Cameron Jordan Bio
Cameron Tyler Jordan (born July 10, 1989) is an American professional football defensive end for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the California Golden Bears, and was selected by the Saints in the first round of the 2011 NFL draft. A member of the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team, Jordan is an eight-time Pro Bowler, a three-time All-Pro selection, is the Saints’ all-time franchise sack leader, and currently ranks in the top 20 all time in NFL sacks.
Early Life and Background
Cameron Tyler Jordan was born on July 10, 1989, in Chandler, Arizona. He is the son of former Minnesota Vikings tight end Steve Jordan, who played 13 seasons in the NFL. Growing up in a football household, Cameron developed an early understanding of the game’s professional demands through his father’s experience.
Jordan attended Chandler High School, where he was a two-sport star in football and track for the Chandler Wolves. In football, he earned All-State honors as a senior after registering 85 tackles and 17.5 quarterback sacks. He was regarded as a three-star recruit by Rivals.com and was listed as the number 37 strongside defensive end in the class of 2007.
Also an outstanding track and field athlete, Jordan was one of Arizona’s top performers in the discus throw. He captured the state title in the discus at the 2007 5A I State Meet, recording a top throw of 53.54 meters, while also placing tenth in the shot put event.
Path to American Football
Jordan primarily played defensive end for the University of California at Berkeley from 2007 to 2010. He was coached by head coach Jeff Tedford and defensive coordinator Bob Gregory. He appeared in 50 of 51 possible games and made 32 starts for the California Golden Bears during his collegiate career.
He achieved honorable mention All-American from Pro Football Weekly and first-team All-Pac-10 Conference honors as a senior in 2010, after two consecutive honorable mention All-Pac-10 campaigns in 2008 and 2009. He finished his collegiate career with 175 tackles, 34 tackles for loss, and 16.5 sacks, ranking just outside the school’s all-time top ten in the latter two categories.
On January 29, 2011, Jordan played in the 2011 Senior Bowl as part of Marvin Lewis’s North team. His overall performance during Senior Bowl practice helped his draft stock and made him a definitive first round pick. He attended the NFL Scouting Combine and performed all combine and positional drills, finishing the pre-draft process as a projected first round selection.
Cameron Jordan Career
Early Career (2011-2012)
The New Orleans Saints selected Cameron Tyler Jordan in the first round, 24th overall, of the 2011 NFL draft. He was the fifth defensive end drafted that year. On August 2, 2011, the Saints signed him to a four-year, $7.73 million contract that included $6.30 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $4.12 million.
Jordan made his professional regular season debut in the Saints’ season opener at the Green Bay Packers and made three combined tackles. On January 1, 2012, he recorded his first career sack on quarterback Cam Newton during a Week 17 win against the Carolina Panthers. He finished his rookie season with 31 combined tackles, four pass deflections, and a sack in 16 games and 15 starts, and appeared in the Saints’ playoff run that ended in the Divisional Round.
In 2012, Jordan started all 16 games and posted a career-high 67 combined tackles, eight sacks, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. He set a season high with three sacks on quarterback Michael Vick in a Week 9 victory against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Saints finished the season with a 7-9 record as head coach Sean Payton served a suspension.
NFL Breakthrough (2013-2015)
Head coach Sean Payton announced a transition to a base 3-4 defense for 2013, and defensive coordinator Rob Ryan named Jordan a starting defensive end. On December 27, 2013, Jordan was selected to the 2014 Pro Bowl, his first such honor. He started all 16 games and tallied 47 combined tackles, 12.5 sacks, four pass deflections, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries, helping the Saints earn an 11-5 record and a Wild Card berth.
On June 2, 2015, the Saints signed Jordan to a five-year, $55 million contract extension that included $33.46 million guaranteed and a $15 million signing bonus. The team switched its base defense to a 4-3 alignment, and Payton labeled Jordan a Jack linebacker in his defensive end role. He started all 16 games in 2015, finished the season with 45 combined tackles and 10 sacks, and was selected to the 2016 Pro Bowl as an injury replacement.
