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Patrick Christopher Chung (born August 19, 1987) is a Jamaican-American former professional football safety who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 12 seasons, primarily with the New England Patriots. He played college football for the Oregon Ducks and was selected in the second round of the 2009 NFL draft by the Patriots, where he spent 11 non-consecutive seasons. Chung was a member of the Philadelphia Eagles for one season in 2013 in between his Patriots tenure. A three-time Super Bowl winner with New England, Chung was named to the franchise's All-2010s Team and All-Dynasty Team in 2020.

Key Information

Early life

[edit]

Chung was born on August 19, 1987, in Kingston, Jamaica. His mother is Sophia George, who was a one-hit wonder in the UK with her 1985 hit "Girlie Girlie" that reached number one in Jamaica, topping the RJR chart for 11 weeks, and was also a Top-10 hit in the UK.[1][2] At the time of recording, George worked as a teacher of hearing-impaired learners.[1] She married her manager, Ronald Chung (Patrick's father), and they relocated to Miami in the mid-1990s and later settled in Los Angeles.[1]

Chung lived in Jamaica until age 10 before moving to California, where he attended Rancho Cucamonga High School in Rancho Cucamonga, California. Chung played football as a safety and wide receiver and was a two-time All-League pick.[3] He graduated high school in June 2004, two months before his 17th birthday.

College career

[edit]

Chung enrolled at the University of Oregon in 2004 once he turned 17 years old.[4] After redshirting in 2004, Chung took over at the "rover" position at age 18 in 2005, ranking second on the team with 91 tackles (five solo) while also recording a forced fumble and five pass deflections. He earned All-Pacific-10 Conference honorable mention honors, and a spot on the Sporting News Freshman All-American Team.

As a sophomore in 2006, Chung once again earned All-Pac-10 honorable mention, finishing third on the team with 84 tackles, two sacks, and four interceptions.[5]

As a junior, Chung was named Second Team All-American and first-team All-Pac-10 Conference. He earned the Gordon E. Wilson Award, given to the team's top special teams player. Chung averaged 22.3 yards on nine kickoff returns while leading the Ducks with a career-high 117 tackles (71 solos), adding 7.5 stops for loss. He broke up nine passes and was credited with a pair of interceptions.[6]

Chung garnered Third Team All-American accolades in addition to making the All-Pac 10 first-team for the second consecutive year in 2008. Along with offensive lineman Max Unger, the pair set the school record with 51 consecutive starting assignments. Chung finished his senior season with 92 tackles (58 solos) in 13 games, coming up with two sacks among his 6.5 stops for loss to go along with a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, seven pass deflections, and a pick-six.[7]

Chung holds the distinction of starting more games than any other defensive player in Oregon history, having started 51 straight games during his collegiate career.[8]

Professional career

[edit]

On January 16, 2009, it was announced that Chung had decided to forgo his last year of eligibility and enter the 2009 NFL draft.[9] Three days later, Chung announced that he decided to instead return to Oregon for his senior year.[10] On January 24, Chung participated in the 2009 Senior Bowl as part of Cincinnati Bengals' head coach Marvin Lewis' North team that lost 18–35 to the South.[11] He went on to attend the NFL Scouting Combine and completed the majority of drills before sustaining a knee injury. Chung was unable to perform the short shuttle and three-cone drill due to the injury. On March 12, he attended Oregon's pro day and ran the short shuttle, three-cone drill, and positional drills. At the end of the pre-draft process, Chung was projected to be a second-round pick by NFL draft experts and scouts.[12] He was ranked as the top strong safety prospect in the draft by DraftScout.com and was ranked the second-best safety by NFL analyst Mike Mayock.[13]

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press Wonderlic
5 ft 11+1⁄4 in
(1.81 m)		 212 lb
(96 kg)		 31+1⁄2 in
(0.80 m)		 9 in
(0.23 m)		 4.57 s 1.56 s 2.61 s 4.24 s 7.11 s 34.0 in
(0.86 m)		 9 ft 11 in
(3.02 m)		 25 reps 23
All values from NFL Combine/Oregon's Pro Day[14][12]

New England Patriots (first stint)

[edit]

The New England Patriots selected Chung in the second round (34th overall) of the 2009 NFL draft. He was the second safety drafted in 2009, one pick behind Western Michigan safety Louis Delmas.[15] The second round pick used to select Chung was previously traded from the Kansas City Chiefs to the Patriots in exchange for Matt Cassel and Mike Vrabel.

