Garrett Marino Bio
Garrett Scott Marino (born August 3, 1994) is an American professional football defensive lineman. Standing 6 feet 2 inches and listed at 290 pounds, he plays the defensive tackle position and has competed in professional leagues across the United States and Canada. Marino is best known for his college career at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and his tenures with the Dallas Cowboys, Saskatchewan Roughriders, and Michigan Panthers.
After going undrafted in the 2020 NFL Draft, Marino has built a journeyman professional career defined by persistence. He currently plays for the Michigan Panthers of the United States Football League (USFL), where he continues to log starts along the interior defensive line.
Early Life and Background
Garrett Scott Marino was born on August 3, 1994, in Mission Viejo, California, United States. He grew up in the same Orange County community where he would later star as a high school athlete. Mission Viejo, located in Southern California, has long produced competitive football talent, and Marino’s path reflected that regional tradition.
Marino attended Mission Viejo High School, where he developed into a disruptive pass rusher on the defensive line. As a senior, he started at defensive end and tallied 40 tackles along with 14 sacks, a statistical line that highlighted his quickness off the edge and his ability to finish plays in the backfield. His senior production drew statewide recognition.
For his senior-year performance, Marino earned All-League, All-Pac 5 Division, All-CIF, All-Orange County, and second-team All-State honors. He was also named the Most Valuable Player of both the Southern California All-Star Game and the Arizona vs. California All-Star Game, underscoring his standing among the top high school defensive linemen in California.
Path to American Football
Marino’s route to professional football was unconventional and required several stops. On January 15, 2013, he committed to play at Arizona State University, but he did not qualify academically and sat out his first season. In 2014, he instead accepted a football scholarship from Montana State University, where he appeared in six games with three starts as a true freshman at defensive end, recording eight tackles including one for loss. On October 20, 2014, he was dismissed from the Montana State program for unspecified reasons.
Looking to restart his career, Marino signed a letter of intent with the University of Alabama at Birmingham in August 2015. Because the UAB football program had been temporarily shuttered, he was forced to redshirt in 2016 and wait for the Blazers’ reinstatement. He returned to action in 2017 and gradually built a productive college resume over his next three seasons.
As a sophomore in 2017, Marino appeared in 13 games with six starts, recording 33 tackles with eight for loss. In 2018, he started nine of 13 games, registering 19 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and a 48-yard fumble return for a touchdown against Tulane University. As a senior in 2019, he started 13 of 14 games and posted 43 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, six sacks, seven pass breakups, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and one blocked kick. That senior campaign earned him first-team All-Conference USA honors.
Garrett Marino Career
Early Career (2020)
Entering the 2020 NFL process, Marino ran a 4.89-second 40-yard dash and put up 41 reps on the bench press at his pro day. He also played in the 2020 Shrine Bowl, where he registered two tackles and one tackle for loss, though scouts expressed concerns about his size for the defensive tackle position and the fact that he would turn 26 before the regular season began.
Marino went undrafted in the 2020 NFL Draft but signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent on April 27, 2020. He competed for a roster spot at defensive tackle during training camp but was released with a non-football illness designation on July 28, 2020, before the regular season began.
Saskatchewan Roughriders Era (2021–2022)
On January 14, 2021, Marino signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL) as play resumed following the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown. In his first CFL season, he appeared in seven games with five starts and posted 13 tackles and four sacks, establishing himself as an interior pass rusher in the Canadian game.
His second season in Saskatchewan became turbulent. During a 2022 game against the Ottawa Redblacks, Marino delivered a low tackle on quarterback Jeremiah Masoli that was projected to sideline Masoli for 10 to 12 weeks after surgery. After celebrating the hit, Marino was summoned to a CFL disciplinary hearing and suspended four games. Commissioner Randy Ambrosie cited two games for the low and dangerous hit combined with the celebration, a third game for an illegal tackle on an offensive lineman earlier in the contest, and a fourth game for verbal comments about Masoli’s heritage during the game. Following his return, Marino was fined for unnecessary roughness and later leveled Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros away from the ball, leading to his release by the Roughriders on September 6, 2022. Reports indicated that Commissioner Ambrosie informed CFL teams he could refuse to register any future Marino contract over player-safety concerns.
