Curtis Jacobs Bio
Curtis Jerome Jacobs Jr. is an American professional football linebacker. Born on February 18, 2002, in Glen Burnie, Maryland, he plays in the United Football League (UFL) for the DC Defenders. He played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions from 2020 through 2023 before embarking on a professional career that has taken him through several National Football League organizations and into spring football.
Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and listed at roughly 243 pounds, Jacobs has worked to carve out a professional career as an undrafted free agent. His path has included brief stints with the Kansas City Chiefs, New England Patriots, Tennessee Titans, and New York Giants, followed by a move to the DC Defenders in January 2026.
Early Life and Background
Curtis Jerome Jacobs Jr. grew up in the Glen Burnie area of Maryland. He attended McDonogh School in nearby Owings Mills, where he played both wide receiver and defensive back on the football team. His high school performance earned him an invitation to the 2020 Under Armour All-America Game, one of the premier high school all-star showcases in the country.
Coming out of high school, Jacobs was widely regarded as a promising defensive prospect. He committed to Penn State University, where he would transition from a multi-position high school athlete into a full-time linebacker. His recruitment placed him within a Penn State program known for producing NFL-ready defensive players.
Path to American Football
Jacobs enrolled at Penn State ahead of the 2020 season. As a true freshman, he appeared in eight games and contributed nine tackles while adjusting to the linebacker position at the college level. The limited schedule of that season allowed him to gain valuable experience without being thrust immediately into a starting role.
By his sophomore year in 2021, Jacobs had earned a starting job. He finished the season with 61 tackles, 3 sacks, and an interception across 12 games, signaling his development as a pass rusher and coverage defender. His junior season in 2022 saw him start all 12 games and record 52 tackles, 4 sacks, and an interception that he returned for a touchdown.
Despite being eligible, Jacobs chose to return to Penn State for the 2023 season rather than enter the NFL draft early. That decision gave him another year of development in the Nittany Lions’ defensive system before he declared for the 2024 NFL draft.
Curtis Jacobs Career
Early Career (2020–2023)
Jacobs spent his entire college career at Penn State, where he steadily grew into one of the team’s most productive linebackers. After serving in a rotational role as a freshman, he became a full-time starter in 2021 and never relinquished the position. Across his three seasons as a starter, he consistently produced in both run defense and pass coverage.
His senior season in 2023 wrapped up his time in Happy Valley. With his collegiate eligibility complete, he entered the 2024 NFL draft as a prospect whose college film showcased reliable tackling, blitzing ability, and coverage instincts.
Undrafted Free Agent Period (2024)
Following the 2024 NFL draft, Curtis Jacobs signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent. He also heard his name called in the eighth round of the 2024 UFL draft on July 17, when the DC Defenders selected him. Just weeks later, on August 27, 2024, the Chiefs waived him as they trimmed their roster.
One day after being waived by Kansas City, Jacobs was claimed off waivers by the New England Patriots on August 28, 2024. With New England, he appeared in nine games and recorded four combined tackles during his rookie NFL season.
Patriots to Titans (2025)
On March 21, 2025, the Patriots released Jacobs, ending his first extended NFL stay. Three days later, on March 24, 2025, he was claimed off waivers by the Tennessee Titans, who were looking to add depth at linebacker. He remained with the Titans through the spring and summer before being waived on August 27, 2025.
The quick turnaround continued on September 16, 2025, when Jacobs signed with the New York Giants practice squad. He was released a week later on September 23. On September 26, 2025, he returned to the Tennessee Titans’ practice squad, only to be waived again on October 21.
DC Defenders Era (2026–Present)
On January 14, 2026, Curtis Jacobs was selected by the DC Defenders of the United Football League, bringing his journeyman professional journey to a spring football franchise. The Defenders offered him an opportunity to play a prominent defensive role while continuing to pursue a return to an NFL roster.
His move to the UFL represented a fresh chapter following a year spent bouncing between practice squads and active rosters across the NFL.
Driving Style and Strengths
At 6 feet 1 inch and around 243 pounds, Curtis Jacobs plays with a sturdy build that supports him in run support and pass rushing situations. His college production of 4 sacks and 2 interceptions across his starting seasons highlights instincts as a blitzer and a coverage linebacker. His experience at multiple NFL stops has likely contributed to his preparation habits and understanding of professional defensive schemes.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining early moments of Jacobs’s career was his selection to the 2020 Under Armour All-America Game, which marked him as one of the top high school defensive prospects in the country. During his time at Penn State, his 2022 interception returned for a touchdown stood out as a signature play. In the professional ranks, being claimed off waivers by the New England Patriots and appearing in nine NFL games as an undrafted rookie are notable achievements.
Curtis Jacobs Career Wins
As a linebacker, Curtis Jacobs’s statistical contributions are measured in tackles, sacks, and coverage plays rather than wins in the traditional sense. Verified NFL statistics through 2024 show 4 combined tackles across his appearances with the New England Patriots.
Defensive Statistics and Highlights
Jacobs’s most complete statistical season came in 2021 at Penn State, when he recorded 61 tackles, 3 sacks, and an interception. The following season, he added 52 tackles, 4 sacks, and a pick-six. As a professional, his rookie regular-season work with New England produced 4 combined tackles in 9 games.
Curtis Jacobs Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Curtis Jacobs’s family background is limited. He is identified as Curtis Jerome Jacobs Jr., indicating a family tradition of carrying forward the Jacobs name. Further verified details about his parents and siblings are not available in confirmed sources.
Personal Life
Jacobs grew up in the Glen Burnie, Maryland area and attended McDonogh School in Owings Mills. Confirmed information about his marital status, spouse, or children has not been publicly verified.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 calendar year was a transitional period for Curtis Jacobs. He began the year as a member of the New England Patriots before being released on March 21. Three days later, he joined the Tennessee Titans via waivers and remained with the organization through training camp, only to be waived on August 27, 2025.
After being let go by Tennessee, Jacobs signed with the New York Giants practice squad on September 16, 2025. He was released on September 23 and quickly returned to the Titans’ practice squad on September 26. His second stint with Tennessee ended on October 21, 2025, when he was waived again.
Looking ahead, Jacobs joined the DC Defenders in January 2026, positioning himself for a prominent role in the UFL while keeping the door open for future NFL opportunities. His 2025 experience across multiple practice squads and active rosters reflects the journeyman reality faced by many undrafted linebackers.
