Abdullah Anderson Bio
Abdullah Anderson Jr. (born January 24, 1996) is an American professional football defensive end. He played college football for the Bucknell Bison and entered the National Football League in 2018 as an undrafted free agent. Over the course of his career he has appeared with the Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings, Pittsburgh Steelers, Green Bay Packers, Tennessee Titans, Atlanta Falcons, and Washington Commanders.
Listed at 6 feet 4 inches and 295 pounds, Anderson is recognized for the productivity he showed at the FCS level, where he earned top individual honors in 2017. Since then he has bounced between active rosters and practice squads while building a reputation as a hard-working interior pass rusher.
Early Life and Background
Abdullah Anderson Jr. was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on January 24, 1996, and grew up in nearby Galloway Township. He is the son of Abdullah Anderson Sr. and Octavia Anderson, and he has one older sister named Amira. His parents supported his athletic development from a young age, and he was introduced to youth football long before reaching high school.
Anderson attended Absegami High School in Galloway Township, where he originally expected to focus on basketball. For his senior year he decided to give football a full season with the Braves, working under coach Dennis Scuderi Jr. That decision quickly changed his path, as his play drew the attention of Bucknell University coach Joe Susan, opening the door to a college recruitment he had not anticipated.
After committing to Bucknell, Anderson transformed his body, growing from about 235 pounds as a high school senior to roughly 300 pounds during his college career. That physical development laid the foundation for the work he would later do on the defensive line at the collegiate and professional levels.
Path to American Football
At Bucknell, Anderson joined a Bison program that competes in the Patriot League of NCAA Division I FCS. He enrolled in 2014 and majored in economics, balancing a demanding academic schedule with a starting role on the defensive line. As a freshman he started all 11 games at defensive tackle and was one of only five defenders, and the lone freshman, to start every contest that season.
His second year in 2015 saw him start all 11 games again, this time producing 46 tackles, eight tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, and three pass breakups. The following season he added 55 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, five pass breakups, and two blocked kicks, ranking among the Patriot League leaders in tackles for loss and sacks. These performances built a clear path toward senior-year recognition.
Abdullah Anderson Career
Early Career (2014–2017)
Anderson’s four seasons at Bucknell turned him from a converted high school basketball player into one of the most decorated defensive linemen in program history. He started 43 games during his college career and finished with 171 tackles, 33.5 tackles for loss, 15.5 sacks, and a school-record four blocked kicks.
He was a three-time First-team All-Patriot League selection from 2015 through 2017, and he earned All-Patriot League honors in four of his four seasons. His senior campaign brought the biggest awards, as he was named the 2017 Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year and the NCAA FCS Collegiate Player of the Year by the Brooks-Irvine Memorial Football Club. He was also a Second-team FCS All-American by the Associated Press.
Chicago Bears Era (2018–2020)
After going unselected in the 2018 NFL draft, Anderson signed with the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent. He was released during final roster cuts that summer and joined the practice squad, where he spent his rookie year developing. The Bears signed him to a future/reserve contract ahead of the 2019 offseason, signaling their continued interest in his progress.
Anderson made the 2019 Bears roster and debuted in the season opener against the Green Bay Packers. He moved on and off the active roster throughout the year, bouncing between the 53-man squad and the practice squad. His first career NFL sack came on October 20, 2019, when he brought down New Orleans Saints quarterback Teddy Bridgewater in a 36–25 loss. He added a tackle for loss and two total tackles in that game. He was released during final cuts in September 2020 and spent time on the practice squad before being let go in mid-September.
Minnesota Vikings Era (2020)
On September 21, 2020, Anderson signed with the Minnesota Vikings’ practice squad. He was elevated to the active roster on November 7 for the Week 9 game against the Detroit Lions and returned to the practice squad afterward. His practice squad contract with Minnesota expired after the season on January 11, 2021.
Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers Era (2021)
Anderson signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers on April 12, 2021, and was waived on August 17. He joined the Green Bay Packers on August 25, was released as part of final cuts, and was quickly added to the practice squad. After a brief release, he signed with the Tennessee Titans practice squad on September 29 before returning to Green Bay on November 2.
With the Packers during the second half of 2021, Anderson was elevated to the active roster for a Week 15 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens on December 18. He was elevated again for Week 17 against the Minnesota Vikings on January 1, 2022, and a third time for Week 18 against the Detroit Lions on January 8, 2022.
Atlanta Falcons Era (2022)
On August 7, 2022, Anderson signed with the Atlanta Falcons and made the 53-man roster out of training camp. He was released on September 10, signed to the practice squad two days later, and promoted back to the active roster on September 19. After rejoining the active roster he found a steadier role, appearing in 16 games for Atlanta during the 2022 season.
Washington Commanders Era (2023)
Anderson signed with the Washington Commanders on March 17, 2023. He was released on August 29 as part of roster cuts, re-signed two days later, released again on October 14, and added to the practice squad two days after that. In 2023 he played seven games and finished with eight tackles and a fumble recovery.
Tennessee Titans Era (2024)
On August 16, 2024, Anderson signed with the Tennessee Titans. He was released on August 27, re-signed to the practice squad, and promoted to the active roster on October 19. After being waived on October 28 and brought back to the practice squad, he played four games during the 2024 season. He signed a reserve/future contract with Tennessee on January 6, 2025, and was released by the Titans on May 13.
Notable Events and Milestones
Anderson’s first NFL sack on Teddy Bridgewater in October 2019 stands as one of the defining early moments of his professional career. His 2017 sweep of the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year and the FCS Collegiate Player of the Year awards established him as one of the top small-college defensive linemen of that season. The school-record four blocked kicks he set at Bucknell remain a notable entry in the program’s record book.
Abdullah Anderson Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Anderson is the son of Abdullah Anderson Sr. and Octavia Anderson and grew up with an older sister, Amira. He comes from a family that supported his athletic pursuits from a young age, which helped him transition from basketball to football during his senior year at Absegami High School.
Personal Life
Abdullah Anderson Jr. is the cousin of Austin Johnson, a defensive lineman who has played in the NFL and was with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Beyond that connection, limited verified public details are available about his personal life.
2025 Season Outlook
Anderson was released by the Tennessee Titans on May 13, 2025, leaving his 2025 status open as of mid-May. With several years of NFL experience, a body type suited to defensive line play, and a track record of working his way back from practice-squad releases, he remains a candidate to be picked up by another team looking for veteran interior depth.
His career path has often required patience, with multiple practice-squad stints followed by promotions to the active roster. That pattern suggests he could once again be in line for a late-summer training-camp opportunity. His 2025 outlook will depend on which teams pursue depth along the defensive line and whether any of them prioritize a 6-foot-4, 295-pound end with starting experience in the Patriot League.