Lamar Wilfork was born the son of the late Barbara and David Wilfork on Nov. 4, 1981.
* Attended Santaluces (Lantana, Fla.) High, where his football jersey number is retired.
* Regarded as one of Florida's top three defensive linemen after the 1999 season and was a USA Today second-team All-American, adding Super Prep first-team All-American honors, as he was rated the No. 10 defensive lineman nationally by that publication.
* Also lettered in track, finishing second in the state in the Class 6A shot put and discus and holds the Florida state high school record in the shot put with a 68-foot throw.
* Served as the honorary ringmaster for the Big Apple Circus in 2007 in a fundraising performance to benefit the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp.
* Served as an honorary coach in the 2007 BELL Bowl, a fundraiser at Gillette Stadium to benefit the BELL Foundation.
* In 2007, Vince was named one of the 100 greatest players in the history of Florida high school football by the Florida High School Athletic Association.
* Participated in the 2008 Salvation Army Holiday Party at Gillette Stadium with nearly 250 children from the Boston and Providence Salvation Army centers.
* Was honored by Children's Hospital Boston with their Champion Award in December 2008, in recognition of his efforts on behalf of the hospital's patients and their families.
* Majored in liberal arts at Miami.
* Vince and his wife, Bianca, have three children.

Honors and Awards

2009 : AFC Pro Bowl Starter
2007 : AFC Pro Bowl Starter ; Associated Press All-Pro: Second Team ; Pro Football Weekly/PFWA All-AFC Team ; ESPN.com All-Pro Team

Extra

* Vince and his wife Bianca host an annual draft day fundraiser to support the Diabetes Research Institute. The event has grown in each of its six years and has raised more than $150,000 to fight diabetes, which claimed Vince's father's life while Vince was at the University of Miami.
* Vince is an active member of the Mass Mentoring Partnership, a group dedicated to supporting mentoring in Massachusetts.
* Vince played multiple positions in high school, including running back and punt returner.
* Vince's jersey number 75 was retired at Santaluces High School in Lantana, Fla., in September, 2008. His number was the first to ever be retired by the school.

* DT Vince Wilfork wears No. 75 over his bulky shoulder pads. Underneath hangs a gold chain locket for those who were number one in his heart: his parents. In 2002, parents David and Barbara Wilfork both passed away within five months of each other, leaving the then University of Miami star without his greatest support system.
* His perseverance in the face of despair led him to the NFL, while off the field he became closer with his now strongest supporter, his wife Bianca, who helped him through his losses. While he has many accomplishments on the football field and will always cherish his National Championship and Super Bowl rings, his constant reminder lies closest to his heart, a picture of his late parents at their high school prom.
* "I carry them with me wherever I go," Wilfork said of his parents' keepsake. "They're with me. The only regret that I have in life is that my parents are not with me to see where I am today. But I wouldn't be anywhere today without my wife."

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