Brian Ndubisi Orakpo (; born July 31, 1986) is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for 10 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Texas, was recognized as a unanimous All-American, and was selected by the Washington Redskins with the thirteenth overall pick in the 2009 NFL draft. He also played for Tennessee Titans, and was selected to four Pro Bowls.
Orakpo was born on July 31, 1986, in Houston, Texas to parents Gloria and Arthur Orakpo, who are immigrants from Nigeria. He has two younger siblings, Jennifer and Michael. Orakpo played high school football at Lamar High School in Houston, Texas. He played defensive end and tight end and was a two-time First-team all-district selection for the Texans football team. In addition, he played basketball from his freshman to junior years.
Orakpo attended the University of Texas, where he played for coach Mack Brown's Texas Longhorns football team from 2004 to 2008. He was redshirted as a freshman in 2004, but in 2005 he played in all 13 games and started in one. He made an immediate impact for the Longhorns, helping them finish 10th in the nation at defense, recording 27 tackles, a half sack, a forced fumble and recovered fumble. His play earned him Defensive Freshman of the Year and first-team Freshman All-America by The Sporting News. He helped the Longhorns obtain their fourth National Championship.
As a sophomore in 2006, he played all 13 games, recording 26 tackles and 4.5 sacks and was named one of the Lowe's Most Improved Defensive Players. As a junior in 2007, he played in nine games and missed four due to right knee injury suffered against Arkansas State. He was the Defensive MVP of the 2007 Holiday Bowl against Arizona State after recording six tackles and two sacks during the game. He finished the season with 37 tackles and 5.5 sacks.
As a senior in 2008, Orakpo recorded 40 tackles and 11.5 sacks and was the Associated Press Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. He also was the winner of the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, given to the best defensive player, the Ted Hendricks Award, given to the top defensive end, The Bill Willis Trophy given to the top collegiate defensive lineman, and the Lombardi Award, given to the best lineman or linebacker. He was recognized as a unanimous first-team All-American, after receiving first-team honors from the Associated Press, American Football Coaches Association, Football Writers Association of America, The Sporting News, and the Walter Camp Football Foundation. He was the first Texas Longhorn defensive end to earn All-American honors since Tony Brackens in 1995.
In his college career, Orakpo recorded 132 tackles, 22 sacks, 38 tackles for loss, 62 pressures, six passes broken up, six forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery.
Orakpo attended the NFL Combine with much anticipation due to his well-known reputation as a "workout warrior". His 31 reps in the bench press ranked second among all defensive ends and seventh best among all defensive linemen. His 39.5-inch vertical jump was second for all defensive lineman, and he showed his speed and acceleration while recording a 4.63 40-yard dash time. At the conclusion of the pre-draft process, Orakpo was projected to be a first round pick by NFL draft experts and scouts. He was ranked the best defensive end/outside linebacker prospect in the draft by NFL analyst Bucky Brooks, was ranked the second best defensive end by DraftScout.com, and was ranked the second best outside linebacker in the draft by NFL analyst Mike Mayock.
The Washington Redskins selected Orakpo in the first round (13th overall) of the 2009 NFL draft. Orakpo was the third defensive end drafted in 2009.
On July 31, 2009, the Washington Redskins signed Orakpo to a five-year, $15.33 million contract that included $11.69 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $6.36 million.
Head coach Jim Zorn named Orakpo the starting strongside linebacker to begin the regular season, along with Rocky McIntosh and middle linebacker London Fletcher.
Orakpo made his NFL debut and first start in the season-opener against the New York Giants and recorded two solo tackles in a 23–17 road loss. During Week 3, he recorded four combined tackles and made his first NFL sack during a 19–14 loss at the Detroit Lions. Orakpo made his first career sack on quarterback Matthew Stafford for an eight-yard loss in the third quarter. In the next game, he collected a season-high seven combined tackles and a sack in a 16–13 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. During Week 14, Orakpo made six combined tackles and a season-high four sacks as the Redskins defeated the Oakland Raiders by a score 34–13. Orakpo had a sack on Bruce Gradkowski and three sacks on Jamarcus Russell and tied the Redskins' single-game sack record. He earned the NFC Defensive Player of the Week award for his performance. On December 30, 2009, it was announced that Orakpo was selected to play in the 2010 Pro Bowl and was the only rookie to be initially voted to the NFC roster. Orakpo became the first Redskins' rookie to make the Pro Bowl since RB/KR Tony Green in 1978.
Orakpo finished his rookie year 50 combined tackles (37 solo), a career-high 11 sacks, and two pass deflections in 16 games and starts.
On January 4, 2010, the Redskins fired head coach Jim Zorn after they finished with a 4–12 record in 2009. The Washington Redskins hired Jim Haslett as their new defensive coordinator and installed a base 3-4 defense. Head coach Mike Shanahan named Orakpo and Andre Carter the starting outside linebackers to begin the regular season, along with inside linebackers London Fletcher and Rocky McIntosh.
During Week 5, Orakpo recorded three combined tackles and a season-high a two sacks on quarterback Aaron Rodgers during a 16–13 win over the Green Bay Packers. In Week 10, he collected a season-high eight combined tackles and was credited with half a sack during a 59–28 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Orakpo was sidelined for the Week 16 victory at the Jacksonville Jaguars after sustaining a hamstring injury the previous week.
Orakpo finished his second professional season with 56 combined tackles (36 solo), 8.5 sacks, two pass deflections, and a forced fumble in 15 games and starts. On January 23, 2011, it was announced that he would play in the 2011 Pro Bowl as a replacement for Packers linebacker Clay Matthews III who was appearing in Super Bowl XLV.
Head coach Mike Shanahan named Orakpo and Ryan Kerrigan the starting outside linebackers to start the regular season, along with inside linebackers London Fletcher and Rocky McIntosh.
During Week 4 against the St. Louis Rams, Orakpo recorded five combined tackles, a forced fumble, and had a season-high 2.5 sacks on Rams' quarterback Sam Bradford during a 17–10 road victory. His performance earned him the NFC Defensive Player of the Week award. Three weeks later, he collected a season-high six combined tackles and a sack in a 33–20 road loss against the Carolina Panthers. In the regular-season finale, Orakpo recorded three solo tackles and made two sacks during a 34–10 road loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. He exited the game after suffering an injury to his left shoulder and pectoral muscle after sacking Michael Vick in the second quarter.
On January 10, 2012, it was reported that Orakpo successfully underwent surgery to repair his shoulder. Orakpo was selected as an alternate for the 2012 Pro Bowl along with teammates, London Fletcher and Lorenzo Alexander. He finished his third season with 59 combined tackles (34 solo), nine sacks, and five pass deflections in 16 games and starts.