Tag: Tamba Hali

Penn State’s all-time first-round NFL draft picks

Every Penn State football player ever drafted in the first round of the NFL draft in school history.

In the history of the NFL draft, only a handful of schools have had more players drafted by NFL franchises than Penn State. The Nittany Lions have sent over 360 players through the NFL draft over the years, and that number continues to climb every year. And when it comes to first-round picks, Penn State has had a solid number of those as well, including some top draft picks.

Lenny Moore, arguably the best player in Penn State football history, is appropriately the first player in program history to be selected by an NFL franchise in the NFL draft. Since then, Penn State players have been selected in the first round numerous times through the decades with players like Shane Conlan, Blair Thomas, Ki-Jana Carter, LaVar Arrington, Saquon Barkley, and Micah Parsons.

Here is a look at every first-round NFL draft pick in Penn State history, starting with the first.

WATCH: Chiefs DE George Karlaftis working on pass rushing with Tamba Hali

#Chiefs legend Tamba Hali has shared even more clips of his pass rush training with George Karlaftis.

A big storyline to emerge for the Kansas City Chiefs this offseason is franchise legend Tamba Hali taking second-year DE George Karlaftis under his wing.

The two have spent time together this offseason, with Hali teaching Karlaftis both pass-rushing and martial arts techniques that helped take his NFL career to new heights. The first clip to emerge showed the two working on hand-fighting techniques. Hali followed that up with a video of him and Karlaftis working with Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Dave Smarr in Kansas City.

Our story on the most recent video seems to have caught Hali’s attention, prompting him to share even more clips of his work with Karlaftis on his Instagram page.

Check it out:

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cqvbdy5p6J_/

“Thankful and grateful to work with another great human being @georgekarlaftis,” Hali wrote in the caption.

Hali explained in a prior video that the two had been getting up at 6:00 a.m. for martial arts training and then working specifically on pass-rushing techniques in the evenings. In this particular video, you get some clips of Karlafits working on some solo footwork drills. He also works on some hand-fighting disengagement techniques with Hali. We don’t get to hear the instruction from Hali, with one of his songs playing in the background of the video, but we do get to see Hali’s tutelage of Karlaftis again.

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WATCH: Chiefs legend Tamba Hali training George Karlaftis in Brazilian jiu-jitsu

#Chiefs DE George Karlaftis is once again learning from Tamba Hali, this time for early morning workouts with a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu master.

Kansas City Chiefs DE George Karlaftis continues to work alongside a franchise legend this offseason.

Tamba Hali shared a new video of an early-morning training session alongside Karlaftis and Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) master Dave Smarr. For the unaware, BJJ is a martial art that focuses on grappling, hand-fighting and ground fighting.

During Hali’s tenure in Kansas City, he sharpened his technique and ability on the football field by learning various martial arts techniques from Master Joe Kim, who is currently a skill development coach for the New England Patriots. Now, he’s passing the skills that helped him take his NFL career to new heights down to Karlaftis.

Check it out:

“So, this is what I’ve been doing pretty much every morning,” Hali said in the video. “Master Dave (Smarr), we’re in there. Today we’ve got George (Karlaftis), a pass-rusher for the Kansas City Chiefs. We work pass rush in the evening and now George and I are doing a little jiu-jitsu to understand how important technique is when pass-rushing — and mindset. Obviously, after a couple of classes here with Dave Smarr, our head instructor here in Kansas City, George is sold. You’re gifted and then there are those that know technique and are gifted and they uplift their game to the next level.”

It seems like Karlaftis has bought into the process that helped Hali become one of the greatest pass-rushers this franchise has ever known. We’ll find out in 2023 just how far these learned techniques can take the second-year pass-rusher.

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WATCH: Chiefs legend Tamba Hali working with George Karlaftis

George Karlaftis has linked up with #Chiefs legend Tamba Hali to work on his hand-fighting.

