Rob Ninkovich

Robert Michael Ninkovich (born February 1, 1984) is an American former professional football player who was an outside linebacker for eleven seasons in the National Football League (NFL).

As a sophomore at Joliet in 2003, Ninkovich earned third-team NJCAA All-America honors after recording 95 tackles (68 solo), five forced fumbles, four fumbles recovered, and a school-record 16 sacks.

Ninkovich transferred to Purdue in 2004 and played in all 12 games that season.

Despite being a reserve, Ninkovich was tied for the team lead and ranked second in the Big Ten with eight sacks.

In an October 2 contest against Notre Dame, Ninkovich recorded two sacks on defense and also caught a goal-line touchdown pass from Kyle Orton.

Against Indiana on November 20, he tied a school record with four sacks.

As a senior in 2005, Ninkovich earned second-team All-Big Ten honors after recording 48 tackles, eight sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery.

He recorded four sacks against Indiana for the second straight season, giving him two of the three individual four-sack performances in school history.

In a 37–3 victory over Illinois, he caught a one-yard touchdown pass from Curtis Painter.

Following the season, he was invited to play in the East-West Shrine Game.

He played college football for the Purdue Boilermakers as a defensive end and was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the fifth round of the 2006 NFL Draft.

He also played in the NFL for the Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots, winning two Super Bowls with the latter.

The New Orleans Saints selected Ninkovich in the fifth round (135th overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft.

On July 18, 2006, the New Orleans Saints signed Ninkovich to a three-year, $1.22 million contract.

Throughout training camp, Ninkovich competed against Charles Grant, Willie Whitehead, and Eric Moore for the job as the starting defensive end.

On August 21, 2006, the New Orleans Saints lost, 30–7, to the Dallas Cowboys in their second preseason game.

During the game, Ninkovich recorded two sacks and two forced fumbles but was also flagged for an unnecessary roughness penalty which led to a Cowboys' touchdown.

He finished the preseason with three sacks.

Head coach Sean Payton named Ninkovich the backup defensive end to Will Smith and Charles Grant to begin the regular season.

He made his professional regular-season debut during the Saints' season-opener at the Cleveland Browns and recorded three combined tackles during their 19–14 victory.

On September 25, 2006, Ninkovich suffered a torn MC ligament in his knee while appearing on special teams during the Saints 23–3 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Monday Night Football.

On September 29, 2006, the Saints placed Ninkovich on season-ending injured reserve after he underwent surgery to repair the torn ligament.

Ninkovich finished his rookie season with four combined tackles (two solo) and a pass deflection in three games.

Ninkovich saw stiff competition throughout training camp, competing with Josh Cooper, Anton Palepoi, Jonathan Hamm, and Willie Evans.

During an afternoon practice on July 30, 2007, Ninkovich was carted off the field with a knee injury.

On September 6, 2007, he was waived by the New Orleans Saints as a part of their final roster cuts.

On September 7, 2007, the Miami Dolphins claimed Ninkovich off of waivers.

Head coach Cam Cameron named him the backup defensive end to Jason Taylor and Matt Roth.

On September 16, 2007, Ninkovich made his Miami Dolphins' debut during their 37–20 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

After eight seasons with the Patriots, Ninkovich announced his retirement from the NFL following the 2016 season.

Rob Ninkovich was born in Blue Island, Illinois, to a family of Croatian origin.

Following seventh grade, Rob's family relocated to New Lenox, Illinois.

He attended Lincoln-Way East High School in Frankfort his freshman and sophomore year then attended Lincoln-Way Central High School in New Lenox his junior and senior years.

There, he played defensive end, tight end, and fullback.

Ninkovich earned All-State honors for defensive end during his senior year.

He also lettered in baseball.

Following high school, Ninkovich spent two years at Joliet Junior College in Joliet, Illinois.

As a freshman, he recorded 36 tackles and seven sacks as his team won the NJCAA national championship.

During the summer prior to his sophomore year, 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.