New York Giants Official Website

TRANSACTIONS:

-           Originally a 1st round (32nd pick overall) draft choice by the Giants in 2006.

GIANTS NOTES: 

-           Versatile defender made a successful transition from defensive end to linebacker in 2007 and then back to end in 2008.
-           Kiwanuka started 9 games in 2006, the most by a Giants rookie defensive end since Fred Dryer started 14 games in 1969.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:

-           Has played in 42 regular season games with 35 starts - 25 starts at defensive end and 10 starts at strongside linebacker. Kiwanuka has also started 2 postseason game at defensive end. In 3 seasons, he has 161 tackles (93 solo), 16.5 sacks, 2 interceptions and 5 forced fumbles.
-           In 2008, Kiwanuka entered training camp as the starting strongside linebacker, but returned to defensive end when Osi Umenyiora suffered a season-ending knee injury...He start all 16 games and the NFC Divisional Playoff game at right defensive end...Finished the season with 59 tackles (28 solo), 8.0 sacks, 13 tackles for loss, 9 QB hurries, a team-high 22 QB hits, 2 passes defensed, 2 forced fumbles and 2 fumble recoveries.
-           Opened the season with a team-high 8 tackles and 1 QB hit vs. Washington (9/4)...Recorded his 1st sack of the season when he dropped Carson Palmer for an 8-yard loss in the 2nd quarter and finished with 6 tackles vs. Cincinnati (9/21/)...Was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week at Pittsburgh (10/26) after finishing with 2.5 sacks, 2 QB hurries and 4 QB hits. Recorded his 1st sack of the game when he dropped Ben Roethlisberger for a 9-yard loss in the 2nd quarter...Tackled Roethlisberger for an 8-yard loss and for no gain in the 4th quarter.
-           In 2007, he won the starting strongside linebacker job after spending the entire offseason learning the new position following a rookie year spent at defensive end.
-           Started all 10 games in which he played and finished the season with 47 tackles (24 solo), 4.5 sacks, 4 passes defensed, 1 forced fumble, 1 QB hurry and 6 QB hits.
-           Had 7 tackles (4 solo) and a career-high 3 sacks vs. Philadelphia (9/30). Dropped Donovan McNabb for losses of 3 and 1 yards in the 3rd quarter and 2 yards in the 4th quarter...Contributed to a defense that set a team record with 12 sacks, easily breaking the previous Giants record of 9 sacks.
-           Kiwanuka's season ended at Detroit (11/18) when he suffered a fractured left fibula on the game's 2nd play from scrimmage. He was placed on injured reserve the following day.
-           As a rookie in 2006, played in all 16 regular season games with 9 starts...Also started the NFC Wild Card Game at Philadelphia (1/7)...Finished the season with 55 tackles (41 solo), 23 QB hurries (2nd on the team), 16 QB hits (1st), 4 sacks, 2 interceptions and 2 forced fumbles.
-           Made his 1st career start vs. Tampa Bay (10/29) at right defensive end and finished with 6 tackles (4 solo), 1 sack and a forced fumble...Recorded his 1st career sack when he dropped Bruce Gradkowski for a 5-yard loss. Also forced a fumble in the 2nd quarter and tackled Carnell Williams for a 1-yard loss in the 1st quarter.
-           Started at right defensive end and finished with 7 solo tackles and a sack vs. Houston (11/5)...Recorded his 2nd sack when he stopped David Carr for a 6-yard loss in the 4th quarter.
-           Started at right defensive end vs. Chicago (11/12), and finished with 3 tackles (2 solo), 2 quarterback hurries and 1 interception...Picked off a Rex Grossman pass intended for Rashied Davis for his 1st career interception and returned it 32 yards to set up Brandon Jacobs' 1-yard touchdown run.
-           Started at left defensive end vs. Dallas (12/3), and finished with 8 tackles (6 solo), 1 sack, 2 QB hits, 1 interception, a pass defensed and a forced fumble...Intercepted his 2nd pass of the season when he caught a tipped throw from Romo. Returned the interception 12 yards before fumbling the ball, which was recovered by Dallas WR Sam Hurd...His 2-yard sack and forced fumble of Romo in the 2nd quarter was his 3rd of the season.
-           Started in the NFC Wild Card game at Philadelphia (1/7/07) and finished with a team-high 7 tackles (5 solo).

COLLEGE:

-           Played in 49 games with 38 starts for Boston College...Kiwanuka recorded 245 tackles (155 solo) and set school records with 37.5 sacks for minus 215 yards and 64.5 stops for losses of 297 yards. He recovered 2 fumbles, including 1 for a 49-yard score, and had 3 forced fumbles. Also deflected 13 passes and intercepted 3 others, returning one 32 yards for a touchdown. Kiwanuka's 37.5 sacks topped the previous mark of 29 by Outland Trophy winner Mike Ruth (1982-85).
-           As a redshirt freshman in 2002, he appeared in every game, starting the first 2 at left defensive end. He made 44 tackles (27 solo) with 5 sacks and 7.5 stops for losses.
 -           In 2003, he earned All-Big East honors while leading the conference with 11.5 sacks...Named Big East Defensive Player of the Year in 2004, as he produced 11.5 sacks, 24.5 stops for losses and 67 tackles (36 solo). Kiwanuka also picked off 2 passes, returning one 32 yards for a touchdown.
-           As a senior in 2005 he was limited by a knee injury, but registered 51 tackles (34 solo) with 9.5 sacks and 16.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage.

OFF-THE-FIELD ACTIVITY:
 
-           Attended Catholic Charities' 72nd Annual Club of Champions Dinner, honoring the New York Giants.
-           Participated in Antonio Pierce's annual free football clinic and scholarship gala to benefit the youth of Bermuda.
-           Attended the Giants Kickoff Luncheon benefitting St. Vincent's Medical Center.
-           Joined fellow defensive linemen to off-load a Food Bank for NYC truck, and served meals at the Community Kitchen of North Harlem, raising awareness of the increased demand for food assistance and the decrease in financial contributions to The Food Bank for New York City.
-           Visited Sacred Heart Covenant School in Connecticut, where he spoke to the students on "Africa Day" about his native country of Uganda, and thanking the students and faculty for their efforts to build a school there.

PERSONAL:

-           Attended Cathedral (Indianapolis, Ind.) High School, where he earned Super Prep and Prep Football Report All-Midwest honors.
-           Kiwanuka was a 2000 All-State and All-City selection, as he helped lead Cathedral to back-to-back state 4A championships in 1998 and 1999. The team compiled a 36-5 record in his 3 years with the varsity.
-           Communications major.
-           Youngest of Deodata and Emmanuel Kiwanuka's 3 children...His late grandfather, Benedicto Kiwanuka, was elected Uganda's first prime minister in 1961 and was assassinated in 1972 by Idi Amin.
-           Born Mathias Kagimu Kiwanuka on March 8, 1983.