One of the greatest pass rushers in franchise history appears to be working with a player ushering in a new era for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Tamba Hali shared a video on his Instagram of him working alongside Chiefs second-year edge rusher George Karlaftis. Hali, of course, ranks second all-time in franchise history in sacks (89.5) and forced fumbles (33) behind only Derrick Thomas.

Starcade Media’s Noah Gronniger was among the first to screen capture the video from Hali’s Instagram story.

Check it out:

It’s not clear when exactly this training took place, but it’s a great thing to see happen. Karlaftis is looking to further develop his pass rush abilities and there’s no better way to do it than learning hand-fighting from one of the best to ever do it.

Hali studied hand-to-hand combat techniques such as Brazilian jiu-jitsu with now-Patriots coach Master Joe Kim in order to better his pass-rush arsenal. He perfected all of the little things that could help him be at the top of his game, even against opponents who outmatched him athletically. Hali turned the two-hand swipe into a nearly unblockable move during the course of his NFL career in part due to his relentless study and persistence.

Now, it appears that Hali is passing on some of that knowledge to a player that the Chiefs will rely upon heavily in 2023 and beyond.

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On this day in Penn State history: Tamba Hali’s iconic strip-sack clinches victory over Buckeyes

Remembering Tamba Hali’s iconic strip-sack that clinched a signature win over Ohio State in 2005.

Penn State has off on this October 8, but today marks the anniversary of one of the most iconic regular-season victories in program history. It was on this day in 2005 when Beaver Stadium had one of its biggest nights as Penn State upset Ohio State to announce to the college football world that Penn State was back from the dead.

Penn State won five games in back-to-back seasons in 2000 and 2001 and then won three games in 2003 and just four games in 2004. It was the worst five-year stretch for Penn State under head coach [autotag]Joe Paterno[/autotag] of his career, leading to many wondering if the game had passed by Penn State and Paterno. But the 2005 season started with three straight wins in non-conference play and Big Ten play ignited with a wild comeback at Northwestern. Penn State then smashed No. 18 Minnesota at home, 44-14, to set the stage for a visit from College GameDay for a matchup between No. 16 Penn State and No. 6 Ohio State. This was the game Penn State fans were waiting for as it presented the Nittany Lions a chance to make a loud statement about the status of the football program, and the students were all in with a student section whiteout, years before Penn State enacted stadium-wide whiteouts. Those who were at the game, including myself, may still say that was one of the loudest games ever witnessed in Beaver Stadium.

Penn State’s defense was impressive on that October night. Ohio State had just 230 yards of offense and turned the football over three times. The defense had to be that good, because Ohio State’s defense was also dominant all night long. Penn State managed just 195 yards of total offense.

[autotag]Michael Robinson[/autotag] completed 11 of 20 passes for just 78 yards, but he ran for 52 yards and a touchdown. [autotag]Tony Hunt[/autotag] led all players with 64 rushing yards, each one as difficult to gain as they would come on this night highlighted by the defenses.

Ohio State struck first with a field goal in the first quarter, but Penn State scored two touchdowns in the second quarter to take a 14-3 lead with a [autotag]Derrick Williams[/autotag] touchdown run of 13 yards and Robinson’s one-yard touchdown run midway through the quarter. Ohio State would close the gap with their final score of the night with a Smith touchdown run from 10 yards out in the final minute of the first half.

The only scoring in the second half came on the leg of [autotag]Kevin Kelly[/autotag], a 41-yarder early in the third quarter. From there, the defenses for both teams took control. Ohio State’s best chance to score in the second half came in the form of a missed 50-yard field goal.

[autotag]Tamba Hali[/autotag] put the game on ice when he easily got around his blocker on the edge and raced toward an unsuspecting Troy Smith, who would go on to win a Heisman Trophy the following season. Smith lost the football on impact and Penn State recovered. And Hali simply walked off the field as composed as they can come, as if it was just another play. Business as usual for a player who would go on to make a living in the NFL doing this very thing.

