DE Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila sacks Minnesota QB Kelly Holcomb for one of his three sacks last Sunday at the Metrodome.
It turns out another record was set last Sunday at the Metrodome against the Minnesota Vikings.
After a film review by Elias Sports Bureau, the NFL's official statistician, Green Bay defensive end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila was credited with three sacks against the Vikings, which moved him past Hall of Famer Reggie White for the Packers' franchise record.
'KGB' now has 69 career sacks. White had 68 1/2 of his 198 career sacks during the six seasons he played for the Packers (1993-98).
"I'd be lying if I didn't say I was excited, because the guy whose record I broke is Reggie White," said Gbaja-Biamila, who was informed during Thursday morning's team meeting about getting the record. "We have a lot of similarities. He was very open about his faith and I'm very open about my faith. It's truly an honor to be able to pass his record."
At game's end on Sunday, Gbaja-Biamila had been credited with two sacks of Minnesota quarterback Kelly Holcomb. He got to him once in the third quarter for a 7-yard loss, stripping the ball, though it was recovered by the Vikings. He sacked him again in the fourth quarter for a 10-yard loss, giving him 68 career sacks.
The additional sack came five snaps later on that fourth-quarter drive. Holcomb was scrambling out of the pocket when Gbaja-Biamila caught him from behind, tackling him for no gain. The play initially was ruled a rush for zero yards, but late Wednesday the scoring change was made to a sack for zero yards, giving 'KGB' the franchise record.
Ironically, a similar film review had taken away a half-sack from Gbaja-Biamila the week before against the Chargers. 'KGB' was initially credited with two sacks in that game, but it was determined the second sack was shared with teammate Aaron Kampman, reducing his total to 1 1/2 and putting him 2 1/2 behind White's team record heading into the Minnesota game.
A fifth-round draft choice of the Packers in 2000, Gbaja-Biamila now has 4 1/2 sacks this season, on pace to record his fifth double-digit sack season and first since 2004. That ended a streak of four straight double-digit sack years, with 'KGB' posting 13 1/2 sacks in 2001, 12 in 2002, 10 in 2003 and 13 1/2 again in 2004.
"I remember when I first came into the league I said I was going to try to break that record," said Gbaja-Biamila, who finished his collegiate career at San Diego State as the school's all-time sack leader. "I didn't know if I was going to be able to, but I was going to try, like I did at San Diego State. But this is more special than San Diego State because of who Reggie White was. I'm humbled.
"I'm glad I've played here long enough to break that record. I really am humbled and I'm thankful I had the opportunity."
The Packers plan to honor Gbaja-Biamila for his accomplishment sometime during the early portion of this Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears.
Every sack this season is especially meaningful to Gbaja-Biamila. He has established a "sack fund" to support Freedom House, a local homeless shelter in Green Bay. Combining his own pledges with those of teammates and other local businesses and individuals, $10,000 goes to Freedom House for each of his sacks in 2007. For information on how to get involved, call Fran Cape at 920-455-4430.
