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 Wilfork with theNew England Patriots in 2009 | |||||||||||||||||
| No. 75 | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Defensive tackle | ||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1981-11-04)November 4, 1981 (age 44) Boynton Beach, Florida, U.S. | ||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 325 lb (147 kg) | ||||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||||
| High school | Santaluces (Lantana, Florida) | ||||||||||||||||
| College | Miami (FL) (2001–2003) | ||||||||||||||||
| NFL draft | 2004: 1st round, 21st overall pick | ||||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||||||
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Vincent Lamar Wilfork (born November 4, 1981) is an American former professionalfootballdefensive tackle who played in theNational Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons, primarily with theNew England Patriots. He is regarded as one of the greatest defensive tackles of all time.[1][2]
Wilfork playedcollege football for theMiami Hurricanes, earning first-team All-Big East honors in 2003. He was selected in the first round of the2004 NFL draft by the Patriots, where he spent his first 11 seasons. During his New England tenure, Wilfork received fivePro Bowl selections and one first-teamAll-Pro selection.[3] Wilfork also won twoSuper Bowl titles. In his final two seasons, Wilfork was a member of theHouston Texans.
Wilfork was born inBoynton Beach, Florida, and attendedSantaluces Community High School in nearbyLantana. There, he was a letter winner in football, wrestling, and track and field. In football, he wonUSA Today's second team All-American honors.
Intrack & field, Wilfork was one of the nation's top performers in the throwing events. He was the Florida Class 4A state champion in theshot put and thediscus in 2000.[4] He also holds the Florida state high school record in the shot put with a throw of 68 feet (20.73 m). In the discus event, his top throw was 180 feet (54.86 m).[5]
Wilfork attended theUniversity of Miami, where he played for theMiami Hurricanes football team. He also competed for the Miami Hurricanes track and field team; he held the Miami indoor school record in the shot put until Isaiah Simmons surpassed it in 2013. In his freshman season, Wilfork did not start but played in every game as a defensive tackle, finishing 10th on the team in tackles with 41 while also recording a sack and forcing three fumbles. Wilfork did not start a game in his 2002 sophomore season either, but still recorded 43 tackles and seven sacks. Before the 2003 season, Wilfork was rated the second best defensive tackle in the country byThe Sporting News and went on to start all 13 games for Miami. He finished the year with a career-high 64 tackles and led the team with 20quarterback hurries. He was named to the All-Big East Conference first-team following the season, which would prove to be his last in Miami as he decided to forgo his senior season and enter the2004 NFL draft.
Wilfork was inducted into the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame in 2019.[citation needed]
Wilfork was ranked by most in the media as the second best defensive tackle prospect in the2004 NFL draft behind onlyTommie Harris.[6] Although regarded as a top-10 talent, Wilfork was criticized for lackadaisical effort during his junior season.[7] Wilfork drew comparisons to fellow Miami alumnusWarren Sapp,[8] and was selected in the first round (21st overall) by theNew England Patriots.[7] He was the highest selected Miami Hurricane defensive tackle sinceDamione Lewis in2001.
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft1+1⁄4 in (1.86 m) | 323 lb (147 kg) | 32+1⁄2 in (0.83 m) | 9+5⁄8 in (0.24 m) | 5.08 s | 4.50 s | 7.62 s | 26.5 in (0.67 m) | 8 ft 5 in (2.57 m) | 36 reps | |||
| Height/weight and bench press fromNFL Scouting Combine, all others from Miami Pro Day[9][10] | ||||||||||||
In his rookie2004 season with the Patriots, he compiled two sacks, 42 tackles, and three deflected passes. Wilfork saw considerable playing time during his rookie season, sharing the nose tackle position with veteranKeith Traylor and startedSuper Bowl XXXIX against thePhiladelphia Eagles, a Patriots victory.
Following Traylor's release, Wilfork had a career-high 54 tackles in2005 and started all 16 games;[11] however, the defending champions were eliminated in the second round of playoffs by theDenver Broncos. In2006, Wilfork finished the season with 50 tackles, appearing in 13 games.
In the2007 season, Wilfork finished the season with 48 tackles and two sacks, was selected to the2008 Pro Bowl, and was named as a second-teamAll-Pro selection.