2009 season

[edit]

On July 27, 2009, the Patriots signed Chung to a four-year, $5 million contract with a signing bonus of $2 million.[16][17]

Defensive coordinator Dean Pees held a competition to name to new starting safeties between Chung, Brandon Meriweather, James Sanders, and Brandon McGowan.[18][19] Head coach Bill Belichick named Chung the backup strong safety to begin the regular season, behind Brandon Meriweather.[20]

Chung made his NFL debut in the season-opener against the Buffalo Bills and recorded one tackle during the narrow 25–24 victory. He made his first NFL tackle with teammate Darius Butler on cornerback Leodis McKelvin during a 21-yard kick return in the fourth quarter.[21] During Week 6 against the Tennessee Titans, Chung had a season-high eight combined tackles, a pass deflection, and his first NFL interception off a pass by quarterback Vince Young in the 59–0 shoutout victory.[22] In the next game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Wembley Stadium, Chung recorded four solo tackles and made his first NFL sack on quarterback Josh Johnson during the 35–7 victory.[23] Three weeks later against the Indianapolis Colts, Chung earned his first NFL start and recorded five combined tackles in the narrow 35–34 road loss.[24]

Chung finished his rookie year with 37 combined tackles (25 solo), two sacks, a pass deflection, and an interception in 16 games and one start.[25] The Patriots finished atop the AFC East with a 10–6 record. On January 10, 2010, Chung appeared in his first NFL playoff game as the Patriots were defeated 33–14 by the Baltimore Ravens in the Wild Card Round.[26]

2010 season

[edit]

On January 15, 2010, it was reported that defensive coordinator Dean Pees would not be renewing his contract or returning to the Patriots, so head coach Bill Belichick took over defensive coordinator duties for the season.[27][28] Chung competed for the job as the starting strong safety against Brandon McGowan and James Sanders.[29] He was officially named the starting strong safety to start the regular season, along with free safety Brandon Meriweather.[30]

Chung started in the season-opener against the Cincinnati Bengals and collected a career-high 16 combined tackles (12 solo) during the 38–24 victory.[31] Three weeks later against the Miami Dolphinson Monday Night Football, Chung made five combined tackles and returned an interception by Chad Henne for a 51-yard touchdown to mark the first score of his career while also blocking a punt and a field goal in the 41–14 road victory.[32]

During Week 6, Chung collected 13 combined tackles (five solo) in a 23–20 victory over the Baltimore Ravens.[33] The following week, Chung made a tackle before exiting a 23–20 victory over the San Diego Chargers after injuring his knee.[34] He was sidelined for the next two games (Weeks 8–9) due to the knee injury.[35]

Chung finished his second professional season with 96 combined tackles (72 solo), nine pass deflections, three interceptions, and a touchdown in 14 games and 13 starts.[25][36] The Patriots finished atop the AFC East with a 14–2 record, clinching a first-round bye and home-field advantage. On January 16, 2011, Chung made his first NFL start in a playoff game and recorded four solo tackles during a 28–21 loss to the New York Jets in the Divisional Round.[34] With 1:14 left in the second quarter, Chung made the decision to call an audible on a punt and opted to receive a direct snap from the long snapper on a trick play instead and attempt to gain four yards for the first down. He botched the direct snap and recovered the fumble for no gain at New England's 37-yard line.[37] The mistake proved costly as the Jets capitalized on their field position and scored a touchdown in four plays and 41 seconds to enter half time leading the Patriots 14–3.[38][39] Chung accepted responsibility for the mistake and stated it was his decision to call for the direct snap. He explained that he called the audible after discovering the Patriots had an eight on six advantage with their blocking scheme.[40]

2011 season

[edit]

Chung entered training camp slated as the starting strong safety and was officially named the starter to begin the regular season, opposite free safety Brandon Meriweather. On September 18, 2011, Chung made five combined tackles during a 35–21 victory against the San Diego Chargers in Week 2. He exited the game in the third quarter and returned with a hard cast around his thumb in the fourth quarter.[41] Chung was inactive for the Patriots' Week 3 loss at the Buffalo Bills after undergoing surgery to repair his fractured thumb.[42] On October 30, 2011, Chung collected a season-high 13 combined tackles (10 solo) and broke up a pass in a 25–17 road loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 8.[43] He was sidelined for seven consecutive games (Weeks 10–16) after suffering a foot injury.[44][45]

Chung finished the 2011 season with 62 combined tackles (37 solo), four pass deflections, an interception, and a sack in eight games and eight starts.[25]

The Patriots finished atop of the AFC East with a 13–3 record, clinching a first-round bye and home-field advantage. They went on to defeat the Denver Broncos in the AFC Divisional Round and the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship Game.[43] On February 5, 2012, Chung started in Super Bowl XLVI and recorded six combined tackles and a pass deflection during the 21–17 loss to the New York Giants.[46]

