| Position: | Defensive end |
| Number: | 98 |
| Birth Date: | 9 January 1971 |
| Birth Place: | Cowpens, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Height Ft: | 6 |
| Height In: | 5 |
| Weight Lb: | 305 |
| Draftyear: | 1994 |
| Draftround: | 4 |
| Draftpick: | 126 |
| High School: | Spartanburg (SC) Broome |
| College: | Gardner–Webb |
| Teams: | |
| Statlabel1: | Games played |
| Statvalue1: | 84 |
| Statlabel2: | Sacks |
| Statvalue2: | 13.5 |
| Statlabel3: | Fumble recoveries |
| Statvalue3: | 3 |
| Highlights: |
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| Pfr: | W/WilkGa20 |
Gabriel Nicholas Wilkins (born January 9, 1971) is a former American football defensive end who played for the Green Bay Packers and the San Francisco 49ers in a six-year career that lasted from 1994 to 1999 in the National Football League (NFL).[1]
He attended Gettys D. Broome High School.[2]
Attending NAIA Gardner–Webb University, Wilkins recorded 29 sacks and 53 tackles for loss (both school records), and participated in the 1992 NAIA Football Championship game.[3]
Wilkins was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 1994 NFL draft (fourth round, 126th overall).[4] [5] After being used sparingly in his first three seasons, Wilkins performed well in relief of Reggie White during Super Bowl XXXI, recording a tackle and a deflected pass. Becoming a starter after Sean Jones retired in 1997, Wilkins finished the season with 50 tackles, 5.5 sacks, a 77-yard interception return touchdown, and a fumble recovery touchdown. However, Wilkins played only one drive of Super Bowl XXXII due to a knee injury.[6]
Following the 1997 season, the San Francisco 49ers signed Wilkins to a 5-year, $20 million contract. After recording 30 tackles and a sack over two years in San Francisco and being injured late in his career,[7] Wilkins retired after the 1999 season.[8]
Wilkins now lives in Spartanburg, South Carolina, with his wife and four daughters.[9]
