Chris Banjo

Ayokunmi Christopher Oluwaseun Banjo (born February 26, 1990) is a former American football safety and current assistant special teams coach for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at SMU. Banjo was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent in 2013. He has also played for the Green Bay Packers, New Orleans Saints, and Arizona Cardinals.

Chris Banjo
refer to caption
Banjo with the Packers in 2015
Denver Broncos
Position:Assistant special teams coach
Personal information
Born: (1990-02-26) February 26, 1990
Houston, Texas, U.S.
Height:5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:207 lb (94 kg)
Career information
High school:Kempner (Sugar Land, Texas)
College:SMU
Undrafted:2012
Career history
As a player:
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
As a coach:
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2022
Total tackles:143
Sacks:0.0
Forced fumbles:1
Fumble recoveries:2
Interceptions:3
Defensive touchdowns:1
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

College career
Banjo during his tenure at SMU

Banjo attended Southern Methodist University, where he played on the SMU Mustangs football team from 2008 to 2011.[1]

Statistics
Season Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GPGSCmbSoloAstSckPDIntYdsAvgLngTDFFFR
2008SMU 1286140210.0013333.033000
2009SMU 13138645410.0511616.016031
2010SMU 14149260320.0822512.525000
2011SMU 12128250320.02000.00002
Career51473211951260.01547418.533033

Professional playing career
Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeight40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jumpBench press
5 ft 10 in
(1.78 m)		 206 lb
(93 kg)		 4.50 s1.57 s2.58 s4.27 s7.19 s39.5 in
(1.00 m)		10 ft 4 in
(3.15 m)		23 reps
All values are from Pro Day[2]

Jacksonville Jaguars

After going undrafted in the 2012 NFL Draft, Banjo signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars on April 18, 2013.[3] On July 25, 2013, he was released by the Jaguars.[4]

Green Bay Packers

On July 29, 2013, Banjo was signed by the Green Bay Packers.[5]

He was re-signed by the Packers on February 26, 2014.[6] On August 30, 2014, Banjo was released by the Packers during final team cuts.[7] He was signed to the Packers' practice squad the following day.[8] On December 13, 2014, Banjo was promoted from the practice squad to the active roster.[9]

He was re-signed by the Packers on March 10, 2015. Banjo was elected by teammates as a playoff captain after leading the team in special teams tackles in the 2015 season.[10]

On March 8, 2016, Banjo was re-signed by the Packers.[11] He was placed on injured reserve on October 24, 2016.[12] On October 31, 2016, Banjo was waived by the Packers after reaching an injury settlement.[13]

New Orleans Saints

On November 15, 2016, Banjo was signed by the New Orleans Saints.[14] On March 7, 2017, Banjo signed a two-year contract extension with the Saints.[15]

On March 9, 2019, Banjo signed a three-year contract extension with the Saints.[16] He was released on August 31, 2019.[17]

Arizona Cardinals

On September 25, 2019, Banjo was signed by the Arizona Cardinals.[18]

On April 2, 2020, Banjo was re-signed by the Cardinals.[19] He was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the team on December 31, 2020,[20] and activated on January 5, 2021.[21]

On March 31, 2021, Banjo was re-signed by the Cardinals to a one-year contract.[22][23] He was released on August 31, 2021 and re-signed to the practice squad the next day.[24][25] He was promoted to the active roster on October 4, 2021.[26]

On September 29, 2022, Banjo was signed to the Arizona Cardinals practice squad after going unsigned in the offseason.[27] He was signed to the active roster on October 12.[28]

On February 26, 2023, Banjo's 33rd birthday, he announced his retirement from the NFL after 10 seasons in a post on his Twitter account.[29]

NFL career statistics
Regular season
Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GPGSCmbSoloAstSckPDIntYdsAvgLngTDFFFR
2013GB 161191720.02000.00000
2014GB 301100.00000.00000
2015GB 161161510.01000.00000
2016GB 202200.00000.00000
NO 705500.00000.00000
2017NO 160121020.01100.00011
2018NO 16010820.03200.00000
2019ARI 13012660.00000.00000
2020ARI 1344834140.01000.00000
2021ARI 1607430.00000.00000
2022ARI 13111650.00000.00001
Career1317143108350.08300.00012
Playoffs
Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GPGSCmbSoloAstSckPDIntYdsAvgLngTDFFFR
2013GB 100000.00000.00000
2014GB 202110.00000.00000
2015GB 202200.00000.00000
2017NO 200000.00000.00000
2018NO 201100.00000.00000
2021ARI 100000.00000.00000
Career1005410.00000.00000

