DJ Coleman Bio
DJ Coleman (born September 2, 1998) is an American professional football defensive end who has spent time across multiple professional leagues. After going unselected in the 2023 NFL draft, he signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent and went on to make his NFL debut with the team in December 2024. He has also appeared for the Birmingham Stallions of the United Football League and the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League.
Standing 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) and listed at 283 lb (128 kg), Coleman developed into a productive pass rusher during his college career, finishing with 30.5 tackles-for-loss and 18 sacks across his time at Jacksonville State and Missouri. His professional journey has spanned the NFL, the UFL, and the CFL, reflecting the persistence required to continue pursuing his career in football.
Early Life and Background
Coleman was born on September 2, 1998, in Atlanta, Georgia. He grew up in the same city where he would later build the foundation of his football career, attending South Atlanta High School. Atlanta has produced a long line of football talent, and Coleman developed his game within that competitive local scene, training as a defensive lineman throughout his high school years.
At South Atlanta High School, Coleman played football as a defensive lineman and earned all-region recognition for his play. He was also invited to the APS All-Star Game, where he went on to win defensive MVP honors. His performance at the high school level helped him attract several college scholarship offers.
Following his high school success, Coleman committed to play college football for the Jacksonville State Gamecocks, choosing them over a number of other programs. His decision to begin his college career at the FCS level gave him the opportunity to earn meaningful playing time early in his development as a pass rusher.
Path to American Football
Coleman began his college career with the Jacksonville State Gamecocks in 2018, appearing in 11 games during his first season while posting 11 tackles and 2.5 tackles-for-loss. As he adjusted to the speed and physicality of the college game, he showed steady improvement in his technique and strength at the defensive end position, building a base that would later support his move to a higher level of competition.
By his sophomore year in 2019, Coleman had become one of the top defenders on the Jacksonville State roster. He started 11 games and finished with 59 tackles, 10.5 tackles-for-loss and five sacks, leading the team in both tackles-for-loss and sacks. His breakout campaign earned him second-team All-Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) honors and third-team FCS All-American recognition from HERO Sports.
Coleman continued his ascent with the Gamecocks, posting 54 tackles, 12 tackles-for-loss and nine sacks in the 2020/21 season. That year, he was named first-team All-OVC and a second-team All-American, with his sacks total ranking second nationally. After his senior season in 2021, in which he was an All-ASUN Conference selection, Coleman entered the NCAA transfer portal and finished his college career with the Missouri Tigers in 2022 before declaring for the NFL draft.
DJ Coleman Career
Early Career (2018–2022)
Coleman’s early football career was defined by his steady rise through the college ranks with the Jacksonville State Gamecocks. Across four seasons with the program from 2018 through 2021, he appeared in 47 games and made 179 tackles, 30.5 tackles-for-loss and 18 sacks. His most productive years came in 2019, 2020, and 2021, when he was consistently among the team’s leaders in disruption behind the line of scrimmage.
Looking for a final challenge at a higher level of college football, Coleman transferred to the Missouri Tigers for the 2022 season. In his lone year at Missouri, he played in 12 games, producing 37 tackles, 8.5 tackles-for-loss and 4.5 sacks. After the regular season, he declared for the 2023 NFL draft and opted out of Missouri’s bowl game to begin preparing for the next stage of his career.
NFL Debut and Jacksonville Jaguars Era (2023–2024)
After going unselected in the 2023 NFL draft, Coleman signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent. He appeared in all three of the team’s preseason games that summer, totaling eight tackles and showing enough to remain with the organization. He was waived on August 29, 2023, and re-signed to the practice squad the following day, allowing him to continue developing within the Jaguars’ system.
Coleman signed a reserve/future contract with Jacksonville on January 9, 2024, and returned for the 2024 preseason, playing in all three games with one start and recording six tackles. He was waived on August 27, 2024, and again re-signed to the practice squad the next day. His perseverance paid off when he was elevated to the active roster for the Jaguars’ Week 15 game against the New York Jets, where he made his NFL debut on 15 defensive snaps and tallied three tackles. He was released from the practice squad on December 27, 2024.
UFL and CFL Stints (2025)
Following his time in Jacksonville, Coleman signed with the Birmingham Stallions of the United Football League on January 27, 2025, joining one of the spring league’s most successful franchises. His stay with the Stallions was brief, as he was released on April 8, 2025.
Just two weeks later, on April 22, 2025, Coleman signed with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League, seeking to continue his professional career in a different football environment. He was released by the Alouettes on May 20, 2025, closing out a whirlwind spring that saw him play at three different professional stops in a short span.
Driving Style and Strengths
Coleman’s physical profile, listed at 6 ft 5 in and 283 lb, allows him to play with the combination of length and power that teams look for in an edge rusher. His college production at Jacksonville State and Missouri highlighted his ability to disrupt plays in the backfield, finishing with 18 career sacks and 30.5 tackles-for-loss. His path through multiple professional rosters also reflects the patience and resilience required to keep refining his craft as a defensive end.
Notable Events and Milestones
Coleman’s most significant professional milestone came on December 15, 2024, when he made his NFL debut for the Jacksonville Jaguars against the New York Jets, recording three tackles in his first regular-season action. Earlier in his career, he was a two-time All-OVC selection at Jacksonville State, an All-ASUN Conference honoree in 2021, and an FCS All-American, marking him as one of the more accomplished pass rushers to come out of the program during his tenure.
DJ Coleman Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Coleman’s family background is limited, and detailed records of his parents or extended family are not widely available.
Personal Life
Coleman was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, the city where he attended South Atlanta High School and first developed as a football player. There is no publicly verified information available about a spouse or children.
2025 Season Performance
DJ Coleman’s 2025 season was marked by a series of quick transitions between professional football leagues as he searched for a stable roster home. After being released by the Jacksonville Jaguars’ practice squad in late December 2024, he signed with the Birmingham Stallions of the United Football League on January 27, 2025, in hopes of showcasing his skills in the spring league. His time with the Stallions lasted just over two months before he was released on April 8, 2025.
Two weeks later, Coleman moved north to sign with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League on April 22, 2025, exploring an opportunity in a different style of football. That stint was similarly short, ending with his release on May 20, 2025. Across both 2025 stops, Coleman’s focus remained on earning a consistent role and demonstrating the pass-rushing ability he had built through years of college and professional play.
Looking ahead, Coleman’s outlook hinges on finding another opportunity to compete at a professional level, whether in the NFL, the UFL, the CFL, or another league. His combination of size, production, and perseverance, including an NFL debut with three tackles in 2024, leaves him positioned to continue pursuing his career in football.