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Nakobe Dean
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Nakobe Rashod Dean (born December 13, 2000) is an American professional football linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs, winning the 2021 Butkus Award before being selected by the Eagles in the third round of the 2022 NFL draft.
Key Information
Early life
[edit]Dean played high school football at Horn Lake High School. As a senior, he won the High School Butkus Award.[1] As a five-star recruit, Dean committed to Georgia after receiving offers from Ole Miss and Alabama.[2]
College career
[edit]As a true freshman for the Georgia Bulldogs football team, Dean recorded 25 total tackles despite battling injuries.[3] In 2021, he won the Butkus Award given annually to college football's best linebacker and finished the season as a key member of the team that won the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship.[4][5][6] On January 15, 2022, Dean declared for the 2022 NFL draft.[7]
College statistics
[edit]| Season | GP | Tackles | Sacks | Interceptions | Fumbles | Scoring | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solo | Ast | Cmb | TfL | Sck | Yds | Int | Yds | PD | FR | Yds | FF | TD | ||
| 2019 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 25 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2020 | 10 | 39 | 32 | 71 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | 15 | 36 | 36 | 72 | 10.5 | 6 | 47 | 2 | 50 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Career | 39 | 89 | 79 | 168 | 14.5 | 7.5 | 56 | 2 | 50 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
Professional career
[edit]Dean was invited to the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine. He performed limited positional drills due to an injury (a torn pectoral muscle) that he suffered while training for the NFL draft.[8]
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 ft 11+1⁄4 in (1.81 m) |
229 lb (104 kg) |
31+7⁄8 in (0.81 m) |
9+1⁄8 in (0.23 m) | |||||||||
| All values from NFL Combine[9][10][11] | ||||||||||||
Dean was selected in the third round (83rd overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles.[12] His draft-day slide was considered surprising, but NFL analyst Ian Rapoport pointed out that teams were reportedly concerned about Dean's size, and his decision to opt against getting surgery to repair his pectoral injury. Dean appeared in all 17 games as a rookie and mainly played on special teams.[13] Dean's rookie season ended with a trip to Super Bowl LVII where the Eagles lost 38–35 to the Kansas City Chiefs.[14]
Dean entered the 2023 season as the Eagles starting middle linebacker. He suffered a foot injury in Week 1 and was placed on injured reserve on September 12, 2023.[15] He was activated on October 14, but placed back on injured reserve on November 16 with a Lisfranc injury.[16]
On November 3, 2024, during a Week 9 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Dean recorded his first career interception to effectively win the game, 28–23.[17]
On January 12, 2025, Dean tore the patellar tendon in his left knee after tackling Tucker Kraft of the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card playoff game. Dean was carted off the field and Oren Burks, who forced a fumble on the opening kickoff of the game, subbed in for him.[18] Dean was subsequently placed on injured reserve[19] and was confirmed to be out for the rest of the playoffs. As a result, the Eagles signed Nicholas Morrow to the practice squad on January 14, while Burks replaced Dean as a starter for the rest of the playoffs.[20] Without Dean, the Eagles went on to win Super Bowl LIX, giving Dean his first Super Bowl ring.[21]
NFL career statistics
[edit]| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Won the Super 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 | ||
| 2022 | PHI | 17 | 0 | 13 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | PHI | 5 | 4 | 30 | 22 | 8 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | PHI | 15 | 15 | 128 | 80 | 48 | 3.0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Career | 37 | 19 | 171 | 111 | 60 | 3.5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |
Personal life
[edit]Dean is a member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity and was initiated while at Georgia. Dean's older brother, Nikolas, played tight end at Ole Miss.[22] In 2022, Dean was named the Arthur Ashe Jr. Male Sports Scholar of the Year by Diverse: Issues In Higher Education.[23]
References
[edit]- ^ Thompson, Khari (December 5, 2018). "Horn Lake football star Nakobe Dean wins High School Butkus Award as nation's top linebacker". The Commercial Appeal. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
- ^ Daniels, Tim (December 19, 2018). "5-Star LB Nakobe Dean Commits to Georgia over Alabama, Ole Miss". Bleacher Report. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
- ^ Miller, Bob (March 16, 2020). "2020 Georgia Spring Football Primer: Monty Rice leads a lean, mean inside linebacking corps – Bulldawg Illustrated". Bulldawg Illustrated. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
