Ifeatu Melifonwu is an American football safety currently playing for the Miami Dolphins in the NFL. Born on May 2, 1999, in Grafton, Massachusetts, he stands 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighs 210 pounds. He played college football at Syracuse University from 2017 to 2020, recording 88 tackles, three interceptions, and one sack over his career.
Melifonwu was selected by the Detroit Lions in the third round (101st overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft. He signed a four-year rookie contract with Detroit on July 23, 2021. In his rookie season, he played in seven games, starting four, and recorded 13 tackles and three pass deflections. The 2023 season marked his most productive year, where he played in all 17 regular-season games and three postseason games, accumulating 49 tackles, five sacks, eight pass breakups, two interceptions, and a forced fumble.
However, the 2024 season was marred by injuries, limiting Melifonwu to just four games. In response, the Miami Dolphins signed him to a one-year, $4 million contract on March 11, 2025, aiming to rejuvenate his career.
Notably, Melifonwu comes from a family with a strong football background; his older brother, Obi Melifonwu, also plays as a safety and has been part of several NFL teams, including the Oakland Raiders and New England Patriots.