Germain Ifedi
Germain Ifedi (born June 2, 1994) is an American football offensive tackle for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Texas A&M and was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft.
![]() Ifedi with the Atlanta Falcons in 2022 | |||||
No. 68 – Buffalo Bills | |||||
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Position: | Offensive tackle | ||||
Personal information | |||||
Born: | Houston, Texas, U.S. | June 2, 1994||||
Height: | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | ||||
Weight: | 338 lb (153 kg) | ||||
Career information | |||||
High school: | Westside (Houston) | ||||
College: | Texas A&M (2012–2015) | ||||
NFL Draft: | 2016 / Round: 1 / Pick: 31 | ||||
Career history | |||||
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* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||
Roster status: | Active | ||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||
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Career NFL statistics as of 2022 | |||||
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Player stats at NFL.com · PFR |
Early years
A native of Houston, Ifedi attended Westside High School, where he was a three-sport athlete in football, basketball, and track. He earned second-team All-State honors by the Associated Press. He recorded 96 pancakes as a senior, and also blocked a kick. The Westside Wolves went 10–4 on the season, losing the UIL 5A Division II Regional Final to Dekaney, which were led by running back Trey Williams.[1] Regarded a four-star recruit by Scout.com, Ifedi was listed the No. 15 offensive guard prospect in his class.[2] ESPN also listed him as four-star recruit.[3]
College career
After redshirting in his first year at Texas A&M, Ifedi started at Right Guard all 13 season games on the offensive line in 2013. The Aggies offensive line, that also included tackles Jake Matthews and Cedric Ogbuehi, blocked for an offense that ranked in the top 10 nationally in scoring, passing and total offense. Quarterback Johnny Manziel completed 69 percent of his passes over the season, for 4,114 yards and 37 touchdowns, and lead the team in rushing yards with 759. After the season, Ifedi was named Freshman All-American by Sporting News.[4]
In his sophomore season, Ifedi replaced Ogbuehi at right tackle (after Ogbuehi had to replace Matthews at left tackle). Ifedi started all but two games of the season, missing the Auburn and Missouri games due to a sprained knee suffered against Louisiana–Monroe.[5] The Aggies offensive line allowed only 27 sacks (2.1 per game), while quarterbacks Kenny Hill and Kyle Allen attempted a combined 514 passes (39.5 per game), leading the Southeastern Conference in passing yards and touchdowns.
Professional career
Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | ||
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6 ft 5+3⁄4 in (1.97 m) |
324 lb (147 kg) |
36 in (0.91 m) |
10+3⁄4 in (0.27 m) | 5.27 s | 1.80 s | 3.04 s | 4.75 s | 32.5 in (0.83 m) | 9 ft 1 in (2.77 m) | 24 reps | ||
Values from NFL Combine[6][7] |
Seattle Seahawks
Ifedi was selected in the first round with the 31st overall pick by the Seattle Seahawks.[8] He became the fourth consecutive Texas A&M Aggies offensive lineman selected in the first round of an NFL Draft, after Luke Joeckel (2013), Jake Matthews (2014), and Cedric Ogbuehi (2015)
On May 6, 2016, Ifedi signed a four-year deal worth $8.27 million overall with a $4.2 million signing bonus.[9][10] Ifedi made his first career start and NFL debut on October 2, 2016, against the New York Jets in Week 4 after missing September due to an ankle injury.[11]
Ifedi entered his second season in 2017 as the Seahawks starting right tackle, starting in all 16 games. Ifedi led the league in penalties with 16,[12] after committing only 6 in 13 starts playing at Guard in 2016.[13]
On May 3, 2019, the Seahawks declined the fifth-year option on Ifedi's contract, making him a free agent in 2020.[14]
Chicago Bears
On April 1, 2020, Ifedi signed with the Chicago Bears on a one-year deal.[15] He was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the team on November 3, 2020,[16] and activated three days later.[17] He started in all 16 games for the Bears in 2020, 10 at right guard and six at right tackle.
On April 1, 2021, Ifedi re-signed with the Bears.[18][19] He suffered a knee injury in Week 5 and was placed on injured reserve on October 13.[20] He was activated on December 20.
