Derek Wolfe

The Denver Broncos selected Wolfe in the second round (36th overall) of the 2012 NFL Draft. Wolfe was the fourth defensive tackle drafted in 2012.[8]

External video
Broncos draft Derek Wolfe 36th overall

On May 21, 2012, the Denver Broncos signed Wolfe to a four-year, $5.20 million contract that includes $3.09 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $2.22 million.[9][10]

Wolfe playing in the 2012 preseason.

In his first NFL game in the regular season against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Wolfe came out with 3 tackles and a sack for a loss of 9 yards.

Wolfe finished his rookie season with 40 tackles, six sacks, and two passes defended. His six sacks were third most on the team, behind Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil.

Wolfe had a tough sophomore season. In a preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks, Wolfe suffered a spinal cord injury and was carted off the field. That, along with two bouts of food poisoning, led to him losing 20 pounds, and he was therefore not as productive on the field. On November 29, Wolfe suffered a seizure on the bus ride to the airport for their Kansas City Chiefs matchup. (After the season, it was reported that the seizure was related to the spinal cord injury.) Despite hopes that he might return to the field, he was eventually placed on Injured Reserve. Without Wolfe, the Broncos reached Super Bowl XLVIII where they lost to the Seattle Seahawks.

Wolfe playing for the Denver Broncos in 2014

The 2015 season was the best of Wolfe's career. After serving a four-game suspension for a PED violation,[11] Wolfe returned to establish himself as one of the best-run stuffers in the game, which eventually led to him being named AFC Defensive Player of the Week after the Broncos defense completely neutralized the undefeated Green Bay Packers offense in Week 8.

On January 15, 2016, Wolfe signed a four-year extension with the Broncos worth $36.7 million.[12]

On February 7, 2016, Wolfe was part of the Broncos team that won Super Bowl 50. In the game, the Broncos defeated the Carolina Panthers by a score of 24–10.[13] He had five tackles and 0.5 sacks in the Super Bowl.[14]

In 2016, Wolfe posted a career-high in tackles with 51, and in passes defended with 4.

The Broncos finished the 2016 season with a 9–7 record and missed the playoffs for the first time in Wolfe's career.[15]

On December 5, 2017, Wolfe was placed on injured reserve with a neck injury.[16]

On December 2, 2019, Wolfe was placed on injured reserve after suffering a dislocated elbow in Week 13.[17]

On March 31, 2020, Wolfe signed a one-year, $3 million deal with the Baltimore Ravens.[18][19]

In Week 15 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Wolfe recorded his first sack as a Raven on Gardner Minshew and recovered a fumble lost by Minshew during the 40–14 win.[20]

Wolfe agreed to a three-year, $12 million contract extension with the Ravens on March 17, 2021.[21]

On October 2, 2021, Wolfe suffered a hip injury during practice and was placed on injured reserve. On October 26, 2021, Wolfe was designated to return to practice from injured reserve.[22] However, on November 15, 2021, head coach John Harbaugh said that Wolfe was expected to be out for the rest of the season.[23]

On June 14, 2022, Wolfe and the Ravens came to terms on an injury settlement leading to his release from the team.[24]

During the discussion concerning kneeling during the national anthem, Wolfe sent comments to ESPN stating the following: this is the "greatest country in the world and if you don't think we are the greatest country in the world and you reside here, then why do you stay?"[25]

On July 29, 2022, Wolfe announced his retirement from professional football, signing a one-day contract with the Denver Broncos to retire as a member of the team.[26]

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