Professional coaching career

The Denver Broncos announced the hiring of Banjo as an assistant special teams coach under new head coach Sean Payton on February 25, 2023.[30]

Personal life

Banjo was born to Nigerian parents who migrated to Houston. His mother died in 2010.[31]

His name "Oluwaseun" means "We thank God" in Yoruba.[32][33]

References
  1. "SMU Mustangs: Chris Banjo". SMUMustangs.com. Retrieved October 27, 2016.
  2. "Chris Banjo - Southern Methodist, FS : 2012 NFL Draft Scout Player Profile". NFLDraftScout.com. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  3. "Jaguars sign DE Pannel Egboh and safety Chris Banjo". Jaguars.com. April 18, 2013. Archived from the original on November 23, 2016. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  4. Oehser, John (July 25, 2013). "Jaguars sign kicker, wide receiver". Jaguars.com. Archived from the original on October 26, 2016. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  5. "Packers announce roster moves". Packers.com. July 29, 2013. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  6. "Packers sign RB Michael Hill, re-sign S Chris Banjo". Packers.com. February 26, 2014. Archived from the original on October 26, 2016. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  7. "Packers release 18, place four on IR". Packers.com. August 30, 2014. Archived from the original on August 19, 2016. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  8. "Packers announce practice squad". Packers.com. August 31, 2014. Archived from the original on August 19, 2016. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  9. "Packers sign Banjo to active roster, place Lattimore on IR". Packers.com. December 13, 2014. Archived from the original on October 26, 2016. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  10. "Packers elect playoff captains". Packers.com. January 6, 2016. Archived from the original on October 26, 2016. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
  11. Demovsky, Rob (March 8, 2016). "Packers to retain special-teams ace Chris Banjo on exclusive-rights deal". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  12. "Packers promote WR Allison, S Whitehead to active roster". Packers.com. October 24, 2016. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  13. Silverstein, Tom (October 31, 2016). "Packers release safety Chris Banjo". PackersNews.com. Retrieved November 1, 2016.
  14. Katzenstein, Josh (November 15, 2016). "Saints place linebacker Michael Mauti on non-football injury list". NOLA.com.
  15. Teope, Herbie (March 7, 2017). "Saints sign Chris Banjo to a two-year, $2.6 million deal". NOLA.com.
  16. Katzenstein, Josh (March 9, 2019). "Saints to re-sign safety Chris Banjo with 3-year deal". NOLA.com.
  17. "New Orleans Saints make roster reductions to 53". NewOrleansSaints.com. August 31, 2019.
  18. Urban, Darren (September 25, 2019). "Cardinals Sign Veteran Safety Chris Banjo". AZCardinals.com.
  19. Urban, Darren (March 23, 2020). "Jonathan Bullard, Chris Banjo Return To Cardinals". AZCardinals.com.
  20. Urban, Darren (December 31, 2020). "Larry Fitzgerald Cherishing Chance To Make Playoffs". AZCardinals.com. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
  21. "Cardinals' Chris Banjo: Back from COVID-19 list". CBSSports.com. January 6, 2021. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
  22. Urban, Darren (March 29, 2021). "Cardinals Agree To Deals With Veterans Shawn Williams, Chris Banjo". AZCardinals.com. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  23. "2021 NFL Transactions: Signings – March". NFL.com. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  24. Urban, Darren (August 31, 2021). "Initial Roster Set As Cardinals Cut Down For Season". AZCardinals.com.
  25. Urban, Darren (September 1, 2021). "Chris Banjo Among 9 Cardinals Add To Practice Squad". AZCardinals.com.
  26. "Cardinals sign S Chris Banjo to active roster, release OL Koda Martin". Arizona Sports. October 4, 2021. Archived from the original on October 4, 2021. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
  27. Urban, Darren (September 29, 2022). "Cardinals Bring Back Chris Banjo To Practice Squad". AZCardinals.com.
  28. Urban, Darren (October 12, 2022). "Cardinals Put Jonathan Ward On IR; Sign Banjo, Ammendola To Roster". AZCardinals.com.
  29. Hendrix, John (February 26, 2023). "Former Saints Safety Chris Banjo Announces Retirement from NFL". Sports Illustrated.
  30. DiLalla, Aric (February 25, 2023). "Broncos announce series of coaching hires". DenverBroncos.com. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  31. Dunne, Tyler (August 27, 2013). "Chris Banjo's promise to his mother before her death drives on-field effort". JSOnline.com. Retrieved October 27, 2016.
  32. "Oluwaseun - Nigerian names & meanings". OnlineNigeria.com. Retrieved October 27, 2016.
  33. "Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Oluwaseun". BehindTheName.com. Retrieved October 27, 2016.
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