Tag: Badgers in NFL

Former Wisconsin linebacker named NFC Defensive Player of the Week

Former Wisconsin linebacker named NFC Defensive Player of the Week

Former Wisconsin linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel was named the NFC’s Defensive Player of Week 16 on Tuesday.

Van Ginkel, who played at Wisconsin from 2017-18, earned the designation for his contributions in the Minnesota Vikings’ 27-24 victory over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.

In that contest, the UW alumnus recorded five tackles, two tackles for loss, two sacks and three QB hits. Those two sacks also led the conference in Week 16.

With the performance, the former Badger star became the second player since 1982 to record at least 10 sacks and two pick-sixes in a single season. The other: Hall of Fame defensive end Jason Taylor with the Miami Dolphins in 2006.

Van Ginkel has notched 69 total tackles, 11.0 sacks, 17 tackles for loss, 18 QB hits, one forced fumble and five pass deflections in 15 starts in 2024. He’s also reeled in a pair of pick-sixes, which leads the NFL.

The Rock Valley, Iowa native joined Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard and Dallas Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey on the NFC ‘Players of the Week’ standouts from Week 16.

Van Ginkel signed a two-year, $20 million deal with the Vikings this offseason after five seasons with the Miami Dolphins. He’s been worth every penny for Brian Flores’ defensive unit this season.

Van Ginkel joins Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Zack Baun, Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal and Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor as former Badgers to receive ‘Player of the Week’ recognition this season.

Wisconsin legend named AFC Offensive Player of the Week after dominant performance

Wisconsin legend named AFC Offensive Player of the Week after dominant performance

Former Wisconsin and current Indianapolis Colts star running back Jonathan Taylor was named the AFC’s Offensive Player of Week 16 on Tuesday.

The two-time Doak Walker Award winner, who played at Wisconsin from 2017-19, earned the designation for his dominant performance in the Colts’ 38-30 victory over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.

In the contest, the former Badger rushed 29 times for 218 yards and three touchdowns. Those 218 yards exceeded Taylor’s previous season high by 104 yards.

With the monster output, he also became the second-leading rusher in Colts franchise history — now only behind Hall of Fame RB Edgerrin James (9,226 yards).

Taylor has rushed for 1,129 yards and eight touchdowns in 12 games in 2024. He’s also reeled in 15 catches for 122 yards and one receiving touchdown this season.

The New Jersey native joined Las Vegas Raiders safety Isaiah Pola-Moa and Miami Dolphins kicker Jason Sanders on the AFC ‘Players of the Week’ group of standouts from Week 16.

Taylor joins Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Zack Baun, Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal and Minnesota Vikings linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel as former Badgers to receive ‘Player of the Week’ recognition this season.

The Colts, searching for a playoff berth, are back in action on Dec. 29 against the New York Giants.

Former Wisconsin linebacker joins elite company in win over Seahawks

Former Wisconsin linebacker joins elite company in win over Seahawks

Former Wisconsin Badgers and current Minnesota Vikings linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel joined elite company in Minnesota’s 27-24 win over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.

Van Ginkel tallied five total tackles and two sacks in the three-point win. The performance brought his season-long totals to 69 tackles, 10 sacks, two interceptions and five pass deflections.

With those numbers, the former Badger star became the second player since 1982 to record at least 10 sacks and two pick-sixes in a single season. The other — Hall of Fame defensive end Jason Taylor with the Miami Dolphins in 2006.

Van Ginkel’s first sack arrived on 3rd-and-11 with Seattle attempting to morph a 20-17 deficit into a late edge. After Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith dropped back to pass, the former Badger took little time to get to the pass-thrower to force a six-yard loss.

The second sack quickly followed. On a first-down play at Minnesota’s 43-yard line, Smith scrambled to the right hash before being brought down by Van Ginkel for another six-yard loss. Seattle missed a field goal attempt on that possession before later coughing up an interception in the final sequence.

The former Badger received a substantial payday from the Vikings this offseason. He’s lived up to the contract and then some, and is now joining rare company.

Wisconsin legend makes history in Colts’ Week 16 win over Titans

A big afternoon for Jonathan Taylor

Former Wisconsin Badgers and current Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor made history in the Colts’ 38-30 win over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.

Taylor notched 218 rushing yards and three touchdowns off 29 carries in the win. With the performance, he became the first running back in six seasons to tally 200 yards and three scores.

With the effort, he also became the second-leading rusher in Colts franchise history (5,493 yards). He now trails only Hall of Fame RB Edgerrin James (9,226 yards).