After the game, Kirk Herbstreit credited the Penn State student section by proclaiming them to be the best student section in the country.

Penn State was upset the following weekend at Michigan on a last-second touchdown by the Wolverines when Chad Henne found Mario Manningham in the endzone as time expired in a wild fourth quarter in Ann Arbor. Penn State trailed Michigan 10-3 going into the fourth quarter and exploded for 22 points, but gave up 17 to come up on the wrong end of a 27-25 final score. But that was the only regular season loss for Penn State in the 2005 season.

Penn State went on to win the remainder of their games, including a 35-14 victory over No. 14 Wisconsin as Penn State went on to win the Big Ten championship and advance to the Orange Bowl. The Rose Bowl was being used to host that year’s BCS National Championship Game between USC and Texas, which turned out to be one of the most epic games in college football history. Penn State’s Orange Bowl was also quite a memorable game, at least for Penn State fans.

In a season otherwise dominated by USC and Texas, who would go on to play for the BCS National Championship, Penn State was one play away from at least having an argument to being considered for the national championship. But none of it would have even be possible if not for that one night in October.

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PHOTOS: Penn State’s first round NFL draft picks since joining the Big Ten

From LaVar Arrington and Kerry Collins to Saquon Barkley and Micah Parsons, Penn State has had some big names drafted in the first round by NFL teams over the years.

After seeing two players be selected in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft, with [autotag]Micah Parsons[/autotag] and [autotag]Odafe Oweh[/autotag], Penn State is hoping to see at least one more player go in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft. And there is a good chance a Nittany Lion will be selected in the first round with wide receiver [autotag]Jahan Dotson[/autotag] and defensive end [autotag]Arnold Ebiketie[/autotag] each being viewed as potential first-round selections.

Penn State has a history of developing NFL talent at all positions, but the school may not have quite as many first-round draft picks as you might have originally thought. Since joining the Big Ten in 1993, Penn State has had 19 players drafted in the first round of the NFL draft. Three players highlighted the top 10 of the 1995 draft following Penn State’s undefeated 1994 season. In 2003, Penn State players were selected with four first-round picks by NFL teams.

A Penn State player has been selected with the top overall pick twice in the Big Ten era of the program. Running back [autotag]Ki-Jana Carter[/autotag] was the first pick of the 1995 draft by the Cincinnati Bengals, who traded up to make the move. In 2003, Penn State’s massive defensive lineman [autotag]Courtney Brown[/autotag] was the first pick of the draft by the Cleveland Browns. His teammate, linebacker [autotag]LaVar Arrington[/autotag], followed as the No. 2 pick of Washington.

Here is a look at each first-round draft pick out of Penn State since the Nittany Lions joined the Big Ten.

Tamba Hali explains how Andy Reid changed the Chiefs

#Chiefs legend Tamba Hali discussed Andy Reid’s impact when he first became head coach, plus shared thoughts on the pass rush in KC. | from @EdEastonJr

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The Kansas City Chiefs franchise has featured many iconic players in the team’s history. Tamba Hali spent all eleven seasons in the NFL playing for the Chiefs. He was drafted in the first round of the 2006 draft out of Penn State, starting all 16 games as a rookie with the team.

Recently, Hali appeared as a guest on the “Upon Further Review” podcast with Zach Brook. The two discussed a number of topics, but one of the most intriguing was when Brook asked Hali about Andy Reid’s impact once he took over as head coach in Kansas City in 2013. 

“Andy (Reid) is a whole different way of — the way he approached the game is way different than a lot of coaches. It’s not a lot of screaming and hooting and hollering,” said Hali.” We do that as players. He allowed us to lead, he allows personality to flare. But he just changed the culture— the entire culture. The way things should be ran.”

