Ravens Legends Player Profile: Haloti Ngata
He is big, he is fast, he is Haloti Ngata –in his prime one of the most-feared interior defensive linemen in the NFL.
The Baltimore Ravens drafted Ngata with the No. 12 overall pick out of Oregon in the 2006 NFL draft. Ngata started every game for the Ravens since his rookie season until he was traded in 2015 to the Detroit Lions.
The Ravens valued Ngata so much that they used the Franchise tag this season to retain him, while planning to negotiate a long-term deal.
In 2010, Ngata registered 5.5 sacks and 63 tackles. Ngata has been to five Pro Bowls and has been voted as an All-Pro two times.
Ngata has the perfect combination of size and athletic ablility. A former rugby player, Ngata has three career interceptions and has been used on offense as a goal line fullback and tight end.
Ray Lewis was a very happy man when the Ravens drafted Ngata. Lewis felt the Ravens needed another defensive linemen that could help him get to the running back and Ngata was that man. Ngata helped the Ravens stay dominant while shutting down running attacks.
Off the field, Ngata is a gentle giant. I ran into him a few times in 2010 at Ravens training camp. Ngata joked to the media members that he exercised by chasing his baby around the house. Ngata is also well known for his comedic timing in many local commercials in the DMV area.
Ngata is soft spoken and a Mormon.
I personally think Ngata in his prime was one of the best NFL players both on and off the field. In 2011, the Ravens signed Ngata to a five-year $61 million contract.
Ngata even while playing hurt helped play a major roll in the Ravens second Super Bowl victory. In 2015, Ngata’s time with the Ravens came to an end as he was traded to the Lions for a fourth round pick and a fifth round pick.
Ngata in 2018 signed a one year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles. Ngata is a Ravens legend, playing nine seasons for the purple and black and representing them in multiple Pro Bowls and in the Super Bowl.
Ngata announced his retirement from the NFL in an instragram post on March, 18th, 2019.
