Brady Poppinga

Team Number:	51
Birth Date:	12/31/1969
Height:	6'3"
Weight:	245lbs.
Position:	Linebacker

More Info
Brady Poppinga was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the fourth round of the 2005 draft, with the 125th overall pick. He made a name for himself his rookie season by making a number of big plays on special teams and worked his was into a starting role against the Detroit Lions late in the season. In the fourth quarter of the game, he tore his ACL, ending his season prematurely. Poppinga recovered from the injury through much of 2006, but was able to return to the Packers’ roster for the final two preseason games and earned a starting spot in the season opener against the Chicago Bears. He started 12 games in 2006, recording 79 tackles and one interception. He has most impressed coaches and teammates with his high energy and intense on-the-field attitude.

Poppinga attended Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, where he started every game his junior and senior year. Originally a defensive end, Poppinga led the team in sacks his junior year before moving to outside linebacker midway through his senior year. Both seasons he earned All-Conference honors, and he was named to the Academic All-Conference team his junior year as well. He graduated from BYU with a degree in business administration.

Before entering BYU, Poppinga spent two years at a Mormon mission in the South American country of Uruguay, where he learned to speak Spanish. Poppinga became an Eagle Scout in 1995 and has remained involved with Boy Scouts. He has supported a number of charitable and community-sponsored events, including the Green Bay Packers Fan Fest, the All-Pro Dad event, and many youth football camps. Poppinga is married and has a son. He enjoys reading, playing golf, and engaging in outdoors activities.

Brady Poppinga also took the last week off of the 2007 season, since the Packers were going to enjoy a bye-week. Having come back from a knee injury back in his rookie year, you would never know that Brady was down and out for the 2005 season. Poppinga managed to pull down one pick, had 70 tackles, and stopped Adrian Peterson on a key third and 1 play on November 11th at Lambeau.

Brady can be counted on for at least five tackles per game average. Brady makes up part of the solid linebacker core of the Green Bay Packers.

Poppinga started in 12 games as a strong-side linebacker in the 2008 season, playing in all 16 games for the third season in a row. At the Tampa Bay game, he tied for second on the Packers team with ten tackles and posted a career-high 12 at the Minnesota game. He made six tackles at the Carolina game and stopped running back DeAngelo Williams, resulting in a 2-yard loss during the fourth quarter. Poppinga helped the defensive end for the rest of the season with pass-rushing situations.