Niko Koutouvides Niko Stelios Koutouvides ( born March 25 , 1981 ) is an American football linebacker for the New England Patriots of the National Football League . He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft . He played college football at Purdue . He has also played for the Denver Broncos and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers . Early years . Koutouvides was born in Plainville , Connecticut , to Stelios and Niki Koutouvides . His paternal grandfather ' s side of the family were Greeks who fled Asia Minor during the Greek - Turkish War , early in the 20th century , and settled in Tanzania , Africa . Subsequently , Niko ' s father moved to the United States . His mother ' s side of the family is from the Greek island of Kefalonia in the Ionian Sea . Growing up , Niko and his two brothers used to work as busboys or in the kitchen of the family - owned restaurant , The Stonewell , in Farmington , Connecticut . Koutouvides attended Plainville High School , where he was a letterman in football . He topped the team in sacks and ranked second in tackles in 1999 . He was named the team ' s Most Valuable Player , was an All - Conference selection , and an All - State Honorable Mention selection . Niko ' s older brother , Daki , was a senior defensive back at Merrimack College . College career . At Purdue , Niko Koutouvides started in 32 of 50 games from 2000 - 2003 . His career stats include 296 tackles ( 180 solo ) , 21½ tackles for a loss , five interceptions , four sacks , four fumble recoveries , and four forced fumbles . He majored in Organizational Leadership and Supervision . As a junior , Koutouvides started all 13 games and notched a career - high of 121 tackles ( 80 of them solo ) to lead the team to their 6th straigh Bowl game appearance . He had a team - high of 11 . 5 tackles for loss , including 4 sacks . He knocked down 3 passes and intercepted 3 ; posted at least 11 tackles in six games . Koutouvides saw action in every game during his first two seasons in a reserve role with 74 tackles , 4 fumble recoveries , and 3 forced fumbles . His senior year began with him winning the Hammer Award as Purdue ' s best tackler . After anchoring a great Boilermaker defense that played in the 2004 Capital One Bowl , Koutouvides was named first team All - Big Ten by the media and second team by the coaches after starting every game as middle linebacker . Niko finished second on the team with 101 tackles ( 57 of them solo ) , including 5 . 5 stops for losses , 2 pass interceptions and 4 passes knocked down , and causing & recovering 1 fumble . Professional career . Seattle Seahawks . Niko Koutouvides was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft . He played four seasons for the team , from 2004 to 2007 . Denver Broncos . On March 3 , 2008 , Koutouvides signed a three - year , $ 7 . 5 million contract with the Denver Broncos . After one season with the team , he was released on February 16 , 2009 . Tampa Bay Buccaneers . The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed Koutouvides on March 2 , 2009 . He became one of the Buccaneers ' top special teams performers in his first season with the team in 2009 New England Patriots . Koutouvides signed with the New England Patriots on August 14 , 2011 . He was cut on September 3 but re - signed on November 9 , 2011 , and went on to appear as a member of the special team at the 2012 Super Bowl . He was released by the Patriots on August 31 , 2012 during final cuts . Koutouvides was re - signed by the Patriots on September 19th , 2012 .