Chidobe Awuzie

PRO: The Titans entered the 2024 offseason looking to add an experienced piece to their secondary. The club found just that when it signed veteran cornerback Chidobe Awuzie as an unrestricted free agent on March 14, 2024. The 6-foot, 202-pounder arrived in Tennessee having collected seven total interceptions, including one in the postseason, and 62 passes defensed in seven NFL seasons with the Dallas Cowboys (2017-2020) and Cincinnati Bengals (2021-22). Awuzie originally entered the league as a second-round pick of the Cowboys out of the University of Colorado.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
• In 2021, Awuzie registered a career-best two interceptions and a team-leading 14 passes defensed while helping lead the Bengals to Super Bowl LVI.
• In 2019, Awuzie started all 16 games for the first time in his career and posted a career-best 79 tackles, while tying a career-high with 14 passes defensed.

TITANS TIDBITS:
• Awuzie is an avid chess player who says chess helps him in his daily life and in making connections with others. In July 2022, he won Chess.com's BlitzChamps tournament, a rapid tournament for NFL players, beating former Cowboys teammate Amari Cooper in the final. He finished as runner-up the following year to Chiefs linebacker Drue Tranquill.
• Awuzie was named the 2023 Cincinnati Bengals recipient of Ed Block Courage Award, in recognition of professionalism and dedication during recovery from a 2022 knee injury.
• Awuzie is the son of Nigerian immigrants.
• While not related, Awuzie's godmother's nephew is Nnamdi Asomugha, a longtime NFL cornerback with the Oakland Raiders and Philadelphia Eagles.

CAREER TRANSACTIONS:
• The San Jose, Calif., native was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round (60th overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft.
• Signed by the Cincinnati Bengals as an unrestricted free agent on March 19, 2021.
• Signed by the Titans as an unrestricted free agent on March 14, 2024.

SEASON RECAPS:
2023 (15/10 - Cincinnati): Played in 15 games with 10 starts and totaled 57 tackles, with two stops for loss, six passes defensed, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Was inactive for two contests.
• At Cleveland (9/10), started at cornerback in his first game action since suffering a season-ending injury on the same field in Week 8 of 2022 season. Posted three tackles and recovered a fumble that was forced by Germaine Pratt to halt Browns drive that reached Cincinnati 21-yard line in first quarter.
• Against Houston (11/12), tallied eight tackles and a pass defensed.
• Against Indianapolis (12/10), registered five tackles and had two passes defensed on third downs that forced the Colts to punt.

2022 (8/8 - Cincinnati): Started the first eight games of the season before suffering season-ending injury on Oct. 31. Recorded 35 tackles, five passes defensed and a forced fumble. Led all Bengals cornerbacks in passes defensed prior to the injury. Placed on injured reserve on Nov. 5 and missed the final nine games.
• Against Pittsburgh (9/11), tallied six tackles with a forced fumble.
• At N.Y. Jets (9/25), recorded five tackles and a career-high three passes defensed.

2021 (14/14, 4/4 - Cincinnati): Started 14 games and all four postseason contests in first season with the Bengals, helping Cincinnati reach Super Bowl LVI. Registered a team-leading 14 passes defensed to go with 64 tackles, four stops for loss and two interceptions. Was inactive for two games and spent one contest on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
• Against Green Bay (10/10), recorded first interception as a Bengal when he picked off a deep pass from Aaron Rodgers in the first quarter. It was one of Rodgers' league-low four interceptions all season.
• Against L.A. Chargers (12/5), tallied three tackles and intercepted a Justin Herbert pass intended for Joshua Palmer in the second quarter.
• Against Kansas City (1/2), registered a career-best 10 tackles.
• At Kansas City (1/30), set a postseason high with eight tackles in the AFC Championship Game.
• Against L.A. Rams (2/13), played all but two defensive snaps in Super Bowl LVI, and intercepted Matthew Stafford on the Rams' first offensive play of the second half to set up a Bengals field goal drive.

2020 (8/6 - Dallas): Played in eight games with six starts and recorded 38 tackles, an interception and five passes defensed. Placed on injured reserve on Sept. 26 and missed seven games before being designated to return on Nov. 10. Spent one contest on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
• At L.A. Rams (9/13), registered two tackles and picked off Jared Goff in season opener.
• At Minnesota (11/22), tallied a season-high nine tackles.

