Cliff Avril cemented himself as one of the best defensive ends in Purdue history and took that dominance all the way through his NFL career.

He totaled 35.5 tackles-for-loss and 13.0 sacks in his career and was an All-Big Ten Second Team selection in 2007. During the 2006 and 2007 seasons, Avril participated in the Champs Sports Bowl and Motor City Bowl, respectively.

Avril's football career took off when he was selected in the third round (92nd overall) by the Detroit Lions in 2008. He went on to play 10 seasons between the Lions and Seattle Seahawks.

He was a Super Bowl XLVIII champion in 2014 when the Seahawks routed the Denver Broncos, 43-8. In the game, Avril forced a safety with a TFL and broke up a pair of passes. 

The 2016 Pro Bowler had 298 tackles, 74 sacks and 67 TFLs in his career. He forced 29 fumbes and recovered seven, including returning one for a touchdown in 2011. He also recorded a pick-six during the 2011 season.

In 2025, Seattle celebrated 50 seasons of its franchise with a list of the top 50 players in franchise history. Avril was selected to the list, voted on by fans, media and international stakeholders.

Akin Ayodele was a three-year letterwinner with the Boilermakers after he opened his collegiate career at Coffeyville Community College. Upon arrival in West Lafayette, Ayodele would turn in one of the best careers in Den history. 

In just three years, he totaled 29.0 sacks and 54.0 tackles-for-loss that remain fourth and sixth, respectively, in school history. He has three of the top 13 single-season sack totals by a Boilermaker with his 11.0 in 1999 ranking seventh. 

The strong play in his Purdue tenure earned Ayodele First Team All-Big Ten accolades in 2001 and second team honors in 1999 and 2000. 

Ayodele's collegiate career turned into a third-round (89th overall) selection in the 2002 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. 

While in the NFL, Ayodele transitioned to an inside linebacker role. He totaled in 742 tackles, 32 TFLs, 9.5 sacks, 10 forced fumbles and 10 fumble recoveries across nine seasons with the Jaguars, Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills. 

His highest single-season total tackles was when he recorded 116 in his second professional season (2003) with the Jaguars. That season also featured a career-high three fumble recoveries, and he returned one for a 13-yard touchdown in the season opener at Carolina. He concluded his career with 106 as a member of the Bills in 2010.

After his NFL career, Ayodele became a co-founder of Dreambuilders, a non-profit that works with athletes helping them build unique programs and initiatives to help their community and fundraising events.

Rosevelt Colvin strung together one of the greatest, if not the greatest, defensive line statistical career in school history. 

A native of Indianapolis, Indiana, Colvin remains atop the Purdue rankings in career sacks (35.0) and is second in tackles-for-loss (61.0). His 15.0 sacks in 1998 are the most in a single season in program history, while his 14.0 in 1997 are third. 

Colvin was selected First Team All-Big Ten in 1998 and second team in 1997. He capped his collegiate career as the Alamo Bowl Defensive MVP in a 37-34 upset win over No. 4 Kansas State. 

Colvin was selected in the fourth round (111th overall) by the Chicago Bears in the 1999 NFL Draft. After a four-year stint in Chicago where he totaled 185 tackles, 26.0 sacks, 31.0 TFLs, 10 forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and two interceptions, he joined the New England Patriots where he would spend the final six seasons of his playing career.

While in New England, Colvin went on to three Super Bowls with victories in XXXVIII (2003 season) and XXXIX (2004 season). He dealt with injury issues early in his Patriots' tenure, but ultimately totaled 188 tackles, 26.5 sacks, 31 TFLs, seven forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries and an interception in 65 games. He added a pair of sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception during New England's playoff runs. 

Two of Colvin's children, Raven and Myles, played for Purdue volleyball and men's basketball, respectively. Raven was a two-time AVCA All-American and First Team All-Big Ten in 2023-24, while Myles was part of teams that made the National Championship game in 2023-24 and Sweet 16 in 2024-25.

Ray Edwards playing career was right in the heart of Purdue's strong run of Den members in the 2000s. 

With 16.0 sacks in his career, Edwards is still tied for 11th in program history. He recorded 8.0 sacks in 2004 to tie the 15th-best campaign. 

The production turned Edwards into a fourth-round pick (127th overall) in the 2006 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings. 

Edwards spent five seasons with the Vikings where he recorded 181 tackles, 29.5 sacks, 45.0 tackles-for-loss, six forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in the regular season. He followed with a two-year stint with the Atlanta Falcons, where he added 3.5 more sacks, 8.0 TFLs and four fumble recoveries in the regular season.