Hali was a 30-year-old veteran by the time Reid came to the team. He’d go on to earn three consecutive Pro Bowl selections under the coaching and tutelage of Reid.

“Obviously, he wasn’t in a rush to get rid of players,” Hali explained. “Slowly, he did it and he won with those players. But he just changed the culture. Because we had a mentality that we wasn’t the best team in the league. And every time we started to lose to a team, they knew how to just jump on us and beat us and finish us off. You know, we had great, great players at one point, but we didn’t play up to par, and coaches, coaches make a difference. So coach came in. And he just changed the way we work.” 

Hali was a six-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro with the Chiefs, spending nearly a decade as one of the team’s defensive stars. Reid helped enable him to grow as a leader late in his career.

“We always had leaders among every group, we always had a little group,” Hali explained. “We had leaders that would even come together out of those groups to figure out what, you know, it is that we need. So Coach is different in his approach game days, so quiet, so calm, doesn’t matter what goes on. You know, he just goes by his work, and he gets it done. I was happy to be part of a winning organization in the latter part of my career, just because it’s a great feeling. When you’re winning.”

Hali was released after the 2017 NFL season and would eventually announce his retirement in 2021. He played with one organization for his entire NFL career, a rarity in today’s NFL. Hali credited the organization for making that possible for him. 

“It says a lot about the organization,” Hali said. “The Chiefs organization is a family-ran organization. Clark Hunt, Daniel, Lamar Jr., Sharon — they are all very hands-on with the players and the whole thing. They always send out letters. Clark, I always have his number, I can call him directly and talk with him. He knows everyone’s name. His father, obviously, created the AFC. I don’t know how other organizations are because I didn’t get a chance to be there, but most guys that came to Kansas, most of them said that it’s different there. It was different with the Chiefs, the way they went about their business. For me, I was fortunate. Even in the bad and good times, I was favored to be there. That says a lot about their organization and how they were running it.”

As for this current Chiefs team, Hali still keeps up to this day. He was the drum honoree against the Green Bay Packers in the regular season. While many believe the pass-rush in Kansas City underperformed in 2021, Hali has a different take on players like Frank Clark and Chris Jones.

“Those are beasts in the league,” said Hali. “Right? Those are vets. They are only going to get better. It’s just, you know, it’s not much to say about them. I know those guys. I know how they played. At the end of the day, people will appreciate how much work they put in before these games. So you sometimes grade them on numbers, and it goes beyond numbers when it comes to those guys. Chris Jones is in a whole different league of his own. He doesn’t even play the whole game, so imagine if he got in shape to play the entire game? But the league has changed, so what he’s doing, I enjoy it. He gets in there and when he gets mad, we know he’s going to make a play.”

While he’s no longer playing the game, Chiefs football is still a big part of Hali’s life and focus.

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Tamba Hali to serve as drum honoree for Chiefs vs. Packers

It’s Tamba Time! Former #Chiefs OLB Tamba Hali will be back at Arrowhead Stadium as the team’s drum honoree for Week 9.

The Kansas City Chiefs have chosen their drum honoree for the Week 9  game at Arrowhead Stadium against the Green Bay Packers.

The team has invited a bonafide Chiefs legend, former outside linebacker Tamba Hali to serve as this week’s drum honoree. Hali signed a one-day ceremonial contract with Kansas City to formally retire from the NFL this past May.

One of the greatest pass-rushers in franchise history, Hali played in 177 games with 157 starts over 12 seasons. He terrorized opposing quarterbacks during his career, notching 596 total tackles, 105 tackles for loss, 89.5 sacks, 159 QB hits, 33 forced fumbles, eight fumble recoveries, two interceptions and 16 passes defended.

Hali’s presence for this Week 9 game could be a good omen for the Chiefs’ defense with Packers QB Jordan Love set to make his first career start. Back in 2013, Hali faced off against Houston Texans QB Case Keenum in his first NFL start. It didn’t go well for Keenum, who got well-acquainted with Hali after a three-sack performance.

