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Nate Orchard
Nate Orchard
from Wikipedia

Nathaniel Fakahafua Orchard (born Napa'a Lilo Fakahafua on January 5, 1993) is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Utah Utes and was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the second round of the 2015 NFL draft. He was also a member of the Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, Seattle Seahawks, Miami Dolphins, Washington Redskins / Football Team, Houston Texans, Tennessee Titans, Minnesota Vikings, and Green Bay Packers.

Key Information

Early life

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Orchard is of Tongan descent.[1] He attended Highland High School in Salt Lake City, Utah.[2] He played football, basketball and competed in track. In football, he played as a wide receiver and defensive end. As a senior, he had 58 receptions for 1,351 yards and 17 touchdowns on offense and 62 tackles, 17.5 sacks and two interceptions on defense. In track & field, Orchard competed as a sprinter and posted personal-bests of 11.9 seconds in the 100-meter dash and 54.3 seconds in the 400-meter dash at the 2009 Region VI T&F Championships.[3]

Considered a three-star recruit by Rivals.com, Orchard was ranked as the No. 60 wide receiver in his class.[4]

College career

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As a true freshman at the University of Utah in 2011, Orchard played in all 13 games, recording four tackles. As a sophomore in 2012, he started 11 of the 12 games, recording 48 tackles, three sacks and a touchdown on a fumble recovery. As a junior in 2013, he started all 12 games, recording 49 tackles and 3.5 sacks. Orchard entered his senior season in 2014 as a starter. In his senior season, Orchard recorded 84 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, and 18.5 sacks. Orchard won the Ted Hendricks Award for his performance.[5][6][7]

Professional career

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Orchard (left) with the Washington Redskins in 2019

Cleveland Browns

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The Cleveland Browns picked Orchard in the second round of the 2015 NFL draft.[8] On May 6, he signed a four-year contract worth $4.466 million, which included a $1.058 million signing bonus. At least $2.581 million of Orchard's contract is guaranteed.[9] On October 1, 2016, Orchard was placed on injured reserve.[10]

On September 1, 2018, Orchard was released by the Browns.[11]

Buffalo Bills

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On September 10, 2018, he was signed by the Buffalo Bills.[12] He was released by the Bills on October 2, 2018.[13]

Kansas City Chiefs

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On October 10, 2018, Orchard was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs.[14] He was released on November 6, 2018.[15]

Seattle Seahawks

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On April 4, 2019, Orchard was signed by the Seattle Seahawks.[16] He was released on May 10, 2019.[17]

Miami Dolphins

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On May 15, 2019, Orchard was signed by the Miami Dolphins.[18] He was released on September 3, 2019.[19]

Washington Redskins / Football Team (first stint)

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On November 27, 2019, Orchard was signed by the Washington Redskins.[20] In Week 13 against the Carolina Panthers, Orchard sacked quarterback Kyle Allen once and recovered a fumble forced on Allen by teammate Chris Odom late in the fourth quarter to seal a 29–21 win.[21]

Orchard re-signed with the team on March 25, 2020.[22] He was released on September 5, 2020, and was signed to the practice squad the next day.[23][24] He was promoted to the active roster on September 29, 2020.[25] He was waived on November 7, 2020.[26]

Houston Texans

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Orchard was claimed off waivers by the Houston Texans on November 9, 2020.[27] He was waived on December 12, 2020.[28]

Tennessee Titans

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Orchard was signed by the Tennessee Titans to their practice squad on December 19, 2020.[29] He was signed to a futures contract on January 11, 2021.[30] On May 10, 2021, Orchard was released by Tennessee.[31]

Minnesota Vikings

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On November 4, 2021, Orchard was signed to the Minnesota Vikings practice squad.[32] He was released on November 19.

