Ranking the 25 best Oregon Ducks since 2000: No. 20 — Patrick Chung

USA Today

12-07-2025

Over the last 25 years, the Oregon Ducks have been one of the single best teams in all of college football, sitting near the top of the sport for the better part of a quarter-century.
Since 2000, Oregon has compiled an overall record of 239-83 (.742), with just two losing seasons during that span. They've been to 24 bowl games, won three Rose Bowls, been to a pair of College Football Playoffs, and appeared in two National Championships. They've seen a Heisman Trophy winner in Marcus Mariota and had 99 players selected in the NFL Draft.
It's safe to say that when looking at the nation's best in this millennium, Oregon belongs in the conversation. But who are the players who helped get Nike University into that conversation? That's a different question entirely.
To celebrate the quarter-century mark, we're going to dive into that question over the next month as we approach the start of the 2025 season. The Ducks have had hundreds of memorable and beloved players over the years, many of whom will live on forever in some way.
But who is the best of the best?
That answer, of course, is subjective. When reviewing the numbers and conducting our research, we took several factors into account: career statistics, overall impact and success, legacy, fan adoration, and NFL success.
Boiling 25 years of Oregon football down to 25 players is no easy task, and not one that we took lightly. Dozens of players were left on the cutting room floor who deserve a spot in the top 25, and at some point, subtracting names off the list started to feel like pulling teeth. But in the end, we were left with 25 players, whom we will honor over the next few weeks.
If you want to catch up, let's take a look at how we've gotten to where we're at in the rankings:
Today, let's continue with No. 20 — the hard-hitting Patrick Chung.
Player Overview
Patrick Chung was not given a star ranking coming out of high school, but he didn't let that determine his value as a player, making an immediate impact at Oregon. He joined the program right after the turn of the century, when they were still on the upswing and became one of the catalysts of their ascension towards the top of college football.
Chung helped take the Ducks to four straight bowl games, winning the final two and cementing themselves as a college powerhouse. They still had not become the consistently elite team they are today, but Chung helped lay the foundation for the future of the program.
Patrick Chung Career Stats
51 Games — 384 tackles, 21 TFL, 9 INT
Patrick Chung Single Best Season
2007: 13 games — 117 tackles, 8 TFL, 2 INT, 1 FF
Chung received several honors throughout his career, but it was the 2007 season that graced him with a Second-team All-American selection. His inspired play on the field earned him the recognition from the media and assisted the Ducks in winning their first Bowl Game in six years. This season solidified Chung's status as a top prospect, and Oregon's place as one of the nation's upper echelon programs.
Patrick Chung Historical Records
Despite playing in the defensive backfield, Chung managed to accumulate the fourth-most tackles in school history with 384. This toughness was also on display in the durability department, where the star safety set a school record by logging 51 starts, the most by a defensive player in team history.
Patrick Chung NFL Draft
Chung was able to cash in his collegiate excellence and was rewarded with a high draft slot, being selected 34th overall in the 2nd round of the 2009 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots.
Patrick Chung NFL Success
Of all the "Pro Ducks" to pass through Eugene, Chung will go down as one of the most successful, as he remained an elite tackler throughout his career and became quite the ball hawk. In 11 seasons, all with the New England Patriots, Chung racked up 778 tackles, 57 passes defensed, and 11 interceptions, winning three Super Bowls and being named to their All-2010s and All-Dynasty teams.
Patrick Chung's Lasting Legacy
Chung may not have the gaudiest numbers, but at a time when Oregon was still just scratching the surface of the program they would become, Chung was one of the hands molding it. He left the Ducks as one of the most accomplished players to ever pass through Eugene, and that still holds true nearly 20 years later. The legendary defensive back will forever be remembered as one of the founding fathers of Oregon's 21st-century excellence.
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