Check out our series highlighting new 2021 player signings for the Houston Texans.
Get to know linebacker Christian Kirksey, signed as a free agent on March 24, 2021.
Name: Christian Kirksey
Position: Linebacker
Height, Weight: 6-2, 235
Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri
School: Iowa
Get to know Christian:
- Kirksey, drafted in the third round of the 2014 NFL Draft, played six seasons for the Cleveland Browns (2014-19). He played in 73 games with 54 starts, recording 463 tackles (288 solo), 11.5 sacks, two interceptions, 17 passes defensed, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.
- He was the only player in the NFL to rank in the top five in the league in tackles in both 2016 and 2017. Kirksey totaled the most solo tackles (171) and second-most total tackles (281) in the NFL during that two-year span.
- Kirksey is the youngest of seven children to Elmer and Patrice Kirksey. He used to sing in the choir and play drums. He still plays the drums in his free time.
- During his four-year career at Iowa (2010-13), Kirksey returned two interceptions for a touchdown and one fumble for a score. He became just the third player in school history to record at least three career defensive touchdowns.
- Kirksey served as a defensive captain for the Iowa Hawkeyes and a team captain for the Browns in 2018.
- At Hazelwood East High School in St. Louis, Kirksey lettered in track and helped lead the team to the 2008 state championship.
- As a rookie, Kirksey became the infamous glitch linebacker in the EA Sports video game Madden NFL 15. His character went viral after being placed on the Tennessee Titans Ultimate Team, measuring just 1-foot, 2-inches tall.
- Last year, Kirksey landed with the Green Bay Packers where he was reunited with Defensive Coordinator Mike Pettine. During his first two NFL seasons, Kirksey played for Pettine who served as the Browns' Head Coach. He finished the 2020 season with 77 total tackles (46 solo), 2.0 sacks, two interceptions, four passes defensed, two tackles for loss and two quarterback hits in 11 starts for the Packers.
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