Dayo Odeyingbo Bio
Temidayo Jordan “Dayo” Odeyingbo (pronounced DIE-oh Oh-DANG-boh) is an American professional football defensive end for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). Born on September 24, 1999, in Brooklyn, New York, Odeyingbo was raised by Nigerian immigrants and later moved to Irving, Texas, where he attended Ranchview High School. After a productive college career at Vanderbilt University, he was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft and has since developed into a reliable edge rusher in the league.
Early Life and Background
Odeyingbo was born in Brooklyn, New York, and grew up in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas. He is the son of Nigerian immigrants who instilled a strong work ethic and a deep appreciation for education and athletics. Standing 6 ft 5 in and weighing 282 lb, Odeyingbo developed physically early and used his frame to dominate at the high school level.
At Ranchview High School, Odeyingbo became a standout defensive lineman, recording 108 tackles and 12 sacks across his high school career. His combination of length, power, and quickness drew attention from several major college programs. He ultimately committed to Vanderbilt University over scholarship offers from Texas, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Colorado, Baylor, and Purdue, choosing the Commodores for the opportunity to develop within the Southeastern Conference.
Path to American Football
Odeyingbo arrived at Vanderbilt in 2017 and quickly worked his way into the defensive rotation. Over four seasons with the Vanderbilt Commodores, he appeared in multiple contests and steadily improved his technique against SEC offensive lines. By his senior year, he had earned second-team All-SEC recognition after posting 32 tackles, 8.0 tackles for loss, and 5.5 sacks in just eight games during the 2020 season.
Across his entire collegiate career, Odeyingbo finished with 125 tackles, 31.0 tackles for loss, and 12.0 sacks, demonstrating a consistent ability to disrupt opposing backfields. While preparing for the 2021 NFL Draft, however, he suffered a torn Achilles tendon, raising concerns about his pro readiness. Despite the injury, his college production and physical tools kept him firmly on NFL radars heading into the spring evaluation period.
Dayo Odeyingbo Career
Early Career (2021–2022)
Selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the second round with the 54th overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, Odeyingbo signed his rookie contract on May 6, 2021. He began his rookie season on the reserve/non-football injury list while recovering from the Achilles injury he had sustained during pre-draft training. He was activated on October 30 and worked primarily as a rotational defensive end during his first NFL campaigns.
Odeyingbo spent his first three NFL seasons (2021 through 2023) with the Colts, gradually expanding his role within the defensive line. His most productive Colts season came in 2023, when he played in all 17 games and recorded 38 tackles while finishing third on the team with eight sacks. That performance established him as a dependable pass rusher and set the stage for his next professional opportunity.
Indianapolis Colts Era (2021–2024)
Across his four seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, Odeyingbo developed into a reliable edge presence and contributed to the team’s pass-rushing rotation. His 2023 campaign stood out as his signature year with the franchise, as he matched his production with consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
By the end of his Colts tenure, Odeyingbo had built a reputation as a durable, ascending defensive end capable of setting the edge against the run while also generating sacks. His development in Indianapolis positioned him as one of the more appealing edge-rushing free agents following the 2024 season.
Chicago Bears Era (2025–Present)
On March 13, 2025, Odeyingbo signed a three-year, $48 million contract with the Chicago Bears, marking a significant new chapter in his career. He quickly slotted into a starting role on the Chicago defensive line, withstanding an offense that had finished among the league’s most aggressive in recent seasons.
Through his first eight appearances with the Bears, Odeyingbo started every game and recorded one pass deflection, one sack, and 21 combined tackles. In Week 9 against the Cincinnati Bengals, however, he suffered a torn Achilles tendon that ended his 2025 season, placing him on the road to recovery heading into 2026.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Odeyingbo’s signature moments is his second-round selection in the 2021 NFL Draft despite an injury, a testament to the trust teams placed in his college film. His 2023 season with eight sacks and 38 tackles for Indianapolis marked his first true emergence as a frontline pass rusher, and his 2025 signing with Chicago represented one of the notable edge-rusher free-agent signings of that offseason.
Dayo Odeyingbo Career Wins
Across his NFL career through the 2025 season, Dayo Odeyingbo has recorded 127 total tackles, 17.5 sacks, 3 pass deflections, 5 forced fumbles, and 3 fumble recoveries. His work as a rotational player with Indianapolis evolved into a starting edge-rusher role with Chicago, and his stat line reflects consistent contributions against both the run and the pass.
NFL Highlights
Odeyingbo’s first significant NFL production came during the 2023 season, when he recorded eight sacks and 38 tackles while playing all 17 games for the Colts. His most recent full season of action with Chicago began strongly in 2025 before injury cut it short, with the defender posting 21 tackles, a sack, and a pass deflection across eight starts.
Other Wins and Performances
In college, Odeyingbo earned second-team All-SEC honors in 2020 and later First-team All-SEC recognition for his work at Vanderbilt. His high school résumé at Ranchview included 108 tackles and 12 sacks, providing the foundation for his rise from Irving, Texas, to the NFL.
Dayo Odeyingbo Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Odeyingbo is the son of Nigerian immigrants who raised him with a strong emphasis on discipline and perseverance. Football became a central outlet for the family in the United States, and the sport connected the Odeyingbo brothers from an early age.
Personal Life
Odeyingbo’s older brother, Dare, also played college football at Vanderbilt before going on to play professionally for the Cincinnati Bengals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The brothers’ shared path through the Commodores program has been one of the defining personal storylines of Dayo’s football journey.
2025 Season Performance
Dayo Odeyingbo’s 2025 campaign began with high expectations after his three-year, $48 million signing with the Chicago Bears in March. He started all eight of his appearances, registering 21 combined tackles, one sack, and one pass deflection while anchoring a Bears defensive front that featured several high-profile additions.
His season, however, was cut short in Week 9 against the Cincinnati Bengals, when Odeyingbo suffered a torn Achilles tendon that ended his year. The injury placed him on a familiar recovery path, mirroring the Achilles issue he had faced before the 2021 NFL Draft, and will shape his offseason rehabilitation timeline.
Looking forward, the Bears’ investment in Odeyingbo signals continued confidence in his role as a foundational edge rusher once healthy. His production before the injury, combined with his track record of eight sacks in 2023, suggests a strong bounce-back opportunity as he works toward a full return to the field.