- ^ "Dick Butkus Award Winners". Sports Reference. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
- ^ "2021 Georgia Bulldogs Stats". Sports Reference. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
- ^ "2021 Georgia Bulldogs Schedule and Results". Sports Reference. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
- ^ Kasabian, Paul (January 14, 2022). "Georgia's Nakobe Dean Declares for 2022 NFL Draft After CFP Title Win vs. Alabama". Bleacher Report. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
- ^ Towers, Chip (March 16, 2022). "'Pec strain' limits Nakobe Dean's participation at UGA's Pro Day". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
- ^ "Nakobe Dean Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
- ^ "2022 Draft Scout Nakobe Dean, Georgia NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
- ^ "Nakobe Dean 2022 NFL Draft Profile". insider.espn.com. Archived from the original on January 12, 2024. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ Foley, Graham (April 29, 2022). "Eagles draft LB Nakobe Dean with the No. 83 overall pick". PhiladelphiaEagles.com. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
- ^ "Nakobe Dean 2022 Game Log". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
- ^ "Super Bowl LVII – Philadelphia Eagles vs. Kansas City Chiefs – February 12th, 2023". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
- ^ "Eagles sign Nicholas Morrow to the active roster, Rashaan Evans to the practice squad". PhiladelphiaEagles.com. September 12, 2023. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
- ^ McPherson, Chris (November 16, 2023). "Eagles place Nakobe Dean on Injured Reserve". PhiladelphiaEagles.com. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
- ^ Hunte, Sydney (November 4, 2024). "Nakobe Dean clinches Eagles win over Jaguars with first career interception". Saturday Down South. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
- ^ Camenker, Jacob. "Nakobe Dean injury update: Eagles LB feared to have 'significant' knee injury". USA TODAY. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
- ^ Erby, Glenn (January 14, 2025). "Eagles place linebacker Nakobe Dean on Injured Reserve". Eagles Wire. USA Today. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
- ^ Ignudo, Tom (January 14, 2025). "Philadelphia Eagles sign LB Nicholas Morrow to practice squad after Nakobe Dean's season-ending injury - CBS Philadelphia". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
- ^ Maaddi, Rob (February 10, 2025). "Eagles deny the Chiefs a Super Bowl three-peat with dominant defense in a 40-22 rout". AP News. Retrieved February 17, 2025.
- ^ "Nakobe Dean – 2020 – Football". University of Georgia Athletics. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
- ^ Elfman, Lois (April 25, 2022). "Paying It Forward". Diverse: Issues In Higher Education. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
External links
[edit]- Career statistics from NFL.com · ESPN · Yahoo Sports
- Philadelphia Eagles bio
- Georgia Bulldogs bio
Nakobe Dean
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Early years
Early life
Nakobe Rashod Dean was born on December 13, 2000, in Horn Lake, Mississippi.[6][7] Dean's family background is rooted in military service, with his mother, Neketta Dean, having served eight years in the U.S. Army as a veteran.[8] His father, Byron Dean, is a doctor and also a military veteran.[8] He was raised in a single-parent household by his mother alongside his older brother Nikolas and younger sister Brooklyn.[1] These experiences profoundly shaped Dean's early interests; accompanying his mother on visits to Veterans Affairs hospitals exposed him to veterans who had lost limbs, inspiring a passion for mechanical engineering and the development of prosthetics to improve their quality of life.[9][10] Dean spent his childhood in Horn Lake, a small town in DeSoto County, where he grew up in a close-knit community.[11] His initial exposure to football came early, as he began playing pee-wee flag football at age five, alongside basketball and baseball, which helped nurture his athletic instincts from a young age.[12]High school career
Nakobe Dean attended Horn Lake High School in Horn Lake, Mississippi, where he emerged as a standout linebacker on the football team.[13] Throughout his high school career, Dean amassed impressive defensive statistics, including 438 total tackles, 61.5 tackles for loss, and 18 sacks, while also recording 6 interceptions.[13] As a two-way player, he contributed offensively with 12 touchdowns, primarily as a running back.[13] His senior year in 2018 was particularly dominant, with 175 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, 7 sacks, 3 interceptions, and 2 forced fumbles, helping lead the Eagles to a perfect 15-0 record and the program's first Mississippi Class 6A state championship.[13][14] For his exceptional senior performance, Dean earned the 2018 High School Butkus Award as the nation's top high school linebacker.[15] He was also honored as the 2018-19 Gatorade Mississippi Player of the Year and Class 6A Mississippi Mr. Football.[13] Rated a five-star recruit and ranked among the top linebacker prospects nationally, Dean committed to the University of Georgia on December 19, 2018, selecting the Bulldogs over other major programs including Alabama and Ole Miss.[16][13]College career
