Rob Ninkovich Robert Michael Ninkovich ( born February 1 , 1984 ) is an American football defensive end and outside linebacker for the New England Patriots of the National Football League ( NFL ) . Early years . Rob Ninkovich was born in Blue Island , Illinois to a family of Croatian origin . Following seventh grade , Rob ' s family relocated to New Lenox , Illinois . He attended Lincoln - Way Central High School in New Lenox where he played defensive end , tight end , and fullback . Rob earned All - State honors for defensive end during his senior year . He also lettered in baseball . College career . Joliet Junior College . Following high school , Ninkovich spent two years at Joliet Junior College in Joliet , Illinois . As a freshman , he recorded 36 tackles and seven sacks as his team won the NJCAA national championship . During the summer prior to his sophomore year , Ninkovich worked with his father , an ironworker , hanging beams on a Chicago construction site 19 stories high . According to his father , the purpose was to give Rob extra incentive to complete his college education . As a sophomore at Joliet in 2003 , Ninkovich earned third - team NJCAA All - America n honors after recording 95 tackles ( 68 solo ) , five forced fumbles , four fumble recovering and a school - record 16 sacks . Purdue University . Ninkovich transferred to Purdue in 2004 and played in all 12 games that season . Despite being a reserve , Ninkovich was tied for the team lead and ranked second in the Big Ten with eight sacks . In an October 2 contest against Notre Dame , Ninkovich recorded two sacks on defense and also caught a goal - line touchdown pass from Kyle Orton . Against Indiana on November 20 , he tied a school record with four sacks . As a senior in 2005 , Ninkovich earned second - team All - Big Ten honors after recording 48 tackles , eight sacks , two interceptions , two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery . He recorded four sacks against Indiana for the second straight season , giving him two of the three individual four - sack performances in school history . In a 37 – 3 victory over Illinois , he caught a one - yard touchdown pass from Curtis Painter . Following the season , he was invited to play in the East - West Shrine Game . Professional career . Pre - draft . At his Pro Day on March 10 , 2006 , Ninkovich posted 40 - yard dash times of 4 . 79 and 4 . 81 seconds . First stint with Saints . Ninkovich was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the fifth round ( 135th overall ) of the 2006 NFL Draft . He signed a three - year contract with the team on July 18 . In a preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys on August 21 , Ninkovich recorded two sacks and two forced fumbles but was also flagged for a costly unnecessary roughness penalty which led to a Cowboys touchdown . He finished the preseason with three sacks . During the regular season , Ninkovich appeared in three games for the Saints as a reserve defensive end before suffering a knee injury against the Atlanta Falcons on September 25 . He was placed on season - ending injured reserve on September 29 , finishing the year with four tackles . During an afternoon practice on July 30 , 2007 , Ninkovich was carted off the field with a knee injury that caused him to miss the preseason . He was waived by the team prior to the regular season opener . Miami Dolphins . Ninkovich was claimed off waivers by the Miami Dolphins on September 7 , 2007 . He appeared in four games for the team that season as a reserve defensive end while being inactive for the other 12 games . Ninkovich finished the season with two tackles , recording one each against the New York Jets ( Sept . 23 ) and New York Giants ( Oct . 28 ) . Ninkovich , who converted to outside linebacker when the Dolphins switched to a 3 – 4 defense in 2008 , tied Dolphins defensive end Randy Starks with a team - high two sacks during the 2008 preseason . He was released by the team on August 31 and re - signed to the practice squad on September 3 . On November 15 , 2008 , Ninkovich was promoted to the active roster . He played against the Oakland Raiders in a reserve role on November 16 but did not record any tackles . On November 20 , he was released to make room for linebacker Erik Walden . Ninkovich was re - signed to the practice squad the following day . Second stint with Saints . Ninkovich signed off the Dolphins ' practice squad by the New Orleans Saints on December 3 , 2008 . He was released on July 30 , 2009 after the Saints signed long snapper Jason Kyle . Ninkovich had previously been considered as a long snapping option for the Saints in the offseason . New England Patriots . The New England Patriots signed Ninkovich on August 2 , 2009 . He made the Patriots ' 53 - man roster and recorded his first NFL sack in Week 5 against the Denver Broncos . He received a contract extension through the 2011 season on November 6 , 2009 . Overall , he played in 15 games for the Patriots in 2009 , finishing with 23 tackles and one sack . Ninkovich returned in 2010 , beginning the season as a starter at outside linebacker . In the team ' s Week 4 game against the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football , Ninkovich recorded his first career interception , and later in the game added another interception and a sack . He finished the season with a career - high 62 tackles , four sacks , and two interceptions in 16 games played ( 10 starts ) . During the 2011 NFL season , Ninkovich recorded his first NFL touchdown when he intercepted a pass from New York Jets QB Mark Sanchez and returned it 12 yards for the touchdown . He also had another interception in the 3rd quarter of the same game when Jerod Mayo tipped the ball and Ninkovich caught it . Ninkovich had the best statistical season of his career , recording 74 tackles , 6 . 5 sacks , 2 interceptions ( 1 returned for a touchdown ) , 1 forced fumble , and 3 recovered fumbles while starting all 16 games regular season games . During the Patriots ' 2011 – 2012 playoff run , Rob recorded 5 tackles , 1 . 5 sacks , 1 tackle for a loss , and 2 quarterback hits against the Broncos during the Divisional Playoff game . Rob also recorded seven tackles against the Ravens during the second round Conference Championship Game . During the 2012 offseason , he was moved to defensive end , his previous starting outside linebacker position being filled by rookie Dont ' a Hightower . Ninkovich , starting opposite rookie Chandler Jones , led the team with 8 sacks and netted 58 tackles . He also forced 5 fumbles , including 2 in a game against the Denver Broncos and a game - ending overtime strip sack against the Jets . Super Bowl . On February 5 , 2012 , Rob played in Super Bowl XLVI against the New York Giants at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianaoplis , IN . Rob recorded 4 tackles ( 3 solo ) , 0 . 5 sacks , and 2 quarterback hits .