Nate Orchard

Nathaniel Fakahafua Orchard (born Napa'a Lilo Fakahafua on January 5, 1993) is an American football defensive end for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Utah, and was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft. He has also played for the Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, Seattle Seahawks, and Miami Dolphins.

Nate Orchard
Orchard with the Cleveland Browns in 2017
No. 54 – Washington Redskins
Position:Defensive end
Personal information
Born: (1993-01-05) January 5, 1993
Los Angeles, California
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:251 lb (114 kg)
Career information
High school:Highland (Salt Lake City, Utah)
College:Utah
NFL Draft:2015 / Round: 2 / Pick: 51
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2019
Total tackles:83
Sacks:6
Forced fumbles:2
Fumble recoveries:2
Pass deflections:6
Interceptions:1
Player stats at NFL.com

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

Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns picked Orchard in the second round of the 2015 NFL draft. 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.[8] On October 1, 2016, Orchard was placed on injured reserve.[9]

On September 1, 2018, Orchard was released by the Browns.[10]

Buffalo Bills

On September 10, 2018 he was signed by the Buffalo Bills.[11] He was released by the Bills on October 2, 2018.[12]

Kansas City Chiefs

On October 10, 2018, Orchard was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs.[13] He was released on November 6, 2018.[14]

Seattle Seahawks

On April 4, 2019, Orchard was signed by the Seattle Seahawks.[15] He was released on May 10, 2019.[16]

Miami Dolphins

On May 15, 2019, Orchard was signed by the Miami Dolphins.[17] He was released on September 3, 2019.[18]

Washington Redskins
Orchard in a game against the New York Giants

On November 27, 2019, Orchard was signed by the Washington Redskins.[19] 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. [20] Orchard re-signed with the team on March 25, 2020.[21]

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 Orchard.[22]

References
  1. Difficult childhood, marriage shaped Nate Orchard
  2. Letters to Lily: Utah football player writes his own story
  3. http://ut.milesplit.com/meets/53809/results/91422
  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. 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.
  9. "Browns sign LB Cam Johnson, place Nate Orchard on IR". ClevelandBrowns.com. October 1, 2016. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
  10. Gribble, Andrew (September 1, 2018). "Browns announce 53-man roster". ClevelandBrowns.com.
  11. Brown, Chris (September 10, 2018). "Bills sign DE Nate Orchard". BuffaloBills.com.
  12. Brown, Chris (October 2, 2018). "Bills sign CB Dontae Johnson". BuffaloBills.com.
  13. "Chiefs sign free agent outside linebacker Nate Orchard". ArrowheadPride.com. October 10, 2018.
  14. "Chiefs safety (no, not that one) activated from injured reserve; Nate Orchard waived". KansasCity.com. November 6, 2018.
  15. Boyle, John (April 4, 2019). "Seahawks Sign Defensive Ends Cassius Marsh & Nate Orchard". Seahawks.com.
  16. "Nate Orchard: Released by Seahawks". CBS Sports. May 10, 2019.
  17. "Dolphins Sign Tony Adams, Kyle Fuller and Nate Orchard". MiamiDolphins.com. May 16, 2019.
  18. "Dolphins Claim James Crawford Off Waivers". MiamiDolphins.com. September 3, 2019.
  19. "Redskins Sign LB Nate Orchard". Redskins.com. November 27, 2019.
  20. "Guise, Redskins hold on to beat Panthers 29-21". www.espn.com. December 1, 2019. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  21. "Redskins Re-Sign LB Nate Orchard". Redskins.com. March 25, 2020.
  22. Ute football: New name, same game for Utah defensive end Nate Orchard
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