GREEN BAY – The Packers have a new inside linebacker.
Green Bay has agreed to terms with seventh-year veteran Christian Kirksey, the team announced Tuesday. The 6-foot-2, 235-pound inside linebacker has registered 484 tackles, 11½ sacks, four forced fumbles and two interceptions in 73 regular-season games with 54 starts.
Here are five things to know about Kirksey:
1. He has experience in Mike Pettine's defense
A third-round pick out of Iowa in 2014, Kirksey played his first two NFL seasons for the current Packers defensive coordinator, when Pettine previously served as Cleveland's head coach in 2014-15. Kirksey tallied 144 tackles and 5½ sacks in 32 appearances (13 starts) over that span.
2. Kirksey solidified his starting status in 2016
After rotating behind veteran Craig Robertson for two seasons, Kirksey moved into a full-time starting role during his third NFL season after Robertson departed in free agency. Kirksey went on to start 34 consecutive games, extending from the 2015 regular-season finale through the '18 opener. He finished top five in tackles in back-to-back seasons during that time, racking up 148 in 2016 and 138 in 2017. After being rewarded with a four-year extension in May 2017, Kirksey played every defensive snap for the Browns later that season. He suffered a season-ending hamstring injury seven games into the 2018 season before a chest injury landed him on IR last year after only two games.
3. He's been a respected voice on every team he's played for
A former defensive captain for the Hawkeyes, Kirksey was voted a team captain for the Browns in 2018 at only 25 years old. He also was honored as the team's Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee for his charitable efforts in the Cleveland community. That involvement included his time spent with Camp Courageous, which aims to foster independence and better the quality of life for children and adults with developmental disabilities through outdoor activities. He also hosted 'A Kirkoland Story: Cleveland Family Adoption, Backpack Giveaway' at I PROMISE School. In 2016, Kirksey was voted the PFWA Dino Lucarelli Good Guy award winner.
Snapshots of newly-signed Green Bay Packers LB Christian Kirksey.
Cleveland Browns linebacker Christian Kirksey (58) looks to the crowd during a regular season Week 7 NFL football game between the Tennessee Titans and the Cleveland Browns on Sunday October 22, 2017 in Cleveland.
Cleveland Browns inside linebacker Christian Kirksey (58) plays against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017, in Cleveland.
Cleveland Browns linebacker Christian Kirksey (58) motions to the sideline between plays during the game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017, Baltimore.
Cleveland Browns inside linebacker Chris Kirksey (58) lines up during an NFL preseason football game against the Buffalo Bills Thursday, Aug. 20, 2015, in Cleveland.
Cleveland Browns linebacker Christian Kirksey (58) drops into coverage during the game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017, Cleveland.
Cleveland Browns linebacker Christian Kirksey (58) runs in pursuit during a week 8 NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders in Cleveland, Ohio on Sunday, October 26, 2014. The Browns defeated the Raiders 23-13.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) is sacked by Cleveland Browns inside linebacker Christian Kirksey (58) during the third quarter of an NFL preseason football game Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017, in Tampa, Fla.
Cleveland Browns linebacker Christian Kirksey (58) runs onto the field before an NFL football game against Minnesota Vikings at Twickenham Stadium in London, Sunday Oct. 29, 2017.
Cleveland Browns linebacker Christian Kirksey (58) runs in pursuit during an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Dec 24, 2017, in Chicago.
Cleveland Browns outside linebacker Christian Kirksey (58) during an NFL regular season game against the Houston Texans on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017 in Houston. The Texans won, 33-17.
Cleveland Browns Christian Kirksey (58) during an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium, Friday, Aug. 26, 2016 in Tampa, Fla.
Cleveland Browns outside linebacker Christian Kirksey (58) during an NFL regular season game against the Houston Texans on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017 in Houston.
Cleveland Browns linebacker Christian Kirksey (58) runs in pursuit during an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Dec 24, 2017, in Chicago.
Cleveland Browns linebacker Christian Kirksey (58) in coverage during an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills on Friday, Aug. 17, 2018 in Cleveland. Buffalo won 19-17.
Cleveland Browns linebacker Christian Kirksey (58) runs in pursuit during an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2017, in Cleveland.
Cleveland Browns linebacker Christian Kirksey (58) celebrates during an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills on Friday, Aug. 17, 2018 in Cleveland.
Cleveland Browns linebacker Christian Kirksey (58) celebrates during an NFL preseason football game against the Buffalo Bills, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018, in Cleveland.
Cleveland Browns linebacker Christian Kirksey (58) celebrates during an NFL preseason football game against the Buffalo Bills, Friday, Aug. 17, 2018, in Cleveland.
Cleveland Browns outside linebacker Christian Kirksey (58) before an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018, in Tampa, Fla.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin (12) is tackled by Cleveland Browns outside linebacker Christian Kirksey (58) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018 in Tampa, Fla.
Cleveland Browns outside linebacker Christian Kirksey (58) reacts during an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Monday, Sept. 16, 2019 in East Rutherford, N.J.
Cleveland Browns linebacker Christian Kirksey (58) stands on the field during a NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders, Sunday, Sept. 30, 2018 in Oakland, Calif.
Cleveland Browns outside linebacker Christian Kirksey (58) warms up before an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2019, in Cleveland.
Cleveland Browns outside linebacker Christian Kirksey (58) lines up in the first half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2019, in Cleveland.
Cleveland Browns outside linebacker Christian Kirksey is shown during an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, in Pittsburgh.
Cleveland Browns outside linebacker Christian Kirksey (58) during an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2019, in Cleveland.
Cleveland Browns outside linebacker Christian Kirksey runs out on the field before an NFL preseason football game between the Washington Redskins and the Cleveland Browns, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2019, in Cleveland.
Cleveland Browns outside linebacker Christian Kirksey (58) before an NFL preseason football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Friday, Aug. 23, 2019, in Tampa, Fla.
Cleveland Browns outside linebacker Christian Kirksey (58) tackles Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) during the second half in an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2019, in Cleveland.
Cleveland Browns linebacker Christian Kirksey (58) celebrates during an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills on Friday, Aug. 17, 2018 in Cleveland. Buffalo won 19-17.
Cleveland Browns linebacker Christian Kirksey (58) during an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Monday September 16, 2019 in East Rutherford, NJ
Cleveland Browns linebacker Christian Kirksey (58) in action on defense during an NFL preseason football game against the Washington Redskins, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2019 in Cleveland.
4. Kirksey carries his father's legacy with him on the field
Kirksey's father, Elmer, passed away from a heart attack in 2010 prior to Christian's freshman year at Iowa. He was only 17 years old at the time. The youngest of seven children to Elmer and Patrice Kirksey, Christian played drums and sang in the choir of his father's church in St. Louis, Mo., since he was seven. Christian credits a lot of his leadership qualities to what his father taught him. "It comes from just looking up to my father, and just seeing the type of man he was and the type of things he did and the way he carried himself," Kirksey told WKYC-TV in Cleveland in 2014.
5. Yes, he's also the 'Madden' glitch linebacker
Due to a glitch in the 'Madden 15' video game, Kirksey went viral when his character was accidentally placed on the Tennessee Titans and measured only 1-foot, 2-inches tall. He used that publicity during interviews with ESPN SportsCenter and CNN to spread his mother's words of wisdom that "No matter how small you are, always dream big and live big."
