Abdullah Anderson

Abdullah Malik Anderson Jr. (born January 24, 1996) is an American football defensive tackle who is a free agent. He played college football at Bucknell. Anderson signed with the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2018, and spent three seasons with the team.

Abdullah Anderson
Free agent
Position:Defensive tackle
Personal information
Born: (1996-01-24) January 24, 1996
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:297 lb (135 kg)
Career information
High school:Absegami
College:Bucknell
Undrafted:2018
Career history
Career highlights and awards
  • Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year (2017)
  • Brooks-Irvine Memorial Football Club FCS Collegiate Player of the Year (2017)
  • 3× All-Patriot League First Team (2015–2017)
  • Second Team FCS All-American (2017)
Career NFL statistics as of 2019
Total tackles:4
Sacks:1.0
Forced fumbles:0
Fumble recoveries:0
Interceptions:0
Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR

Early and personal life

Born in Atlantic City, New Jersey and raised in nearby Galloway Township, Anderson attended Absegami High School.[1]

He is the only son of Abdullah Anderson Sr. and Octavia Anderson. Anderson has one older sister, Amira.[2]

College career

Anderson attended Bucknell, where he majored in Economics. As a freshman, he started all 11 games at defensive tackle; he was one of five defensive players to start every game and the only freshman on team to do so.[2]

During his sophomore year in 2015, Anderson was one of six defensive players to start all 11 games and one of three defensive linemen to start every game. He totaled 46 tackles, eight tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and three pass breakups from defensive tackle position. He ranked seventh on team in tackles and fifth on squad in tackles for loss.[2]

In his junior season, Anderson started all 11 games on the defensive line for a third straight year. He ranked fourth on team with 55 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, five pass breakups and two blocked kicks. Anderson ranked second in Patriot League in tackles for loss and ranked third in Patriot League in sacks. He was named Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week on November 21 after totaling five tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, one pass breakup and two blocked field goals against Fordham.[2]

During his senior year in 2017, Anderson recorded 42 tackles, nine tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries, an interception, and blocked an extra point. In addition to being named All-Patriot League for the fourth time, he was named the 2017 Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year and NCAA FCS Collegiate Player of the Year by the Brooks-Irvine Memorial Football Club.[3] He was also named second-team All-American by the Associated Press.[4]

Anderson ended his college career with 43 starts in which he had 171 tackles, 33.5 tackles for loss, 15.5 sacks, and a school-record four blocked kicks.[3]

Professional career

Chicago Bears

Before the 2018 NFL Draft, Anderson participated in private workouts with the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks.[5] After not being selected in the draft, he signed with the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent.[6] He was released during final roster cuts and signed to the team's practice squad.[7][8] He remained with the team for the 2019 offseason after signing a future/reserve contract.[9]

Anderson made the 2019 Bears' final roster and played in his maiden NFL game in the season opener against the Green Bay Packers.[10] He was waived on September 11 and moved to the practice squad to make room for tight end J. P. Holtz,[11][12] but was promoted to the active roster on September 23 to increase defensive line depth following Bilal Nichols' injury.[10] He was waived on September 30 and re-signed to the team's practice squad on October 1.[13][14] He was promoted to the 53-man roster again on October 14 after Kyle Long was placed on injured reserve.[15]

In the third quarter of the Bears' 36–25 loss to the New Orleans Saints on October 20, 2019, Anderson recorded his first career NFL sack on Teddy Bridgewater. In addition to his sack, Anderson had a tackle for loss and two total tackles.[16]

Anderson was among the final roster cuts on September 5, 2020,[17] before being placed on the practice squad a day later.[18] He was released on September 14.[19]

Minnesota Vikings

On September 21, 2020, Anderson was signed to the Minnesota Vikings' practice squad.[20] He was elevated to the active roster on November 7 for the team's week 9 game against the Detroit Lions, and reverted to the practice squad after the game.[21]

Career statistics
Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GPGSCombSoloAstSackIntYardsAvgLngTDPDFFFRYardsTD
2019CHI 604311000.00000000
Career604311000.00000000
Source:[22]

References
  1. Gill, Mike. "Absegami Grad Abdullah Anderson Heading to Windy City", WPEN (FM), April 28, 2018. Accessed September 28, 2019. "The Galloway Township product had a very good showing at the NFL combine, allowing him to jump on NFL teams radar, getting workouts with multiple teams including the Seahawks and 49ers... He was the 2017 Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year, and in 43 career games, the 2014 Absegami alum accumulated 171 tackles, 33.5 tackles for a loss, 15.5 sacks and four blocked kicks."
  2. "Abdullah Anderson". Bucknell Bison. Retrieved September 26, 2019.
  3. "Bucknell's Abdullah Anderson Signs with Chicago Bears". Bucknell Bison. April 28, 2018. Retrieved September 26, 2019.
  4. "Bucknell's Anderson signed to Bears' practice squad". The Daily Item. September 28, 2018. Retrieved September 26, 2019.
  5. Larrabee, Kirk (April 12, 2018). "49ers workout Bucknell defensive tackle Abdullah Anderson". 247Sports.com. Retrieved September 26, 2019.
  6. Mayer, Larry (May 10, 2018). "Roster Moves: Bears ink 15 undrafted rookie free agents". Chicago Bears. Retrieved May 11, 2018.
  7. Smith, Michael David (September 1, 2018). "Khalil Mack trade official, Bears down to 53". Profootballtalk.com. Retrieved September 2, 2018.
  8. Campbell, Rich (September 3, 2018). "Bears announce their 10-man practice squad". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  9. Finley, Patrick (January 8, 2019). "Bears sign 10 players to futures contracts". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  10. Barbieri, Alyssa (September 23, 2019). "Bears sign DT Abdullah Anderson, waive TE Bradley Sowell". USA Today. Bears Wire. Retrieved September 23, 2019.
  11. Mayer, Larry (September 11, 2019). "Roster moves: Bears add TE Holtz, waive DT Anderson". Chicago Bears. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
  12. Wiltfong Jr., Lester A. (September 13, 2019). "Bears sign Abdullah Anderson to the practice squad, release James Vaughters". Windy City Gridiron. SB Nation. Retrieved September 13, 2019.
  13. "Bears waive DL Abdullah Anderson". Bears Wire. USA Today. September 30, 2019.
  14. @BearsPR (October 1, 2019). "#Bears roster move: We have signed DL Abdullah Anderson to the practice squad" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  15. "Bears put Kyle Long on IR, promote Abdullah Anderson". The Washington Post. AP. October 14, 2019. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  16. Weinberg, David (October 21, 2019). "Local NFL update: Abdullah Anderson earns first career sack for Bears". The Press of Atlantic City. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
  17. Mayer, Larry (September 5, 2020). "Roster Moves: Chicago Bears announce 53-man roster". Chicago Bears. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  18. Mayer, Larry (September 6, 2020). "Roster Moves: Bears sign 16 to practice squad". Chicago Bears. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  19. Mayer, Larry (September 14, 2020). "Roster Moves: Ledarius Mack joins practice squad". Chicago Bears. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  20. "Vikings Place LB Anthony Barr on IR; Sign DT Abdullah Anderson to Practice Squad". Minnesota Vikings. September 21, 2020. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  21. "Vikings Elevate Brett Jones to Active Roster; Announce Roster Moves". Vikings.com. November 7, 2020. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  22. "Abdullah Anderson". Chicago Bears. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
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