NFL CAREER – This seventh-year defender spent his second season in New Orleans primarily contributing as the team's nickel cornerback and as a special teams contributor. Played in all 11 games with five starts in 2024, recording a career-high 63 tackles (career-best 50 solo), a career-high two sacks, seven passes defensed and two coverage stops. Originally selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the fourth round (132nd overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft out of Oregon, the Nashville, Tenn. native played in 78 games with 17 starts for Seattle (2019-21), Tennessee (2022), Kansas City (2022) and New Orleans (2023-) and has career totals of 186 tackles (147 solo), two sacks, one interception, 22 pass breakups, two forced fumbles, 23 coverage stops and one special teams fumble recovery. Amadi will look to continue competing for time in both the secondary and on special teams.
CAREER TRANSACTIONS – Agreed to terms with New Orleans on a one-year contract, 3/24/25; Signed by New Orleans to active roster, 10/26/24; Elevated from practice squad to active roster by New Orleans (standard), 9/14/24; Signed to practice squad by Saints, 8/28/24; Contract terminated by New Orleans, 8/27/24; Re-signed by New Orleans to a one-year contract, 3/19/24; Signed by New Orleans to a one-year contract, 3/7/23; Elevated from practice squad to active roster by Chiefs (standard), 11/12/22; Signed by Chiefs to practice squad, 11/3/22; Waived by Titans, 10/31/22; Acquired by Tennessee from Eagles in exchange for future considerations, 8/24/22; Acquired by Eagles from Seahawks in exchange for WR J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, 8/15/22; Signed by Seahawks to a four-year contract, 5/6/19; Selected by Seattle in the fourth round (132nd overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft.
2024 – Played in 11 games with five starts as the team's nickel corner and recorded a career-high 63 tackles (career-high 50 solo), the first two sacks of his career, seven pass breakups and two coverage stops…After seeing action as a practice squad elevation at Dallas, Sept. 15, where he finished with two solo tackles, one pass breakup and one coverage stop, signed to active roster for remainder of season, Oct. 26…At L.A. Chargers, Oct. 27, rotated in at SS and special teams and recorded three solo tackles and first career sack…Vs. Atlanta, Nov. 10, made first start of Saints career and the 2024 campaign at NCB and recorded a career-high nine solo tackles and one pass breakup. Amadi's nine total tackles tied a career-best and his three stops for loss also marked a new career-high as Saints broke a seven-game losing streak…Rotated in at NCB and special teams, vs. Cleveland, Nov. 17, recording eight tackles (three solo)…Vs. L.A. Rams, Dec. 1, started at NCB and played on special teams, finishing with a team-high nine tackles (eight solo) with one pass breakup…At. N.Y. Giants, Dec. 8, started at NCB and played on special teams, recording a club-high tying eight tackles (club-best six solo) and club-high tying two pass breakups, tying a career-high…Vs. Washington, Dec. 15, rotated in at NCB and special teams in 75th career game, finishing with seven tackles (five solo), one pass breakup and one sack. 2023 – Played in all 17 games for the Saints, primarily on special teams and as a reserve DB, recording two coverage stops, 11 tackles (five solo) and two pass breakups…Vs. Tennessee, Sept. 10, rotated in at nickel in his first game action with the Saints and recorded one pass defense…Vs. Jacksonville, Oct. 19, rotated in at S and appeared on special teams, recording his first tackle of season…At Indianapolis, Oct. 29, rotated in at S and appeared on special teams, recording one pass defense…Vs. Carolina, Dec. 10, played on special teams and recorded one tackle, his first coverage stop of the season…At L.A. Rams, Dec. 21, rotated in at S and played on special teams. Finished with three defensive stops (two solo) and one special teams tackle…Vs. Atlanta, 1/7/24, rotated in on defense and special teams. Finished with a season-high seven tackles (two solo). 2022 – Played in two games for the Titans and recorded five tackles (four solo) in contest vs. N.Y. Giants, Sept. 11…Joining the Chiefs practice squad at midseason, for whom he was a member of the remainder of their Super Bowl LVII Championship season, Amadi was active for the team's victory at Jacksonville, Nov. 13, contributing one coverage stop. 2021 – Started seven of 17 games played for Seattle and recorded 51 tackles (39 solo) and posted his first-career interception to go with one forced fumble and three coverage stops…Recorded two solo tackles and a forced fumble vs. New Orleans, Oct. 25…Started at NCB vs. Jacksonville, Oct. 31, and finished with a career-high nine tackles (eight solo) and one pass breakup…Had his first career interception to go with two tackles (one solo) and a pass breakup vs. Detroit, 1/2/22. 2020 – Played primarily at nickel for Seattle and contributing on special teams. Started four of 14 regular season games played and recorded 49 tackles. Finished fifth on the team with seven pass breakups to go with five special teams stops…Had eight solo tackles vs. New England, Sept. 20. 2019 – Played in all 16 regular season games for Seattle as a rookie, primarily on special teams, but took over nickel duty late in season…Posted three defensive tackles (two solo) and a team-best ten special teams stops (eight solo), earning Special Teams Most Valuable Player honors for squad…Recorded two tackles (one solo) and a career-high two special teams stops vs. Arizona, Dec. 22…Recovered a muffed punt in the fourth quarter at L.A. Rams, Dec. 8.
COLLEGE – Played in all 51 of Oregon's games from 2015-18…Scored four touchdowns over his final two seasons with three coming on interception returns for touchdowns…First FBS player with two pick-6s and a punt return for a touchdown in the same season (2018) since 2015 and first Pac-12 player to accomplish feat since 2007…Only player in Pac-12 and one of just 11 FBS players with three interceptions and three forced fumbles in 2017…Associated Press Pac-12 coaches All-Conference honorable mention…Started all 13 games as senior and awarded the Lombardi Award, as the top FBS player regardless of position based on performance and leadership as well as character and resiliency, when he finished with 55 tackles, including five stops for loss and 1.5 sacks. Turned two of three interceptions into TDs. Totaled 223 yards and one TD on 14 punt returns (15.9 avg.)…Shared Oregon's 2018 team Most Valuable Player award with QB Justin Herbert…In 2017, the only Pac-12 player and just one of 11 FBS players with three interceptions and three forced fumbles, adding 43 tackles, including 2.5 for loss and 1.5 sacks…Graduated with a degree in business.
PERSONAL – Accounted for 15 total touchdowns for John Overton (Nashville, Tenn.) HS, which finished 2014 advancing to the playoffs…Credited with 25 tackles and two interceptions senior year in addition to breaking up five passes and returning three punts and a kickoff for TDs…Tallied 49 tackles, five interceptions and nine passes defensed as junior to earn a spot on the Tennessean's Dandy Dozen…Has annually hosted a youth football camp at Overton through his "Hear What You Don't Know" foundation…In April, 2024, he, Carl Granderson and Jake Haener joined residents at the Hollygrove Senior center for a casino style fun day…Ugochukwu (pronounced oo-go-choo-koo) Amadi, was born in Nashville, Tenn. on May 16, 1997.