Wilfork was fined a total of four times by the NFL in the 2007 season. In the third game of the season he was fined $12,500 by the NFL for his hit onBuffalo Bills quarterbackJ. P. Losman.[12] This was appealed to the NFL and reduced to $2,500. In an October 14 game against theDallas Cowboys, Wilfork was fined $5,000 for drawing an unsportsmanlike conduct foul when he tangled with Cowboys tight endJason Witten.[12] In thelast game of the regular 2007 season, Wilfork placed his finger in the facemask ofNew York Giants running backBrandon Jacobs after a play in the second quarter. He was fined $15,000.[12] He was also fined $5,000 for a 15-yard face-mask penalty called in theAFC Championship Game against theSan Diego Chargers, while attempting to tackle running backMichael Turner.[13]
Wilfork's string of fines continued into the2008 season, when in an October 20 game against theDenver Broncos Wilfork appeared to elbow Broncos quarterbackJay Cutler in the head after a play. Wilfork met with NFL commissionerRoger Goodell in the days following the game and reportedly faced a one-game suspension, but after Wilfork explained his manner of playing to Goodell only a fine was imposed.[14] Wilfork finished the 2008 season with a career-high 66 tackles, while recording two sacks. In 2008, he was also named for the first time a defensive captain, by his teammates.
Wilfork entered the final season of his contract in2009. Reportedly unhappy with not receiving a contract extension, Wilfork did not attend the team's voluntary organized team activities in the spring,[15] but reported to the team's mandatory sessions later in the summer. In August 2009, he was named to the Patriots' 50th anniversary team. Wilfork would go on to start the first 13 games of the season for the Patriots, missing the final three games of the season with an ankle injury before returning for the Patriots' playoff loss to theBaltimore Ravens. He finished the season with 43 tackles and no sacks, and he was elected to the2010 Pro Bowl.
Wilfork's contract expired after the 2009 season. He stated that he was looking for a long-term deal and threatened with a holdout should the Patriots instead place afranchise tag on him. In an interview with theSouth Florida Sun-Sentinel he also acknowledged it would be "a dream come true" to play for either theTampa Bay Buccaneers or theMiami Dolphins.[16] On February 22, Wilfork was assigned the non-exclusive version of the franchise tag by the Patriots, who expressed their desire to reach a long-term contract with Wilfork.[17] On March 5, the first day of free agency, the Patriots re-signed Wilfork to a five-year, $40 million contract with $25 million in guaranteed money.[18]
After starting the first three games of the2010 season atnose tackle, Wilfork moved todefensive end beginning in Week 4 against theMiami Dolphins. He returned to start at nose tackle in the Patriots' Week 8 win over theMinnesota Vikings. He would continue to switch between the positions for the remainder of the season, but started all 16 games and finished with 57 tackles and two sacks. Wilfork was selected to the2011 Pro Bowl after the season. Wilfork was named to the2010 AP All-Pro Second Team at defensive tackle, finishing third in the voting, but also received a vote at defensive end. He was ranked 35th by his fellow players on theNFL Top 100 Players of 2011.[19]
At the start of the 2011 NFL Season, he playeddefensive tackle when theNew England Patriots moved to a4–3 defense thanks to his former teammateAlbert Haynesworth and after playingnose tackle for the first sevenNFL seasons. In the second game of the 2011 season, Wilfork got his first career interception offSan Diego Chargers quarterback,Philip Rivers. He caught his second interception against theOakland Raiders two weeks later.[20] He scored a touchdown on week 14 against theWashington Redskins at theFedExField.[21]
During the 2011 season, Wilfork recorded 3.5 sacks—a new career high—and was included on theAFC's2012 Pro Bowl roster.[22] In the AFC Championship game against the Ravens, he had one of his best games of his career, recording 1.5 sacks and 6 tackles. At the end of the 2011 season, Wilfork and the Patriots appeared inSuper Bowl XLVI. He started in the game and recorded three total tackles, but the Patriots lost to theNew York Giants by a score of 21–17.[23][24]
Wilfork was selected as a defensive tackle for USA Football's 2012 "All Fundamentals Team", which honors 26 NFL players each year for executing the fundamentals of their position.[25] He was also named to his fourth career Pro Bowl team and to the All Pro second team.
In 2012, he was voted co-captain for the fifth straight season by his teammates. Wilfork made one of the most famous plays of his career on November 22, 2012, in a game against theNew York Jets. In the second quarter, he shoved Jets offensive linemanBrandon Moore in the direction of quarterbackMark Sanchez, causing an unlucky collision between Sanchez and Moore's buttocks and resulting in a fumble that was returned for a touchdown by safetySteve Gregory. The play became known as theButt Fumble. Wilfork finished the year with 48 total tackles and 3 sacks. His strong season earned him a spot in the Associated Press All Pro first team and in the2013 Pro Bowl.
