Packers.com » Team » Players

Players

Coaches

Staff

Team / Players / Brady Poppinga

LB BRADY POPPINGA #51

6' 3" • 247 lbs. • Brigham Young

Exp: 5th NFL Season, 5th Packers Season
Age: 30
Acquired: Draft 2005 (4b)
Current Status: Active Roster

2008 Bio:

Last name is pronounced puh-PING-ah
Will compete for a starting spot at OLB in new 3-4 scheme, reprising his pass-rush role as a college defensive end
Returned to practice less than eight full months after a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee, started the 2006 season opener, and has played in every game since
Has recorded two of his three career sacks in the Metrodome, against Minnesota quarterbacks Brad Johnson (Nov. 12, 2006) and Daunte Culpepper (Oct. 23, 2005)
Spent two years on a mission in Uruguay before entering BYU; recalls the trip as the most difficult and most rewarding experience of his life
Comes from a very athletic family. Father, Dennis, played tight end at BYU from 1968-1971; brother, Casey, played tight end at Utah State; brother, Kelly, was a linebacker at BYU; and older sister, Tara, played volleyball at Utah State
Son is named Julius Maximus Poppinga, a name inspired by his favorite movie, Gladiator

Pro Summary

An intense and enthusiastic veteran, the fifth-year pro will compete for a starting spot at outside linebacker in the defense’s new 3-4 scheme, reprising the pass-rush role from his days as a college defensive end
Played some end in passing situations in ’08, his first snaps in that capacity since making the transition to linebacker as a senior at Brigham Young
Remained a consistent contributor last season despite beginning the year in competition with free-agent signee Brandon Chillar for starting strong-side linebacker job, playing in every game and recording a career-high 77 tackles
Hasn’t missed a game the last three years since returning from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, sustained in the final month of his rookie season, in his first NFL start (vs. Detroit, Dec. 11, 2005)
Was back on the practice field in training camp in August 2006, able to play in the final two preseason games and start the season opener on Sept. 10, one day less than nine months from the injury date
The remarkably fast recovery was attributed to his undying work ethic and intensity during rehabilitation, which only furthered his love for the game
Despite the serious injury, has played in 60 of a possible 64 games in his four-year career (62 of 66 including playoffs), amassing 233 total tackles (151 solo), three sacks, two interceptions, seven passes defensed, two forced fumbles and 30 special teams tackles
As a rookie, played in 12 games prior to his injury and was an immediate contributor on special teams, finishing second on the team with 22 coverage stops, one behind fellow rookie Marviel Underwood
At BYU, was a three-time first-team All-Mountain West Conference selection, amassing 20 career sacks between end and linebacker positions
Drafted in the fourth round in 2005, entered the NFL older than most rookies after spending two years on a Mormon mission in Uruguay prior to going to college

2008 Season

Played in all 16 games for the third straight season with 12 starts at strong-side linebacker
Held off challenge from free-agent signee Chillar during training camp for starting job and registered career-best 77 tackles (51 solo), one more than previous career high and second most among linebackers
Vs. Minnesota (Sept. 8): Among six tackles, combined with DT Colin Cole to hold RB Adrian Peterson to a 1-yard gain on a 3rd-and-2 in the second quarter. Also contributed his lone pass defensed on the season
At Tampa Bay (Sept. 28): Tied for second on team with 10 tackles, including stop of RB Warrick Dunn for 2-yard loss in third quarter
At Tennessee (Nov. 2): Stopped RB Chris Johnson for a 1-yard loss in first quarter among five tackles
At Minnesota (Nov. 9): Started and posted career-high 12 tackles
Vs. Carolina (Nov. 30): Made six tackles, including a stop of RB DeAngelo Williams for a 2-yard loss in the fourth quarter. Also began taking a few snaps at defensive end in pass-rushing situations, a role he held the rest of the season
Vs. Detroit (Dec. 28): Registered five tackles, including a stop of RB Kevin Smith for a 1-yard loss on second-quarter run, and added two QB pressures

2007 Season

Played in 16 games with 15 starts; did not officially start vs. Detroit (Dec. 30) with team opening in its ‘nickel’ package
Also started both playoff games
Registered 70 tackles (43 solo), with one interception and one pass defensed
Vs. Chicago (Oct. 7): Made five tackles with one pass defensed and an interception. In the fourth quarter, caught a Brian Griese pass tipped by Nick Collins, the Packers’ only forced turnover of the game and second interception of Poppinga’s career (also Oct. 22, 2006, at Miami)
Vs. Minnesota (Nov. 11): On the Vikings’ first drive, stopped Peterson for no gain on third-and-1, leading to a punt
At St. Louis (Dec. 16): Posted a season-high eight tackles (four solo)
At Chicago (Dec. 23): Made six solo tackles; in the second quarter, dropped RB Garrett Wolfe for a 3-yard loss
Vs. New York Giants (Jan. 20): In NFC Championship, made five tackles (four solo); in the first quarter, stopped RB Brandon Jacobs for no gain at the Green Bay 11-yard line on a drive that ended three plays later with a Giants field goal