Green Bay Packers

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On November 25, 2021, Orchard was signed to the Green Bay Packers practice squad.[33]

Washington Football Team (second stint)

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The Washington Football Team signed Orchard off the Packers' practice squad on December 14, 2021.[34]

Personal life

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Orchard legally changed his name from Napa'a Lilo Fakahafua to Nathaniel Fakahafua Orchard in honor of his adopted family. He is married to Maegan Webber Orchard and has a daughter named Katherine Mae Orchard (named after his mother Katherine), a daughter named Charlotte Orchard and a son, Bo Webber Orchard.[35]

References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Nate Orchard (born January 5, 1993) is an American former professional football who played in the () for seven seasons. Orchard attended the , where he played from 2011 to 2014 as a three-year starter, appearing in all 50 games with 36 starts. In his senior year of 2014, he earned consensus All-American honors, won the Morris Trophy as the Pac-12's top defensive lineman, and the as the nation's best , while recording 84 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, 18.5 sacks—a Utah and national co-leading total—and three forced fumbles, earning the nickname "Mayor of Sack Lake City." Selected by the in the second round (51st overall) of the , Orchard began his professional career with the Browns, where he played from 2015 to 2017 and recorded a career-high 36 combined tackles in his rookie season, including his only career . He later played for the and [Kansas City Chiefs](/page/Kansas_City Chiefs) in 2018, and the Washington Football Team from 2019 to 2021, appearing in a total of 48 games with 13 starts, 85 combined tackles (51 solo), 6.0 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 , and 6 passes defended over his career. Born Nathaniel Fakahafua in , to Tongan immigrant mother Ana Fakahafua, Orchard faced a turbulent childhood marked by frequent moves and instability before settling in at age 10 and living with the family of his high school coach, Dave Orchard, for a decade; he legally adopted their surname before his marriage and credits this support, along with his wife Maegan and daughter Katherine Mae, for his personal growth and dedication to football. Now retired and residing in , Orchard remains connected to the program and was inducted into the Utah Athletics Hall of Fame in 2025.

Early years

Early life

Nate Orchard was born on January 5, 1993, in Inglewood, California, to a Tongan immigrant mother; his birth name was Napa'a Lilo Fakahafua. Orchard's early childhood was marked by significant instability, as he frequently moved around the Inglewood and Oakland areas with his mother, Ana Fakahafua, amid financial hardships and a challenging home environment surrounded by violence and gangs. At the age of 10, seeking greater stability, he relocated to Salt Lake City, Utah, to live with his older brother, Max, though this arrangement proved temporary as Max faced his own financial difficulties three years later. In his early teens, around age 13, Orchard found a stable home when he approached the family of a close friend and former teammate, the Orchards—Dave Orchard, his AAU basketball coach, and his wife Katherine—asking to live with them; following a near-drowning incident that necessitated insurance coverage, he became their legal ward through paperwork signed by his biological mother, providing the support he had long lacked. He legally changed his name to Nathaniel Fakahafua Orchard in honor of his adoptive family. As a high school freshman, Orchard fathered a daughter named Lily, whom he placed for , though he has maintained occasional contact with her. These early personal challenges ultimately led him to channel his energy into high school sports as a means of finding structure and purpose.

High school career

Nate Orchard attended Highland High School in , , graduating in 2011. During his high school years, Orchard excelled in multiple sports, playing football as both a and , participating in , and competing in events such as the 100-meter and 400-meter dashes. As a senior in 2010, he recorded 58 receptions for 1,351 yards and 17 touchdowns on offense, while contributing 62 tackles, 17.5 sacks, and two interceptions on defense. That season, Orchard earned first-team all-state honors in football, following a second-team selection as a junior in 2009. Orchard played a key role in leading Highland to the 2010 Utah 4A state football championship, where he set a state record with 10 receptions for 200 yards and three touchdowns in the title game, while also recording two sacks. He also helped the team secure a state title during his time at Highland. His versatile athleticism drew recruitment interest from several colleges, ultimately leading him to commit to the to play as a .