In week 4 of the2013 NFL season against theAtlanta Falcons, Wilfork tore his rightAchilles' tendon while trying to get past Falcons offensive guardJustin Blalock.[26] Wilfork would miss the rest of the 2013 season after being placed on injured reserve.[27]
In March 2014, Wilfork re-signed to a three-year $22.5 million deal.[28]
In the2014 NFL season, Wilfork recorded 47 tackles, 2 passes defensed, and 1 interception. He helped the Patriots reachSuper Bowl XLIX. In the Super Bowl, Wilfork recorded 2 tackles as they defeated theSeattle Seahawks 28–24 to give Wilfork his second Super Bowl championship.[29]
On March 5, 2015, the Patriots declined their team option on Wilfork's contract, which made him a free agent at the end of the 2014 league season.[30]
On March 16, 2015, Wilfork signed a two-year deal with theHouston Texans.[31][32] He started all 16 games in 2015 at the nose tackle position making 22 tackles.[33] In his two seasons in Houston, he totaled 43 tackles, helping the Texans win back-to-back AFC South titles.
On August 9, 2017, Wilfork held a press conference to announce his retirement, along with signing aone-day contract to retire with the Patriots.[34]
During the 2018 season, the Patriots honored Wilfork by naming him honorary captain for the AFC Championship game and he presented the Lamar Hunt Trophy after the Patriots beat theKansas City Chiefs.[35] After theSuper Bowl LIII win, Wilfork carried theLombardi Trophy along withEmmitt Smith andJoe Namath to the presentation stage.
In 2022, Wilfork was voted into the Patriots Hall of Fame, becoming the sixth player in their first year of eligibility to be selected by the fans. He was inducted on Saturday, September 24, 2022.[36][37]
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Won theSuper Bowl | |
| Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | Games | Tackles | Fumbles | Interceptions | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | FF | FR | Yds | TD | Int | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | PD | ||
| 2004 | NE | 16 | 6 | 42 | 27 | 15 | 2.0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 2005 | NE | 16 | 16 | 54 | 40 | 14 | 0.5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2006 | NE | 13 | 13 | 50 | 40 | 10 | 1.0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2007 | NE | 16 | 16 | 48 | 36 | 12 | 2.0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2008 | NE | 16 | 16 | 66 | 45 | 21 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2009 | NE | 13 | 13 | 43 | 31 | 12 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2010 | NE | 16 | 16 | 57 | 46 | 11 | 2.0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2011 | NE | 16 | 16 | 52 | 29 | 23 | 3.5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 47 | 23.5 | 28 | 0 | 5 |
| 2012 | NE | 16 | 16 | 48 | 29 | 19 | 3.0 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 2013 | NE | 4 | 4 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | NE | 16 | 16 | 47 | 24 | 23 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 2015 | HOU | 16 | 16 | 22 | 6 | 16 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2016 | HOU | 15 | 15 | 21 | 9 | 12 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Career | 189 | 179 | 559 | 366 | 193 | 16.0 | 4 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 48 | 16.0 | 28 | 0 | 26 | |
| Year | Team | Games | Tackles | Fumbles | Interceptions | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | FF | FR | Yds | TD | Int | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | PD | ||
| 2004 | NE | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2005 | NE | 2 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2006 | NE | 3 | 3 | 13 | 11 | 2 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2007 | NE | 3 | 3 | 16 | 10 | 6 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2009 | NE | 1 | 1 | 13 | 9 | 4 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2010 | NE | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2011 | NE | 3 | 3 | 12 | 7 | 5 | 2.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2012 | NE | 2 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2013 | NE | 0 | 0 | Did not play due to injury | |||||||||||||
| 2014 | NE | 3 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2015 | HOU | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2016 | HOU | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 24 | 22 | 85 | 54 | 31 | 3.0 | 0 | 1 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
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Wilfork lives in Houston, Texas andFlorida. He has one son and one daughter. He married Bianca Farinas in 2004.[citation needed] They later divorced. Wilfork remarried on October 8, 2020.[38] Both of Wilfork's parents died in 2002 and never saw him play in the NFL.[39]
Following the Patriots' victory in the 2014 AFC Championship game, Wilfork helped remove a driver out from an overturned vehicle. He noticed the flipped SUV on his way home fromGillette Stadium, assisting an officer already at the scene. Wilfork later recounted the event and his role in helping the driver: "I think anybody would do the same thing, I saw the lady in there and asked her if she was OK, could she move. She grabbed my hand, and kind of talked her through [it]. It wasn't a big deal; it was seeing someone that needed help and helping. I was just trying to get her to safety."[40]
