Bud Dupree Bio
Alvin “Bud” Dupree Jr. is an American professional football linebacker for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League. Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing around 269 pounds, Dupree has built his reputation as a pass-rushing edge defender since entering the league in 2015. Over the course of his career, he has suited up for the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Tennessee Titans, the Atlanta Falcons, and the Chargers, accumulating more than 60 career sacks. He played college football at the University of Kentucky, where he earned First-team All-SEC honors as a senior before being selected in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft.
Early Life and Background
Bud Dupree was born on February 12, 1993, in Macon, Georgia, and was raised in nearby Toomsboro, Georgia. He is the son of Alvin Dupree Sr. and Sophia Stephens. The nickname “Bud” was given to him by his godmother, who said she had a dream during her pregnancy that people would call him Bud and that he would play football. Growing up in rural Georgia shaped his early athletic interests, and he became a multi-sport standout before focusing on football.
Dupree attended Wilkinson County High School in Irwinton, Georgia, where he was a three-year starter at defensive end and a four-year starter at tight end. As a senior, he recorded more than 1,000 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns on offense, while adding 62 tackles and 10 sacks on defense. He was voted First-team all-state by the Georgia Sportswriters Association and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and he was ranked as a three-star recruit by Rivals.com. He also played basketball, was on the honor roll, and was a member of the Future Business Leaders of America.
Path to American Football
Dupree arrived at the University of Kentucky in 2011 as a true freshman and immediately saw action at linebacker, playing in 12 games with three starts and finishing the year with 21 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and one fumble recovery. As a sophomore in 2012, he started all 12 regular-season games and recorded 91 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, and 6.5 sacks, ranking 10th in the Southeastern Conference in tackles and seventh nationally in sacks among FBS players.
After his sophomore season, Dupree switched from linebacker to defensive lineman for his final two college years. As a junior in 2013, he played in 11 games and led the team with 9.5 tackles for loss while adding seven sacks and two forced fumbles. As a senior in 2014, he was named team captain, started all 12 games, and totaled 74 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, eight sacks, and his first career interception, which he returned for a game-winning touchdown against South Carolina. He earned First-team All-SEC honors in 2014 after previously being named Second-team All-SEC in 2013. On May 9, 2015, he graduated from Kentucky with a degree in community and leadership development.
Bud Dupree Career
Early Career (2015–2016)
The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Dupree in the first round, 22nd overall, of the 2015 NFL Draft, making him the first Kentucky player taken in the first round since Dewayne Robertson in 2003. He signed a four-year, $9.22 million rookie contract that included $8.63 million in guarantees and a $4.97 million signing bonus. As a rookie, he appeared in all 16 games with five starts and finished with 26 combined tackles, four sacks, and a pass deflection while serving as a backup to veteran Arthur Moats.
In 2016, Dupree was named the starting left outside linebacker but was placed on injured reserve in early September after a groin injury. He returned in November and produced a season-high performance against the Buffalo Bills, recording five solo tackles, one assisted tackle, and 2.5 sacks of quarterback Tyrod Taylor in a 27–20 victory. He closed the year with 4.5 sacks, 24 total tackles, and one pass defended.
Pittsburgh Steelers Era (2015–2020)
Dupree opened the 2017 season as the left outside linebacker opposite T. J. Watt and finished the year with six sacks, 40 total tackles, one pass defended, and one fumble recovery. The Steelers picked up his fifth-year option in April 2018, worth $9.23 million. That season he intercepted his first career pass off Ryan Fitzpatrick and returned it for a touchdown, finishing with 42 tackles, 5.5 sacks, three passes defended, and one interception return for a score.
Dupree enjoyed a career year in 2019, recording 11.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, and 68 combined tackles. He earned AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors after a Week 9 performance in which he posted two sacks and a strip sack recovered fumble against the Indianapolis Colts. The Steelers placed the franchise tag on him in March 2020, and he signed the one-year tender before the season. In Week 12 against the Baltimore Ravens, he tore his ACL and was placed on season-ending injured reserve, finishing 2020 with eight sacks, 31 total tackles, and two passes defended.