2019 (16/16 - Dallas): Started all 16 games for the first time in his career and posted 79 tackles, 14 passes defensed, an interception and a fumble recovery.
• Against N.Y. Giants (9/8), posted his first career fumble recovery in the win.
• At New Orleans (9/29), registered six tackles and picked off Teddy Bridgewater for his third career interception.
• Against Green Bay (10/6), collected his first career tackle for loss and his first career pressure.

2018 (15/14, 2/2 - Dallas): Saw action in 15 games with 14 starts for the Cowboys and totaled 71 tackles, 11 passes defensed, an interception and a forced fumble. Did not play in one contest. Started both playoff contests, totaling 12 tackles and two passes defensed.
• At Carolina (9/9), started at cornerback and posted four tackles and a forced fumble.
• Against Washington (11/22), regsistered four tackles with two passes defensed.
• At N.Y. Giants (12/30), posted five tackles and intercepted an Eli Manning passed intended for Sterling Shepard in the first quarter. Added another pass defensed.
• Against Seattle (1/5), notched six tackles and a pass breakup in his postseason debut in the Wild Card win.

2017 (10/6 - Dallas): Played in 10 games with six starts as a rookie for the Cowboys and totaled 25 tackles, seven passes defensed, an interception and a forced fumble. Took over as starter the final four games of the season. Was inactive for six games with an injury.
• At Denver (9/17), made his first career start, but was injured early and missed the remainder of the game.
• At Philadelphia (12/31), notched his first career interception by picking off Nick Foles in win over eventual Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia in season finale.

COLLEGE:
• Played four seasons at the University of Colorado (2013-16). Appeared in 47 career games with 41 starts and totaled 273 tackles, 35 pass breakups, three interceptions, five forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. He was also used as a pressure player in certain packages where he lined up at nickel or outside linebacker, finishing with nine sacks, 26 tackles for loss and eight quarterback pressures.
• As a senior (2016), was the co-recipient of Colorado's 2016 Zack Jordan Award as the Most Valuable Player and earned Associated Press first-team All-Pac-12 honors. Started all 13 games and tallied 60 tackles, four sacks (tying his own single-season record for the most by any CU defensive back), two forced fumbles, 13 passes defensed and one interception.
• As a junior (2015), played in all 13 games with 12 starts and was named second-team All-Pac-12 by the AP and coaches. He was also the recipient of the Dave Jones Award, selected by the coaches for being CU's most outstanding player on defense. Finished second on the Buffaloes with 90 tackles, seeing time at nickel and outside cornerback.
• As a sophomore (2014), started the first nine games of the season, missing the last three after suffering a lacerated kidney in practice. At the time of the injury, he led the team in tackles but still finished third with 64 stops. His eight pass deflections were third on the team, to go along with four tackles for loss, a fumble recovery and a quarterback hurry. Selected as the Hale Irwin Award winner by the coaches, presented to the most improved defensive back.
• As a freshman (2013), saw action in all 12 games with seven starts and became just the 13th freshman to record 50-or-more tackles for a season, finishing with 59 stops. Also had five tackles for loss, including a quarterback sack, four pass deflections, two forced fumbles and a recovery and added another two stops on special teams.
• Graduated from Colorado with a degree in business management in December 2016, accomplishing the work in just three-and-a-half years.

PERSONAL:
• Attended Oak Grove (San Jose, Calif.) High School, earning PrepStar All-West Region, SuperPrep preseason All-Far West and first-team all-area honors.
• As a senior running back finished third in his league with 1,285 yards (six 100-yard and two 200-yard games) on 138 attempts and 14 touchdowns. Also caught 18 passes for 487 yards (two 100-yard games) and seven scores, and led the league with 21 total scores.
• Also lettered three times in basketball and once in track where he owned career bests of 21.7 in the 200-meter dash and 22-1 in the long jump.
• His older brother, Dubem, played cornerback at Waldorf (Iowa) College.
• First name is pronounced "CHIH-doe-bay" and last name is pronounced "ah-WOOZ-yay."
• Follow Awuzie on Twitter at @ChidobeAwuzie.
• Follow Awuzie on Instagram at @chido.
• Born Chidobe Richard Awuzie on May 24, 1995 in San Jose, Calif.