Taylor did the bulk of his damage on two breakout runs. He darted through Tennessee’s defense for a 65-yard touchdown at the 7:25-minute mark of the second quarter for his first score. He then returned to the end zone in the Colts’ first offensive possession of the second half. After fielding a handoff from quarterback Anthony Richardson, the Wisconsin product knifed through the left side of the Titans defense for a 70-yard touchdown to extend the margin to 30-7.

“It’s not easy,” Taylor said after the win. “When you have a group like we have up front, anything is possible. That’s why any time I have a chance, I try to encourage them because they fight their tails off and do the heavy lifting all game every single week.”

The Wisconsin star has now rushed for 1,129 yards and eight touchdowns in 12 games for the Colts this season. It’s the first time he’s totaled over 1,000 yards on the ground since his league-leading 1,811-yard season in 2021.

The 7-8 Colts return to the gridiron for a must-win game against the New York Giants on Sunday, Dec. 29.

Former Wisconsin safety, Super Bowl champion named head coach at St. John Neumann High School

Former Wisconsin safety, Super Bowl champion named head coach at St. John Neumann

Former Wisconsin star defensive back Chris Maragos was named the coach at St. John Neumann Catholic High School on Wednesday.

Maragos, a Racine, Wisconsin, native, heads to Naples, Florida, for his opportunity with St. John Neumann. He takes over from former coach Rich Crosby. He enters the high school coaching world after one of the more successful NFL undrafted free agent stories in Wisconsin football history.

After transferring from Western Michigan following the 2006 season, Maragos switched from wide receiver to free safety for his two years with the Badgers (2008-09). He recorded 94 tackles and five interceptions during his 26-game UW tenure.

Despite going unselected in the 2010 NFL draft, Maragos played eight NFL seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks and Philadelphia Eagles.

Maragos spent the bulk of his pro career as an ace on special teams. He played in all 16 games for the Seahawks during their Super Bowl season in 2013. He earned a multiyear contract with the Eagles (2014-17) and was the special teams captain for Philadelphia during its Super Bowl run in 2017.

The Racine native finished his NFL career with 93 total tackles, two tackles for loss, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries in 99 career contests.

Now, he’ll lead a Celtics program looking to become one of the premier private schools in a crowded Florida football landscape.

Maragos becomes the second former Badger in as many days to assume high school coaching responsibilities. Former star running back Brian Calhoun became the coach at his alma mater, Oak Creek High School, outside of Milwaukee on Tuesday.

Former Wisconsin running back named head coach at in-state high school

Former Wisconsin star named head coach at in-state High School

Former Wisconsin star running back Brian Calhoun was named the coach at Oak Creek High School on Tuesday.

Calhoun, who graduated from Oak Creek in 2002, will lead his alma mater for the first head coaching responsibility of his career. He takes the reins after serving on the Oak Creek staff of Joel Parr, who retired.

Before he cemented himself as one of Wisconsin’s most prolific running backs, Calhoun set records at Oak Creek. The former Badger set the single-season rushing record (2,905) with the Knights in 2001. That season, he also scored a school-record 40 touchdowns.

Following his high school graduation, Calhoun played two productive seasons at Colorado (2002-03) before his stellar season in Madison under Barry Alvarez in 2005.

That season, he recorded 348 rushing attempts for 1,636 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns, plus 53 catches, 571 receiving yards and a pair of receiving touchdowns. The output was enough to make him a semifinalist for both the Maxwell Award and Doak Walker Award.

Calhoun captained that crew to a 2006 Capital One Bowl victory over the No. 7 Auburn Tigers. He totaled 213 yards and one touchdown in the 24-10 win.

The Wisconsin native was selected in the third round of the 2006 NFL draft by the Detroit Lions. He played 11 games during his professional career, tallying 54 total rushing yards and 55 receiving yards.

Former Wisconsin standout linebacker helps Bengals clinch ‘Monday Night Football’ win

Former Wisconsin standout linebacker helps Bengals clinch ‘Monday Night Football’ win

Former Wisconsin standout linebacker Maema Njongmeta recorded his first signature NFL highlight in the Cincinnati Bengals’ 27-20 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Monday.

The moment arrived in one of the most miraculous situations of the 2024 NFL season to date. Pinned at its 29-yard line with exactly two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter and tied at 20, the Bengals lined up to punt.

As soon as punter Ryan Rehkow fielded the long snap, Cowboys special teamer Nick Vigil squeezed through Cincinnati’s offensive line and blocked the punt. The ball took a few big bounces toward Cowboys territory and glanced off a Dallas player before Njongmeta, who tracked the ball the whole way through, grabbed it at the Bengals’ 43-yard line.

The recovery handed the Bengals the football with a fresh opportunity to win the game. Joe Burrow and the offensive capitalized on a 40-yard touchdown to Ja’Marr Chase, clinching the 27-20 win.