Michigan Panthers Era (2022–2025)
On September 18, 2022, Marino announced on Twitter that he had signed a contract with the Michigan Panthers of the United States Football League (USFL), and the team confirmed the signing on October 6, 2022. The move gave him a fresh start in a spring league and a return to consistent playing time.
In 2023, Marino was placed on the inactive list on May 18 before being activated on May 26. He went on to appear in nine games with nine starts, producing 25 tackles and 2.5 sacks. On August 12, 2024, he re-signed with the Panthers, extending his run with the organization through the 2025 USFL season.
Driving Style and Strengths
As a defensive tackle, Marino has relied on quickness, leverage, and a motor that has helped him compensate for a frame considered undersized for the position. His college production in tackles for loss and sacks, along with his pass-rush snaps in the CFL and USFL, reflect a player who wins with first-step burst, hand usage, and finishing ability rather than mass. He has shown he can play multiple techniques along the interior line and contribute on passing downs as well as against the run.
Notable Events and Milestones
Signature moments in Marino’s career include his 48-yard fumble return for a touchdown against Tulane in 2018, his first-team All-Conference USA selection in 2019, and his decision to continue his career in the USFL after his release from Saskatchewan. His journey from an undrafted free agent in Dallas, to a CFL roster that included multiple league disciplinary actions, to a multi-year starter with the Michigan Panthers, marks him as one of the more resilient journeyman defensive linemen of his draft class.
Garrett Marino Career Wins
Garrett Scott Marino’s professional career is best measured in starts, tackles, and sacks rather than championship trophies. Across his stops with the Dallas Cowboys, Saskatchewan Roughriders, and Michigan Panthers, he has produced consistent interior defensive line play and remained a starter at every professional level where he has had the opportunity.
Michigan Panthers Highlights
Marino signed with the Michigan Panthers ahead of the 2023 USFL season and has since been a regular starter. In 2023, he appeared in nine games with nine starts and posted 25 tackles and 2.5 sacks. He re-signed with the Panthers on August 12, 2024, confirming his value to the defensive line rotation heading into the 2025 campaign.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond his Panthers tenure, Marino is recognized for his first-team All-Conference USA honor in 2019, when he helped UAB win the Conference USA West Division title in the final game of the regular season. His four sacks during the 2021 CFL season with Saskatchewan also stand out as his most productive professional statistical stretch to date.
Garrett Marino Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Garrett Scott Marino’s parents and broader family background is not widely documented. What is known is that he grew up in Mission Viejo, California, and rose through the Mission Viejo High School football program before pursuing opportunities at Arizona State, Montana State, and ultimately UAB.
Personal Life
Details about Marino’s spouse, children, and current residence are not publicly confirmed in available sources. He maintains an active presence on social media under the handle @garrettmarino_1 on X (formerly Twitter), where he has shared professional announcements including his signing with the Michigan Panthers.
2025 Season Performance
Entering the 2025 USFL season, Garrett Scott Marino is established as a returning starter along the Michigan Panthers’ defensive line after re-signing with the team on August 12, 2024. His familiarity with the Panthers’ defensive scheme, paired with his 2023 production of 25 tackles and 2.5 sacks across nine starts, gives him a clear role within the rotation.
The 2025 Panthers defense is expected to lean on veteran interior presence, and Marino’s combination of quickness and finishing ability fits that profile. With continuity from the previous season and a full offseason of preparation, he is positioned to log a heavy snap count and pursue a career-high in sacks at the USFL level.
Marino’s outlook for 2025 centers on staying healthy, avoiding off-field disciplinary issues, and producing consistently as an interior pass rusher. If he matches or exceeds his 2023 tackle totals while increasing his sack production, he will strengthen his case as a core piece of the Michigan Panthers’ defensive front.