Connor Barwin Connor Alfred Barwin ( born October 15 , 1986 ) is an American football linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles in the National Football League . He was drafted by the Houston Texans in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft . He played college football at Cincinnati . Early years . Barwin is the youngest of four sons of Thomas Barwin and Margaret Bailey . He was born deaf , which was not confirmed until he was two years old . He endured numerous surgeries until about age 12 , which gave him complete hearing in his right ear and limited hearing in his left ear . His favorite team as a child was the Detroit Lions and his favorite player was Barry Sanders . Barwin attended the University of Detroit Jesuit High School . As a senior he was an All - state selection and earned All - League , All - Catholic , and All - District honors . He was also an All - League selection in basketball as a junior and All - Catholic as a senior . College career . Barwin played college football at the University of Cincinnati , where he was a history major . As a freshman in 2005 Barwin played in all 11 games as a backup tight end finishing with eight receptions for 144 yards and one touchdown . The starting tight end during Barwin ' s freshman and sophomore seasons was Brent Celek . In early January , after injuries had decimated the University of Cincinnati basketball team , he joined the team , playing in 18 games as a backup forward and averaging 9 . 9 minutes per game . That season , he tallied highs of 9 rebounds vs . the University of South Carolina and 6 points vs . the University of Pittsburgh . As a sophomore in 2006 , Barwin played in all 13 games as a regular on special teams and as a backup tight end . He finished the season with 13 receptions for 148 yards and two touchdowns . He also played in 22 games for the basketball team , with highs of 5 rebounds vs . DePaul University and 4 points each against Providence College and Villanova University . As a junior in 2007 , Barwin played special teams , as well as a backup tight end , playing in 12 games . He caught 31 passes for 399 yards , and two touchdowns . In 2008 Barwin was moved to defensive end . He finished the season with 53 tackles , and a Big East and team - leading 12 sacks . He also had 20 quarterback pressures , eight pass deflections , three fumble recoveries , and three blocked kicks . His play helped him earn First - team All - Big East honors honorable mention All - America as well as the Claude Rost Award , which is given to the team ’ s Most Valuable Player . Barwin finished his college career with 16 starts in 51 games ( 14 at defensive end , one at tight end , one at H - Back ) recording 66 tackles , 12 sacks , three fumble recoveries , eight deflected passes , five blocked kicks , and 53 receptions for 692 yards and six touchdowns . Professional career . Pre - draft . Barwin ran a 4 . 47 - second 40 - time at his Pro Day according to the University of Cincinnati ' s timer . 2009 . Barwin was drafted by the Houston Texans in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft . On October 18 , 2009 Barwin recorded his first NFL sack against then Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer . For the season , he played in all 16 Texans games and totaled 16 tackles , 4 . 5 sacks and four passes defensed . 2010 . Barwin ' s 2010 season was cut extremely short when he left the Texans ' 2010 opener against the Indianapolis Colts with an ankle injury and was announced out for the season the next day . 2011 . Barwin returned from injury and moved from defensive end to outside linebacker , starting all 16 of the Texans ' games as the Texans advanced to the second round of the AFC Playffs . On November 27 , 2011 Barwin established a career - best 10 tackle s and a new franchise record for sack s in a game with four in the Texans ' 20 – 13 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field ; Mario Williams had previously held the Texans ' single - game sack mark with 3 . 5 . He was named AFC Defensive Player of the Month for November . Barwin finished the regular season with 49 tackles , 11 . 5 sacks , seven passes defensed , and a forced fumble . 2012 . Barwin played in all 16 games for the Texans , starting in 15 , as the Texans again advanced to the second round of the AFC Playoffs . For the regular season , he totaled 45 tackles , 3 . 5 sacks , five passes defensed , and one safety , the first of his career on October 21 when he tackled Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco in the end zone . 2013 . On March 14 , 2013 , signed a six - year , $ 36 million contract with $ 8 million guaranteed with the Philadelphia Eagles . Barwin became the fourth Cincinnati Bearcat on the Eagles ' roster , joining former roommate Jason Kelce and former teammate Brent Celek as well as Trent Cole . Barwin started all 16 games for the NFC East champion Eagles . On November 3 , he intercepted his first NFL pass against the Oakland Raiders ' Terrelle Pryor . On November 17 , he totaled a career single - game high of 12 tackles against the Washington Redskins . His season totals included career highs of 82 tackles , 12 passes defensed , one interception and one forced fumble . He also tallied five sacks . He had five tackles in the Eagles ' playoff loss to the New Orleans Saints .