New Orleans Saints Era (2017-Present)
In 2017, Jordan started all 16 games and produced a career-high 13 sacks, 11 pass deflections, two forced fumbles, an interception, and a touchdown. He was named First Team All-Pro for the first time and earned a 96.2 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, the highest among all qualifying edge rushers. The Saints finished 11-5, won the NFC South, and advanced through the Wild Card Round before falling in the Divisional Round.
On June 11, 2019, the Saints signed Jordan to a three-year, $52.5 million contract extension with $42 million guaranteed, keeping him under contract through 2023. In 2019, he finished with a career-high 15.5 sacks, 52 combined tackles, and a fumble recovery in 16 starts, earning his fifth career Pro Bowl nomination and a place on the Pro Football Hall of Fame 2010s All-Decade Team. On August 4, 2023, the Saints signed him to a two-year contract extension with $27.5 million guaranteed, keeping him under contract through 2025. Jordan signed a one-year contract to remain with the Saints on June 16, 2026.
Driving Style and Strengths
Cameron Tyler Jordan is known for his scheme versatility, technical hand work, and ability to align as a defensive end in both 3-4 and 4-3 fronts. His consistent production against the run and pass, combined with leadership on the defensive line, has made him a foundational piece of the New Orleans Saints defense for more than a decade.
Notable Events and Milestones
On October 15, 2017, Jordan recorded his first career interception return for a touchdown against the Detroit Lions, earning NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors. In 2022, he surpassed Rickey Jackson to become the Saints’ all-time franchise sack leader, reaching the milestone with three sacks against the Philadelphia Eagles. After the 2024 season, he was named the 2025 Bart Starr Award winner for his contributions on and off the field.
Cameron Jordan Career Wins
Cameron Tyler Jordan’s win totals reflect his longevity and consistency as a defensive end, with sustained production that includes eight Pro Bowl selections, three All-Pro honors, and selection to the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team. His career statistics include 763 total tackles, 132 sacks, 17 forced fumbles, 12 fumble recoveries, 3 interceptions, and 1 defensive touchdown through the 2025 season.
NFL Highlights
Jordan’s eight Pro Bowl selections came in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022. He earned First Team All-Pro honors in 2017 and Second Team All-Pro honors in 2018 and 2019. Jordan posted single-season highs of 15.5 sacks in 2019 and 13 sacks in 2017, anchoring the Saints’ defensive line during consecutive division-title campaigns.
Other Wins and Performances
Jordan earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors on multiple occasions, including Week 6 of 2017 against the Lions, Week 15 of 2021 against the Buccaneers, Week 17 of 2021 against the Panthers, Week 13 of 2022 against the Eagles, and Week 13 of 2019 against the Falcons. He was also named NFC Defensive Player of the Month for November 2017 and November 2020.
| Series | Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|
| NFL Pro Bowl Selections | 8 | N/A | N/A |
| All-Pro Selections | 3 | N/A | N/A |
Cameron Jordan Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Cameron Tyler Jordan is the son of Steve Jordan, a former tight end who played 13 seasons in the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings. His sister is married to Kasim Edebali, a former NFL linebacker who also played for the Saints. The football background of his family provided a clear pathway into the sport.
Personal Life
Jordan is a Christian. He is married to Nikki Jordan, and the couple has four children, two sons and two daughters. In 2017, Jordan went on a USO tour to visit American soldiers at bases in the Middle East and southwest Asia.
2025 Season Performance
Cameron Tyler Jordan finished the 2025 season with 10.5 sacks, 47 total tackles, two passes defended, and two forced fumbles. The 10.5-sack total represented a strong bounce-back campaign after registering two sacks in 2023 and four sacks in 2024. His production reinforced his role as a foundational piece of the New Orleans Saints’ defensive front.
During the 2025 season, Jordan continued his streak of contributing to a defense that has remained one of the more stable units in the NFC South. His ability to pressure opposing quarterbacks and set the edge against the run provided leadership for younger defenders along the Saints’ front seven.
With his 2025 contract extension concluded, Jordan signed a one-year contract to remain with the New Orleans Saints on June 16, 2026, signaling his continued commitment to the franchise. His Bart Starr Award recognition earlier in 2025 further cemented his reputation as a respected veteran and community figure within the league.
