C.J. Brewer Bio
C. J. Brewer (born November 22, 1997) is an American professional football defensive end who currently plays in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers from 2016 to 2021 before beginning his professional career. After going undrafted in the 2022 NFL Draft, Brewer signed with the Buffalo Bills and has since spent time with the Houston Roughnecks of the XFL and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Standing 6 ft 2 in and listed at 290 lb, Brewer is recognized for his contributions along the defensive line at both the collegiate and professional levels. He earned multiple All-Sun Belt Conference honors and a Third-team All-American selection during his time at Coastal Carolina.
Early Life and Background
C. J. Brewer was born on November 22, 1997, in Bowdon, Georgia. He grew up in the small west Georgia community and attended Bowdon High School, where he participated in both football and basketball. His versatility as a young athlete allowed him to develop strength and agility that would later serve him well as a defensive lineman.
As a junior at Bowdon High School, Brewer was named a first-team All-Region 5-AA selection at linebacker and a second-team choice as an offensive lineman. He was also named the Times-Georgian Area Defensive Player of the Year and earned fourth-team all-state recognition. During his senior season, he was selected as the Times-Georgian All-Area most valuable player and the Defensive Player of the Year in Region 5-AA. He was also a first-team 5-AA all-state pick by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and a second-team selection by the Georgia Sports Writers Association. Brewer entered college as a Rivals.com two-star recruit.
Path to American Football
Brewer committed to Coastal Carolina University, where he spent his freshman year in 2016 as a redshirt. As a redshirt-freshman in 2017, he appeared in all 12 games as a defensive lineman and made his first career start on October 28 against the Texas State Bobcats. The following season, he started five games at defensive tackle, appeared in nine total contests, and recorded 29 tackles along with two forced fumbles.
Following his redshirt-junior season in 2019, Brewer was named third-team All-Sun Belt Conference after recording 54 tackles and three quarterback sacks. He placed third on the team in tackles and third in tackles-for-loss with 7.5. He was also a Dean’s List student from fall 2019 to spring 2020, maintaining a GPA of more than 3.5.
C.J. Brewer Career
Early Career (2020–2021)
Entering 2020, Brewer was named to the preseason All-Sun Belt team by Phil Steele, Lindy’s Sports, and Athlon Sports. He was made team captain and started all 12 games that season, earning first-team all-conference honors from Phil Steele, third-team All-America recognition from the Associated Press, and honorable mention All-America from Steele. He was named Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week on November 23 and finished the year second on the team with 6.5 sacks. He also recorded 60 total tackles and 11 tackles-for-loss, and even caught a touchdown pass against Kansas in the season opener.
After taking advantage of the extra year of eligibility granted during the COVID-19 pandemic, Brewer returned to Coastal Carolina in 2021 as a super senior. He was a team captain once more, started all 13 games, and recorded 54 tackles, 9.5 tackles-for-loss, 4.5 sacks, six quarterback hurries, an interception, and a fumble recovery. He was invited to the 2022 Hula Bowl senior all-star game and earned multiple all-conference selections. Brewer also received the Tailgreeter Cure Bowl Community Service Soldier Award, the Team Community Service Award, a place on the President’s List, and a spot on the 2022 National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society.
Buffalo Bills (2022)
After going undrafted in the 2022 NFL Draft, Brewer signed with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent. He was waived at final roster cuts and re-signed to the practice squad, then elevated to the active roster on September 19 for a game against the Tennessee Titans. He made his NFL debut in that match, recording two tackles, before being returned to the practice squad on September 20. After being released on October 4, he was re-signed to the practice squad on November 26, promoted to the active roster on December 6, and released again on December 13.
Houston Roughnecks (2023)
Following his release from the Bills, Brewer was selected by the Houston Roughnecks of the XFL in the league’s 2023 draft, giving him another opportunity to continue his professional career. He was released from his contract on May 15, 2023, ending his brief stint with the spring league.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Era (2023–Present)
On May 15, 2023, Brewer signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was waived on August 29, 2023, and re-signed to the practice squad, then released on November 14 before being re-signed to the practice squad on December 6. He signed a reserve/future contract on January 23, 2024, and was waived on August 27 before rejoining the practice squad the next day. He was promoted to the active roster on September 20, 2024.
In 2025, Brewer was waived by the Buccaneers on August 26 as part of final roster cuts and re-signed to the practice squad the following day. He was promoted to the active roster on September 23, and on December 10 he was waived and re-signed to the practice squad once more. As of the 2025 season, he has recorded 18 total tackles, 2.5 sacks, and two pass deflections in his NFL career.
Driving Style and Strengths
While Brewer’s game is built on the defensive line, his strengths include run-stopping ability, pass-rush production, and the versatility to line up at multiple positions along the front. His combination of power, leverage, and consistent tackling helped him earn All-Sun Belt recognition three times and a Third-team All-American nod from the Associated Press.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Brewer’s signature achievements is his 2020 Associated Press Third-team All-American selection, making him one of the most decorated defensive players in Coastal Carolina history. He finished his college career ranked eighth in school history with 230 total tackles, fifth in tackles-for-loss with 32.5, and fifth in sacks with 16.0, while also earning a place on the President’s List and the NFF Hampshire Honor Society for his academic performance.
C.J. Brewer Career Wins
Across his college and professional career, Brewer has accumulated consistent production as a defensive lineman rather than a series of headline victories. His college tenure produced multiple all-conference honors, and he has continued to contribute as a rotational defensive end in the NFL.
Coastal Carolina Highlights
During his five seasons with the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers, Brewer played in 58 games and recorded 230 total tackles, 32.5 tackles-for-loss, and 16.0 sacks. He added one interception, seven passes defended, five forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries. He was a three-time All-Sun Belt selection in 2019, 2020, and 2021, and a Third-team All-American in 2020.
Other Wins & Performances
Brewer was invited to the 2022 Hula Bowl as a senior all-star participant, an early showcase of his professional potential. He has since appeared in regular-season NFL games for the Buffalo Bills and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, recording his first NFL tackles against the Tennessee Titans in September 2022.
C.J. Brewer Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public details about Brewer’s immediate family are limited. He grew up in Bowdon, Georgia, and developed his athletic foundation at Bowdon High School, where he starred in both football and basketball.
Personal Life
Brewer earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Coastal Carolina University and also completed a master’s degree in instructional technology. He was recognized for his academic performance with Dean’s List and President’s List honors and a selection to the 2022 National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has been another year of resilience for Brewer with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was waived on August 26 as part of final roster cuts and immediately re-signed to the practice squad, reflecting the team’s continued interest in retaining his services. He was promoted to the active roster on September 23 and went on to contribute along the defensive line, helping to anchor the Buccaneers’ rotation.
On December 10, 2025, Brewer was waived again and re-signed to the practice squad, a familiar pattern of movement that has defined his time in Tampa Bay. Through the 2025 season, his career NFL totals stand at 18 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and two pass deflections.
Looking forward, Brewer’s role with the Buccaneers will likely continue to depend on his ability to provide depth and production along the defensive front. His track record of earning promotions from the practice squad, combined with his All-American and All-Sun Belt credentials from Coastal Carolina, suggests he remains a dependable rotational option for Tampa Bay’s defense.