Atlanta Falcons
On April 6, 2022, Ifedi signed a one-year contract with the Atlanta Falcons.[21] He re-signed with the team on March 22, 2023.[22] He was released on May 16, 2023.[23]
Detroit Lions
On May 23, 2023, Ifedi signed with the Detroit Lions.[24] He was released on August 27.[25]
Buffalo Bills
On August 30, 2023, Ifedi signed with the Buffalo Bills.[26]
Personal life
Ifedi's parents are Nigerian immigrants.[27] Ifedi is a member of the Pi Omicron chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha. His older brother, Martin Ifedi, played defensive end for the Memphis Tigers. His eldest brother, Benedict Ifedi, is a Primary Care-Sports Medicine Physician in Katy, Texas.[28]
At Texas A&M, Ifedi majored in construction science. He interned with Manhattan-Vaughn Construction in 2015, the joint venture which renovated Kyle Field.[29]
References
- "Dekaney gets revenge, Region II, D-2 championship with 28-18 win over Westfield". Spring Observer. December 3, 2011.
- Germain Ifedi Recruiting Profile
- "Germain Ifedi". ESPN.go.com. ESPN. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
- "Freshman All-Americans: Jameis Winston, Myles Jack lead the way". Sporting News. December 13, 2013.
- "Texas A&M Loses Starting Right Tackle Germain Ifedi". Fansided. November 5, 2014.
- "Germain Ifedi Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
- "2016 NFL Draft Scout Germain Ifedi College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
- Condotta, Bob (April 28, 2016). "Seahawks select Germain Ifedi in first round of 2016 NFL Draft". seattletimes.com. Seattle Times. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
- Condotta, Bob (May 6, 2016). "Reports: Seahawks' first-round pick Germain Ifedi, four others, agree to contract terms". seattletimes.com. Seattle Times. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
- "2016 NFL Draft first-round signing tracker". NFL.com. May 12, 2016. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
- Gregg Bell. "Finally, rookie "monster" Germain Ifedi will debut on o-line Sunday at Jets". thenewstribune.com. Retrieved November 4, 2016.
- "All Players - 2017".
- "Germain Ifedi - Seattle Seahawks - Offensive Line / Tackle - 2016".
- "The Seahawks decline Germain Ifedi's fifth year option, so what now?". Field Gulls. May 3, 2019.
- Mayer, Larry (April 1, 2020). "Roster Move: Bears sign Ifedi to 1-year deal". Chicago Bears. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
- Lieser, Jason (November 3, 2020). "Bears put OT Jason Spriggs, RG Germain Ifedi on reserve/COVID-19 list; RT Bobby Massie to IR". SunTimes.com. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
- Mayer, Larry (November 6, 2020). "Roster Moves: Ifedi activated from reserve/COVID-19 list". ChicagoBears.com. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
- Mayer, Larry (March 17, 2021). "Roster Move: Bears agree to extension with Ifedi". ChicagoBears.com.
- "2021 NFL Transactions: Signings – April". NFL.com. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
- Mayer, Larry (October 13, 2021). "Roster Moves: Ifedi put on IR, Nall activated". ChicagoBears.com.
- McElhaney, Tori (April 6, 2022). "Falcons add veteran offensive tackle to bolster line of scrimmage depth". AtlantaFalcons.com.
- "Falcons re-sign Germain Ifedi to one-year deal". AtlantaFalcons.com. March 22, 2023.
- McElhaney, Tori (May 16, 2023). "Falcons sign four, release veteran tackle". AtlantaFalcons.com.
- Comeaux, Jonathan (May 23, 2023). "Lions Signing OL Germain Ifedi". NFLTradeRumors.co. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
- "Lions announce roster moves". DetroitLions.com. August 27, 2023.
- White, Alec (August 30, 2023). "Bills sign OT Germain Ifedi, re-sign LS Reid Ferguson to 53-man roster". BuffaloBills.com.
- "Nigeria's Igbo-Americans drafted in National Football League (NFL) 2016".
- "Memphis' Martin Ifedi blossoms into leader in sacks". NFL.com. September 25, 2013.
- Johnson, Will. "On The Front Lines". 12thManFoundation.com. Retrieved May 8, 2016.