2012 season

[edit]

Defensive coordinator Matt Patricia retained Chung as the starting strong safety, alongside free safety Steve Gregory. Chung started the first six games of the season before sustaining a shoulder injury and missing four games (Weeks 7–11). During his absence, he was replaced by Devin McCourty, who was moved from cornerback to safety.[47] Upon his return in Week 11, Chung was named the backup strong safety behind McCourty and was limited to 65 defensive snaps in the next four games (Weeks 11–14).[48] On December 23, 2012, Chung made four combined tackles, two pass deflections, and intercepted two passes by Chad Henne during a 23–16 win at the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 16.[49] The following week, Chung collected a season-high six combined tackles and deflected a pass in the Patriots' 28–0 victory against the Miami Dolphins in Week 17.[49] He finished the season with 44 combined tackles (29 solo), five pass deflections, and two interceptions in 12 games and eight starts.[25]

Philadelphia Eagles

[edit]
Chung (#23) in 2013

On March 12, 2013, the Philadelphia Eagles signed Chung to a three-year, $10 million contract with $4 million guaranteed. He was reunited with Eagles' head coach Chip Kelly, who served as Oregon's offensive coordinator during Chung's last two years.[50][51]

Defensive coordinator Billy Davis held an open competition to name two new starting safeties. The competition included Chung, Kenny Phillips, Colt Anderson, Nate Allen, Kurt Coleman, and David Sims.[52] Head coach Chip Kelly named him the starting free safety to begin the season, along with strong safety Nate Allen.[53]

Chung started in the Eagles' season-opener at the Washington Redskins and recorded seven combined tackles in a 33–27 victory.[54] He was sidelined for two games (Weeks 4–5) due to a shoulder injury.[55] In Week 6, Chung made two combined tackles before exiting the Eagles' 31–20 win at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the third quarter after aggravating his shoulder injury. He missed another two games due to the injury (Weeks 7–8) and lost his starting role to rookie Earl Wolff.[54] Chung regained his starting role in Week 11 and started the last six games of the regular season after Wolff sustained a knee injury.[56] On December 29, 2013, Chung collected a season-high ten combined tackles (five solo) during a 24–22 win at the Dallas Cowboys in Week 17.[54] He finished his only season with the Eagles with 59 combined tackles (39 solo) and three pass deflections in 12 games and ten starts.[25]

The Eagles finished atop the NFC East with a 10–6 record. On January 4, 2014, Chung made four solo tackles in the Eagles' 26–24 loss to the New Orleans Saints in the NFC Wildcard Game.[54]

On March 11, 2014, the Philadelphia Eagles released Chung after only one season, saving $2.25 million in cap space. His release was widely attributed to his injuries and issues in pass coverage. Problems with tackling and multiple incidents of accidentally delivering hits to teammates were also cited as possible reasons for his release.[57]

New England Patriots (second stint)

[edit]

2014 season

[edit]

On April 3, 2014, the Patriots signed Chung to a one-year, $1.10 million contract that included $120,000 guaranteed and a signing bonus of $60,000.[58][16][59]

Throughout training camp, Chung competed against Duron Harmon for the job as the starting strong safety after the Patriots elected not to re-sign starting strong safety Steve Gregory.[60] Head coach Bill Belichick named Chung the starter to begin the season, alongside free safety Devin McCourty.[61]

On November 30, 2014, Chung collected a season-high 11 combined tackles (eight solo) during a 26–21 loss at the Green Bay Packers in Week 13.[62] In Week 15, Chung made ten combined tackles (five solo), two pass deflections, and intercepted a pass by Ryan Tannehill in the Patriots' 41–13 win against the Miami Dolphins.[62] He finished the season with 85 combined tackles (54 solo), with pass deflections, and an interception in 16 games and 15 starts.[25][63] Pro Football Focus gave Chung an overall grade of 84.4 in 2014.[64]

The Patriots finished atop in the AFC East with a 12–4 record, clinching a first-round bye and home-field advantage. On January 10, 2015, Chung started in the AFC Divisional Round and recorded seven combined tackles during a 35–31 victory against the Baltimore Ravens.[62] The Patriots reached the Super Bowl after defeating the Indianapolis Colts 45–7 in the AFC Championship Game. On February 1, 2015, Chung started in Super Bowl XLIX and made a solo tackle in their 28–24 victory against the Seattle Seahawks.[62]

2015 season

[edit]

On January 9, 2015, the New England Patriots signed Chung to a three-year, $8.20 million extension with $3.40 million guaranteed and a $2.40 million signing bonus.[16][65]