During his Vikings tenure, Edwards recorded 3.0 sacks in a playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys on Jan. 17, 2010 that still stands as Minnesota's single-game playoff record. During that playoff run, Edwards also forced a pair of fumbles. As a Viking, he returned a fumble for a touchdown in 2007.

Edwards became a professional boxer following his NFL career where he accumulated a 12-1-1 record between 2011-16.

George Karlaftis, who was born in Athens, Greece, was a member of the Greece national water polo team far before he thought of being a football player. He ultimately picked up football when he moved to the area to attended West Lafayette High School, and the rest is history.

In his career, Karlaftis accumulated 14.5 sacks and 30.5 tackles-for-loss in 27 games, all starts, to rank 14th and 19th in program history, respectively. 

A highly disruptive player from day one, Karlaftis was selected First Team AP Freshman All-American and Second Team All-Big Ten in 2019. He followed with Second Team All-Big Ten honors in the shortened 2020 season. In 2021, he broke out further and was named an All-American by AFCA, AP, The Sporting News and Walter Camp Football Foundation.

After three strong seasons at Purdue, the Kansas City Chiefs selected Karlaftis in the first round (30th overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft. 

Joining an already strong Chiefs' team, Karlaftis boosted the franchise even more and played a big part in winning back-to-back Super Bowls (LVII and LVIII). In a 25-22 overtime victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII, Karlaftis recorded a half-sack and recovered a fumble.

With the early success, Karlaftis became the first starting defensive lineman in NFL history to win a Super Bowl in each of his first two seasons. He made an impact out of the gate those seasons with 16.5 sacks, 15.0 TFLs and two fumble recoveries during the regular seasons.

A key component of Kansas City's dynasty, the franchise rewarded Karlaftis with a four-year, $93 million extension in July 2025 that runs through 2030.

As of the conclusion of the 2025 season, Karlaftis had 163 tackles, 30.5 sacks, 34.0 TFLs, three fumble recoveries and one forced fumble in 65 career regular season games (59 starts). He added 36 tackles, 8.0 sacks, 8.0 TFLs and two fumble recoveries in 10 playoff games during a trio of Super Bowl runs to start his career from 2022-24.

To this day, Ryan Kerrigan remains one of the greatest in the Den to ever represent the Old Gold & Black. 

A Purdue legend, Kerrigan is tied for second in program history with 33.5-career sacks and is fifth with 57.0 tackles-for-loss. His 26.0 TFLs in 2010 are third in single-season program history and led the Big Ten.

Kerrigan led the Big Ten in sacks in back-to-back seasons with 13.0 in 2009 and 12.5 in 2010. The totals are also the fourth and sixth best campaigns in program history. In 2009, Kerrigan forced seven fumbles to tie the national lead. 

The Muncie, Indiana native was a consensus All-American and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in 2010. Kerrigan was also a two-time First Team All-Big Ten selection in 2009 and 2010.

His incredible run in West Lafayette made Kerrigan the highest selected Den member in the NFL Draft when Washington took him in the first round (16th overall) in 2011.

Kerrigan rewarded Washington as one of the most dominant defensive forces in franchise history. During his 10-year run, Kerrigan totaled 26 forced fumbles and 119 TFLs, both franchise records, and 95.5 sacks that rank second. His forced fumbles remain Top 50 in NFL history.

A highly respected edge rusher from the start, Kerrigan was selected to the NFL All-Rookie Team in 2011. He would follow with four Pro Bowl campaigns in the next seven seasons and was the NFL's co-leader in forced fumbles in 2014 with five. 

Kerrigan concluded his 11-year NFL career in 2021 with one season in Philadelphia, where he recorded just three tackles in the regular season but posted 1.5 TFLs in one playoff game. 

After he announced his retirement on July 29, 2022, Kerrigan joined Washington's coaching staff. He started as an intern and worked his way to assistant linebacker coach and pass rush specialist across four seasons.

Turning the page to a new profession in 2026, Kerrigan joined the Big Ten Network as an analyst and made his debut back in West Lafayette for Purdue's season-opener against Indiana State.

Kerrigan was inducted into the Purdue Athletics Hall of Fame in 2018, named to Washington's "90 Greatest Wasington Commanders" list in 2022, and was selected to the Indiana Football Hall of Fame in 2023.

Lamar Lundy was the second Boilermaker to shape what would later be known as the Den of Defensive Ends.

He played both offense and defense and was an All-American in 1956 and two-time Second Team All-Big Ten defensive end. Lundy was the first Afican American to receive a football scholarship at Purdue. 

A dual-sport athlete that also played center on the basketball team, Lundy averaged 10.5 points and 8.5 rebounds in his career and earned Third Team All-Big Ten in 1957. He earned Purdue's MVP on both teams in 1957.

