Chidobe Awuzie Bio
Chidobe Chilorio Richard Awuzie is an American professional football cornerback for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). Born on May 24, 1995, in San Jose, California, Awuzie emerged as a standout defensive back after playing college football for the Colorado Buffaloes. The Dallas Cowboys selected him in the second round (60th overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft. Throughout his career, Awuzie has developed a reputation as a reliable and physical cornerback, contributing to multiple playoff runs and Super Bowl appearances while playing for the Cowboys, Cincinnati Bengals, Tennessee Titans, and now the Ravens.
Early Life and Background
Awuzie was born to Nigerian immigrants in San Jose, California, and attended Oak Grove High School in his hometown. A three-star recruit by both Rivals.com and ESPN.com, he played cornerback and wide receiver in high school. As a senior, he rushed for 1,285 yards and 14 touchdowns while also recording 69 tackles and 4 interceptions on defense, earning All-League, PrepStar All-West Region, and first-team All-Area honors. He also practiced basketball and track, posting career bests of 21.7 seconds in the 200 meters and 22 feet, 1 inch in the long jump.
Awuzie committed to play college football at the University of Colorado Boulder, choosing the Buffaloes over offers from other Power 5 schools, including Pac-12 rivals Utah and Washington State.
Path to the NFL
Awuzie arrived at Colorado in 2013 and immediately made an impact, appearing in 12 games with 7 starts as a true freshman. He recorded 59 tackles and 643 defensive snaps, ranking third in school history among freshmen. A lacerated kidney in practice cut his sophomore season short after nine games, but he bounced back with a standout junior year in 2016. That season, he registered 90 tackles, 4 sacks (setting a record for the most by a Colorado defensive back), 2 interceptions, and 10 passes defensed. He earned Second-team All-Pac-12 honors for the second consecutive year and was named to the Thorpe Award and Nagurski Award watchlists before his senior season.
Ahead of the 2017 NFL Draft, Awuzie performed at the NFL Combine and Colorado’s Pro Day, drawing interest from multiple teams. Draft analysts projected him as a first or second-round pick, ranking him as high as fourth among cornerbacks by DraftScout.com and seventh by ESPN.
Chidobe Awuzie Career
Dallas Cowboys (2017–2020)
The Cowboys selected Awuzie in the second round (60th overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft, signing him to a four-year, $4.28 million contract on May 11, 2017. After missing most of training camp with injuries, he earned his first career start in Week 2 and recorded his first career interception in the season finale against the Philadelphia Eagles, finishing his rookie year with 25 tackles and 7 pass deflections in 10 games.
Awuzie became a full-time starter in 2018, appearing in 15 games with 14 starts and recording 71 tackles and 11 pass deflections. He helped the Cowboys rank sixth in scoring defense as they won the NFC East with a 10-6 record. He started his first playoff game in the Wild Card round against the Seattle Seahawks. In 2019, he started all 16 games, recording a career-high 79 tackles and 14 pass deflections while helping the defense rank ninth in total defense and tenth in passing defense. His 2020 season was disrupted by injuries, appearing in only 8 games with 6 starts and 38 tackles before the Cowboys released him in March 2021.
Cincinnati Bengals (2021–2023)
On March 19, 2021, the Bengals signed Awuzie to a three-year, $21.75 million contract. He immediately became a starting cornerback and had an impressive debut season, picking off Aaron Rodgers in Week 5 and recording a career-high 10 solo tackles against the Kansas City Chiefs in the regular season finale. He finished with 64 tackles, 2 interceptions, and a team-leading 14 passes defensed, helping the Bengals reach Super Bowl LVI. In the championship game, Awuzie recorded his first career playoff interception off Matthew Stafford of the Los Angeles Rams.
A knee injury in 2022 limited him to 8 games with 35 tackles, but he returned in 2023 to compete for a starting role. After battling a herniated disc that required a limited snap count, he regained the starting spot late in the season and appeared in 15 games with 10 starts, recording 57 tackles, 6 passes defensed, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.
