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.

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 X at @ChidobeAwuzie.
• Follow Awuzie on Instagram at @chido.
• Born Chidobe Richard Awuzie on May 24, 1995 in San Jose, Calif.