Cameron Goode Bio
Cameron James Goode is an American professional football linebacker for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). Born on April 15, 1998, in Spring, Texas, Goode attended Klein Collins High School before playing college football for the California Golden Bears at the University of California, Berkeley. Selected in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft, he has spent his entire professional career with the Dolphins organization, working through practice squad promotions, injuries, and reserve contracts to remain on the team’s roster.
Standing 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) and listed at 245 lb (111 kg), Goode wears jersey number 53 for the Miami Dolphins. He is recognized for his patience through early career setbacks and for completing his academic work alongside his football development, earning both undergraduate and graduate credentials from Cal.
Early Life and Background
Cameron James Goode was born on April 15, 1998, in Spring, Texas. He is the son of James Goode and Crystal Goode, and his family has deep ties to the game of football. His father, James Goode, played college football at the University of Oklahoma and was selected in the fifth round of the 1991 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons, although he never appeared in an NFL regular-season contest. Cameron is also the nephew of Don Goode, extending the family’s connection to the sport across generations.
Goode attended Klein Collins High School in Klein, Texas, where he wore jersey number 23 while playing football. Before committing fully to football in high school, he spent ten years playing organized baseball, an athletic foundation that contributed to his overall hand-eye coordination and athleticism. Growing up in the Spring and Klein communities of the Houston metropolitan area shaped his early competitive environment.
Path to Professional Football
After high school, Goode accepted a scholarship to play college football at the University of California, Berkeley, joining the California Golden Bears program. He spent six seasons with the Golden Bears, redshirting his true freshman year to develop his body and skills before competing at the Pac-12 level. His college career culminated with 171 tackles, 36.5 tackles for loss, and 21.5 sacks, totals that reflected his disruptive presence as a pass rusher and run defender off the edge.
Goode also prioritized academics during his time at Cal. He graduated in December 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in legal studies, then earned a graduate certificate in entrepreneurship in May 2021 and a second graduate certificate in business administration in December 2021. His combination of on-field production and classroom achievement helped position him for the 2022 NFL Draft, where the Miami Dolphins selected him in the seventh round with the 224th overall pick.
Cameron Goode Career
Early Career (2022)
Goode entered the NFL with the Miami Dolphins after being drafted in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft. His initial transition to the professional level proved difficult, as he was waived by the Dolphins on August 30, 2022, during final roster cuts. Rather than clearing waivers to another team, Goode was re-signed to the Dolphins’ practice squad, allowing him to remain within the organization and continue his development.
The practice squad stint kept Goode within Miami’s system throughout the 2022 season. On January 16, 2023, he signed a reserve/future contract with the Dolphins, an agreement that secured his place on the team’s offseason roster and set the stage for another opportunity to compete for an active roster position.
Miami Dolphins Breakthrough (2023–2024)
The 2023 season represented Goode’s first sustained push toward the active roster. On August 29, 2023, he was again waived by the Dolphins and returned to the practice squad. Less than a month later, on September 30, Goode was promoted to the active roster, signaling that the organization viewed him as a contributor for the linebacker group. He remained active until January 9, 2024, when the Dolphins placed him on injured reserve, ending his 2023 campaign.
In 2024, Goode faced another setback at the start of training camp. On July 18, 2024, he was placed on the active/physically unable to perform (PUP) list and then moved to reserve status to begin the regular season. The Dolphins activated him on December 21, 2024, allowing him to finish the year on the active roster. Through the 2024 season, Goode had recorded 7 career tackles in regular-season play.
Miami Dolphins Era (2025–Present)
Goode continued his tenure with the Miami Dolphins into 2025 and beyond. On March 4, 2026, he re-signed with the Dolphins, cementing his long-term place within the organization. His career has been defined by perseverance, with multiple transitions between the active roster, practice squad, injured reserve, and the physically unable to perform list.
Despite the constant movement on and off the main roster, Goode has remained a familiar name in the Dolphins’ linebacker room. His blend of size, college pass-rushing production, and special teams upside gives Miami a developmental edge-rusher to develop behind established veterans. His continued presence on the roster reflects the organization’s belief in his athletic profile.
Driving Style and Strengths
Although football terminology differs from motorsports, Goode’s on-field strengths are well documented. He is an edge linebacker whose college career included 21.5 sacks, demonstrating an ability to win as a pass rusher against offensive tackles. At 6 ft 3 in and 245 lb, he combines the size to hold up against the run with the quickness needed to threaten the edge, making him a candidate for both base defensive packages and passing-down situational roles.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Goode’s most notable milestones are his selection as the 224th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, his promotion to the Dolphins’ active roster on September 30, 2023, and his activation off the PUP list on December 21, 2024. He also earned three academic credentials from the University of California, Berkeley, including a bachelor’s degree in legal studies and two graduate certificates, underscoring his commitment to education alongside professional athletics.
Cameron Goode Career Wins
Cameron Goode’s professional resume is still developing, and his on-field statistical impact through the 2024 NFL season has been measured in contributions rather than headline numbers. With 7 career tackles recorded through 2024, his win totals are limited at the NFL level, but his continued presence on the Dolphins’ roster represents a series of personal and professional victories for a seventh-round pick navigating a difficult road.
NFL Highlights
Goode’s most significant NFL milestone to date is simply remaining with the Miami Dolphins organization for multiple seasons despite repeated roster moves. His promotion to the active roster on September 30, 2023, and his activation on December 21, 2024, both stand out as breakthrough moments in his young career.
Other Performances
At the college level, Goode produced 171 tackles, 36.5 tackles for loss, and 21.5 sacks across six seasons with the California Golden Bears. While he has yet to register a traditional NFL regular-season win in the statistical sense, his durability and repeated contract signings, including the March 4, 2026 re-signing with the Dolphins, point to sustained evaluation by the organization.
Cameron Goode Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Goode comes from a family with strong football roots. His father, James Goode, played college football at Oklahoma before being drafted in the fifth round of the 1991 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons, though he never appeared in an NFL regular-season game. Cameron is also the nephew of Don Goode, further embedding football within his family identity. His mother, Crystal Goode, rounds out the immediate family that supported his athletic development.
Personal Life
Goode grew up in Spring, Texas, in the greater Houston area, where he attended Klein Collins High School. He has prioritized education throughout his career, completing a bachelor’s degree in legal studies and two graduate certificates at the University of California, Berkeley. Public information about a spouse or children is not available.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 season, Cameron Goode was part of the Miami Dolphins’ linebacker group following his activation late in the 2024 campaign. After being placed on the active/physically unable to perform list in July 2024, his December activation signaled that the team viewed him as healthy and ready to compete. His path to regular defensive snaps remained a development story, with special teams and situational pass-rush roles representing his clearest opportunities.
Throughout 2025, Goode continued to work within Miami’s defensive scheme, providing depth at the edge linebacker position. The Dolphins’ investment in his development was reaffirmed when he re-signed with the team on March 4, 2026, suggesting that his 2025 contributions met the organization’s internal benchmarks.
Looking forward, Goode’s outlook remains tied to the Dolphins’ evaluation of his pass-rushing traits and his availability after multiple injury and reserve-list stints. With his rookie contract era behind him and a new deal in place, his priority is converting his college sack totals into consistent NFL production while maintaining his place on the active roster.