A. J. Hawk

Aaron James Hawk (born January 6, 1984) is an American football linebacker for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for Ohio State University, where he earned All-American honors twice and was recognized as the top college linebacker. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers fifth overall in the 2006 NFL Draft, and was a member of the Packers' Super Bowl XLV championship team.

Early years
Hawk was born in Kettering, Ohio. He attended Centerville High School, near Dayton, Ohio. He holds multiple defensive records and is one of two active NFL players who played for the Centerville Elks high school football team. A. J. Hawk's records include most tackles in a game (31) on three separate occasions. He also has the most career tackles (583). Hawk was a 2-time All-State player in high school (1999 and 2000). Other NFL players from Centerville are Hawk's former Ohio State University teammates Mike Nugent (the other active NFL player from Centerville High School) and Nick Mangold, who attended Alter High School. Andy Harmon, who played at Kent State, had a stellar career in the NFL for the Philadelphia Eagles. Dave Morrill (Cleveland Browns) and Dave Preston (Denver Broncos)are two additional Centerville alumni to have played in the NFL.

College career
Hawk enrolled in Ohio State University, and played for coach Jim Tressel's Ohio State Buckeyes football team from 2002 to 2005. During his four-year Buckeye career, he played in 51 games, starting 38 of them. He had 394 tackles with 196 of them solo, 41 of them for losses, 15 and a half sacks, 7 interceptions, and 13 fumbles recovered. He also had two fumble recoveries and three forced fumbles and two touchdowns, one on a blocked punt and one on an interception. His performances earned him first team All Big Ten honors in all three years he started and the Most Valuable Player award for the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. Following his senior season of 2005, he won the Lombardi Award as the best college football interior lineman, and was recognized as a unanimous first-team All-American.

Green Bay Packers
On April 29, 2006 Hawk was drafted in the 1st round of the 2006 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers. He was the 5th overall pick of the draft. He signed a 6-year contract with the Packers, worth $37.5 million, on July 28, 2006. He recorded his first NFL sack on September 24, 2006, when he sacked Detroit Lions Quarterback Jon Kitna in the fourth quarter. Hawk was selected the NFL Rookie Of The Week on October 23, 2006, in a win against the Miami Dolphins. He led Green Bay with 12 total tackles in the game and recorded one sack in the Packers’ 34–24 victory.

For his effort in the November 12, 2006, 23–17 victory over the Minnesota Vikings, Hawk was selected the NFL Rookie of the Week for the second time. Hawk recorded 13 total tackles and 1.5 sacks, and forced one fumble. Early in the third quarter, Hawk sacked the Vikings quarterback Brad Johnson for a 10-yard loss. He later combined with teammate Nick Barnett for another 10-yard sack.

On December 10, 2006, Hawk recorded his first NFL interception when he picked off Alex Smith during a 30–19 win over the San Francisco 49ers. On December 31, during the Packers' final game of the 2006 season, Hawk recorded his second interception of the season during a 26–7 win over the Chicago Bears.

In his rookie season, Hawk led the Packers' defense with 119 total tackles, 82 of them solo. He also recorded 2 interceptions, 3.5 sacks, 6 passes defended and 1 forced fumble. He was third place in voting for the Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year.

In his second season he was second on the team with 105 total tackles, 78 of them solo. He also had one interception, one sack, four passes defended and one forced fumble. During the 2007 postseason he recorded eight tackles and one sack in two games.

In 2008, after spending the first nine games as the Packers' weakside linebacker Hawk was moved to middle linebacker after Nick Barnett tore his ACL. Hawk had 86 tackles and 3 sacks in the full 16 game season he started for Green Bay.

With Dom Capers' hiring and the preceding switch to the 3-4 defense, Hawk moved to inside linebacker for the 2009 season.

Hawk was released by the Packers on March 2, 2011. On March 3, 2011, he signed a new five-year deal.

In 2011, Hawk was fined $10, 000 by the NFL after flipping the bird during a game against the St. Louis Rams.

Career statistics
As of October 31, 2010 (Week 8 of the 2010–11 season), Hawk has recorded 466 total tackles, 334 solo tackles and 132 assist tackles. In 72 games, he has averaged 6.7 total tackles, 4.8 solo tackles and 1.9 assist tackles per game. He also has 8.5 sacks, 7 interceptions and 116 yards after interception. Hawk's 466 total tackles rank 14th amongst linebackers since he entered the league in the 2006–07 season.

Personal
Hawk is married to Laura Quinn, sister of Brady Quinn, quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs. Interestingly enough, Hawk's final game with the Buckeyes was the 2006 Fiesta Bowl against Notre Dame, where Quinn was playing at the time. During the game Laura wore a custom made jersey which was half Ohio State and Half Notre Dame, combining Brady's number 10 and AJ's Number 47, making the number 17. Hawk managed to sack his future brother-in-law twice during the game and become co-MVP of the bowl which ended with an Ohio State victory. Laura gave birth to the couple's first child, a daughter named Lennon Noel, on December 4, 2010.