Arni's Birthday Zoom: Purdue All-Big Ten LB Niko Koutouvides
We celebrate the 43rd birthday (March 25, 2024) of former Purdue All-Big Ten linebacker Niko Koutouvides. We caught up with the Boilermaker who was a key cog (2000-03) in one of the best Boilermaker defenses ever.
Koutouvides, who now lives in his home state of Connecticut, helped the Boilermakers to four straight bowl appearances during his standout Purdue career, and was one of a couple of handfuls of Boilermaker defenders that spent significant time in the NFL.
“We were so close as a unit, playing at Purdue,” Koutouvides said. “We had a lunch-pail mentality and the coaching staff put us in the best position to be successful by recruiting guys that were great fits at Purdue.”
Speaking of his professional career, Koutouvides talks about what he learned during his nine- years in the league playing for Seattle, Tampa Bay and for coach Bill Belichick at New England.
“I learned that good coaches and leaders and guys that can be brutally honest,” Koutouvides said. “Coach was that way with me at the end of my career.”
Koutouvides, who appeared in 125 games in the NFL and accomplished the rare feat of having triple digits in tackles as a Boilermaker in his junior and senior seasons, is now serves as Principal and Co-founder of Skala Partners, an opportunistic real estate investment, development and management company. He played in two Super Bowls including the memorable Super Bowl XLVI with the Patriots and served as a captain for the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XL.
He talks about planning for his post-playing career. During the NFL off-season, when he dedicated time to interning with a real estate developer in the Westchester County (New York) area.
The father of three football-playing boys (15, 13 and 11), Koutouvides was Purdue’s original “Greek Freak,” though he is proud of George Karlaftis‘s accomplishments and hopes to connect with him. He is also proud that his birthday falls on Greece’s Independence Day.
And the interview couldn’t have been complete without discussion about the Sweet 16-bound Purdue men’s basketball team.
“It makes me proud to wear my Purdue gear, even if I am in UConn territory,” Koutouvides said.
Recent Birthday Zooms of Purdue athletes:
Howell Wheaton turns 100 (Aug. 17, 2023)
Terone Johnson (July 13, 2023)
Warren “Ike” Moore (May 30, 2023)
Other Arni’s Birthday Zoom links
Jane (Calhoun) Schott (5/5/2021)
Life of Eugene Parker (2/24/2022)