College career

2011–2012 seasons

Orchard enrolled at the in 2011. As a true in 2011, he transitioned from in high school to defensive roles, appearing in all 13 games primarily as a reserve , with additional snaps at linebacker and on special teams. He recorded four tackles, two pass breakups, and two special teams stops, contributing modestly while navigating academic demands and the structured environment of a new adoptive family that imposed strict curfews and routines unfamiliar from his high school years. In 2012, Orchard's role expanded significantly as a sophomore, starting all 12 games—12 at right and one at stud linebacker—to address team depth needs along the front seven. He tallied 48 tackles (fourth on the team), 8.5 tackles for loss (second on the team), and three sacks (tied for third on the team), marking his emergence as a key pass rusher. Notable contributions included forcing and recovering a fumble for an 8-yard touchdown return against USC, which gave an early 7-0 lead, and forcing another fumble versus BYU. His versatility from high school athletics aided this positional flexibility, earning him honorable mention All-Pac-12 recognition despite the Utes' 5-7 record.

2013–2014 seasons

As a junior in 2013, Orchard started all 12 games for at left , recording 49 total tackles, 3.0 sacks, and 8.5 tackles for loss. His performance included a standout game against No. 5 Stanford, where he earned Athlon Sports National Defensive Player of the Week honors after registering 2.0 sacks and forcing two fumbles in a 27-21 upset victory. Orchard rebounded fully as a senior in 2014, starting all 13 games and delivering a breakout campaign with 84 total tackles (54 solo), 18.5 sacks, and 21 tackles for loss. His sack total set a single-season school record, surpassing Jimmy Bellamy's mark of 15 from 1991, and he ranked second nationally in sacks with 18.5 while finishing fifth in sacks per game (1.42) and fourth in tackles for loss per game (1.62). Orchard's dominance anchored Utah's defense, which led the nation with 52 sacks as a unit. For his efforts, Orchard earned consensus first-team All-American honors from multiple outlets, including the Walter Camp Football Foundation, , , Phil Steele, , and . He also captured the as the nation's top , the Morris Trophy as the Pac-12's premier defensive lineman, and first-team All-Pac-12 recognition. Over his Utah career spanning four seasons and 50 games with 36 starts, Orchard amassed 186 total tackles and 25 sacks, tying for third in school history. Following the 2014 season, he accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl, where he impressed scouts by excelling in practices and the game while showcasing versatility at and outside linebacker.

Professional career

Cleveland Browns

The selected Orchard in the second round (51st overall) of the . His college performance, including 22 sacks over two seasons at , contributed to his draft position as a promising . He signed a four-year worth $4.466 million, including $2.581 million in guarantees. As a in 2015, Orchard appeared in 15 games with 11 starts, recording 36 tackles (24 solo), 3.0 sacks, 1 , and 1 forced while serving as a rotational pass rusher behind veteran . His came in Week 4 against the , marking a highlight in his early contributions to the Browns' defensive line. Orchard's 2016 season was severely limited by a suffered on the final play of Week 3 against the , leading to his placement on injured reserve after just 3 games (1 start) and 4 tackles (2 solo). The injury sidelined him for the remainder of the year, hindering his development amid a transitional period for the Browns' defense. In 2017, Orchard returned to play all 16 games with 1 start, tallying 25 tackles (14 solo), 2.0 sacks, and 1 forced fumble in a reduced rotational role. The Browns waived Orchard on September 1, 2018, as part of final roster cuts following .

Buffalo Bills

After being released by the earlier in the 2018 season, Orchard signed with the on September 10, 2018, to bolster their pass rush depth. Orchard appeared in three games for the Bills as a reserve , primarily contributing on special teams and in rotational defensive snaps. In limited action totaling 35 defensive snaps (about 18% of the team's defensive plays over those games) and five special teams snaps, he recorded four total tackles (three solo and one assisted) with no sacks or other notable defensive contributions. The Bills waived Orchard on October 2, 2018, to make room for Dontae Johnson, as Orchard struggled to secure a consistent role amid competition on the depth chart.

