Haloti Ngata

The Ravens' first defensive tackle drafted in the first round, a Super Bowl champion who anchored the line for nine seasons.

Etuini Haloti Ngata is an American former professional football player who played defensive tackle in the NFL for thirteen seasons. Born on January 21, 1984, he was selected by the Baltimore Ravens with the 12th overall pick in the first round of the 2006 NFL draft, making him the franchise's first first-round selection of a defensive tackle. Ngata played nine seasons for the Ravens before being traded to the Detroit Lions prior to the 2015 season. He later spent one season with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2018 before retiring on March 18, 2019. A consensus All-American from the University of Oregon, he was voted to five Pro Bowls and earned First-team All-Pro honors twice. In 2025, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Quick Facts

Position: Defensive tackle
Born: 21 January 1984
Birthplace: Inglewood, California, U.S.
High school: Highland (Salt Lake City, Utah)
College: Oregon (2002–2005)
Draft year: 2006
Draft round: 1
Draft pick: 12

Lore & Background

Ngata's journey to the NFL began with high expectations after being listed as a five-star recruit and the No. 2 overall prospect by Rivals.com. He chose Oregon over BYU, Nebraska, Texas A&M, and Washington, though he initially felt most at home at Brigham Young University due to his membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. His college career faced a major setback when he tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) on a punt coverage play in 2003, causing him to miss the rest of that season. He returned over the next two seasons to become one of the best players in college football, totaling 17.5 tackles for a loss and 6.5 sacks while earning consensus All-American honors in 2005. He also proved his versatility as a special teams player, blocking seven kicks during his three-year career at Oregon.

Reader's Guide

Fans should note Ngata's resilience and physical attributes; he recorded a 495 lb bench press max at Oregon, second all-time among Ducks players behind only Igor Olshansky. His career was briefly interrupted by personal tragedy when his mother, 'Ofa, died from kidney illness on January 13, 2006, shortly after he decided to leave Oregon early for the draft. Professionally, he faced a suspension in December 2014 for four games due to a violation of the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances.

Despite these challenges, he maintained elite production, earning Second-team All-Pro honors in 2008 and First-team All-Pro nods in 2010 and 2011. After refusing to restructure his contract with the Ravens due to an upcoming $16 million cap hit, he was traded to Detroit for two draft picks. He retired as a Raven via a one-day ceremonial contract signed on May 28, 2019, and was inducted into the Baltimore Ravens Ring of Honor on October 11, 2021.

Did You Know?

He played rugby in high school and helped lead the Highland Rugby Club to the National Rugby Championship, where he received a red card in the title match.
In 2014, Ngata was fined $8,268.75 for intentionally kicking Washington Redskins guard Shawn Lauvao during a regular-season game on September 21, 2014.
Ngata announced his retirement from the NFL on March 18, 2019, posting an Instagram photo of himself atop an unspecified mountain with a banner reading 'I'm retiring from the NFL on top.'

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Haloti Ngata?

Etuini Haloti Ngata is a former NFL defensive tackle who spent nine seasons anchoring the Baltimore Ravens' interior line. He was notable as the franchise's first-ever first-round draft selection specifically for a defensive lineman.

What are his biggest achievements with Baltimore?

He earned five consecutive Pro Bowl selections between 2009 and 2013 while wearing the Ravens' colors. Additionally, he was a key contributor to their Super Bowl XLVII championship victory in 2013.