University of Georgia
Nakobe Dean, a five-star recruit from Horn Lake High School in Mississippi, enrolled early at the University of Georgia in January 2019 to begin his college football career with the Bulldogs.[17] In his freshman season of 2019, Dean appeared in all 14 games, rotating within a deep linebacker corps and recording 25 tackles despite dealing with injuries that limited his playing time.[17] By his sophomore year in 2020, shortened to 10 games due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Dean showed marked progression, starting every contest and establishing himself as a defensive leader by playing 76 percent of the team's snaps and serving as the Bulldogs' leading tackler.[3] Dean ascended to a starring role as a junior in 2021, acting as the "field general" of Georgia's defense with instinctive playmaking and commanding presence that elevated the unit's performance.[18] His contributions, including recording 72 tackles (second on the team) while adding interceptions and forced fumbles, helped anchor a defense that ranked first nationally in scoring defense (10.2 points per game) and propelled the Bulldogs to a 14-1 record and the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship victory over Alabama.[18][19] For his dominant 2021 campaign, Dean earned the prestigious Butkus Award as the nation's top linebacker, securing 34 percent of the weighted vote and becoming just the second Georgia player to win the honor.[18] He also received the 2022 Arthur Ashe Jr. Male Sports Scholar of the Year award, recognizing his balance of athletic excellence, academic rigor in mechanical engineering, and leadership in community service efforts like fundraising for educational resources.[20] Following the championship, Dean declared for the 2022 NFL Draft on January 14, 2022, opting to forgo his senior season after three impactful years with the Bulldogs.College statistics
Nakobe Dean appeared in 39 games over three seasons at the University of Georgia from 2019 to 2021, starting 25 of them, primarily as an inside linebacker.[21][22] His career defensive statistics totaled 168 tackles (90 solo, 78 assisted), 13.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, 2 interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), 8 passes defended, and 3 forced fumbles.[21] The following table provides a year-by-year breakdown of his key defensive statistics:| Year | Class | GP | GS | Solo | Ast | Total Tackles | TFL | Sacks | INT | PD | FF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | FR | 14 | 0 | 14 | 11 | 25 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 2020 | SO | 10 | 10 | 40 | 31 | 71 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | JR | 15 | 15 | 36 | 36 | 72 | 10.5 | 6.0 | 2 | 6 | 2 |
| Career | - | 39 | 25 | 90 | 78 | 168 | 13.5 | 7.5 | 2 | 8 | 3 |
Professional career
2022 NFL Draft
Nakobe Dean entered the 2022 NFL Draft as one of the top linebacker prospects in his class, praised for his sideline-to-sideline range, instincts, and productivity during his college career at Georgia, where he contributed to a national championship.[23][24] Pre-draft evaluations highlighted his athleticism and versatility as a three-down defender, though his smaller stature at 5 feet 11 inches and 229 pounds raised some concerns about his fit against the run in the NFL.[25][26] In various mock drafts and rankings, he was projected anywhere from a late first-round pick to the early third round, with outlets like Pro Football Focus ranking him 19th overall on their big board and Sports Illustrated placing him second among linebackers.[23][24] Dean opted out of on-field workouts at the NFL Scouting Combine in March 2022 due to a minor injury, where he was measured at 5'11" and 229 pounds, but he participated in Georgia's pro day later that month.[27] There, he recorded a 40-yard dash time of 4.66 seconds, a broad jump of 10 feet 4 inches, and a vertical jump of 34.5 inches, performances that underscored his quickness and explosiveness despite not being elite in straight-line speed.[28] His slide in the draft was attributed to teams' preferences for larger linebackers and questions about his durability, leading to his availability into the third round.[29] The Philadelphia Eagles selected Dean in the third round with the 83rd overall pick on April 29, 2022, viewing him as a high-upside addition to their linebacker group needing speed and playmaking ability.[30] Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni emphasized Dean's football intelligence and tackling prowess as key traits that aligned with the team's defensive scheme.[22] On May 16, 2022, Dean signed his rookie contract with the Eagles, a four-year deal worth $5,204,642, including a signing bonus of $965,192 and fully guaranteed money of the same amount.[31] As a rookie, expectations centered on his potential to develop into a starter, with analysts noting his college production—such as leading Georgia in tackles during the 2021 season—as a foundation for contributing in sub-packages and special teams early on.[32][33]Philadelphia Eagles seasons
