Photo: All-Pro Reels, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons²

Poona Ford

Defensive Tackle, Los Angeles Rams · #97.

Player facts

Team: Los Angeles Rams
Position: Defensive Tackle
Number: 97
Born: Nov 19, 1995 (age 30)
Birthplace: Hilton Head Island, SC, USA
Height: 5' 11"
Weight: 314 lbs
College: Texas
Experience: 9 seasons
Status: Active

Stats

2026 Defense

	TOT	SOLO	AST	SACK	FF	FR	INT	YDS	AVG	LNG	PD	STF	STFYDS
Regular Season	12	6	6	0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	1	2	5
Last 5 Games	12	6	6	0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	1	2	0
Career	289	158	131	13.5	1	1	1	3	3.0	3	11	44	58

Recent games

			Tackles				Fumbles		Interceptions
Date	Opponent	Result	TOT	SOLO	AST	SACK	FF	FR	INT	YDS	AVG	TD	LNG	PD	KB
Mon, Oct 12	vs BUF	L 37-34 OT	2	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0
Sun, Oct 4	@ PHI	W 24-20	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0
Sun, Sep 27	@ DEN	L 30-26	4	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	1	0
Mon, Sep 21	vs NYG	W 28-6	4	1	3	0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0
Thu, Sep 10	vs SF	L 27-7	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0

Last 5 games. Click a game for its box score.

About

Kaylon Nakia "Poona" Ford Jr. (born November 19, 1995) is an American professional football nose tackle for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Texas Longhorns, earning Big 12 Conference Defensive Lineman of the Year honors in 2017. He signed with the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 2018.

From Wikipedia’s article on Poona Ford, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.¹

Background

Early life

Kaylon Ford was given his nickname (which is unrelated to the city of Poona in India) by his grandmother, Cynthia Ford Williams. When he was an infant of just 2 months old, she called him "Pooh Bear", after Winnie the Pooh. When he outgrew that particular nickname in grade school, she morphed it into "Poona", and the new nickname stuck.

Ford attended Hilton Head Island High School. He initially committed to the University of Louisville but changed his commitment when coach Charlie Strong left Louisville to take the head coaching job at the University of Texas.

College career

Ford attended the University of Texas and played for the Longhorns from 2014 to 2017. In his freshman year Ford played in 7 games and had 9 total tackles and 1 tackle for loss. He improved in his sophomore year tallying a total of 39 tackles, 6 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks in 10 games. In his junior year he had a college career high 54 total tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss through 12 games. In his senior year, Ford had his best year as he racked up a total of 31 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks, earning him the Big 12 Conference Defensive Lineman of the Year award.

From Wikipedia’s article on Poona Ford, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article.¹