Babineaux attended the University of Iowa where he played from 2000 to 2004.[2] He finished his collegiate career with 131 tackles (39 for losses), 19 sacks, 24 quarterback hurries, one interception, two pass deflections, four fumble recoveries, and five forced fumbles.
Professional career
Babineaux was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the second round with the 59th overall pick of the 2005 NFL draft.[3] On November 25, 2008, he signed a five-year contract extension with the Falcons. In 2009, he had nine tackles and 2.5 sacks against the Washington Redskins.[4] He had a career-high six sacks in 2009, which led all NFL defensive tackles.[5] In 2010, he posted 31 tackles, one interception, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery, which was returned for a touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks.[6][7] In the 2011 season, he recorded 21 total tackles and one sack.[8]
Babineaux started all 16 games in the 2012 season and recorded 3.5 sacks, 31 total tackles, and one interception.[9] In the 2013 season, he recorded 42 total tackles and one sack.[10] He signed a three-year, $9 million contract extension with the Falcons on March 11, 2014.[11] In the 2014 season, he recorded 31 total tackles and two sacks.[12] In the 2015 season, he recorded 30 total tackles, 1.5 sacks, and one interception.[13] In the 2016 season, he recorded 22 total tackles.[14]
At the end of the 2016 season, Babineaux and the Falcons reached Super Bowl LI, where they faced the New England Patriots on February 5, 2017. In the Super Bowl, he recorded one assisted tackle as the Falcons fell in a 34–28 overtime defeat.[15] After the Super Bowl, Babineuax retired from the NFL after a 12-year career.[16]