On November 15, 2015, Chung collected a season-high 12 combined tackles (six solo) during a narrow 27–26 victory at the New York Giants in Week 10. He was inactive during the Patriots' Week 16 loss at the New York Jets after injuring his hip the previous week.[66] He finished the season with 85 combined tackles (52 solo), nine pass deflections, and a forced fumble in 15 games and 14 starts.[25][67] Chung received an overall grade of 88.4 from Pro Football Focus, which was sixth highest grade among all qualified safeties in 2015.[68]

The Patriots finished atop the AFC East with a 12–4 record for the second consecutive season. On January 16, 2016, he made nine combined tackles during a 27–20 win against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Divisional Round. The following week, Chung collected five combined tackles in the Patriots' 20–18 loss at the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship Game.[69]

2016 season

[edit]

On April 1, 2016, the Patriots signed Chung to a one-year, $5.70 million extension that included $1.80 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $800,000. The agreement kept him under contract throughout the 2018 season.[70]

During Week 5, Chung made seven combined tackles, a pass deflection, and intercepted a pass by Charlie Whitehurst during a 33–13 win against the Cleveland Browns.[71] Two weeks later, Chung collected a season-high 11 combined tackles (seven solo) and two pass deflections in the Patriots' 27–16 win at the Pittsburgh Steelers.[72] In Week 11, he collected nine combined tackles and sacked quarterback Colin Kaepernick in a 30–17 victory at the San Francisco 49ers.[73] Chung finished the 2016 season with 91 combined tackles (52 solo), three pass deflections, an interception, and a sack in 16 games and 16 starts.[25] He received an overall grade of 56.5 from Pro Football Focus in 2015.[64]

The Patriots finished as the top seed in the AFC with a 14-2 record.[74] They went on to reach the Super Bowl after defeating the Houston Texans 34–16 in the AFC Divisional Round and the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship Game 36–17.[72] On February 5, 2017, Chung recorded five combined tackles and two passes defended as the Patriots defeated the Atlanta Falcons by a score of 34–28 in overtime to win Super Bowl LI.[75] The Super Bowl featured the first overtime game and largest comeback in Super Bowl history.[76]

2017 season

[edit]

Head coach Bill Belichick retained Chung and McCourty as the starting safety duo to open the 2017 regular season.[77] In Week 10, Chung collected four solo tackles, broke up a pass, and returned an interception by Brock Osweiler for 30 yards in the Patriots' 41–16 win at the Denver Broncos.[78] On November 26, 2017, he made ten combined tackles (nine solo) during a 35–17 victory against the Miami Dolphins in Week 12.[78]

Chung finished the 2017 season with 84 combined tackles (71 solo), nine pass deflections, and a sack in 16 games and 11 starts.[25] Pro Football Focus gave Chung an overall grade of 79.0 in 2017. His grade was the 42nd highest grade among all qualified safeties during the season.[79]

The Patriots finished atop the AFC East with a 13–3 record and clinched home-field advantage and a first round bye. They defeated the Tennessee Titans 35–14 in the AFC Divisional Round and the Jacksonville Jaguars 24–20 in the AFC Championship Game to secure their second consecutive Super Bowl appearance.[78] On February 4, 2018, Chung started in Super Bowl LII and made six combined tackles before exiting the game with a concussion.[80] The Patriots were defeated by the Philadelphia Eagles by a score of 41–33.[78]

2018 season

[edit]

On March 19, 2018, the Patriots signed Chung to a two-year, $7.8 million contract extension with $5.12 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $3.6 million, keeping him under contract through the 2020 season.[81][16] Chung was also named a team captain for the first time.[82]

Chung was injured early in the second half of Super Bowl LIII against the Los Angeles Rams, sustaining a "right hand or wrist injury." An air cast was put on his arm, and Chung walked off the field. He did not return to the game, which the Patriots went on to win 13–3.[83][84] After the game, Chung stated that he had broken his arm.[85] On February 9, 2019, Chung underwent surgery on his broken forearm.[86]

2019 season

[edit]

On April 12, 2019, Chung signed a one-year contract extension with the Patriots, keeping him under contract through the 2021 season.[87]

2020 season

[edit]

On May 20, 2020, Chung signed a two-year contract extension with the Patriots through the 2023 season.[88] On July 29, he exercised his option to opt out of the 2020 season due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.[89]

Retirement

[edit]

On March 18, 2021, Chung announced his retirement from the NFL after 12 seasons.[90]

