Alex Barrett Bio
Alex Barrett is an American professional football defensive end born on March 6, 1994, in Yuma, Arizona. He played college football for the San Diego State Aztecs and went on to build a professional career across the National Football League and the Alliance of American Football. After going undrafted in the 2017 NFL Draft, Barrett signed with the Detroit Lions and has since played for the San Diego Fleet, Oakland Raiders, and San Francisco 49ers.
Early Life and Background
Alex Barrett was born on March 6, 1994, in Yuma, Arizona, and grew up in the surrounding region with a clear passion for athletics from a young age. He attended Desert Ridge High School in Mesa, Arizona, where he played high school football and earned first-team all-state honors twice during his prep career. In addition to football, Barrett lettered in track and field at Desert Ridge, demonstrating the kind of multi-sport background that often helps young defensive linemen develop speed and explosiveness off the edge.
Path to American Football
Barrett’s progression from a multi-sport high school athlete to a college defensive end began when he committed to San Diego State University. He joined the San Diego State Aztecs program and was redshirted during the 2012 season before working his way into a meaningful rotational role. His combination of size, motor, and discipline helped him earn increasing responsibility on the defensive line throughout his development years with the Aztecs.
Alex Barrett Career
College Career (2012–2016)
Barrett played for the San Diego State Aztecs from 2013 to 2016 after redshirting in 2012. In 2013, he appeared in 12 games and recorded 8 solo tackles, 7 tackle assists, and 3 sacks. As a sophomore in 2014, he started all 10 games he played, posting 21 solo tackles, 18 tackle assists, 3 sacks, 3 pass breakups, and 1 forced fumble, and earned Honorable Mention All-Mountain West recognition.
Barrett’s final two college seasons cemented his reputation as one of the conference’s top pass rushers. In 2015, he started all 14 games, finishing with 33 solo tackles, 29 tackle assists, 5.5 sacks, 2 interceptions, 1 pass breakup, and 2 forced fumbles on his way to First-team All-Mountain West honors. He repeated as First-team All-Mountain West in 2016, recording 29 solo tackles, 24 tackle assists, 7.5 sacks, and 4 pass breakups while serving as a team captain. Across his college career, Barrett played in 50 games with 38 starts, totaling 91 solo tackles, 78 tackle assists, 19 sacks, 2 interceptions, 8 pass breakups, and 3 forced fumbles. His 19 career sacks tied for the fourth most in San Diego State history.
Detroit Lions Era (2017–2018)
Heading into the 2017 NFL Draft, Barrett was rated the 43rd best defensive end by NFLDraftScout.com, but he went undrafted and signed with the Detroit Lions as a free agent on May 12, 2017. He was waived on September 20 and quickly signed to the practice squad two days later, beginning a familiar pattern of movement between the active roster and practice squad. Barrett signed a reserve/future contract with Detroit on January 1, 2018, signaling the organization’s continued interest in his development.
His second season in Detroit was similarly turbulent. On September 1, 2018, Barrett was waived and re-signed to the practice squad the next day. He was released on September 19 following the signing of cornerback DeShawn Shead, re-signed on October 31, and released again on November 6. Despite the frequent movement, Barrett consistently returned to the Lions’ practice squad, underscoring the team’s belief in his potential as a depth piece along the defensive line.
San Diego Fleet Era (2019)
On November 9, 2018, Barrett signed with the San Diego Fleet of the Alliance of American Football, giving him a chance to see game action in the new spring league. During the 2019 AAF season, Barrett played in 8 games and recorded 15 tackles along with 2 sacks before the league suspended football operations. His strong production in limited action demonstrated that he could produce against professional competition.
Oakland Raiders Era (2019)
Three days after the AAF suspended operations, Barrett signed with the Oakland Raiders on April 5, 2019, returning to the NFL. He was waived with an injury designation during final roster cuts on August 30, reverted to injured reserve after clearing waivers on September 1, and was released with an injury settlement on September 3. The short Raiders stint kept Barrett in the league pipeline despite the injury setback.
