Cameron Wake
He clawed his way from undrafted obscurity to become one of the NFL's most feared pass rushers, a testament to relentless work.
Born 1982 (age 44)·American gridiron football player·Birthday: January 30·Millennials
Biography
Cameron Wake's football story is a masterclass in perseverance. After going undrafted out of Penn State and a brief, unremarkable stint with the New York Giants, his professional career seemed over before it began. Undeterred, he took a job as a mortgage broker while training obsessively. His break came in the Canadian Football League, where he dominated for two seasons, earning the nickname "The Kraken" for his terrifying sacks. The Miami Dolphins took notice, and Wake exploded onto the NFL scene in his late twenties, defying every convention about age and development. For a decade, he was a cornerstone of Miami's defense, a five-time Pro Bowl selection whose explosive first step terrorized quarterbacks. His journey from financial services to football stardom remains one of the sport's most compelling underdog tales.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Cameron was born in 1982, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Cameron Was Born
The biggest hits of 1982
#1 Movie
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Best Picture
Gandhi
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Cameron's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1982Born
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1987Started school
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1995Became a teenager
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Could drive
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2000Could vote
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Turned 21
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2012Turned 30
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 40
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 44 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player award twice while playing for the BC Lions.
- Recorded a career-high 15 sacks for the Miami Dolphins in the 2012 NFL season.
- Earned five Pro Bowl selections (2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016) during his NFL career.
- Named First-team All-Pro in 2012 and Second-team All-Pro in 2014.
Did You Know?
He worked as a mortgage broker during his year away from football after being cut by the Giants.
His given first name is Derek, but he has always gone by his middle name, Cameron.
He played only two seasons in the CFL but recorded an astonishing 39 sacks in 36 games.
He was a standout collegiate wrestler in high school in Maryland.
“The only person that can tell you no is yourself.”