NFL career statistics

[edit]
Legend
Won the Super Bowl
Bold Career high

Regular season

[edit]
Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GP GS Comb Solo Ast Sack PD Int Yds Avg Lng TD FF FR
2009 NE 16 1 37 25 12 2.0 1 1 2 2.0 2 0 1 0
2010 NE 14 13 96 72 24 0.0 9 3 96 32.0 51T 1 0 0
2011 NE 8 8 62 37 25 1.0 4 1 0 0.0 0 0 0 0
2012 NE 12 8 44 29 15 0.0 5 2 27 13.5 27 0 0 0
2013 PHI 12 10 59 39 20 0.0 3 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 1
2014 NE 16 15 85 54 31 0.0 8 1 10 10.0 10 0 0 0
2015 NE 15 14 85 52 33 0.0 9 0 0 0.0 0 0 1 0
2016 NE 16 16 91 52 39 1.0 3 1 4 4.0 4 0 0 1
2017 NE 16 11 84 71 13 0.0 9 1 30 30.0 30 0 0 2
2018 NE 15 14 84 52 32 0.5 3 1 2 2.0 2 0 0 1
2019 NE 13 12 51 38 13 0.0 3 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0
2020 NE 0 0 Did not play due to Covid-19 opt-out
Career[91] 153 122 778 521 257 4.5 57 11 171 15.6 51T 1 2 5

Postseason

[edit]
Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GP GS Comb Solo Ast Sack PD Int Yds Avg Lng TD FF FR
2009 NE 1 0 2 2 0 0.0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0
2010 NE 1 1 4 4 0 0.0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0
2011 NE 3 3 15 5 10 0.0 1 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0
2012 NE 2 0 1 0 1 0.0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0
2013 PHI 1 1 4 4 0 0.0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0
2014 NE 3 3 10 8 2 0.0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0
2015 NE 2 2 14 8 6 0.0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0
2016 NE 3 3 17 7 10 0.0 2 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0
2017 NE 3 3 22 15 7 0.0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0
2018 NE 3 3 13 7 6 0.0 1 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 1
2019 NE 1 1 1 0 1 0.0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0
Career[92] 23 20 104 61 43 0.0 4 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0

Personal life

[edit]

Chung is of partial Chinese Jamaican descent. His mother, Sophia George-Chung, is a Jamaican reggae artist who was popular in the 1980s. Chung's father, Ronald Chung, was a music producer and Sophia's manager.[93][94] Chung has his Chinese name (钟家庭, Zhōng Jiātíng) tattooed on his right arm.

Chung has four brothers and three sisters.[95] He had his first child, Taj James Chung, on September 18, 2010.[3]

Chung was indicted on a charge of possession of cocaine in Laconia, New Hampshire, on August 21, 2019.[96] This charge was conditionally dismissed on January 13, 2020.[97]

On October 26, 2021, Chung was charged with assault after allegedly pushing a woman to the ground, slapping her face, and breaking her phone outside her home in Milton, Massachusetts.[98]

Chung and former teammate Nate Ebner are minority owners of Major League Rugby's team New England Free Jacks.[99][100] He is a three-time champion as owner with the team winning three straight titles in 2023, 2024, and 2025.

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Patrick Chung

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Patrick Christopher Chung (born August 19, 1987) is a Jamaican-American former professional football safety who played 11 seasons in the (NFL), most notably with the , where he contributed to three victories. Born in , to parents Ronald Chung and Sophia George-Chung, he immigrated to the at age 10 and grew up in , before attending the . At , Chung played as a for from 2005 to 2008, earning All-Pac-10 honors in his senior year after recording 92 tackles and one interception. He was selected by the Patriots in the second round (34th overall) of the , marking the beginning of a decade-long association with the team interrupted only by a one-year stint with the in 2013. Over his career, Chung appeared in 153 games, amassing 778 combined tackles (521 solo), 11 interceptions, and 4.5 sacks, while serving as a special teams captain and defensive leader under head coach . Chung's tenure with the Patriots included pivotal roles in their triumphs following the 2014, 2016, and 2018 seasons, earning him recognition on the franchise's All-Dynasty Team. After opting out of the 2020 season due to concerns, he announced his retirement on March 18, 2021, at age 33, concluding an 11-year professional career. Post-retirement, Chung has transitioned into business and sports ownership, becoming a minority owner of the , a team, in 2020 and actively supporting the club's growth and community initiatives. He has also engaged in , including music and youth programs tied to his Jamaican heritage, and maintains a presence in sports circles.