As for other pregame entertainment for Week 9, it’s the team’s American Indian Heritage Month Game. They’ll celebrate by inviting Erica Bread, a member of the Kiowa and Cherokee Nations of Oklahoma, to sing the national anthem while the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska will present the colors. There will also be a flyover of two Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules Jets, flying in all the way from Little Rock, Arkansas.

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Former Chiefs OLB Tamba Hali inducted into Missouri Sports Hall of Fame

#Chiefs legend Tamba Hali was immortalized in the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame on Wednesday.

A Kansas City Chiefs legend was immortalized in the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame on Wednesday at their annual football luncheon.

Former Chiefs outside linebacker Tamba Hali was one of five athletes, coaches or contributors named to the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame’s latest class of inductees. He joined Mizzou running back Devin West, Central Missouri quarterback Scott Loveland, Salem High School coach Bill Schuchardt, and Lebanon radio broadcaster Kevin Stubblefield as the latest group of inductees.

Hali, who had his ceremonial retirement in Kansas City in May of 2021, is now one of 50 Chiefs players, coaches and contributors to have been inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. He joins great pass-rushers like Neil Smith, Derrick Thomas and Art Still.

Here is what the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame had to say about Hali in their press release:

“Hali was among the best pass rushers in Kansas City Chiefs history, doing so years after escaping the war-torn West African country of Liberia at age 10 and making a new home in the United States. A first-round draft pick in 2006 out of Penn State University, he spent his entire National Football League career with the Chiefs, covering 12 seasons (2006-2017) and helping the team to six playoff berths. He is second only to the legendary Derrick Thomas (126.5) in career sacks (89.5) and ahead of Neil Smith’s 85.5 and Justin Houston’s 78.5. Thomas (MSHOF 2021) and Smith (MSHOF 2008) have been inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. A six-time Pro Bowl selection and two-time All-Pro, Hali also forced 33 fumbles, second only to Thomas’ 45 and four more than Smith’s 29. Additionally, Hali started at least 15 games every season from 2006 to 2014 and started 14 in 2015. At Penn State, Hali was a consensus NCAA All-American in 2005 and was part of the Orange Bowl team that beat Florida State 26-23 in three overtimes. In 2006, he earned his U.S. citizenship.”

Hali’s contributions to the Chiefs’ franchise will forever be recognized in the state of Missouri. It’s a well-deserved honor for a player who gave his all during his time in Kansas City.

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Penn State Flashback: Tamba Hali’s signature moment at Penn State

Penn State fans were quick to reflect on Tamba Hali’s most important play at Penn State after he officially retired from the NFL.

Earlier this month, Tamba Hali announced his retirement from the NFL. His retirement immediately had Penn State fans reflecting on his time with the Nittany Lions. Hali was behind one of the most symbolic plays of Penn State’s return to national prominence a little more than 15 years ago.

On October 8, 2005, with Penn State battling favored Ohio State, Hali came off the edge and leveled Buckeyes quarterback Troy Smith (who would eventually to go on to win a Heisman Trophy during his time with the Buckeyes). Smith flipped from the hit and lost control of the football, and Penn State recovered it to help secure a major victory for former head coach Joe Paterno.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiqWvBfgcKo

Perhaps the epitome of this moment is Bevaer Stadium was rocking like it had never done in the history of the stadium, arguably. His teammates celebrated accordingly. Hali? He just calmly walked off the field as if it were just another play.

The play is referred to today as The Fumble, and it was the signature play of a season that redefined Penn State football after years of subpar performances and mediocrity. The 2005 Nittany Lions went on to claim the Big Ten championship, with this victory against Ohio State fueling the run, and Penn State would go on to finish the year with an epic Orange Bowl victory against ACC champion Florida State, coached by Bobby Bowden.

Who knows what would have happened if Hali wasn’t there for The Fumble.

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