Ndamukong Suh
An immovable force on the defensive line whose combination of sheer power and technical skill made him a perennial game-wrecker.
Born 1987 (age 39)·American football player·Birthday: January 6·Millennials
Biography
Ndamukong Suh entered the league as a can't-miss prospect and spent over a decade living up to the billing. From his dominant, award-winning days at Nebraska, Suh was a defensive tackle who commanded double-teams and disrupted offensive game plans with a rare blend of size, strength, and surprising athleticism. His early years in Detroit established him as one of the most feared interior linemen in football. While his aggressive style sometimes courted controversy, his effectiveness was never in doubt. He evolved into a prized veteran presence for contending teams, using his savvy to help the Tampa Bay Buccaneers win a Super Bowl, proving his value extended far beyond his early individual accolades.
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.
Ndamukong was born in 1987, 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 Ndamukong Was Born
The biggest hits of 1987
#1 Movie
Three Men and a Baby
Best Picture
The Last Emperor
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Ndamukong's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1987Born
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
1992Started school
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2000Became a teenager
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
2003Could drive
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
2005Could vote
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2008Turned 21
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2017Turned 30
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 39 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won Super Bowl LV as a starting defensive tackle for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
- Named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2010 with the Detroit Lions.
- Earned unanimous All-American honors and won multiple national defensive player of the year awards at Nebraska in 2009.
- Selected to five Pro Bowls and named first-team All-Pro three times.
Did You Know?
His first name, Ndamukong, means 'House of Spears' in the Ngemba language of Cameroon.
He played in three different Super Bowls with three different teams: the Rams (LIII), Buccaneers (LV), and Eagles (LVII).
Suh was an accomplished soccer player in his youth and did not play organized football until high school.
“I play hard and I play to win. That's what I've always done.”
