Nate Orchard

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Nate Orchard
refer to caption
Orchard with the Cleveland Browns in 2017
No. 44, 53, 54, 59, 43, 50
Position:Defensive end
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)
NFL draft:2015 / Round: 2 / Pick: 51
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Total 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 a former American football defensive end. He played college football at Utah and was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft. He was also a member of the Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, Seattle Seahawks, Miami Dolphins, Washington Redskins / Football Team, Houston Texans, Tennessee Titans, Minnesota Vikings, and Green Bay Packers.

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 (first stint)

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