‘Weight lifted off my shoulders’: TCU linebacker taken in sixth round of draft
Namdi Obiazor will be looking to make an impact in his new home after the former TCU linebacker was drafted by New England Patriots with the No. 212 pick in sixth round of the 2026 NFL draft.
Obiazor transferred to TCU after spending time at Iowa Western and ended his career with 302 tackles for the Horned Frogs.
He talked to reporters about what he was feeling when he heard his name get called and how growing up in a competitive household helped mold him into the athlete he is.
“A weight lifted off my shoulders, a good moment just to be around family, finally just achieving my goal and dreams,” Obiazor said, “That’s played a huge role in my life. I really just say it’s my dad always making us compete against each other if it was sports or other simple things in life.”
Namdi Obiazor profile
School: TCU
Position: Linebacker
Round: 6, pick 212
Hometown: Eden Prairie, Minn.
What you should know about him: Obiazor set a career high in tackles (88) and interceptions (2) while adding 2.5 sacks in his final season in Fort Worth.
How he fits on the Patriots: Could help replace some of the linebackers, including the team’s third-leading tackler Jack Gibbens, who left New England after the last season.
This story was originally published April 25, 2026 at 4:25 PM.
