Dorance Armstrong Jr. Bio
Dorance Armstrong Jr. (born June 10, 1997) is an American professional football defensive end for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) and listed at 255 lb (116 kg), he wears jersey number 92 and plays an edge-rushing role on the defensive line. He played college football for the Kansas Jayhawks and was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL draft. After six seasons in Dallas, he signed with the Washington Commanders in March 2024.
Early Life and Background
Dorance Armstrong Jr. was born on June 10, 1997, in Houston, Texas, USA. He grew up in the Houston area and attended North Shore Senior High School in Galena Park Independent School District. At North Shore, he played defensive end for the football team and also lettered in basketball, showing the kind of multi-sport athleticism common among NFL edge prospects.
As a junior, Armstrong was named second-team All-District, and as a senior, he earned first-team All-District honors at defensive end. His production on the line drew the attention of several college programs, and he ultimately accepted a football scholarship from the University of Kansas. He chose the Jayhawks over a group of offers that included California, Indiana, Iowa State, Michigan State, Purdue, and Texas Tech, among others.
Path to American Football
Armstrong arrived at Kansas rated as a 3-star defensive end recruit, but he developed into one of the Big 12 Conference’s most productive pass rushers. As a freshman in 2015, he appeared in all 12 games and started the final five contests at defensive end, recording 23 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks (second on the team), and 4 passes defensed. The experience gave him an early foundation in the Jayhawks’ defensive system.
His sophomore season in 2016 was his true breakout. Starting at left defensive end, he led the team and ranked second in the conference with 10 sacks, the highest single-season total by a Kansas player since 2008. He added 56 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 5 quarterback hurries, 3 forced fumbles, and 2 fumble recoveries, and was named first-team All-Big 12. He capped the year with a career-high 11 tackles, 2 sacks, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery against the University of Texas.
As a junior in 2017, his role shifted and his production regressed somewhat. He still finished third on the team with 63 total tackles, added 9 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, 7 quarterback hurries, 4 passes defensed, 3 forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery, earning second-team All-Big 12 recognition. On January 3, 2018, he announced that he would forgo his senior season and enter the 2018 NFL draft, closing his college career with 142 tackles and 15.5 sacks.
Dorance Armstrong Jr. Career
Early Career (2018–2019)
The Dallas Cowboys selected Dorance Armstrong Jr. in the fourth round, 116th overall, of the 2018 NFL draft. He made his first career start on October 14, 2018, against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and recorded his first career sack on November 5, 2018, against the Tennessee Titans, splitting the sack with teammate Caraun Reid. As a 21-year-old rookie, he played in 15 of the Cowboys’ 16 games, finishing with 13 tackles, 8 solo stops, and a half sack.
In 2019, Armstrong appeared in 15 games without a start, tallying 16 tackles, 2 sacks, 9 quarterback pressures, a forced fumble, and 2 special-teams tackles. His first full career sack came against the Green Bay Packers, and his first career forced fumble came against the New York Giants. The two seasons gave him a measured introduction to the NFL, building his body and technique behind established veterans.
Dallas Cowboys Breakthrough (2020–2022)
Armstrong’s role grew in 2020, when he played all 16 games and made 2 starts. He posted 33 tackles, 9 quarterback pressures, 2 pass breakups, 2 fumble recoveries, and 3 special-teams tackles. The following year, in 2021, he appeared in 13 games with 5 starts and collected 37 tackles, 5 sacks (third on the team), 22 quarterback pressures (fourth on the team), 2 pass breakups, and a fumble recovery that he returned 37 yards for a touchdown. He missed four games with a high ankle sprain but stepped into the starting lineup in place of an injured Randy Gregory, including a Week 10 start against the Atlanta Falcons in which he had 3 tackles, a sack, 3 quarterback hurries, and a blocked punt.
On March 17, 2022, Armstrong signed a two-year contract extension with the Cowboys. That season he appeared in 17 games with 5 starts, registering 28 tackles, 8.5 sacks (second on the team), 25 quarterback pressures (fourth on the team), 2 fumble recoveries, and 2 blocked kicks. He had 2 sacks against the Cincinnati Bengals and blocked a field goal attempt against the New York Giants and a punt against the Los Angeles Rams, becoming the sixth player in franchise history with multiple blocked punts. The 2022 campaign established him as a reliable edge presence.
Washington Commanders Era (2023–Present)
Armstrong closed his Cowboys tenure in 2023, playing all 17 games with 1 start and recording 28 tackles, 7 of them for loss, 7.8 sacks (second on the team), and 12 quarterback pressures. He opened the season with 3 tackles for loss and 2 sacks against the New York Giants. On March 14, 2024, he signed a three-year contract with a maximum value of $45 million with the Washington Commanders, reuniting with head coach Dan Quinn, his former defensive coordinator in Dallas, who personally called to recruit him to Washington.
In his first Commanders season, Armstrong appeared in 16 games and finished the 2024 regular season with 39 tackles, 5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 1 pass deflections. Through seven appearances and five starts in 2025, he had 5.5 sacks and 24 combined tackles before a season-ending knee injury placed him on injured reserve on October 21, 2025.
Driving Style and Strengths
Armstrong is a long, athletic edge rusher whose 6 ft 4 in frame and length allow him to play the run on the outside and threaten quarterbacks with quick first-step bursts. He is equally effective setting the edge against the run, rushing the passer, and contributing on special teams, where he has shown the discipline to block kicks. His career production reflects steady growth as a pass rusher, with 34 career sacks and consistent pressure totals across multiple schemes.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his signature moments, Armstrong returned a fumble 37 yards for a touchdown in 2021, blocked a punt and a field goal in 2022 to join a select Cowboys group with multiple blocked punts, and posted a 7.8-sack season in 2023 to rank second on the Dallas defense. His three-year, $45 million contract with Washington in 2024 marked his first major move as a veteran free agent.
Dorance Armstrong Jr. Career Statistics
Through the 2025 NFL season, Dorance Armstrong Jr. has built a steady body of work as a rotational and starting defensive end. His career NFL totals include 232 tackles, 34 sacks, 5 forced fumbles, 4 fumble recoveries, 5 pass deflections, and 1 touchdown, reflecting his role as a versatile edge defender and special-teams contributor.
Season Highlights
Armstrong recorded his first career sack on November 5, 2018, against the Tennessee Titans, splitting the play with Caraun Reid, and notched his first full sack the following season against the Green Bay Packers. He set a personal best with 8.5 sacks in 2022 and matched similar production with 7.8 sacks in 2023, both seasons ranking second on the Cowboys in sacks.
Dorance Armstrong Jr. Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public biographical sources do not detail Dorance Armstrong Jr.’s parents or extended family in connection with professional football, and no racing or multi-generational sports lineage is documented.
Personal Life
Armstrong was born and raised in Houston, Texas, and continued his football career through North Shore Senior High School and the University of Kansas. Verified public information about a spouse, partner, or children is not available.
2025 Season Performance
Dorance Armstrong Jr. began the 2025 season with the Washington Commanders as a starting-caliber edge rusher coming off a productive 2024 debut in Washington. Through seven appearances and five starts, he tallied 5.5 sacks and 24 combined tackles, maintaining a sack pace in line with his career averages and continuing his role as a complementary pass rusher opposite Washington’s other defensive ends.
On October 21, 2025, Armstrong was placed on injured reserve with a season-ending knee injury, cutting his year short. The injury occurred in the middle of a contract that runs through 2027, and his recovery and return timeline are expected to be central storylines as the Commanders evaluate their pass-rush group for the seasons ahead.