Tennessee Titans (2024)
Awarenes signed with the Titans on March 14, 2024, agreeing to a three-year, $36 million contract. Named a starting cornerback alongside L’Jarius Sneed, he suffered a groin injury in Week 3 and was placed on injured reserve on September 27. After a ten-week absence, he returned for Week 14 and recorded his first interception with the Titans. He appeared in 8 games with 7 starts, recording 26 tackles and helping the defense rank second in the league in both total defense and pass defense. The Titans released him on March 15, 2025.
Baltimore Ravens (2025–Present)
On March 25, 2025, the Ravens signed Awuzie to a one-year, $1.25 million contract. He appeared in 14 games with 5 starts as the Ravens’ third cornerback, recording 43 tackles and 7 passes defensed while helping the team reach the playoffs. His strong performance earned him a re-signing on March 12, 2026, for a one-year, $5 million deal.
Driving Style and Strengths
Awuzie is known for his physicality in coverage and his ability to match up against opposing teams’ top receivers. His instincts and ball skills have translated to consistent pass deflections throughout his career, with 73 in his NFL career. He excels in zone coverage and has shown the ability to read quarterbacks, evidenced by his 7 career interceptions and his playoff performance in Super Bowl LVI.
Notable Events and Milestones
His most significant career milestone came in Super Bowl LVI, where he recorded his first career playoff interception off Matthew Stafford. The interception came at the beginning of the third quarter and helped the Bengals’ defense keep the game competitive in a narrow loss to the Rams.
Chidobe Awuzie Career Wins
Awuzie has established himself as a durable and productive cornerback across nine NFL seasons with four franchises. His career has included multiple playoff appearances, a Super Bowl run with the Bengals, and consistent contributions as a starter and rotational player.
NFL Career Highlights
Throughout his NFL career spanning 2017 to 2025, Awuzie has appeared in 73 regular season games with 57 starts, accumulating 438 career tackles, 7 interceptions, 73 passes defensed, 5 forced fumbles, and 3 fumble recoveries. His signature moment came in Super Bowl LVI with the Bengals, where he recorded his first career playoff interception. He has also contributed to multiple top-10 defensive rankings throughout his career, including helping the Cowboys rank sixth in scoring defense in 2018 and the Titans rank second in total and pass defense in 2024.
College Achievements
A two-time Second-team All-Pac-12 selection in 2015 and 2016, Awuzie set a Colorado record for the most single-season sacks by a defensive back with 4 in 2016. He also became the first defensive back in school history to lead the team in tackles for loss (13) since the statistic was first tracked in 1969.
| Competition Level | Games | Tackles | Interceptions | Passes Defensed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NFL Regular Season (2017–2025) | 73 | 438 | 7 | 73 |
| College (Colorado, 2013–2016) | 48 | 273 | 7 | 26 |
Chidobe Awuzie Family
Family Background
Awuzie is the son of Nigerian immigrants and has credited his family background for instilling discipline and work ethic that translated to his football career. His multicultural heritage has been a source of pride throughout his life.
Personal Life
Awuzie is a devout Christian who openly discusses his faith. He has said that his relationship with God is central to his life and that he views football as a platform to share his Christian beliefs. Beyond football, Awuzie is an avid chess player who commonly plays the 1. e4 opening and competes on Chess.com. He has compared his strategic approach in chess to his play on the football field, noting how both require anticipation and planning. In July 2022, he won Chess.com’s BlitzChamps tournament, a rapid chess event for NFL players, defeating former Cowboys teammate Amari Cooper in the final. He finished as runner-up the following year to Chiefs linebacker Drue Tranquill.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked a new chapter for Awuzie with the Baltimore Ravens. Signed on March 25, 2025, to a one-year, $1.25 million contract, he appeared in 14 games with 5 starts as the team’s third cornerback behind Marlon Humphrey and Nate Wiggins. He recorded 43 tackles and 7 passes defensed while contributing to a Ravens defense that finished among the league’s top units and qualified for the playoffs.
His ability to stay healthy and contribute consistently in a reduced role demonstrated his versatility and professionalism. The Ravens’ coaching staff valued his experience and leadership in the secondary, which proved valuable during their playoff push. His strong performance throughout the season laid the foundation for his re-signing in March 2026. On March 12, 2026, the Ravens re-signed Awuzie to a one-year, $5 million contract, indicating the team’s confidence in his continued contributions as a veteran presence in their defensive backfield.