Anfernee Jennings Bio
Anfernee Jennings (born May 1, 1997) is an American professional football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide and was selected in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots with the 87th overall pick. A two-time College Football Playoff national champion, Jennings has built his reputation as a reliable edge defender and has since moved on to the New Orleans Saints.
Early Life and Background
Anfernee Jennings was born on May 1, 1997, in Dadeville, Alabama, where he grew up and attended Dadeville High School. As a multi-sport athlete, he lined up at both defensive end and tight end for the Tigers, showcasing the blend of size and athleticism that would later define his game. In his junior season, Jennings recorded 171 tackles and seven sacks, performances that earned him honorable mention Super All-State recognition from AL.com.
As a senior, Jennings was named first-team 4A All-State and the 4A Lineman of the Year after posting 170 tackles, 88 solo stops, 14 sacks, nine pass breakups, and two forced fumbles. Rated a four-star recruit, he received scholarship offers from programs including Arkansas, Arizona State, Georgia, Mississippi State, and Nebraska. He ultimately committed to play college football at Alabama, choosing the Crimson Tide over several prominent SEC and national suitors.
Path to American Football
Jennings arrived at Alabama in 2015 and redshirted his true freshman season while transitioning from defensive end to outside linebacker. The position change allowed him to use his size, listed at 6 feet 2 inches and 255 pounds, more effectively in coverage and pursuit situations. As a redshirt freshman, he worked primarily as a key reserve and finished the year with 19 tackles, two for loss, and three quarterback hurries.
During his redshirt sophomore season, Jennings cracked the starting lineup and made 41 tackles, six for loss, and one sack. He suffered a serious knee and vascular injury in the closing minutes of the 2018 Sugar Bowl against Clemson, initially diagnosed as a PCL injury, but later re-evaluated to include artery damage and a blood clot in his leg. The ailment forced him to miss the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship Game, but he returned in time for his redshirt junior year and posted 51 tackles, 14 for loss, 6.5 sacks, an interception, a team-high 11 passes defended, and two fumble recoveries, including one returned for his first career touchdown.
Anfernee Jennings Career
Early Career (2020–2021)
Jennings made his NFL debut on September 13, 2020, against the Miami Dolphins, playing nine defensive snaps in a 21–11 New England win. He earned his first career start on October 18, 2020, against the Denver Broncos, finishing with three tackles. As a rookie, he appeared in 14 games and totaled 20 tackles with ten solo stops, showing the promise that had made him a third-round selection.
His second season was cut short on August 31, 2021, when the Patriots placed him on injured reserve, ending his year before it could fully begin. The setback slowed his development, but Jennings returned the following season to reclaim a rotational role in New England’s linebacker corps.
New England Patriots Breakthrough (2022–2025)
In 2022, Jennings served as a backup linebacker and played in 16 games with three starts, recording 27 tackles, 1.5 sacks, two passes defensed, and a forced fumble. He elevated his play in 2023, finishing with 1.5 sacks, 66 total tackles, 49 of which were solo, and one fumble recovery while continuing to grow into a more complete defender.
On March 15, 2024, Jennings signed a three-year, $12 million contract extension with the Patriots, a strong vote of confidence in his trajectory. In 2024, he posted 2.5 sacks, 78 total tackles with 43 solo, and one pass defended, cementing himself as a full-time contributor. His 2025 campaign featured two sacks, 26 tackles with 15 solo, and one fumble recovery, and he added a sack in both the Wild Card and Divisional Round victories over the Los Angeles Chargers and Houston Texans. He recorded six total tackles in Super Bowl LX, a 29–13 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, before being released by New England on March 11, 2026.
New Orleans Saints Era (2026–Present)
On April 28, 2026, Jennings signed a one-year contract with the New Orleans Saints, beginning a new chapter in his professional career. The move reunited him with a defensive scheme designed to leverage his experience as an edge-setting linebacker. His veteran presence is expected to bolster a Saints defense in transition, and he joined the roster with an active status as the team built toward the upcoming season.
Notable Events and Milestones
Jennings was part of Alabama’s College Football Playoff national championship teams in 2015 and 2017, giving him two rings before ever suiting up in the NFL. He was named first-team All-SEC in 2019, capping his collegiate career with 194 tackles, 34.5 tackles for loss, 15.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, two interceptions, and 20 passes defended across 54 games and 38 starts. Through the 2025 season, his career NFL totals include 217 total tackles, 7.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and three pass deflections, along with a Super Bowl LX appearance.
Anfernee Jennings Career Wins
At the collegiate level, Anfernee Jennings was a two-time College Football Playoff national champion with the Alabama Crimson Tide, in 2015 and 2017, and was named first-team All-SEC in 2019. In the NFL, he has been a steady contributor for the New England Patriots and is now with the New Orleans Saints, with postseason experience highlighted by sacks in the 2025 Wild Card and Divisional rounds.
Other Wins & Performances
Beyond his team championships, Jennings earned first-team 4A All-State and 4A Lineman of the Year honors as a senior at Dadeville High School, signaling his future stardom. He later added a three-year, $12 million contract extension with the Patriots in 2024, reflecting the value teams have placed on his consistency and durability.
Anfernee Jennings Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Anfernee Jennings comes from a family with a strong football tradition. His younger brother, Shawndarius “Shawn” Jennings, also played college football and originally suited up at Alabama before transferring to South Alabama, following a path shaped by the same defensive roots.
Personal Life
Jennings has been in a long-term relationship with Brittany Hurst, his partner. He is widely known for the jersey number 33 that has defined his NFL career and remains an active presence on social media, where he shares updates about his life and career.
2025 Season Performance
Anfernee Jennings closed out his New England Patriots tenure with a 2025 season that featured two sacks, 26 tackles, 15 of which were solo, and one fumble recovery. His most memorable stretch came in the playoffs, when he recorded a sack in both the Wild Card victory over the Los Angeles Chargers and the Divisional Round win against the Houston Texans, helping New England advance to the Super Bowl.
That run ended in Super Bowl LX, a 29–13 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, in which Jennings tallied six total tackles. Although the Patriots fell short of the title, the playoff performance reinforced Jennings’s reputation as a clutch pass rusher in big moments.
Looking ahead to 2025 and beyond, Jennings transitioned to the New Orleans Saints on a one-year contract signed in April 2026, bringing veteran experience and postseason poise to a new defensive unit. With a full offseason to learn the Saints’ system, he is positioned to compete for a starting role and contribute as both a run defender and situational pass rusher.
