Gabe Wilkins

Gabe Wilkins
No. 98
PositionsDefensive end, defensive tackle
Personal information
Born (1971-01-09) January 9, 1971
Cowpens, South Carolina, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Listed weight305 lb (138 kg)
Career information
High schoolBroome (Spartanburg, South Carolina)
CollegeGardner–Webb
NFL draft1994: 4th round, 126th overall pick
Career history
Awards and highlights
Career NFL statistics
Tackles124
Sacks13.5
Fumble recoveries3
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Gabriel Nicholas Wilkins (born January 9, 1971) is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end for six seasons with the Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL) from 1994 to 1999. He played college football for the Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs.[1]

Early life

He attended Gettys D. Broome High School in Spartanburg, South Carolina.[2]

College career

Attending NAIA Gardner–Webb University, Wilkins recorded 29 sacks and 53 tackles for loss (both school records), and participated in the 1992 NAIA Football Championship game.[3]

Professional career

Green Bay Packers

Wilkins was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 1994 NFL draft (fourth round, 126th overall).[4][5] After being used sparingly in his first three seasons, Wilkins performed well in relief of Reggie White during Super Bowl XXXI, recording a tackle and a deflected pass. Becoming a starter after Sean Jones retired in 1997, Wilkins finished the season with 50 tackles, 5.5 sacks, a 77-yard interception return touchdown, and a fumble recovery touchdown.[1] However, Wilkins played only one drive of Super Bowl XXXII due to a knee injury.[6]

San Francisco 49ers

Following the 1997 season, the San Francisco 49ers signed Wilkins to a 5-year, $20 million contract.[6] After recording 30 tackles and a sack over two years in San Francisco and being injured late in his career,[7] Wilkins retired after the 1999 season.[8]

NFL career statistics

Legend
Won the Super Bowl
Bold Career high

Regular season

Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GPGSCombSoloAstSckIntYdsTDLngFFFRYdsTD
1994GNB 1504311.000000000
1995GNB 138151233.000000000
1996GNB 161191273.000002000
1997GNB 16165030205.51771771311
1998SFO 84101000.000000000
1999SFO 1615261791.000000000
8444124844013.51771773311

Post-career life

Wilkins now lives in Spartanburg, South Carolina, with his wife and four daughters.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 "Gabe Wilkins". pro-football-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 2, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Gabe Wilkins". The Pro Football Archives. Archived from the original on August 3, 2016. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
  3. ↑ "Gabe Wilkins HOF". Gardner–Webb Athletics. Archived from the original on December 15, 2019. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
  4. ↑ "1994 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  5. ↑ "1994 NFL Draft Results by Position - Defensive Ends - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
  6. 1 2 Dillon, Dennis (June 14, 1998). "Moves That Don't Seem to Add Up". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
  7. ↑ "ESPN.com: NFL – PFW: Salary-cap lessons of Cowboys, 49ers". a.espncdn.com. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
  8. ↑ "SUPER BOWL COUNTDOWN | 48: Gabe Wilkins found life's ultimate after Super Bowl triumph | American Sports Network". americansportsnet.com. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Packers.com | News | Stories | September 14, 2006: Gabe Wilkins Has Become A Dedicated Family Man". Archived from the original on January 7, 2017. Retrieved January 6, 2017.