George Karlaftis
West Lafayette (West Lafayette, Indiana) | |||||||||||
College: | Purdue (2019–2021) | ||||||||||
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NFL draft: | 2022 / Round: 1 / Pick: 30 | ||||||||||
Career history | |||||||||||
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Roster status: | Active | ||||||||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||
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Career NFL statistics as of 2023 | |||||||||||
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Player stats at NFL.com · PFR |
George Matthew Karlaftis III (Greek: Γιώργος Ματθαίου Καρλαύτης; kar-LAFF-tiss; born 3 April 2001) is a Greek professional American football defensive end for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He was born in Athens and grew up as a multi-sport athlete playing football, track and field, basketball, and water polo, the latter of which he played with the Greek national team.
Karlaftis and his family moved to the United States when he was 13. He played
Early years
Karlaftis was born in
In his early years in Athens, he played water polo as a goalkeeper in the youth ranks of Panathinaikos,[5] the Greek team of which he is also an avid supporter.[6][7]
Matthew died of a heart attack in 2014 while on the island of
College career
As a true freshman at
Professional career
Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle |
Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 ft 3+3⁄4 in (1.92 m) |
266 lb (121 kg) |
32+5⁄8 in (0.83 m) |
10+1⁄4 in (0.26 m) |
4.71 s | 1.65 s | 2.69 s | 4.34 s | 38.0 in (0.97 m) |
10 ft 1 in (3.07 m) |
21 reps | ||
Sources:[15][16] |
Karlaftis was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the first round (30th overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft.[17] Karlaftis ended his rookie season with 33 tackles, six sacks, two fumble recoveries, and seven passes defensed.[18] The Chiefs reached Super Bowl LVII, where they defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 38–35, with Karlaftis recording two tackles in the game.[19] Karlaftis's second season ended with 47 tackles, 10.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and three passes defensed. Karlaftis helped the Chiefs reach Super Bowl LVIII where they defeated the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 to win their second straight championship.[20] In the Super Bowl Karlaftis recorded five tackles, 0.5 sacks and a fumble recovery.[21]
NFL career statistics
Legend | |
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Won the Super Bowl | |
Bold | Career high |
Year | Team | Games | Tackles | Fumbles | Interceptions | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | FF | FR | Yds | TD | Int | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | PD | ||
2022 | KC | 17 | 17 | 33 | 18 | 15 | 6.0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
2023 | KC | 16 | 16 | 47 | 29 | 18 | 10.5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Career | 33 | 33 | 80 | 47 | 33 | 16.5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
Personal life
Karlaftis was once a youth member of the Greece men's national water polo team.[1] His father, Matthew, was a javelin thrower for the University of Miami's track and field team and also tried playing on their football team before suffering a severe skull injury during his first practice with them.[1][4] His brother, Yanni, won a youth world championship in judo at 11 and joined the Boilermakers as an outside linebacker in 2021.[1]
Karlaftis is a Greek Orthodox Christian.[22]
References
- ^ a b c d e King, Sam (10 August 2017). "Once told he 'sucks at football,' Division I prospect has long list of suitors". Journal & Courier. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
- ^ a b Hekimoglou, Achilleas (4 June 2014). "Πέθανε ο καθηγητής του ΕΜΠ Μαθιός Καρλαύτης" [Μathiós Karlaftis, NTU professor, died]. To Vima (in Greek). Retrieved 15 September 2022.
- ^ "George Karlaftis Family". SportBlis. 13 January 2022. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
- ^ a b c d Rittenberg, Adam (14 April 2022). "NFL draft 2022: How George Karlaftis found his way to football between Greece and Indiana". ESPN.com. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
- ^ "Γιώργος Καρλαύτης: Από το τέρμα του Παναθηναϊκού, ο πρώτος Έλληνας στο NFL!". Aquafeed24 (in Greek). 6 May 2022. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
- ^ "Γιώργος Καρλαύτης_ Δείτε τον νικητή του Super Bowl, πιτσιρικά στη Λεωφόρο". sportday.gr (in Greek). SPORTDAY. 13 February 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
- ^ "Απάντησε στην ΠΑΕ με σύνθημα του Παναθηναϊκού ο Καρλαύτης!". Trifilara.gr (in Greek). 13 February 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
- ^ Brockway, Kevin (8 August 2019). "Freshman DL Karlaftis could add punch to Purdue pass rush". Herald Bulletin. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
- ^ Carmin, Mike (4 January 2019). "West Lafayette's George Karlaftis, Purdue football on national stage at All-American Bowl". Journal and Courier. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
- ^ Carmin, Mike (4 January 2019). "West Lafayette's George Karlaftis wins national award". Journal and Courier. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
- ^ DeFabo, Mike (21 October 2017). "Four-star DE George Karlaftis commits to Purdue". Herald Bulletin. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
- ^ Hamilton, Gerry (23 October 2017). "Early Commit: DE George Karlaftis to Purdue". ESPN.com. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
- ^ VanHaaren, Tom (24 November 2020). "Purdue's Karlaftis tests positive for COVID-19". ESPN.com. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
- ^ Fezler, D.J. (7 December 2021). "Purdue Star Defensive End George Karlaftis Officially Declares for 2022 NFL Draft". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
- ^ "George Karlaftis Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
- ^ "2022 Draft Scout George Karlaftis, Purdue NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
- ^ McMullen, Matt (29 April 2022). "Five Things to Know About Chiefs' First-Round Pick Purdue DE George Karlaftis | 2022 NFL Draft". Chiefs.com. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
- ^ "George Karlaftis III 2022 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
- ^ "Super Bowl LVII - Philadelphia Eagles vs. Kansas City Chiefs - February 12th, 2023". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
- ^ Maaddi, Rob (12 February 2024). "Patrick Mahomes rallies the Chiefs to second straight Super Bowl title, 25–22 over 49ers in overtime". AP News. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
- ^ "Super Bowl LVIII - San Francisco 49ers vs. Kansas City Chiefs - February 11th, 2024". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
- ^ Doering, Joshua (26 April 2022). "George Karlaftis seeking God first on journey from Greece to Purdue to NFL". Sports Spectrum. Retrieved 26 April 2022.