Nate Orchard
refer to caption
Orchard with the Cleveland Browns in 2017
Personal information
Born: (1993-01-05) January 5, 1993 (age 31)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:251 lb (114 kg)
Career information
High school:Highland (Salt Lake City, Utah)
College:Utah (2011–2014)
Position:Defensive end
NFL Draft:2015 / Round: 2 / Pick: 51
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2021
Tackles:85
Sacks:6
Forced fumbles:2
Fumble recoveries:2
Pass deflections:6
Interceptions:1
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Nathaniel Fakahafua Orchard (born Napa'a Lilo Fakahafua on January 5, 1993) is an American football defensive end who is a free agent. He played college football at Utah and was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft. He has also played for the Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, Seattle Seahawks, Miami Dolphins, Green Bay Packers, Washington Redskins / Football Team, Houston Texans, and Tennessee Titans.

Early years

Orchard is of Tongan descent.[1] He attended Highland High School in Salt Lake City, Utah.[2] He played football, basketball and competed in track. In football, he played as a wide receiver and defensive end. As a senior, he had 58 receptions for 1,351 yards and 17 touchdowns on offense and 62 tackles, 17.5 sacks and two interceptions on defense. In track & field, Orchard competed as a sprinter and posted personal-bests of 11.9 seconds in the 100-meter dash and 54.3 seconds in the 400-meter dash at the 2009 Region VI T&F Championships.[3]

Considered a three-star recruit by Rivals.com, Orchard was ranked as the No. 60 wide receiver in his class.[4]

College career

As a true freshman at the University of Utah in 2011, Orchard played in all 13 games, recording four tackles. As a sophomore in 2012, he started 11 of the 12 games, recording 48 tackles, three sacks and a touchdown on a fumble recovery. As a junior in 2013, he started all 12 games, recording 49 tackles and 3.5 sacks. Orchard entered his senior season in 2014 as a starter. In his senior season, Orchard recorded 84 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, and 18.5 sacks. Orchard won the Ted Hendricks Award for his performance.[5][6][7]

Professional career

Orchard (left) with the Washington Redskins in 2019

Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns picked Orchard in the second round of the 2015 NFL draft.[8] On May 6, he signed a four-year contract worth $4.466 million, which included a $1.058 million signing bonus. At least $2.581 million of Orchard's contract is guaranteed.[9] On October 1, 2016, Orchard was placed on injured reserve.[10]

On September 1, 2018, Orchard was released by the Browns.[11]

Buffalo Bills

On September 10, 2018 he was signed by the Buffalo Bills.[12] He was released by the Bills on October 2, 2018.[13]

Kansas City Chiefs

On October 10, 2018, Orchard was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs.[14] He was released on November 6, 2018.[15]

Seattle Seahawks

On April 4, 2019, Orchard was signed by the Seattle Seahawks.[16] He was released on May 10, 2019.[17]

Miami Dolphins

On May 15, 2019, Orchard was signed by the Miami Dolphins.[18] He was released on September 3, 2019.[19]

Washington Redskins / Football Team

On November 27, 2019, Orchard was signed by the Washington Redskins.[20] In Week 13 against the Carolina Panthers, Orchard sacked quarterback Kyle Allen once and recovered a fumble forced on Allen by teammate Chris Odom late in the fourth quarter to seal a 29–21 win.[21]

Orchard re-signed with the team on March 25, 2020.[22] He was released on September 5, 2020, and was signed to the practice squad the next day.[23][24] He was promoted to the active roster on September 29, 2020.[25] He was waived on November 7, 2020.[26]

Houston Texans

Orchard was claimed off waivers by the Houston Texans on November 9, 2020.[27] He was waived on December 12, 2020.[28]

Tennessee Titans

Orchard was signed by the Tennessee Titans to their practice squad on December 19, 2020.[29] He was signed to a futures contract on January 11, 2021.[30] On May 10, 2021, Orchard was released by Tennessee.[31]

Minnesota Vikings

On November 4, 2021, Orchard was signed to the Minnesota Vikings practice squad.[32] He was released on November 19.