Tennessee Titans Era (2021–2022)
On March 19, 2021, Dupree signed a five-year, $82.5 million contract with the Tennessee Titans. He opened training camp on the physically unable to perform list and missed time during the season with an abdominal injury that landed him on injured reserve in November before returning in December. He finished 2021 with three sacks, 17 total tackles, and one pass defended. In 2022, he recorded four sacks, 18 total tackles, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries before being released by the Titans on March 16, 2023.
Atlanta Falcons Era (2023)
Dupree signed with the Atlanta Falcons on April 14, 2023, and started all 16 games of the season. He tied for the team lead with 6.5 sacks, providing veteran edge-rushing production for a young Atlanta defense during his single year with the club.
Los Angeles Chargers Era (2024–Present)
On May 11, 2024, Dupree signed a two-year, $6 million contract with the Los Angeles Chargers, joining a retooled defensive front. He finished his first season in Los Angeles with six sacks, 28 total tackles, one interception, and two passes defended, serving as a steady veteran presence. On June 4, 2025, he signed a one-year, $6 million contract extension with the Chargers and continued to contribute as a rotational edge rusher, finishing the 2025 season with two sacks, 16 total tackles, and one pass defended.
Driving Style and Strengths
Dupree is regarded as a long, athletic edge rusher whose frame, power, and explosive first step allow him to set the edge in the run game and collapse pockets on passing downs. Scouts entering the league praised his freakish athleticism, large frame, outstanding power and strength, and ability to drop into zone coverage, while noting room for growth in instincts and consistency. His success has been tied to working opposite premier pass rushers such as T. J. Watt, which created favorable one-on-one matchups throughout his career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Dupree’s signature moments are his first career interception returned for a touchdown off Ryan Fitzpatrick in 2018, his 2019 breakout that produced 11.5 sacks and four forced fumbles, and his AFC Defensive Player of the Week award after a Week 9 performance against the Indianapolis Colts. He also became the first Kentucky Wildcats player to be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft since 2003 when the Steelers took him 22nd overall in 2015.
Bud Dupree Career Wins
Bud Dupree’s career win totals reflect his role as a productive edge defender across four NFL franchises. While he has not been the centerpiece of a Super Bowl run, he has been a reliable contributor to winning defenses in Pittsburgh, Tennessee, Atlanta, and Los Angeles.
NFL Highlights
Across his NFL career, Dupree has accumulated 349 total tackles, 61 sacks, 18 pass deflections, 2 interceptions, 13 forced fumbles, 5 fumble recoveries, and 1 defensive touchdown. His most productive season came in 2019 with 11.5 sacks, while he added 8 sacks in 2020 and 6.5 sacks with the Falcons in 2023, demonstrating consistent pass-rushing production.
College Highlights
At Kentucky, Dupree earned Second-team All-SEC honors in 2013 and First-team All-SEC honors in 2014. He finished his senior season with 74 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, and eight sacks, capping his college career by graduating in May 2015 with a degree in community and leadership development.
Bud Dupree Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Bud Dupree comes from a close-knit family rooted in middle Georgia. He is the son of Alvin Dupree Sr. and Sophia Stephens and was raised in Toomsboro, Georgia, alongside his extended family. The nickname “Bud” was given to him by his godmother, who believed even before his birth that he would grow up to play football.
Personal Life
Outside of football, Dupree is known as an avid dog lover who often shares moments with his pets on social media. He has spent his professional life moving between NFL cities, including Pittsburgh, Nashville, Atlanta, and Los Angeles, while maintaining ties to his family in Georgia.
2025 Season Performance
In the 2025 season, Bud Dupree served as a rotational edge rusher for the Los Angeles Chargers after signing a one-year, $6 million contract extension in June. He finished the year with two sacks, 16 total tackles, and one pass defended while providing veteran leadership on a young defensive line.
Dupree’s role in 2025 reflected his evolution from primary pass rusher to situational veteran, leveraging his length and experience on obvious passing downs. Defensive coordinators used him in packages designed to capitalize on his power and burst, while also giving extended snaps to younger defenders behind him.
Looking ahead, Dupree remained under contract through the 2025 campaign as he continued to build on a career total of 61 sacks and 349 tackles. His production and locker-room presence positioned him as a potential candidate to extend his career beyond the 2025 season depending on team needs and his health.