Njongmeta hasn’t seen much action this season, but he certainly made the most of it. He may have missed the block on Vigil on the initial punt, but he didn’t give up.

This same mentality netted the UW alumnus a spot on the Bengals’ 53-man roster in late August. In three preseason games, the two-year starter at Wisconsin notched 29 total tackles, 18 solo tackles, two pass deflections and respectable special teams play to elevate to the 53-man.

Since then, Njongmeta has logged eight total tackles and five solo tackles for Zac Taylor’s team in 12 games. Most of his time comes during special teams action.

At Wisconsin, Njongmeta totaled 158 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 6 1/2 sacks, one interception, two pass deflections and three fumble recoveries during his tenure in Madison. His opportunities could grow following the highlight.

Former Badger running back explodes for two touchdowns in 49ers blowout win

Former Badger running back explodes for two touchdowns in 49ers blowout win

Former Wisconsin running back Isaac Guerendo exploded for 128 total yards and two rushing touchdowns in the San Francisco 49ers’ 38-13 win vs. the Chicago Bears on Sunday.

A week after all-world running back Christian McCaffrey went down with an injury against the Buffalo Bills, Guerendo assumed the starting running back responsibilities.

He paced the 49ers’ backfield with 15 carries for 78 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the triumph. He also reeled in two catches for 50 receiving yards.

The former Badger’s first score came at the 1:39-minute mark in the first quarter on a one-yard rush. That score put San Francisco up 14-0 and punctuated a dominant first frame of action.

Guerendo crossed the goal line again on the first play of the fourth quarter after rushing up the middle for a four-yard score. He registered two more touches from that point forward to put a ribbon on his most impressive NFL performance of his young career.

Guerendo played for five years at Wisconsin from 2018-2022 before transferring to Louisville for his 2023 season. During his tenure in Madison, he notched 99 carries, 582 yards and six touchdowns in 27 games.

Guerendo is now up to 57 carries, 324 yards and four touchdowns on the ground in his rookie NFL season. He has also recorded seven receptions for 69 yards with the 49ers.

San Francisco will square off next against the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday, Dec. 12.

Former Wisconsin linebacker continues All-Pro campaign in Eagles’ ninth straight win

Former Wisconsin linebacker continues All-Pro campaign in Eagles’ ninth straight win

Former Wisconsin Badgers and current Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Zack Baun bolstered his All-Pro campaign in the Eagles’ 22-16 win over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.

Baun registered 11 tackles, one sack, three tackles for loss and a pair of quarterback hits in the win, captaining the Eagles’ defense alongside fellow linebacker Nakobe Dean.

He also recorded an overall grade of 89.3, the highest mark of any Eagles defender.

As he has almost every week, Baun made several show-stopping plays for Vic Fangio’s defensive unit. His first big-time sequence came with just over six minutes remaining in the first quarter.

On third-and-seven, Baun burst through the right side of Carolina’s offensive line and tracked down a scrambling Young for a solo sack to force a punt and flip in possession.

In 13 starts, Baun has now logged 129 total tackles, 3.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and three pass deflections. If he adds 47 more tackles to his 2024 total, he would double his combined tackle output from his previous four seasons with the New Orleans Saints from 2020-23.

While quarterback Jalen Hurts, superstar running back Saquon Barkley and dynamic wide receiver A.J. Brown garner most of the media attention on the Eagles, Baun is orchestrating arguably the best season of any linebacker in the NFL this season.

The Eagles sit at 11-2 and rival the Detroit Lions, Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills as the best team in the NFL. Without Baun, the Eagles might not be a part of that conversation.

The team’s next match is slated for Dec. 15 vs. Russell Wilson and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Badgers great Braelon Allen registers career-high yardage in Jets loss

Badgers great Braelon Allen registers career-high yardage in Jets win

Former Wisconsin Badgers and current New York Jets running back Braelon Allen tallied a career-high 81 total yards vs. the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.

With Jets star running back Breece Hall sidelined with a knee injury, Allen assumed the starting workload at running back alongside future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers. He finished the game with 11 carries for 43 rushing yards and four catches for 38 receiving yards in the 32-26 loss in Miami.

While he did log 11 carries, Allen’s most impactful plays came in the passing game. He averaged 9.5 yards per reception and snared a 15-yard catch to help kick-start the Jets’ final scoring drive of regulation.

Through 13 games, the former Badger has rushed 78 times for 283 yards and two rushing scores. He has also reeled in 16 catches for 135 receiving yards and one touchdown. He registered his previous career-high on Sept. 19 vs. the New England Patriots on 14 total touches.

With Hall sidelined, Allen’s opportunities to close the season could increase. At 3-10, the Jets are also eliminated from the playoff picture.