Background and career
Patrick Ryan Kerrigan (born August 16, 1988) is an American professional football coach and former player. He played college football for the Purdue Boilermakers, earning unanimous All-American honors as a senior before being selected by the Washington Redskins in the first round of the 2011 NFL draft. Kerrigan played the majority of his 11-season career as an outside linebacker in the 3–4 defense, where he is the all-time NFL leader in consecutive starts by a left outside linebacker. In the final two seasons of his playing career, he played defensive end in a 4–3 defensive scheme. He is also Washington's all-time leader in sacks with 95.5, and forced fumbles (26). Kerrigan played the 2021 season with the Philadelphia Eagles before retiring and rejoining Washington as an assistant coach in 2022.
Kerrigan was born on August 16, 1988, in Muncie, Indiana. He attended Muncie Central High School, where he played defensive end and tight end for the Muncie Bearcats high school football team. As a senior, he was an all-state selection after recording 90 tackles and 19 sacks as a defensive end. As a tight end, he had 40 receptions for 789 yards and six touchdowns. A three-star recruit, Kerrigan committed to Purdue over offers from Ball State, Cincinnati, Indiana, and Northern Illinois.
Kerrigan attended Purdue University, where he played for the Purdue Boilermakers football team from 2007 to 2010. As a freshman in 2007, Kerrigan appeared in 12 games recording 18 tackles and a sack. As a sophomore in 2008 he started 11 of 12 games and was an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection after recording 56 tackles, seven sacks and an interception. As a junior in 2009 he was a second team All-American by Rivals.com and a first team All-Big Ten selection. He finished the season with 66 tackles and 12 sacks. Kerrigan was also awarded Purdue's "Pit Bull Award" in 2009, which was given to the player that exemplified and displayed tenacity and tough play. After forcing two fumbles against Michigan, Kerrigan became the Big Ten's all-time leader in forced fumbles; his total of 12 forced fumbles set the since-broken Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) career record. Following his 2010 season, he was recognized as a unanimous All-American, honored as the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, and won the Bill Willis Trophy. In June 2025, Kerrigan was named one of the 79 nominees for the 2026 class of the College Football Hall of Fame.
Kerrigan was selected by the Washington Redskins in the first round (16th overall) of the 2011 NFL draft. He signed his four-year rookie contract, worth US$8.72 million, on July 29, 2011. Kerrigan made his professional regular season and first career start in the Redskins' season-opener against the New York Giants and recorded five combined tackles, a pass deflection, and returned an interception for a touchdown in their 28–14 victory. Kerrigan intercepted a pass by quarterback Eli Manning, that was originally intended for wide receiver Hakeem Nicks, and scored a nine-yard touchdown in the third quarter. The following week, he made three solo tackles, two pass deflections, and made his first career sack during their 22–21 victory against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 2. Kerrigan made his first career sack on quarterback Kevin Kolb for a four-yard loss in the second quarter. Kerrigan's performance over the first four games earned him the defensive rookie of the month honor for September. On November 13, 2011, Kerrigan collected a season-high six combined tackles and had two sacks on quarterback Matt Moore during a 20–9 loss at the Miami Dolphins. He started in all 16 games in 2011 and recorded 63 combined tackles (41 solo), 7.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, one interception, and one touchdown.
On October 7, 2012, Kerrigan recorded five combined tackles, deflected a pass, and returned an interception for a touchdown during a 24–17 loss to the Atlanta Falcons in Week 5. Kerrigan intercepted a pass by Falcons' quarterback Matt Ryan and scored a 20-yard touchdown in the second quarter. In Week 14 against the Baltimore Ravens, he managed to tackle Joe Flacco and tip his pass to Ray Rice enough so linebacker London Fletcher could intercept the ball; preventing the Ravens from scoring and allowing the Redskins to tie the score and eventually win the game in overtime. In Week 16, Kerrigan recorded a season-high five combined tackles and two sacks during a 27–20 victory at the Philadelphia Eagles. He had two sacks on quarterback Nick Foles and stripped the ball during one of them which was recovered by cornerback Richard Crawford. Kerrigan started all 16 games in 2012 and recorded 54 combined tackles (42 solo), 8.5 sacks, eight pass deflections, an interception, and a touchdown. The Washington Redskins finished first in the NFC East with a 10–6 record and earned a playoff berth. On January 6, 2013, Kerrigan started his first career playoff game and recorded four combined tackles during a 24–14 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Wild Card Round. On January 20, 2013, it was announced that Kerrigan was added to the 2013 Pro Bowl as a replacement for Aldon Smith who was set to appear in Super Bowl XLVII with the San Francisco 49ers.
Defensive coordinator Jim Haslett retained Kerrigan, Brian Orakpo, Perry Riley, and London Fletcher as the linebacking corps in 2013. He started in the Washington Redskins' season-opener against the Philadelphia Eagles and collected a season-high eight combined tackles and made one sack in their 33–27 loss. The following week, he made five solo tackles and a career-high two sacks on quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the Redskins' 38–20 loss at the Green Bay Packers in Week 2. In Week 3, Kerrigan tore his lateral meniscus in his left knee, but chose to play through the season. On December 29, 2013, the Washington Redskins fired head coach Mike Shanahan after they finished the season with a 4–12 record. Kerrigan started in all 16 games and recorded a career-high 66 combined tackles (47 solo), 8.5 sacks, and three pass deflections.
Sources
Net-worth figure: Celebrity Net Worth (October 2026), in USD. Biography and career facts: the person's Wikipedia article and linked reporting. Snapshot date for all StarWorth figures: 28 October 2026.
