Rankins was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the first round (12th overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft. He was traded to the Bears in September 2022.
Early years
Rankins was born and raised in LaGrange, Georgia. He attended Troup County High School, where he played football, basketball, and track and field. He was rated by ESPN.com as a four-star recruit and the No. 2 defensive tackle in the nation in the 2014 class.[5]
College career
Rankins attended the University of Louisville from 2014 to 2015. As a freshman in 2014, he played in all 13 games, starting 12, and recorded 39 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, and three sacks. As a sophomore in 2015, he played in all 12 games, starting 11, and recorded 41 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles.
Following his sophomore season, Rankins decided to forgo his remaining two years of college eligibility and enter the 2016 NFL Draft.
Professional career
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints selected Rankins in the first round (12th overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft. He signed his four-year rookie contract with the Saints on June 9, 2016.
As a rookie in 2016, Rankins played in all 16 games, starting four, and recorded 51 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, two passes defensed, and a fumble recovery.
In 2017, Rankins missed eight games with a torn Achilles tendon. He finished the season with eight tackles, one tackle for loss, and a half sack.
Rankins returned from his injury in 2018 and played in all 16 games, starting 15. He recorded 48 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, six sacks, two passes defensed, and a fumble recovery.
Rankins struggled to stay healthy in 2019, as he missed six games with a calf injury and a concussion. He finished the season with 33 tackles, eight tackles for loss, and three sacks.
In 2020, Rankins played in all 16 games, starting 14. He recorded 49 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, two passes defensed, and a fumble recovery.
In 2021, Rankins played in 15 games, starting 12. He recorded 38 tackles, seven tackles for loss, and three sacks.
Chicago Bears
On September 1, 2022, the Saints traded Rankins to the Chicago Bears in exchange for a 2023 second-round draft pick and a 2024 fifth-round draft pick. He signed a two-year, $16 million contract extension with the Bears on September 14, 2022.
In his first season with the Bears in 2022, Rankins played in all 17 games, starting 16. He recorded 41 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, and three sacks.