San Francisco 49ers Era (2019–Present)
On November 27, 2019, Barrett signed to the San Francisco 49ers’ practice squad, beginning a long-running relationship with the organization. He re-signed with the 49ers on February 11, 2020, and over the next several seasons became a fixture on the practice squad, bouncing between the active roster and practice squad throughout the 2020 campaign. Barrett was promoted to the active roster on October 7, 2020, and made several elevations during the season, including Week 12 against the Los Angeles Rams and Week 16 against the Arizona Cardinals, before being signed back to the active roster on January 1, 2021.
Barrett continued in that reserve role with the 49ers in 2021, 2022, and 2023, signing reserve/future contracts and contributing on special teams and as a rotational defensive lineman when called upon. He re-signed with San Francisco on February 14, 2024, was released on August 27, and was re-signed to the practice squad before being promoted to the active roster on January 4, 2025. On April 22, 2025, Barrett re-signed with the 49ers before being waived on May 19, 2025.
Driving Style and Strengths
Barrett built his career on toughness, effort, and positional versatility as an edge rusher. His track and field background contributed to explosiveness off the snap, while his time at San Diego State helped refine his hand technique and run-defense fundamentals. Operating primarily as a rotational defensive end and special teams contributor, Barrett earned a reputation as a reliable practice-squad anchor who could step into an active role and produce when called upon.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the defining moments of Barrett’s career was becoming the first San Diego State defensive lineman to earn First-team All-Mountain West honors multiple times, an achievement that underscored his college production. His 19 career sacks at San Diego State also tied for the fourth most in school history. In the professional ranks, Barrett’s steady climb from undrafted free agent to multi-year contributor in San Francisco has defined his journeyman career arc.
Alex Barrett Career Wins
Alex Barrett’s professional resume is built more on durability, depth contributions, and special teams play than on headline win totals. Across his time with the Detroit Lions, San Diego Fleet, Oakland Raiders, and San Francisco 49ers, Barrett has produced modest but consistent statistical contributions as a rotational defensive end and practice-squad mainstay.
College and Conference Highlights
During his college career with the San Diego State Aztecs, Barrett earned Honorable Mention All-Mountain West honors in 2014 before elevating to back-to-back First-team All-Mountain West selections in 2015 and 2016. He was a team captain in his senior season and finished his career with 19 sacks, which tied for the fourth most in school history. These accolades marked him as one of the most productive defensive linemen in program history.
Other Wins and Performances
In the Alliance of American Football, Barrett delivered 2 sacks in 8 games for the San Diego Fleet before the league folded. In the NFL, his career tackles total through the 2023 season stood at 6, reflecting his primary role as a practice-squad contributor rather than a starter.
Alex Barrett Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Publicly available information about Alex Barrett’s family background is limited. He grew up in the Yuma, Arizona, area before moving to Mesa for high school, where he developed into a Division I recruit at Desert Ridge High School.
Personal Life
Detailed information about Alex Barrett’s personal life, including marital status, spouse, and children, is not publicly confirmed in verified sources. He has been based in the San Francisco Bay Area during his tenure with the 49ers and maintains an active presence on social media.
2025 Season Performance
Alex Barrett began 2025 still tied to the San Francisco 49ers after being promoted to the active roster on January 4, 2025, and re-signing on April 22, 2025. His early-season role continued the established pattern of work on the practice squad and special teams, with the franchise leaning on his experience as a rotational defensive end. On May 19, 2025, Barrett was waived by the 49ers, leaving his immediate playing future uncertain.
Looking ahead, Barrett’s value to NFL teams remains tied to his positional versatility, special-teams reliability, and proven ability to step into a defensive role when needed. Whether he lands another opportunity on a practice squad or active roster will likely depend on how organizations value that particular skill set during training camp and the early regular season. His track record of persistence across multiple organizations and leagues suggests another chance is a realistic possibility for the veteran defensive end.