Daron Payne Bio
Daron Cordell Payne is an American professional football defensive tackle for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide, where he won national championships in 2015 and 2017. Payne was selected by Washington in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft and has since developed into one of the league’s most disruptive interior linemen.
Listed at 6 feet 3 inches and 320 pounds, Payne combines size, quickness, and power at the point of attack. Through the 2025 season, his NFL career totals include 432 tackles, 37 sacks, 7 forced fumbles, 6 fumble recoveries, 25 pass deflections, and 1 interception.
Early Life and Background
Daron Cordell Payne was born on May 27, 1997, in Birmingham, Alabama. He grew up in the Birmingham metropolitan area and attended Shades Valley High School in nearby Irondale, Alabama, where he emerged as one of the top defensive line prospects in the country.
At Shades Valley, Payne starred on the football team and was widely rated as a five-star high school recruit. His combination of size, athleticism, and technique drew attention from major college programs across the country, and he ultimately committed to play for the University of Alabama. Payne’s rapid development in high school laid the foundation for his future success at the college and professional levels.
Path to American Football
Payne arrived at the University of Alabama in 2015 as a highly touted true freshman and immediately contributed along the Crimson Tide’s defensive front. As a freshman, he recorded 13 tackles and half a sack while learning under Alabama’s defensive coaching staff and playing alongside future NFL players. His first season ended with a College Football Playoff national championship.
As a sophomore in 2016, Payne took on a larger role, totaling 36 tackles and 1.5 sacks, including five tackles and a half sack against Clemson in the National Championship Game. During his time at Alabama, his given name was often misspelled as Da’Ron, but he requested that his professional career return to the spelling Daron.
Daron Payne Career
Early Career (2018–2019)
Payne was selected by the Washington Redskins in the first round, 13th overall, of the 2018 NFL draft. On May 10, 2018, he signed a four-year contract worth $14.4 million, which included an $8.56 million signing bonus. He recorded his first career sack in Week 3 against the Green Bay Packers and finished his rookie season with 56 tackles, five sacks, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.
His strong rookie campaign earned him a place on the 2018 PFWA All-Rookie Team. In the 2019 season, Payne posted two sacks, 56 total tackles, and two passes defended while continuing to anchor Washington’s defensive line as a young starter.
Washington Breakthrough (2020–2022)
In Week 14 of the 2020 season against the San Francisco 49ers, Payne forced a fumble on quarterback Nick Mullens that was recovered and returned for a touchdown by Chase Young. He also recorded his first career interception the following week against the Seattle Seahawks. Payne closed 2020 with 54 tackles, 3 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and an interception, then added two sacks against Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the wild-card round.
The team picked up Payne’s fifth-year option in April 2021, guaranteeing $8.529 million for the 2022 season. In 2021, he registered 4.5 sacks, 61 total tackles, and one fumble recovery. The 2022 season marked his breakout year, as he set new career highs with 64 tackles, 11.5 sacks, and five pass deflections, including a deflected pass that cornerback Kendall Fuller intercepted in the end zone to seal a Week 12 win over the Atlanta Falcons.
In January 2023, Payne was named as a replacement player for Aaron Donald on the 2023 Pro Bowl roster, earning his first career Pro Bowl selection.
Washington Commanders Era (2023–Present)
The Commanders placed a non-exclusive franchise tag on Payne before he signed a four-year, $90 million contract extension with the team on March 13, 2023. In 2023, he finished with four sacks, 53 total tackles, four passes defended, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.
Payne played through injuries during the 2024 playoff run, finishing the regular season with 42 tackles, four sacks, and two pass deflections over 17 games. In the 2024–25 Wild Card round win over the Buccaneers, he dislocated his thumb but played the following week against the Detroit Lions before being ruled out of the NFC Championship Game due to combined thumb and knee injuries.
Driving Style and Strengths
Payne is recognized for his interior quickness, strong hands, and ability to collapse the pocket against the run and the pass. His strength at the line of scrimmage allows him to occupy multiple blockers, freeing edge rushers and linebackers to make plays. He pairs physical disruption with disciplined pass-rush technique, making him a three-down defensive tackle.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his signature moments are his first career interception off Russell Wilson in 2020, his game-sealing deflection against Atlanta in 2022, and his two-sack performance against Tom Brady in the 2020 wild-card round. Payne also earned CFP National Championship defensive MVP honors and was part of Alabama’s 2015 and 2017 title-winning teams.
Daron Payne Career Wins
Payne’s career accolades include a 2022 Pro Bowl selection, 2018 PFWA All-Rookie Team honors, two College Football Playoff national championships, Freshman All-American recognition in 2015, and First-team All-SEC honors in 2017. He has also earned All-Rookie recognition from the Pro Football Writers of America and was named CFP national championship defensive MVP.
Alabama Highlights
At Alabama, Payne helped the Crimson Tide win College Football Playoff national championships in 2015 and 2017. He was named the defensive MVP of both postseason games during the 2017 season and was recognized as a Freshman All-American in 2015.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond his championships, Payne earned First-team All-SEC recognition in 2017 and has been a key contributor on multiple Washington playoff teams, including the 2020 and 2024 postseason runs.
Daron Payne Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public details about Daron Cordell Payne’s immediate family remain limited. He was born and raised in the Birmingham, Alabama, area, where his football journey began.
Personal Life
Payne maintains an active presence on social media, including his verified Instagram account. Information about his marital status, spouse, and children has not been publicly confirmed in verified sources.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season opened with a strong showing against the New York Giants, as Payne recorded five total tackles, two pass deflections, and one sack. In Week 10 against the Detroit Lions, Payne was ejected after punching Amon-Ra St. Brown in retaliation for an earlier punch that was not flagged at the time. On November 10, 2025, the NFL suspended Payne for one game without pay for the altercation, a decision that drew criticism given that St. Brown received only a fine for the same offense.
Payne finished the 2025 season with three sacks, 46 total tackles, and five passes defended. He remains a foundational piece of Washington’s defense under his $90 million extension, which runs through the 2027 season.