His college career was followed by a selection in both the NBA and NFL Draft, though Lundy ultimitely elected for the NFL route after the Los Angeles Rams selected him in the fourth round (47th overall) in 1957.

The 6-foot-7 defensive end turned in a solid 13-year NFL career playing the entire time with the Rams. In 152 games, he totaled 60.5 sacks and had a single-season high of 11.5 in 1966. He added 10 fumble recoveries, three interceptions and one forced fumble. He earned AP First Team All-Pro honors in 1967 and was a Pro Bowl selection in 1959. 

After his playing career, Lundy coached with the San Diego Chargers before he was forced to retire from coaching due to illness. 

Lundy was inducted into the Indiana Football Hall of Fame in 1975, Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 1990 and Purdue Athletics Hall of Fame in 1995. He is one of only two people selected to both the Indiana Football and Basketball Halls of Fame.

A two-year letterwinner with the Boilermakers after starting his career at Joliet Junior College, Rob Ninkovich made the most of his time in West Lafayette.

Prior to his time with Purdue, Ninkovich earned Third Team NJCAA All-American honors in 2003, one season prior to his arrival. Though he only spent two years with Purdue, Ninkovich still ranks tied for 11th in career program history with 16.0 sacks. 

Ninkovich twice recorded four sacks in a game, tied for the single-game program record. His 2005 season garnered Second Team All-Big Ten honors after he totaled 48 tackles, 8.0 sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. He also added a one-yard touchdown.

A career that started in junior college turned into a fifth round (135th overall) selection in the 2006 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints.

Ninkovich would spend just one season with the Saints before he was claimed off waivers by the Miami Dolphins, where he spent the following two seasons. Totaling just eight games his first three seasons, Ninkovich moved on once again, this time to the New England Patriots, where he would miss just five games across eight seasons.

With the Patriots, Ninkovich took part in the playoffs every season, and he was a Super Bowl Champion in XLIX (2014) and LI (2016). He totaled 66 tackles, 6.0 sacks, 9.0 tackles-for-loss and had one interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in 17 playoff games.

In his regular season career, Ninkovich recorded 460 tackles, 46.0 sacks, five interceptions, 10 forced fumbles, 14 fumble recoveries, which included returning a fumble for a touchdown in 2014. Ninkovich retired in 2017 after winning his second Super Bowl during the 2016 season. 

Ninkovich was named to the New England Patriots All-2010s and All-Dynasty Teams. After his career, Ninkovich spent 2019-23 with ESPN as an NFL analyst. 

Chike Okeafor made a name for himself in West Lafayette before his time began as a Boilermaker.

After a move to Indiana from Michigan, Okeafor played high school football at West Lafayette High School where he was a state champion and finalist for Indiana Mr. Football in 1993. 

Okeafor remained in West Lafayette to play for the Boilermakers, and he would string together a career that remains 13th in program history with 15.0 sacks. His 3.5 sacks in a 37-34 Alamo Bowl victory over No. 3 Kansas State in 1998 is tied for fifth in single-game program history.

He was a Second Team All-Big Ten selection in 1996 and two-time Butkus Award nominee, presented to the nation's top linebacker, before he converted to defensive end his senior season.

The transition to defensive end suited Okeafor well when it resulted in a third round (89th overall) selection by the San Francisco 49ers in the 1999 NFL Draft. 

Okeafor took part in 10 NFL seasons, all in the NFC West, with the 49ers (1999-02), Seattle Seahawks (2003-04) and Arizona Cardinals (2005-06, 2008-09). He totaled 448 tackles, 53.0 sacks, 71.0 tackles-for-loss, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries in his regular season career. He added 24 tackles and 4.0 sacks in 10 playoff games. 

He featured in a streak of Pro Boilers appearing in 21-straight Super Bowls from XXXIV (34) until LIV (54) when he was in XLIII (43) with the Cardinals. He recorded six tackles and defended one pass in the Super Bowl.

Shaun Phillips had a career that remains top three statistically in Den of Defensive Ends history.

Phillips is tied for second in program history in career sacks (33.5) and is third in career tackles-for-loss (60.5). His breakout senior season in 2003 featured the second-most single-season sacks in program history (14.5). He is one of six Boilermakers to total at least 3.5 sacks in a game when he did so in a victory over Wisconsin on Oct. 18, 2003. 

The stallar 2003 campaign earned Phillips Honorable Mention All-American and a spot on the First Team All-Big Ten.

Phillips went on to be drafted in the fourth round (98th overall) by the San Diego Chargers in 2004 where he would spend the first nine years of his career. 