2006 Season

Played in all 16 games, starting 12
Recorded 76 tackles (51 solo), one sack, one interception, five passes defensed and a pair of forced fumbles
Did not start four contests when the team opened in its nickel package
Reclaimed the starting role he had earned Dec. 11, 2005, when a torn anterior cruciate ligament ended his rookie season
After an unusually quick recovery and rehabilitation, returned to practice on a limited basis Aug. 8 and to the starting lineup in four weeks, returning in Week 1 to the starting ‘Sam’ LB role he had relinquished upon his 2005 injury
Vs. Chicago (Sept. 10): Started season opener and led the team with a (then) career-high 11 tackles, including a personal-best nine solo stops
At Miami (Oct. 22): Made his first career interception, picking off a Joey Harrington pass floated over the middle and returning it 21 yards
At Minnesota (Nov. 12): Sacked Brad Johnson, forcing a fumble (recovered by Corey Williams) to set up the Packers’ first TD. The sack gave him two of his three career sacks in the Metrodome, the other coming against Daunte Culpepper (Oct. 23, 2005)

2005 Season

Played in 12 games with one start, missing the final three contests with a knee injury
Finished with 10 tackles (six solo), including two sacks
Finished second on the club with 22 special teams tackles
At Detroit (Sept. 11): Recorded two special teams tackles in his NFL debut, dropping dangerous PR Eddie Drummond for a 2-yard loss in third quarter
Vs. New Orleans (Oct. 9): Played six snaps at ‘Sam’ linebacker, the first defensive action of his career. Also made three special teams tackles
At Minnesota (Oct. 23): Posted one special teams stop and took down Culpepper in the first quarter for a loss of 14 yards, his first career sack and tackle from scrimmage
At Atlanta (Nov. 13): Made a career-best four coverage tackles, twice dropping KR Allen Rossum on kickoff returns, at the 15- and 19-yard lines
At Philadelphia (Nov. 27): Posted a sack in five snaps on defense, taking down RB Brian Westbrook (looking to pass) for a 3-yard loss in the fourth quarter
Vs. Detroit (Dec. 11): Making his first NFL start, replaced Na’il Diggs (knees) at ‘Sam’ linebacker and posted five tackles (two solo), plus one on special teams. Saw his season end after tearing the ACL in his left knee while covering a fourth-quarter kickoff and was placed on injured reserve on Dec. 14
2005 Draft: Was the Packers’ second of two selections in the fourth round (125th overall), the fourth player ever chosen by the Packers from Brigham Young and the first since Ty Detmer in 1992

College

A four-year letterwinner (2001-04) for the Cougars, started his last three seasons
Played in 47 contests, with 25 starts
Finished with 193 tackles (99 solo), 20 sacks and 39 tackles for loss
Garnered first-team All-Mountain West Conference honors as a sophomore, junior and senior
Earned a B.S. degree in business management
Senior season (2004): Started all 11 games, shifting before the season from defensive end to left outside linebacker
Ranked third on the team with 79 tackles (35 solo), including six sacks and 12 stops for loss
Added five quarterback hurries, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble
Selected as one of 58 candidates for the 2004 ‘Bronko Nagurski Award,’ presented annually to the nation’s best defensive player
Junior season (2003): Started all 12 games at defensive end
Ranked among MWC leaders with 55 tackles (34 solo)
Finished seventh in the conference and led the team with six sacks
Ranked ninth in the conference and second on the Cougars with 13 tackles for loss
Contributed one fumble recovery and two passes defensed
Tallied six-or-more tackles in four games
Selected to the preseason watch list of the Rotary Lombardi Award
Sophomore season (2002): Saw action in all 12 games, starting two at defensive end
Led the conference with a career-high eight sacks (for 52 yards)
Recorded 49 tackles (25 solo), including 14 for loss
Forced three fumbles and had three quarterback pressures
Named both first-team All-MWC and a MWC All-Academic selection
Earned the Cougars’ top defensive lineman award
Freshman season (2001): Played in all 12 games as a defensive end and contributed significantly on special teams
Recorded 10 tackles (five solo) and one pass defensed