Kansas City Chiefs

On October 10, 2018, following his release from the earlier that month, Orchard signed with the [Kansas City Chiefs](/page/Kansas_City Chiefs) as a to bolster their pass rush amid injuries to key defenders like . Orchard appeared in just one regular-season game for the Chiefs, a 37–21 victory over the on November 4, 2018, during which he logged one defensive snap and one special teams snap but recorded no statistics. He was waived by the team on November 6, 2018, and thus did not participate in Kansas City's postseason, where the Chiefs advanced to the before losing to the .

Seattle Seahawks

Orchard signed with the as an unrestricted on April 4, 2019, joining fellow to bolster the team's pass-rush depth ahead of the upcoming season. The one-year contract was valued at $805,000 with no guaranteed money. Following his journeyman path through the and [Kansas City Chiefs](/page/Kansas_City Chiefs) in 2018, Orchard's time in proved short-lived, as he was released on May 10, 2019, to accommodate the signing of .

Miami Dolphins

On May 16, 2019, the signed outside linebacker Nate Orchard to their roster, marking his fifth NFL team after a workout with the club. During the 2019 preseason, Orchard appeared in all four games for , where he recorded four sacks, tying for lead and emerging as the team's top pass rusher in play. His performance highlighted his role in providing depth to the Dolphins' defensive line amid their rebuilding efforts that year. Despite his productive preseason, Orchard was released by on September 3, 2019, as the team claimed linebacker James Crawford off waivers from the to bolster their linebacker group ahead of the regular season. He did not appear in any regular-season games for the Dolphins and recorded no during his brief tenure.

Washington Football Team

Orchard signed with the Washington Redskins on November 27, 2019, joining the active roster as a depth amid injuries to the team's edge rushers. In his debut during Week 13 against the , he recorded a sack on Kyle Allen, helping secure a 29–27 victory. Over the final five games of the 2019 season, Orchard appeared in all contests without starting, tallying 14 combined tackles (eight solo), one sack, one pass deflection, and one fumble recovery while providing rotational support on the defensive line. His contributions included four tackles in the season finale against the . The Redskins re-signed Orchard to a one-year contract in March 2020, retaining him as part of the transitioning Washington Football Team. He played in three games early in the 2020 season, recording two assisted tackles before being waived on amid further roster adjustments. Washington brought Orchard back for a second stint on December 14, 2021, signing him off the ' practice squad to address late-season depth needs on the edge. He appeared in the final two games of the 2021 season without starting, serving in a limited rotational role but not recording any statistics. Across his two stints with the franchise from 2019 to 2021, Orchard played in 10 games total, primarily as a during periods of injury challenges on the defensive front.

Houston Texans

Following his release from the Washington Football Team on November 7, 2020, Orchard was claimed off waivers by the Houston Texans two days later. He was subsequently placed on the Exempt/ Permission list before being activated on November 13, 2020. During his brief tenure with Houston, Orchard did not appear in any regular-season games. The Texans waived him on December 12, 2020, without promoting him to a more significant role.

Tennessee Titans

After his release from the Houston Texans, Orchard signed a reserve/ with the on January 11, 2021, positioning him for the upcoming 2021 season. He took part in the Titans' offseason program but was waived on May 10, 2021, as the team trimmed its roster ahead of training camp. Orchard did not appear in any preseason or regular-season games during his brief tenure with Tennessee.

Minnesota Vikings

On November 4, 2021, Orchard was signed to the Vikings' following his release from the earlier that year. This move came amid a series of short stints for the veteran as he sought opportunities late in the 2021 season. Orchard did not appear in any regular season games for the during his brief tenure. He was released from the on November 6, re-signed on November 9, and released again on November 19.

Following his release from the , Orchard was signed to the ' on November 25, 2021, to provide depth at outside linebacker amid injuries to the team's pass rushers. Orchard did not appear in any regular season or playoff games during his brief tenure with the Packers, who advanced to the that year. He was released from the practice squad at the end of the 2021 season, marking his final team affiliation and concluding his professional playing attempts.