Early life

Family background and upbringing

Patrick Christopher Chung was born on August 19, 1987, in , to parents Ronald Chung and Sophia George-Chung. His father, of Chinese-Jamaican descent, worked as a and courier, while his mother is an Afro-Jamaican singer known for her 1985 hit "Girlie Girlie." When Chung was four years old, his mother immigrated to the , leaving him to be raised primarily by his maternal grandmother in alongside his four brothers and three sisters. The family reunited and immigrated to the at age 10, initially settling in Miami, Florida, before moving to , a year later to prioritize better educational opportunities for the children. In , Chung's early childhood was shaped by the island's vibrant culture, where he spent much time outdoors engaging in physical activities such as soccer, , and —sports his parents believed might define his future, given his natural aptitude in the water. His parents instilled values of humility and equality, influenced by their careers in music, which exposed the family to diverse global experiences but also emphasized grounding principles amid fame. Upon arriving in the U.S., Chung faced initial adjustments to American culture, including a shift from Jamaica's communal, music-filled environment to the structured suburban life in . His father's support for athletics became evident as he drove long distances to attend Chung's early games, balancing encouragement in with a strong push for academic focus, reflecting the family's motivation for the move. This upbringing fostered Chung's resilience and interest in competitive activities, setting the stage for his later pursuit of during his high school years.

High school career

Patrick Chung attended in , where he began his football career after moving from at age 10 and initially playing on the freshman team as a 12-year-old. He primarily played as a and , showcasing versatility on both sides of the ball under coach Chris VanDuyk. During his junior year in , Chung excelled defensively and offensively, ranking as his team's second-leading tackler with 74 tackles while also contributing nine receptions for 209 yards and two touchdowns as a . His performances earned him recognition as a two-time all-leaguer in the Sierra League, highlighting his development into a standout capable of impacting games in multiple roles. As a highly regarded prospect, Chung received scholarship offers from several prominent programs, including USC, UCLA, Oregon State, and Colorado State. He ultimately committed to the University of Oregon in February 2004, becoming part of the Ducks' 2004 recruiting class.

College career

2005 season

Chung redshirted his true freshman year in 2004 before playing as a redshirt freshman in 2005 for the Oregon Ducks. He appeared in all 12 games, primarily as a rover in the secondary, recording 91 total tackles (58 solo), 1.5 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions (38 yards), and 1 forced fumble. His contributions helped Oregon to a 10-2 record and a berth in the Alamo Bowl, where the Ducks defeated Northwestern 28-20.

2006–2007 seasons

Chung emerged as a key contributor in the ' secondary during his sophomore season in 2006. Playing primarily as a in a hybrid rover role, he appeared in all 13 games, recording 84 total tackles—including 49 solo stops—and four interceptions, second on the team. His interceptions highlighted his ball skills in pass coverage, contributing to Oregon's defensive efforts in a 7-6 season that included a berth, though the Ducks fell to . In , as a junior, Chung transitioned to a full-time starting role, anchoring the back end of the defense and starting all 13 games. He led the team with 117 tackles (71 solo), added 7.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions, and one forced fumble, earning first-team All-Pac-10 honors and second-team recognition from the . His leadership and tackling prowess were instrumental in Oregon's 9-4 campaign, culminating in a dominant 56-21 victory over in the Sun Bowl, where the Ducks' defense held the opponent to just 277 total yards. Throughout these seasons, Chung balanced the rigors of Pac-10 competition while maintaining his academic eligibility as a major.

2008 season and accolades

In his senior year of 2008, Patrick Chung started all 13 games for the as a rover in the secondary, contributing to the team's 10-3 record and their appearance in the Sun Bowl. Building on his experience from the previous seasons, Chung emerged as a leader in the defensive backfield, helping to stabilize the unit during a season that saw Oregon secure notable victories, including over Purdue (38-31) and Washington (44-10). Chung recorded 92 total tackles (58 solo), 6.5 tackles for loss, 1 (returned for a against ), and 1 forced across the season, with standout performances including 9 tackles (7 solo) in the game against USC and 10 tackles (6 solo) in the 42-38 Sun Bowl victory against Oklahoma State. For his efforts, Chung was named to the first-team All-Pac-10 as both a and special teams player, along with earning third-team All-American honors from the . Ahead of the , Chung impressed at the with a 4.49-second time, highlighting his speed and explosiveness as a prospect.