Dean began his NFL career as a third-round selection in the 2022 NFL Draft, joining a Philadelphia Eagles defense coordinated by Jonathan Gannon that emphasized versatile linebacker play in a 3-4 base scheme.[2] As a rookie, he appeared in all 17 regular-season games without a start, logging just 34 defensive snaps while primarily contributing on special teams.[34] He recorded 13 tackles (9 solo) and participated in the Eagles' postseason run, including Super Bowl LVII, where the team fell 38-35 to the Kansas City Chiefs despite his presence on the active roster as a depth piece behind starters Kyzir White and T.J. Edwards.[35][1] In 2023, under defensive coordinator Sean Desai, Dean earned a starting role amid positional competition but was sidelined by multiple lower-body injuries, including a foot issue and a Lisfranc fracture that limited him to 5 games (4 starts).[36] He amassed 30 tackles (22 solo) and 0.5 sack before being placed on injured reserve, contributing to a transitional Eagles defense that struggled with consistency at linebacker.[35] Dean emerged as a cornerstone of the Eagles' linebacker corps in 2024, starting all 15 games he played under new coordinator Vic Fangio's aggressive, coverage-oriented scheme that highlighted his sideline-to-sideline range.[37] He led the team with 128 tackles (80 solo), added 3 sacks, 9 tackles for loss, and notched his first career interception—a game-sealing pick in the red zone against Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence on November 3—while generating 13 quarterback pressures.[35][38] His breakout performance anchored the run defense and supported Philadelphia's NFC Championship appearance, culminating in a 40-22 Super Bowl LIX victory over the Chiefs on February 9, 2025, though he suffered a torn patellar tendon in his left knee during the January 12 divisional-round win over the Green Bay Packers.[39][40] Despite missing the remainder of the playoffs, Dean earned a championship ring as part of the Super Bowl-winning roster.[41] Entering 2025 on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list due to ongoing knee recovery, Dean was activated on October 9 and made his season debut the following day against the New York Giants, where he saw limited action as he reintegrated into a linebacker group featuring Zack Baun and Devin White under Fangio's continued scheme. As of Week 11, 2025, Dean has appeared in 5 games (3 starts), recording 21 tackles (14 solo), 2.0 sacks, and 1 forced fumble, with his snaps gradually increasing from limited in his debut to 31 (45% of defensive plays) against the Minnesota Vikings on October 20 (6 tackles, 1 TFL), 33 against the Giants on October 27, and 44 against the Packers on November 10 (7 tackles, 1 sack, 1 FF), reflecting a cautious ramp-up amid competition for starting duties while prioritizing full rehabilitation.[42][43]NFL career statistics
Nakobe Dean's NFL career statistics encompass his performances as a linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles, with data drawn from official league records. His contributions include tackles, sacks, interceptions, forced fumbles, and fumble recoveries across regular season and postseason games. Dean recorded his first career interception on November 3, 2024, sealing a victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars.[38]Regular Season Statistics
The following table details Dean's regular season statistics by year, including games played (G), games started (GS), solo tackles, assisted tackles, total tackles, sacks, interceptions (INT), forced fumbles (FF), and fumble recoveries (FR). Statistics for 2025 are as of Week 11.[2]| Year | Team | G | GS | Solo | Ast | Total | Sacks | INT | FF | FR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | PHI | 17 | 0 | 9 | 4 | 13 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | PHI | 5 | 4 | 22 | 8 | 30 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | PHI | 15 | 15 | 80 | 48 | 128 | 3.0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 2025 | PHI | 5 | 3 | 14 | 7 | 21 | 2.0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Career | 42 | 22 | 125 | 67 | 192 | 5.5 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
Postseason Statistics
Dean's postseason appearances occurred in 2022 and 2024, as shown below.[2]| Year | Team | G | GS | Solo | Ast | Total | Sacks | INT | FF | FR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | PHI | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | PHI | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | PHI | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | PHI | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 4 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |