Ngata was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round of the 2006 NFL draft, and was voted to the Pro Bowl five times.

He attended Highland High School, where he played on the football team in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Ngata was named the 2001 Utah Gatorade Player of the Year and a first-team USA Today All-USA selection.

[5] A devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Ngata said he felt most at home at Brigham Young University, but struggled to make his college decision.

[6] Ngata tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) on a punt coverage play in 2003 and missed the rest of that season.

Ngata also earned praise as a dangerous special teams player, blocking 7 kicks during his 3-year career at Oregon.

[18][19] He was named to the Pro Bowl as a first alternate and earned Second-team All-Pro honors by the Associated Press for the first time in his career.

[22] After an outstanding 2010 season which included 63 tackles and 5.5 sacks, Ngata was selected to the 2010 All-Fundamentals Team by USA Football and the NFL Players Association.

In the game Ngata forced a fumble and tipped a pass that led to a Ray Lewis interception; the Ravens won 35–7.

Bradford fumbled, and the ball was recovered by Ngata who scored his first career regular season touchdown.

After reviewing the hit, the NFL levied a $15,000 fine against Ngata for roughing the passer even though no penalty was called by officials during the game.

[29] Ngata finished the season with a career-high 64 tackles (36 unassisted), along with 5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 5 passes defended.

[34] A notable incident that occurred in this season happened in Week 14, when he hit Washington Redskins' rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III in his right knee, twisting it.

[39] On August 29, 2014, Ngata was fined $8,268 for intentionally kicking Washington Redskins guard Shawn Lauvao during the final preseason game.

[41] In 12 games, he finished with two sacks, 32 total tackles (19 solo), two interceptions, seven passes defended, and two forced fumbles.

[60] In December 2002, Ngata's father died in a single-vehicle truck accident, while trying to climb the on-ramp to Interstate 80 from Route 215 just outside Salt Lake City.

[61] Another cousin, Fili Moala, was an All-American defensive lineman at Southern California (2004–2008), and subsequently played for the Indianapolis Colts.

Ngata is also a distant relative of basketball player Jabari Parker[62] and PGA Tour golfer Tony Finau.