Green Bay Packers

On November 25, 2021, Orchard was signed to the Green Bay Packers practice squad.[33]

Washington Football Team (second stint)

The Washington Football Team signed Orchard off the Packers' practice squad on December 14, 2021.[34]

Personal life

Orchard legally changed his name from Napa'a Lilo Fakahafua to Nathaniel Fakahafua Orchard in honor of his adopted family. He is married to Maegan Webber Orchard and has a daughter named Katherine Mae Orchard (named after his mother Katherine), a daughter named Charlotte Orchard and a son, Bo Webber Orchard.[35]

References

  1. ^ Difficult childhood, marriage shaped Nate Orchard
  2. ^ Letters to Lily: Utah football player writes his own story
  3. ^ "Region VI Track & Field Championships 2009 - Complete Results (Raw)".
  4. ^ Rivals.com
  5. ^ Nate Orchard continues dominant role of Utah defenders
  6. ^ OSU football: Beavers want to avoid getting sacked by Nate Orchard
  7. ^ Orchard's talent bears fruit for Utes
  8. ^ "2015 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
  9. ^ Cabot, Mary Kay (May 7, 2015). "Cleveland Browns sign 2nd-round pick Nate Orchard and 6th-rounder Randall Telfer". Cleveland Plain Dealer. Retrieved May 27, 2015.
  10. ^ "Browns sign LB Cam Johnson, place Nate Orchard on IR". ClevelandBrowns.com. October 1, 2016. Archived from the original on September 4, 2017. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
  11. ^ Gribble, Andrew (September 1, 2018). "Browns announce 53-man roster". ClevelandBrowns.com.
  12. ^ Brown, Chris (September 10, 2018). "Bills sign DE Nate Orchard". BuffaloBills.com.
  13. ^ Brown, Chris (October 2, 2018). "Bills sign CB Dontae Johnson". BuffaloBills.com.
  14. ^ "Chiefs sign free agent outside linebacker Nate Orchard". ArrowheadPride.com. October 10, 2018.
  15. ^ "Chiefs safety (no, not that one) activated from injured reserve; Nate Orchard waived". KansasCity.com. November 6, 2018.
  16. ^ Boyle, John (April 4, 2019). "Seahawks Sign Defensive Ends Cassius Marsh & Nate Orchard". Seahawks.com.
  17. ^ "Nate Orchard: Released by Seahawks". CBS Sports. May 10, 2019.
  18. ^ "Dolphins Sign Tony Adams, Kyle Fuller and Nate Orchard". MiamiDolphins.com. May 16, 2019.
  19. ^ "Dolphins Claim James Crawford Off Waivers". MiamiDolphins.com. September 3, 2019.
  20. ^ "Redskins Sign LB Nate Orchard". Redskins.com. November 27, 2019.
  21. ^ "Guise, Redskins hold on to beat Panthers 29-21". www.espn.com. December 1, 2019. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  22. ^ "Redskins Re-Sign LB Nate Orchard". Redskins.com. March 25, 2020.
  23. ^ Jhabvala, Nicki; Fortier, Sam. "Alex Smith avoids Washington Football Team's cuts, will remain on 53-man roster". Washington Post.
  24. ^ "Washington Football Team Signs 13 Players To Its Practice Squad". WashingtonFootball.com. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  25. ^ "Washington Football Team Places Matt Ioannidis On Injured Reserve". WashingtonFootball.com. September 29, 2020.
  26. ^ Stackpole, Kyle (November 7, 2020). "Washington Activates WR Steven Sims Off Injured Reserve". WashingtonFootball.com. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  27. ^ Wilson, Aaron (November 9, 2020). "Texans claim outside linebacker Nate Orchard off waivers". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  28. ^ "Houston Texans Transactions (12-12-20)". HoustonTexans.com. December 12, 2020. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  29. ^ Wyatt, Jim (December 19, 2020). "Titans Make Several Roster Moves Before Sunday's Game vs Lions". TennesseeTitans.com. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  30. ^ Wyatt, Jim (January 11, 2021). "Titans Sign 14 Players to Futures Contracts for 2021". TennesseeTitans.com. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  31. ^ Wyatt, Jim (May 10, 2021). "Roster Moves: Titans Part Ways With Three Players". TennesseeTitans.com. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  32. ^ Peters, Craig (November 4, 2021). "Vikings Place Bradbury on Reserve/COVID-19; Sign Stocker to 53". Vikings.com.
  33. ^ "Packers sign LB Nate Orchard to practice squad". Packers.com. November 25, 2021.
  34. ^ Selby, Zach (December 14, 2021). "Washington signs Nate Orchard, adds Hercules Mata'afa to the practice squad". WashingtonFootball.com. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  35. ^ Ute football: New name, same game for Utah defensive end Nate Orchard

External links

Ted Hendricks Award winners
Morris Trophy winners
Cleveland Browns 2015 NFL Draft selections
Categories