Professional career

2009–2012: First stint with the

Chung was selected by the in the second round (34th overall) of the , acquired from the in a trade that sent quarterback and linebacker to . As a rookie in 2009, Chung appeared in all 16 regular-season games, starting one, and recorded 37 combined tackles (25 solo), one interception, and two sacks while primarily contributing on special teams and in limited defensive rotations. In the playoffs, he played in one game, making two tackles during the divisional round loss to the . Chung's role expanded in 2010 as he transitioned to a full-time starter at strong safety, playing in 14 games with 13 starts and leading the team with 96 combined tackles (72 solo) along with three interceptions, including a pick-six in a Week 4 win over the where he also blocked two kicks. He added four tackles in the divisional playoff loss to the . Injuries hampered the 2011 season for Chung, limiting him to eight starts with 62 combined tackles (37 solo) and one during the . He returned for the postseason, starting all three games and recording 15 combined tackles as the Patriots advanced to , where they fell 21–17 to the . Following the 2011 season, Chung signed an exclusive rights tender worth $540,000 to remain with the Patriots for 2012. He started eight of 12 games that year, hampered by a injury, and tallied 44 combined tackles (29 solo) with two interceptions. Entering unrestricted free agency after the season, Chung departed for the amid the Patriots' shift toward a Cover 1 defensive scheme that better suited other players in the secondary. Throughout his initial four-year stint, Chung adapted to Bill Belichick's versatile defense, evolving from a special teams contributor to a rotational and starting who provided depth and leadership in the backfield.

2013: Philadelphia Eagles

In March 2013, Patrick Chung signed a three-year, $10 million contract with the as an unrestricted , leaving the after four seasons to join the team under new head coach . This move was part of the Eagles' effort to overhaul their secondary, with Chung expected to provide physicality and versatility at . During the 2013 season, Chung served as a starting strong safety alongside Nate Allen, appearing in 12 games and recording 59 combined tackles (39 solo) and three passes defended. His role emphasized run support and coverage in Bill ' aggressive 3-4 scheme, though he dealt with minor injuries that limited his snaps in some contests. The Eagles, powered by Kelly's innovative no-huddle offense, finished the year with a 10-6 record, winning the division and securing a playoff berth, where Chung contributed five tackles in a wild-card loss to the . On March 11, 2014, the Eagles released Chung after one season, a decision that saved approximately $2.25 million in space and facilitated the signing of free-agent safety . Chung's departure stemmed from the team's desire to upgrade the position amid his inconsistent performance and injury concerns, allowing him to pursue opportunities elsewhere.

2014–2020: Second stint with the New England Patriots

After a one-year stint with the , Patrick Chung returned to the , signing a one-year contract worth $1.1 million on April 3, 2014. In his first season back, Chung transitioned to a full-time starting role at strong safety, appearing in all 16 games with 15 starts while recording 85 combined tackles, one interception, and eight passes defended. His contributions were integral to the Patriots' defensive efforts, culminating in a 28–24 victory over the in , earning Chung his second . Chung extended his contract with a three-year, $8.2 million deal in January 2015, solidifying his role as a consistent starter through the 2017 season. In 2016, he started all 16 games, tallying 91 combined tackles (52 solo) and one sack, helping anchor the secondary during New England's historic 28–3 comeback win against the in for his third championship. The following year, Chung logged 84 combined tackles (71 solo) in the regular season and played 168 defensive snaps across three playoff games—over 89% of available snaps—en route to the appearance, where he recorded five tackles. Renowned for his versatility, particularly in the Patriots' "big nickel" package that deployed three safeties to counter spread offenses, Chung often shifted between and slot roles, providing run support and coverage flexibility that head coach frequently praised as irreplaceable. He signed another two-year extension in March 2018, starting 14 of 15 games that year with 84 combined tackles (52 solo) and contributing 22 tackles in the postseason, including key stops in LIII's 13–3 defensive shutout of the to secure his third overall. In 2019, Chung started 12 of 13 games with 51 tackles before opting out of the 2020 season due to concerns, playing zero games. Following the opt-out, Chung announced his retirement on March 18, 2021, concluding an 11-season career with 10 years total in and three victories during this period.

Career statistics and achievements

Regular Season Statistics

Patrick Chung appeared in 153 regular season games over 11 seasons from 2009 to 2019, recording 778 combined tackles (521 solo, 257 assisted), 4.5 sacks, 11 interceptions, 1 forced fumble, and 5 fumble recoveries.
YearTeamGPGSCombSoloAstSkIntFFFR
2009NWE1613725122.0100
2010NWE14139672240.0300
2011NWE886237251.0100
2012NWE1284429150.0200
2013PHI12105939200.0001
2014NWE16158554310.0100
2015NWE15148552330.0010
2016NWE16169152391.0101
2017NWE16118471130.0102
2018NWE15148452320.5101
2019NWE13125138130.0000
Career Total1531227785212574.51115

Postseason Statistics

Chung participated in 23 postseason games across 11 playoff appearances from 2009 to 2019, accumulating 104 combined tackles (61 solo, 43 assisted), 1 fumble recovery, and no interceptions or sacks. These included contributions during the New England Patriots' Super Bowl-winning campaigns in 2014 (Super Bowl XLIX), 2016 (Super Bowl LI), and 2018 (Super Bowl LIII).
YearTeamGPGSCombSoloAstSkIntFFFR
2009NWE102200.0000
2010NWE114400.0001
2011NWE33155100.0000
2012NWE201010.0000
2013PHI114400.0000
2014NWE3310820.0000
2015NWE2214860.0000
2016NWE33188100.0000
2017NWE33221570.0000
2018NWE3313760.0000
2019NWE111010.0000
Career Total232010461430.0001