Personal

Given name Brady Paul Poppinga
Born in Evanston, Wyo.
Last name is pronounced puh-PING-ah
Married the former Brooke Hubbard in 2002; the couple has a daughter, Jasmine, 5, and a son, Julius, 3
Comes from a very athletic family
Father, Dennis, played tight end at BYU from 1968-1971
Brother, Casey, played tight end at Utah State and was on the practice squads of Seattle, Kansas City and Philadelphia in 2004
Brother, Kelly, also played linebacker at BYU and spent time with Miami, St. Louis and Arizona in 2008
Older sister, Tara, played volleyball at Utah State
Postponed college football career for two seasons while on a Mormon mission in Uruguay, South America
Said it was the hardest thing he’s ever done in his life because he had to leave his family and friends for so long, but also said it was the greatest experience of his life
His passion and love for the game grew while on his mission and being away from football
Learned Spanish while on the mission
High school: Was an all-state selection at both linebacker and tight end at Evanston (Wyo.) High School
Named the Wyoming Athlete of the Year and 4-A ‘Lineman of the Year’ as a senior
Lettered three years in football
Selected to the Wyoming Super-25 team
Led the Red Devils to a 4-A state title
Also lettered three years in basketball and four years in track
Finished second in the 1997 state discus competition
Community involvement: Holds an annual football camp, ‘The Poppinga Football Experience,’ in the offseason in Wyoming
Also has served as an instructor in a couple of Green Bay-area youth football camps
This past offseason, took a trip to the Dominican Republic with teammate A.J. Hawk, speaking to children and helping schools with fundraising, obtaining running water, making repairs, and other charitable endeavors
Videotaped a ‘Get Fueled’ segment for the Packers’ ‘Fit Kids’ program, a joint effort between the Green Bay Packers, CBS-5 WFRV and the Green Bay Area Public School District involving a year-long school program with a curriculum that focuses each month on a theme based on either nutrition, physical fitness or social health
Took part in the Packers’ first annual All-Pro Dad event in December 2005, talking to other dads about the importance of being a good father and joining kids for football drills
A former Eagle Scout himself, has spoken to groups of Boy Scouts and has taped public service announcements for the Boy Scouts of America
Taught Sunday school to teenagers in Provo, Utah, and is very involved in his church in Green Bay as a youth leader and mentor to missionaries
Did some motivational speaking at a school for troubled teens while in college
Active in the Halloween fundraiser for the Invisible Children, with all the proceeds supporting the children of Uganda
Participated in the TRIFECTA golf tournament put on by Mark Tauscher
Hobbies/interests: Enjoys chess and outdoor activities, including river rafting, golf, tennis, hunting, fishing, water and snow skiing
Also enjoys reading, tabbing The DaVinci Code, New Earth, and the Book of Mormon as some of his favorite books, and enjoys listening to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Names Gladiator and 300 as his favorite movies; the former inspired his young son’s name, Julius Maximus
Earned his Eagle Scout honor in 1995
Looked up to his dad growing up
Residence: Green Bay, Wis.

Player Stats

			Tackles			Sacks		Interceptions					Fumbles
Year	GP	GS	Tot	Solo	Asst	Sk	Yds	No	Yds	Lg	TD	PD	FF	FR	Yds
2005 Green Bay	12	1	10	6	4	2	17	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2006 Green Bay	16	12	76	51	25	1	6	1	21	21	0	5	2	0	0
2007 Green Bay	16	15	70	43	27	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	0
2008 Green Bay	16	12	77	51	26	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0
NFL totals (four years)	60	40	233	151	82	3	23	2	21	21	0	7	2	0	0

Playoffs
			Tackles			Sacks		Interceptions					Fumbles
Year	GP	GS	Tot	Solo	Asst	Sk	Yds	No	Yds	Lg	TD	PD	FF	FR	Yds
2007 Green Bay	2	2	6	5	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Additional statistics: Career sacks - Daunte Culpepper, Brad Johnson, Brian Westbrook (RB). Special teams tackles - 22 in 2005, 4 in 2006, 2 in 2007, 1 in '07 playoffs, 2 in 2008; NFL total: 30

SINGLE-GAME CAREER HIGHS
Tackles
Total: 12, at Min. (11/9/08)
Solo: 9, vs. Chi. (9/10/06)
Sacks: 1, three times (last: at Min., 11/12/06)

NFL debut: at Detroit, 9/11/05
First NFL start: vs. Detroit, 12/11/05
First sack: at Minnesota, 10/23/05 (D.Culpepper)
Interception: 1, two times (last: vs. Chi., 10/7/07)

CAREER TRANSACTIONS
2005: Selected by Green Bay Packers as second of two fourth-round choices (125th overall) in '05 NFL Draft, April 24...Signed first contract, July 26...Placed on injured reserve (knee), Dec. 14.
2008: Signed five-year contract extension, July 23.

