Panthers
Ifeatu Melifonwu
#5Safety
Ifeatu Melifonwu wears number 5 for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
- Status
- Practice squad
- Height
- 6-3
- Weight
- 210 lbs
- Age
- 27
- Experience
- 6 yrs
- College
- Syracuse
- Draft
- 2021: Rd 3, Pk 101 (DET)
A 27-year-old safety out of Syracuse, Ifeatu is in his 7th NFL season. Previously played for the Miami Dolphins, the Detroit Lions.
2026 season
| Season | Team | GP | TOT | SOLO | AST | SACK | FF | FR | YDS | INT | YDS | AVG | TD | LNG | PD | STF | STFYDS | KB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 6 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career stats by season
| Season | Team | GP | TOT | SOLO | AST | SACK | FF | FR | YDS | INT | YDS | AVG | TD | LNG | PD | STF | STFYDS | KB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Miami Dolphins | 16 | 53 | 31 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | Detroit Lions | 3 | 10 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | Detroit Lions | 17 | 33 | 24 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 35 | 17.5 | 0 | 24 | 8 | 2.5 | 6 | 0 |
| 2022 | Detroit Lions | 10 | 14 | 9 | 5 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 2021 | Detroit Lions | 7 | 15 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Ifeatu questions
Who wears number 5 for the Buccaneers?
Ifeatu Melifonwu wears number 5 for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He plays safety, with the team since 2026.
Is Ifeatu Melifonwu a starter?
No, he is S2 behind Antoine Winfield Jr..
What position does Ifeatu Melifonwu play?
Ifeatu Melifonwu plays safety. He backs up Antoine Winfield Jr. at S.
How tall is Ifeatu Melifonwu?
Ifeatu Melifonwu is 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) tall.
How old is Ifeatu Melifonwu?
Ifeatu Melifonwu is 27 years old.
Is Ifeatu Melifonwu playing Week 7 at the Carolina Panthers?
Ifeatu Melifonwu is on the practice squad and only plays if the Buccaneers elevate him for the game.
Where did Ifeatu Melifonwu play college football?
Ifeatu Melifonwu played at Syracuse. He entered the NFL in the 2021: Rd 3, Pk 101 (DET).
On BucsWorld
Bucs injury report, Week 6: who is out, doubtful and questionable vs the Pittsburgh Steelers
Mayfield, Winfield and Sills are out and Morrison is doubtful for the Steelers; the full Buccaneers and Pittsburgh injury report for Week 6.
Bucs injury report, Week 5: who is out, doubtful and questionable at the Dallas Cowboys
Four Bucs are out for the Cowboys, including Antoine Winfield Jr. and Baker Mayfield; Jonathan Mingo and Tyler Smith are questionable for Dallas.
Antoine Winfield Jr. is out for Dallas with a rib fracture
Todd Bowles says the safety has a rib fracture and will miss Thursday at Dallas, with an absence of two to four weeks.