Vince Wilfork

Lore & Background

Wilfork was born in Boynton Beach, Florida, and attended Santaluces Community High School in nearby Lantana. There, he was a letter winner in football, wrestling, and track and field. In football, he won USA Today's second team All-American honors. In track & field, Wilfork was one of the nation's top performers in the throwing events. He was the Florida Class 4A state champion in the shot put and the discus in 2000. He also holds the Florida state high school record in the shot put with a throw of 68 feet (20.73 m). In the discus event, his top throw was 180 feet (54.86 m).

Reader's Guide

Wilfork attended the University of Miami, where he played for the Miami Hurricanes football team. He also competed for the Miami Hurricanes track and field team; he held the Miami indoor school record in the shot put until Isaiah Simmons surpassed it in 2013. In his freshman season, Wilfork did not start but played in every game as a defensive tackle, finishing 10th on the team in tackles with 41 while also recording a sack and forcing three fumbles. Wilfork did not start a game in his 2002 sophomore season either, but still recorded 43 tackles and seven sacks. Before the 2003 season, Wilfork was rated the second best defensive tackle in the country by The Sporting News and went on to start all 13 games for Miami. He finished the year with a career-high 64 tackles and led the team with 20 quarterback hurries. He was named to the All-Big East Conference first-team following the season, which would prove to be his last in Miami as he decided to forgo his senior season and enter the 2004 NFL draft. Wilfork was inducted into the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame in 2019.

Did You Know?

• He won two Super Bowl titles with the Patriots, including Super Bowl XXXIX.
• Wilfork's play known as the 'Butt Fumble' occurred on November 22, 2012, against the New York Jets.
• He was named a defensive captain by his teammates for the first time in 2008.