During his time in San Diego, Phillips totaled 80 TFLs and 20 forced fumbles in the regular season that remain second in franchise history. His 69.5 sacks rank third.

Phillips still holds the Chargers' franchise record for single-season forced fumbles when he totaled a league-leading seven in 2009. He was a Pro Bowler the following season in 2010 when he totaled 11.0 sacks. 

He assisted the Chargers to playoff appearances in five of his nine seasons, including a run to the AFC Championship game in the 2007 season.

Phillips then signed with the Denver Broncos in 2013. He followed with 10 sacks during the regular season to help Denver earn the AFC's No. 1 seed. The Broncos made a run to Super Bowl XLVIII, and Phillips totaled four tackles in the game against Seattle. He totaled eight tackles and a pair of sacks during the run.

After one season with the Broncos, Phillips signed with the Tennessee Titans in 2014, playing the first 11 games before he was released. He was then signed off waivers by the Indianapolis Colts to play the final five regular-season games and played three games during the Colts' run to the AFC Championship. 

After his playing career, Phillips earned his M.B.A from the University of Miami.

Anthony Spencer was a four-year letterwinner who saw his trajectory drastically change during his breakout senior season in 2006.

After he started his career with 10.5 sacks and 17.5 tackles-for-loss in his first three years combined, Spencer exploded for 10.5 sacks and 26.5 TFLs in 2006. His TFLs led the NCAA that season and remain second in single-season program history. His sacks that season rank ninth in program history. 

Spencer's stellar 2006 campaign earned him All-American status and First Team All-Big Ten. 

His career totals of 21.0 sacks and 44.0 TFLs rank seventh and ninth in program history, respectively.

The Dallas Cowboys showed strong belief in Spencer's upward trend when they selected him in the first round (26th overall) in the 2007 NFL Draft. 

Spencer spent his entire eight-year NFL career in Dallas where he totaled 33.0 sacks and 53.0 TFLs. He added 13 forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries and one interception. His best campaign was in 2012 when he totaled 11.0 sacks to earn a Pro Bowl selection.

The Cowboys made the playoffs three times in Spencer's career, and he recorded 3.0 sacks and forced two fumbles in five playoff appearances.

In what turned out to be the final regular season game of his career in 2014, Spencer returned a fumble five yards for a touchdown against Washington. He signed a one-year deal with the New Orleans Saints in 2015 before an injury during preseason ended his campaign.

Spencer was inducted into the Indiana Football Hall of Fame in 2023. 

Leo Sugar was the first member of what became the Den of Defensive Ends.

He was an All-American and First Team All-Big Ten selection in 1951 after he was a Second Team All-Big Ten honoree in 1950. 

He was selected in the 11th round (123rd overall) in the 1952 NFL Draft by the Chicago Cardinals, where he spent the first seven years of his career. 

Sugar recorded 12 fumble recoveries and one interception during his time with the Cardinals. He returned three of the recoveries for a touchdown, including two in the 1957 season. He was a Pro Bowl selection in 1958 and in the first season the franchise relocated to St. Louis in 1960. 

The nine-year NFL career ended after a season with the Philadelphia Eagles (1961), he totaled 7.0 sacks that season, and Detroit Lions (1962). 

Sugar was elected into the Great Flint Area Sports Hall of Fame.

Keena Turner continues to be a key component to the football community to this day. 

In his Purdue career, Turner totaled 58.0 tackles-for-loss to remain fourth in program history. His total was a program record at the time and 16.0 more than any Boilermaker. 

His 25.0 and 23.0 in 1978 and 1979 rank fourth and tied for fifth in single-season program history, respectively. The dominant campaigns made him a two-time First Team All-Big Ten selection.

Turner's collegiate career was followed by a second round (39th overall) selection by the San Francisco 49ers in the 1980 NFL Draft. He went on to spend his entire 11-year NFL career with the franchise.

His career featured 22.5 sacks, 15 forced fumbles, 11 interceptions and eight fumble recoveries. With a career-high four interceptions in 1984, Turner was selected to the Pro Bowl. In 1985, he scored the lone touchdown of his career when he recovered a fumble for a touchdown against Washington. 

Turner was a four-time Super Bowl Champion (XVI, XIX, XXIII and XXIV) to hold Purdue's record for most Super Bowl victories by an alum. He recorded one Super Bowl sack in a 26-21 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in his first Super Bowl appearance. 

After the 1990 season, Turner retired and turned to coaching from 1992-94 as the linebackers coach at Stanford. Years went by after his time at Stanford before he joined the 49ers front office in 2001 and continued to climb the rankings to where he is now as the Vice President & Senior Advisor to the General Manager. He has served in that role since 2018.