CURRENT CONTRACT EXPIRATION: After 2012

ELIAS Game By Game Packers Stats
Game Date	Opp	Interceptions				Sacks
Game Date	Opp	No	Yds	Avg	TD	Sacks
Sep 11, 2005	@DET	0	0	0.0	0	0
Sep 18, 2005	CLE	0	0	0.0	0	0
Sep 25, 2005	TB	0	0	0.0	0	0
Oct 3, 2005	@CAR	0	0	0.0	0	0
Oct 9, 2005	NO	0	0	0.0	0	0
Oct 23, 2005	@MIN	0	0	0.0	0	1
Oct 30, 2005	@CIN	0	0	0.0	0	0
Nov 6, 2005	PIT	0	0	0.0	0	0
Nov 13, 2005	@ATL	0	0	0.0	0	0
Nov 21, 2005	MIN	0	0	0.0	0	0
Nov 27, 2005	@PHI	0	0	0.0	0	1
Dec 4, 2005	@CHI	0	0	0.0	0	0
Dec 11, 2005	DET	0	0	0.0	0	0
Dec 19, 2005	@BAL	0	0	0.0	0	0
Dec 25, 2005	CHI	0	0	0.0	0	0
Jan 1, 2006	SEA	0	0	0.0	0	0
2005 Totals		0	0	0.0	0	2
Sep 10, 2006	CHI	0	0	0.0	0	0
Sep 17, 2006	NO	0	0	0.0	0	0
Sep 24, 2006	@DET	0	0	0.0	0	0
Oct 2, 2006	@PHI	0	0	0.0	0	0
Oct 8, 2006	STL	0	0	0.0	0	0
Oct 22, 2006	@MIA	1	21	21.0	0	0
Oct 29, 2006	ARI	0	0	0.0	0	0
Nov 5, 2006	@BUF	0	0	0.0	0	0
Nov 12, 2006	@MIN	0	0	0.0	0	1
Nov 19, 2006	NE	0	0	0.0	0	0
Nov 27, 2006	@SEA	0	0	0.0	0	0
Dec 3, 2006	NYJ	0	0	0.0	0	0
Dec 10, 2006	@SF	0	0	0.0	0	0
Dec 17, 2006	DET	0	0	0.0	0	0
Dec 21, 2006	MIN	0	0	0.0	0	0
Dec 31, 2006	@CHI	0	0	0.0	0	0
2006 Totals		1	21	21.0	0	1
Sep 9, 2007	PHI	0	0	0.0	0	0
Sep 16, 2007	@NYG	0	0	0.0	0	0
Sep 23, 2007	SD	0	0	0.0	0	0
Sep 30, 2007	@MIN	0	0	0.0	0	0
Oct 7, 2007	CHI	1	0	0.00	0	0
Oct 14, 2007	WAS	0	0	0.0	0	0
Oct 29, 2007	@DEN	0	0	0.0	0	0
Nov 4, 2007	@KC	0	0	0.0	0	0
Nov 11, 2007	MIN	0	0	0.0	0	0
Nov 18, 2007	CAR	0	0	0.0	0	0
Nov 22, 2007	@DET	0	0	0.0	0	0
Nov 29, 2007	@DAL	0	0	0.0	0	0
Dec 9, 2007	OAK	0	0	0.0	0	0
Dec 16, 2007	@STL	0	0	0.0	0	0
Dec 23, 2007	@CHI	0	0	0.0	0	0
Dec 30, 2007	DET	0	0	0.0	0	0
2007 Totals		1	0	0.0	0	0
Sep 8, 2008	MIN	0	0	0.0	0	0
Sep 14, 2008	@DET	0	0	0.0	0	0
Sep 21, 2008	DAL	0	0	0.0	0	0
Sep 28, 2008	@TB	0	0	0.0	0	0
Oct 5, 2008	ATL	0	0	0.0	0	0
Oct 12, 2008	@SEA	0	0	0.0	0	0
Oct 19, 2008	IND	0	0	0.0	0	0
Nov 2, 2008	@TEN	0	0	0.0	0	0
Nov 9, 2008	@MIN	0	0	0.0	0	0
Nov 16, 2008	CHI	0	0	0.0	0	0
Nov 24, 2008	@NO	0	0	0.0	0	0
Nov 30, 2008	CAR	0	0	0.0	0	0
Dec 7, 2008	HOU	0	0	0.0	0	0
Dec 14, 2008	@JAC	0	0	0.0	0	0
Dec 22, 2008	@CHI	0	0	0.0	0	0
Dec 28, 2008	DET	0	0	0.0	0	0
2008 Totals		0	0	0.0	0	0
Sep 13, 2009	CHI	0	0	0.0	0	0
Sep 20, 2009	CIN	0	0	0.0	0	0
Sep 27, 2009	@STL	0	0	0.0	0	0
Oct 5, 2009	@MIN	0	0	0.0	0	0
Oct 18, 2009	DET	0	0	0.0	0	0
Oct 25, 2009	@CLE	0	0	0.0	0	0
Nov 1, 2009	MIN	0	0	0.0	0	0
2009 Totals		0	0	0.0	0	0
Packers Totals		2	21	10.5	0	3

Statistics provided by Elias Sports Bureau