Jackson Sirmon Bio
Jackson Sirmon is an American professional football linebacker who currently plays for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). Born on April 15, 2000, in Brentwood, Tennessee, he played college football for the Washington Huskies and later the California Golden Bears. Sirmon joined the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the New York Jets in 2024 before eventually signing with the New Orleans Saints in 2026.
Standing at 6 feet 2 inches and weighing around 240 pounds, Sirmon has built his reputation as a hard-working linebacker known for his instincts against the run and his special-teams reliability. He earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors in 2022, the highest recognition of his college career.
Early Life and Background
Jackson Sirmon was born and raised in Brentwood, Tennessee, where he spent most of his childhood and teenage years. He comes from a strong football family, as his father, Peter Sirmon, is a former NFL linebacker who later became a coach. Growing up around the game gave Jackson an early appreciation for the physical and mental demands of linebacker play.
Sirmon began his high school career at Loyola High School in Los Angeles, California, before transferring to Brentwood Academy in Tennessee to finish his prep career. During his high school years, he was a two-way standout who tallied 59 tackles, including 13 tackles for loss, and 10 sacks. His combination of size, speed, and football IQ made him one of the more coveted linebacker prospects in his recruiting class.
Following his senior season, Sirmon committed to play college football at the University of Washington, joining a Huskies program with a strong defensive tradition.
Path to American Football
Sirmon’s path to professional football began with his commitment to the University of Washington, where he enrolled in 2018. As a freshman, he saw limited action but still managed to record his first career tackle and a forced fumble. His role grew steadily each season as he learned the Huskies’ defensive schemes and built experience in Pac-12 competition.
After the 2021 season, Sirmon entered the NCAA transfer portal and decided to continue his career at the University of California, Berkeley. The move gave him a fresh start and an opportunity to take on a larger leadership role with the California Golden Bears. By his senior year, he had developed into one of the conference’s most productive linebackers and a respected team leader.
Jackson Sirmon Career
Early Career (2018–2021, Washington)
At Washington, Sirmon worked his way up the depth chart over four seasons. As a freshman in 2018, he contributed one tackle and a forced fumble. During the 2019 Las Vegas Bowl, he recovered a fumble as the Huskies defeated Boise State, and he closed that season with 28 tackles and two tackles for loss.
His most productive season in Seattle came in 2021, when he totaled 91 tackles, four tackles for loss, one interception, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. He recorded his first career interception that season, picking off a pass by quarterback Tanner McKee in the red zone to help Washington beat Stanford 20–13. After the season, Sirmon entered the transfer portal.
California Golden Bears Breakthrough (2022–2023)
Sirmon’s move to California paid off immediately. In 2022, he delivered the best season of his college career, finishing with 104 tackles, six tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, four pass deflections, one interception, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery that he returned for a game-winning touchdown against Stanford. His strong play earned him first-team All-Pac-12 honors and widespread recognition as one of the conference’s top linebackers.
He announced he would return to California for his final college season in 2023 and entered the year as a preseason first-team All-Pac-12 selection. He was also named a preseason All-American by Athlon Sports and appeared on several national award watch lists, including the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and the Butkus Award watch lists. His leadership helped anchor the Golden Bears defense during his final collegiate campaign.
New York Jets Era (2024–2025)
Sirmon signed with the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent on May 3, 2024. He was waived during final roster cuts on August 27 but was quickly re-signed to the team’s practice squad. On January 6, 2025, he signed a reserve/future contract with the Jets, signaling the organization’s belief in his long-term potential.
In 2025, Sirmon was again waived as part of final roster cuts on August 26 before being re-signed to the practice squad the next day. He was elevated to the active roster for the Week 7 game against the Carolina Panthers, where he played 18 snaps on special teams and recorded one solo tackle. He reverted back to the practice squad after the game, continuing to develop his role within the organization.
New Orleans Saints Era (2026–Present)
On May 27, 2026, Sirmon signed with the New Orleans Saints, marking a new chapter in his professional career. The move reunited him with his father, Peter Sirmon, who serves as the Saints’ linebackers coach.
Driving Style and Strengths
Sirmon is known for his physicality at the point of attack, his ability to read plays quickly, and his reliability in run support. He has shown a knack for forcing and recovering fumbles, a skill that helped define several of his most impactful college performances. His special-teams versatility has also made him a valuable asset during his early NFL career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Sirmon’s signature college moments was his fumble recovery returned for a touchdown that sealed a 27–20 win over Stanford during the 2022 season. He also recorded his first career interception while at Washington in 2021 and earned first-team All-Pac-12 recognition in 2022. His NFL debut with the Jets and his transition to the Saints in 2026 mark the major milestones of his professional journey so far.
Jackson Sirmon Career Wins
Jackson Sirmon’s career is still in its early stages, but he has already compiled a strong résumé at both the collegiate and professional levels. His biggest individual achievement came in 2022 when he was named a first-team All-Pac-12 selection following a 104-tackle season at California.
College Highlights
At Washington, Sirmon helped the Huskies win the 2019 Las Vegas Bowl against Boise State and was a key contributor during their successful 2021 campaign. At California, he anchored the defense during the 2022 season, including scoring the game-winning touchdown against Stanford, and was a returning starter and team leader in 2023.
Professional Performances
In the NFL, Sirmon has appeared in regular-season action for the New York Jets and has continued to develop on the practice squad. His promotion to the active roster for the Week 7 matchup against the Carolina Panthers in 2025 was an important step in his professional growth.
Jackson Sirmon Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Jackson Sirmon is the son of Peter Sirmon, a former NFL linebacker who played for the Tennessee Titans and later became a coach. Peter Sirmon has served as the linebackers coach and defensive coordinator at California and is currently the linebackers coach for the New Orleans Saints. Jackson is also the cousin of former Cleveland Browns quarterback Jacob Sirmon, making football a true family tradition.
Personal Life
Jackson Sirmon grew up in Brentwood, Tennessee, and continues to be closely connected to his family. His father has remained one of the biggest influences on his career, both as a former player and as a coach who has guided his development.
2025 Season Performance
During the 2025 NFL season, Jackson Sirmon continued his development with the New York Jets. He began the year by re-signing with the team after being waived during final roster cuts in late August. He worked primarily on the practice squad while staying ready for opportunities to be elevated to the active roster.
His most notable appearance came in Week 7 against the Carolina Panthers, when he was elevated to the active roster and contributed on special teams with 18 snaps and one solo tackle. The performance offered a glimpse of his potential and underscored his readiness to contribute at the NFL level.
Following the conclusion of his time with the Jets, Sirmon signed with the New Orleans Saints in 2026, opening a new chapter in his career and reuniting him with his father on the coaching staff.