Awards and honors

During his professional career with the , Patrick Chung contributed to three Super Bowl victories, earning championship rings following after the 2014 season, after the 2016 season, and after the 2018 season. In , Chung played a pivotal role in a crucial goal-line stand against the , helping secure the 28-24 win. He appeared in five Super Bowls overall, including losses in and , as part of the Patriots' dynasty. Chung was personally recognized as a member of the New England Patriots All-2010s Team and the Patriots Hall of Fame All-Dynasty Team in 2020. Chung received no selections despite consistent play as a strong safety, but his versatility and were integral to the Patriots' defensive success across multiple seasons. At the collegiate level with the Ducks, Chung earned first-team All-Pac-10 honors in 2007 and 2008, along with second-team All-American recognition in 2007 and third-team All-American in 2008. He also received the Gordon E. Wilson Award as the Ducks' outstanding special teams player following the 2007 regular season. As a freshman in 2005 and sophomore in 2006, he garnered honorable mention All-Pac-10 acclaim. In high school at , Chung was a two-time first-team All-Baseline League selection, establishing a foundation for his defensive prowess.

Personal life and retirement

Family and philanthropy

Chung is married to his longtime partner Cecilia Champion, with whom he shares a son, Taj James Chung, born in 2010. He is also the father of a daughter born in 2020. Following his retirement from the NFL in 2021, Chung has been able to devote more time to his family. Chung maintains close ties to his Jamaican heritage, expressing a strong sense of pride in his roots as the son of a Jamaican artist and a Chinese-Jamaican ; he was born in Kingston and lived there until age 10 before immigrating to the . In 2013, Chung founded the Chung Changing Lives foundation to improve the lives of children in underserved communities by providing access to athletics, arts and , and academic programs. The organization partners with local groups to offer free initiatives, such as the annual Summer Music Academy for Real Teens (SMART), a six-week intensive camp in , , that teaches songwriting, beat-making, and instrument skills to youth aged 12-15 from diverse backgrounds. Drawing from his personal experience as an immigrant, Chung's foundation emphasizes support for immigrant families through collaborations like those with the Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center, providing after-school enrichment and community-building opportunities. Additionally, he has actively participated in the ' community outreach, hosting events such as karaoke fundraisers that have raised tens of thousands of dollars for youth causes, including donations to and local education programs.

Post-retirement activities

Chung announced his retirement from the on March 18, 2021, via an post, concluding an 11-year professional career that included three victories with the . In his statement, he expressed gratitude to the organization and teammates while citing a desire to spend more time with his family and explore new passions beyond football. This decision followed his opt-out from the 2020 season due to concerns, marking a shift from his initial plans to return for the 2021 campaign. Following retirement, Chung deepened his involvement in professional rugby as a minority owner of the , a Major League Rugby team based in , a stake he first acquired in 2020 alongside former Patriots teammate . The Free Jacks achieved significant success during this period, winning three consecutive MLR championships in 2023, 2024, and 2025, with Chung actively promoting the league's growth and attracting other former NFL players to invest in the sport. He has described rugby as providing the "constant chaos" he craved after football, emphasizing its physical demands and in interviews. Additionally, Chung maintains an investment in Parker's Pub, a , restaurant where he has participated in community events like delivering takeout orders to fans. In the media realm, Chung has made occasional appearances as a guest analyst and podcast contributor, sharing insights on his NFL tenure and transition to life after sports. He joined the "Up & Adams" show in July 2024 to discuss Tom Brady's retirement and Patriots dynamics, and appeared on "Up & Adams with Kay Adams" in 2023 to elaborate on his rugby ownership. In August 2025, he featured on "The Money Down Podcast," reflecting on his journey from Jamaica to the NFL and post-career pursuits. These engagements highlight his role as a bridge between American football and emerging sports like rugby, without pursuing a full-time broadcasting position as of November 2025. Chung has also engaged in youth coaching, co-hosting a tackling clinic for high school players in Quincy in May 2024 with Ebner to teach safe techniques amid evolving rules. This aligns with his ongoing commitment to youth development, extending philanthropic efforts from his playing days through the Chung Changing Lives Foundation. As of November 2025, Chung has shown no interest in returning to the in any official capacity, focusing instead on family, rugby, and selective public endeavors.

References

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