Former NFL player, Super Bowl champ inducted into Beaver Local Athletics Hall of Fame

Beaver Local alumnus and Super Bowl Champion, Derek Wolfe was honored prior to the opening kickoff with East Liverpool on Friday Night at the football game. On Saturday, he was inducted into the Beaver Local Athletic Hall of Fame inside the new Derek Wolfe Fieldhouse.

The ceremony was an opportunity for Derek to be recognized for his achievements on the field along with celebrating the new Derek Wolfe Fieldhouse with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

Wolfe agreed to conduct a meet and greet with attendees Saturday that purchased a ticket for the event with funds going directly to scholarships for Beaver Local Athletes.

Each ticket holder received a special commemorative Derek Wolfe signed photo and got a first glimpse of the Derek Wolfe Fieldhouse.

Eric Lowe, Superintendent of Beaver Local Schools, said Wolfe is a distinguished graduate of Beaver Local High School’s Class of 2008 and a true testament to dedication and hard work. His journey from Beaver Local to the pinnacle of professional football is one that stands out as he is the only athlete from Beaver Local to do so.

“We are incredibly proud to welcome him into the Beaver Local High School Athletic Hall of Fame,” he said. “We appreciate Derek taking time out of his busy schedule to celebrate this achievement with the community as well as being here to kick off the opening of the Derek Wolfe fieldhouse.”

At Beaver Local, Wolfe was a standout in both wrestling and football throughout his school career. This success led to him reaching state recognition in both sports his senior year. . Wolfe recorded 78 tackles and seven sacks en route to All-Ohio, All-OVAC and All-Eastern

In district accolades, he finished his prep career with 205 tackles. In Football, Wolfe was recognized first team all state in 2007. He became the 9th athlete at Beaver Local to earn this accomplishment.

In wrestling his senior year, Wolfe was a standout. He qualified for the OHSAA State Wrestling tournament where he placed 5th at the state tournament. Wolfe also had success at the OVAC tournament earning a 5th place finish. He had a 33-4 record his senior year.

After graduating, Wolfe went on to play college football for the University of Cincinnati Bearcats, where he became a dominant force on the defensive line. Over four seasons, he amassed 162 total tackles, 37 tackles for loss, and 19 sacks, culminating in him being named the Co-Big East Defensive Player of the Year as a senior.

In 2012, Wolfe made history as the only Beaver Local graduate to be drafted into the NFL, selected by the Denver Broncos with their first overall pick at number 36 in the draft. . He spent eight successful seasons with the Broncos, achieving the ultimate goal in professional football: winning Super Bowl 50. He later played for the Baltimore Ravens before retiring in 2022, signing a one-day contract to retire as a Denver Bronco.

Lowe said throughout his NFL career, he accumulated 316 total tackles and 34 sacks. Wolfe’s accomplishments serve as a shining example of what can be achieved through passion, perseverance, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.

In addition to his on-field accomplishments, Wolfe has continued to give back to the Beaver Local community.

Alongside fellow graduate Jamin Pastore, Wolfe made a $1 million donation to support major athletic upgrades, including the installation of turf on the football field and the construction of the new Derek Wolfe Fieldhouse.

He has also been instrumental in ensuring the new weight room is outfitted with state-of-the-art equipment to support student-athletes for years to come.

This past summer Wolfe was inducted into the OVAC Hall of Fame.

Wolfe and his wife Abigail reside in Colorado with their two children, Tatum and Roxie. They are very active in a variety of entrepreneurial and charity endeavors together.