Cody Whitehair Bio
Cody Michael Whitehair (born July 11, 1992) is an American professional football guard who has spent nearly a decade in the National Football League. He first rose to prominence with the Chicago Bears, who selected him in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft, and he later joined the Las Vegas Raiders in 2024. A former standout at Kansas State University, Whitehair earned Pro Bowl honors in 2018 and became the first Bears center to play in the Pro Bowl since Olin Kreutz. He is widely regarded as a durable and reliable interior lineman whose work ethic and technique have anchored some of the league’s most physical offensive lines.
Early Life and Background
Cody Michael Whitehair was born on July 11, 1992, in Kearney, Nebraska. He grew up in nearby Abilene, Kansas, where he attended Abilene High School and developed into a powerful two-way lineman for the Cowboys varsity football team. In his senior season, he was named to PrepStar magazine’s All-Midlands Region team after a dominant year in which he was credited with 140 pancake blocks and 81 total tackles, including 15 sacks. That campaign ended with a 10–1 record before a second-round loss to Buhler in the KSHSAA 4A state playoffs, a setback that helped shape his competitive mindset.
Whitehair’s early exposure to football came through the strong high school football culture of central Kansas, where he learned the value of physical conditioning and disciplined line play. Coaches praised his combination of leverage, footwork, and finishing ability, traits that would later become hallmarks of his professional style. Those formative years in Abilene laid the groundwork for his move to the college ranks.
Path to American Football
Whitehair’s path to the NFL began at Kansas State University, where he redshirted his first year in 2011 before becoming a starter at guard in 2012 and 2013. Prior to his junior season in 2014, he made the transition to offensive tackle, an adjustment that broadened his technical skill set and gave him valuable experience on the edge of the offensive line. He started as both a junior and a senior, earning recognition as one of the top linemen in the Big 12 Conference.
His college résumé was decorated with multiple all-conference honors, including First-team All-Big 12 in 2015 and Second-team All-Big 12 selections in 2013 and 2014. Those performances caught the attention of NFL scouts evaluating interior linemen with versatility and experience at multiple positions. The Chicago Bears ultimately made the call in the 2016 NFL Draft, taking him in the second round, 56th overall, marking a defining step in his professional career.
Cody Whitehair Career
Early Career (2016–2017)
Whitehair entered the NFL with the Chicago Bears in 2016 and quickly demonstrated his readiness for professional football. After a preseason injury to third-round pick Hroniss Grasu opened the door at left guard, Whitehair was later shifted to starting center following the signing of veteran guard Josh Sitton. He went on to start all 16 regular-season games at center, a remarkable achievement for a rookie, and was named to the Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie Team. His immediate impact helped stabilize a Bears offensive line that had been searching for consistent play at the position.
Through his first two seasons, Whitehair continued to refine his snap exchange, pass-protection footwork, and run-blocking angles. He earned praise from coaches and analysts for his football intelligence, an attribute that allowed him to handle complex protections and identify defensive fronts at a high level. By the end of 2017, he had firmly established himself as a building block for the Bears’ offensive line of the future.
Chicago Bears Breakthrough (2018–2023)
The 2018 season represented the defining chapter of Whitehair’s tenure in Chicago. He played every offensive snap that year and was named to the 2019 Pro Bowl, becoming the first Bears center since Olin Kreutz to earn the honor. He was the only Bears player on either side of the ball to participate in every down, underscoring his durability and importance to the team’s offense. That recognition cemented his reputation as one of the most reliable interior linemen in the league.
Before the 2019 season, the Bears moved Whitehair to left guard to accommodate James Daniels at center, a switch that highlighted his positional flexibility. On September 1, 2019, he signed a five-year contract extension worth $52.5 million with $27.5 million guaranteed. Later that season, amid a four-game losing streak, he returned to the center position to help stabilize the offense. He was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list on November 6, 2020, and activated on November 16.
Whitehair’s later years in Chicago were marked by continued durability and steady production. In 2022, he suffered a knee injury in Week 4 and was placed on injured reserve on October 5 before being activated on November 4. He remained a starter through the end of his contract, and the Bears released him on February 15, 2024, closing an eight-year chapter in which he had started 121 of 136 games played.
Las Vegas Raiders Era (2024–Present)
On April 15, 2024, Whitehair signed a one-year deal with the Las Vegas Raiders, beginning a new chapter in his professional career. The move gave him an opportunity to bring his veteran presence and positional versatility to a Raiders offensive line in search of stability. He provided leadership at the guard position while continuing to demonstrate the technique and toughness that defined his time in Chicago.
Through his first season in Las Vegas, Whitehair offered dependable play and served as a mentor to younger linemen adjusting to the speed of the professional game. His contract with the Raiders was structured to run through the 2024 season, leaving the next phase of his career an open and evolving question as he continued to perform at a high level.
Driving Style and Strengths
Although football linemen are not described in driving terms, Whitehair’s professional strengths are well documented. He excels in pass protection, combines excellent snap-count timing with leverage, and is known for his intelligence in diagnosing complex blitz packages. His run-blocking style emphasizes leverage, angle work, and finishing blocks through the whistle, making him a reliable presence in both zone and gap schemes.
Notable Events and Milestones
Whitehair’s signature achievement was his 2018 Pro Bowl selection, which made him the first Bears center to earn the honor since Olin Kreutz. He also started all 16 games as a rookie, was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team, and signed a five-year, $52.5 million extension in 2019. His release from the Bears in February 2024 and signing with the Raiders in April 2024 marked another significant milestone in a long and steady career.
Cody Whitehair Career Wins
Cody Michael Whitehair’s career is defined less by box-score victories and more by consistent, high-level performance along the offensive line. Across his tenure with the Chicago Bears and Las Vegas Raiders, he has been recognized as one of the league’s most dependable interior linemen, accumulating 121 starts in 136 games played through 2024.
Chicago Bears Highlights
Whitehair spent eight seasons with the Chicago Bears, where he started 121 games and earned his lone Pro Bowl selection in 2018. He became the first Bears center to make the Pro Bowl since Olin Kreutz and was the only Bears player on either side of the ball to play every offensive snap that season. He was also named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team in 2016 after starting all 16 games at center as a rookie.
Other Performances
In college, Whitehair earned First-team All-Big 12 honors in 2015 and Second-team All-Big 12 recognition in both 2013 and 2014, helping anchor the Kansas State Wildcats offensive line for multiple seasons. He has continued that level of play in the NFL, providing stability and leadership at every stop in his professional career.
Cody Whitehair Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Cody Michael Whitehair was raised in Abilene, Kansas, where he developed his early love for football. Specific details about his parents and extended family are not widely documented in public sources, and limited verified information is available about his family background beyond his upbringing in central Kansas.
Personal Life
Whitehair has kept much of his personal life private, and limited public information is available regarding his marital status or children. He is known for his disciplined approach to the game and his commitment to community, qualities that have defined his career both on and off the field.
2025 Season Performance
Looking ahead to the 2025 season, Whitehair’s status remains a developing storyline as he evaluates the next step in his career. After a one-year deal with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2024, his future with the team and his broader role in the NFL will depend on offseason decisions and team needs. His track record of durability, versatility, and high-level performance should make him an attractive option for teams in search of veteran leadership along the offensive line.
Throughout the 2024 season, Whitehair provided a stabilizing presence in Las Vegas, and his experience under center and at guard offered flexibility to the Raiders’ offensive scheme. If he returns to the field in 2025, he will be looking to extend a streak of more than 120 career starts while continuing to mentor younger linemen. The outlook for Whitehair remains positive, given his proven ability to contribute at a high level regardless of role or scheme.