Personal life

Family and marriage

Orchard married his high school sweetheart, Maegan Webber, in March 2013. The couple welcomed their first child, daughter Katherine Mae, in August 2013; the name honors Orchard's adoptive mother, Katherine Orchard. Orchard and Maegan later had three more children—a daughter, Charlotte; sons Bo Webber and Luke Nathaniel (born November 2021)—for a total of four children. Earlier in high school, Orchard fathered a daughter, Lily, whom he placed for as a ; the families maintain an open relationship, allowing him ongoing contact with her. Orchard has credited his marriage and early fatherhood with instilling greater maturity and dedication to football, which contributed to his focus during college at the .

Heritage and name change

Nate Orchard is of Tongan descent, born on January 5, 1993, in , to immigrant parents from . His mother, Ana Fakahafua, a Tongan native, raised him amid financial hardships and frequent moves in his early years, which disrupted stability but did not erase the cultural influences from his Polynesian roots. Despite these challenges, Orchard maintained a connection to his heritage through and the emphasis on communal support inherent in Tongan traditions. Originally named Napa'a Lilo Fakahafua, Orchard legally changed his name to Fakahafua in 2013 to honor his adoptive family, the Orchards, who became his legal guardians around age 13. This change incorporated his biological middle name while adopting the surname of Dave and Katherine , reflecting deep gratitude for their unwavering support during his turbulent . In various interviews, Orchard has publicly discussed his Tongan heritage, highlighting themes of family loyalty and resilience that shaped his identity. He has emphasized how Polynesian cultural values, including the importance of football as a pathway for community and personal growth, influenced his journey, crediting his adoptive family's role in embodying those principles.

Later life and honors

Retirement

Orchard's final NFL activity came at the end of the 2021 season, when he was signed off the ' practice squad by the Washington Football Team on December 14 and appeared in two games without recording statistics. Following the conclusion of the 2021 campaign, Orchard did not secure any further contracts or appear in games during the 2022 through 2025 seasons, marking his effective from professional football by age 29 amid persistent challenges as a player. Over his seven-year tenure, which spanned stints with 10 teams including the , , , , , Washington Football Team, Houston Texans, , Minnesota Vikings, and , Orchard appeared in 48 games, accumulating 85 total tackles, 6.0 sacks, 1 , and 2 forced fumbles. His career reflected the volatility faced by many late-round draft picks and undrafted free agents in the league, transitioning from a second-round selection in 2015 to short-term and reserve roles in his later years.

Utah Athletics Hall of Fame

In October 2025, Nate Orchard was inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2025, with the announcement made on July 22, 2025, the induction ceremony held on October 10, 2025, at Rice-Eccles Stadium, and honorees recognized at halftime during the University of 's football game against Arizona State on October 11, 2025. The induction honors Orchard's distinguished from 2011 to 2014, where he earned consensus first-team All-American honors in 2014, with first-team selections from the Walter Camp Foundation, , and others, and second-team from the . He also received the as the nation's top and the Morris Trophy as the Pac-12's premier defensive lineman that year, while setting the single-season sack record with 18.5 and tying for fifth in program history with 25 career sacks. These accomplishments underscore his role as a transformative pass rusher who led Utah's defense during a period of national contention. Orchard's hall of fame recognition extends beyond statistics to his broader legacy of resilience, having overcome a challenging upbringing that included running away from home as a teenager and living on the streets before being adopted and finding stability through football and family support in Utah. This personal journey has inspired current student-athletes and the community, highlighting themes of perseverance and second chances as core to his impact at the university. His seven-season NFL career, which began as a second-round draft pick by the Cleveland Browns in 2015, served as a direct extension of the foundation built at Utah. Since retiring from professional football, Orchard has remained connected to the Utah program, residing in and occasionally visiting the football facility to engage with coaches and players, reinforcing his ongoing commitment to the institution that shaped his success.

References

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