Jaleel McLaughlin Bio
Jaleel McLaughlin is an American professional football running back for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). Born in Marshville, North Carolina, he attended Notre Dame College and Youngstown State before signing with Denver as an undrafted free agent in 2023. He is widely recognized as the NCAA’s all-time leading rusher after his storied college career across Division II and the FCS.
Listed at 5 ft 8 in and 187 pounds, McLaughlin has defied size-based doubts to carve out a role in the NFL. His combination of vision, balance, and breakaway speed has made him a notable presence in the Broncos’ backfield since his rookie season.
Early Life and Background
Jaleel McLaughlin was born on September 13, 2000, in Marshville, North Carolina, and grew up as one of four children in a household led by his mother. The family faced significant economic challenges during his childhood, at one point moving between hotels, motels, and relatives’ houses after his mother lost her job. The hardship deepened when his grandmother passed away from a heart attack, after which he and his family lived for several months in a car parked outside a McDonald’s before moving in with a relative.
Despite these difficulties, McLaughlin gravitated toward athletics from a young age, playing football, basketball, and track. At Forest Hills High School, he was a multi-sport standout who helped his basketball team capture a state championship. On the track, he placed second in the 400-meter dash at the state championships, third in the 200 meters, and was part of the school’s first championship-winning 4×100 and 4×200 relay teams.
In football at Forest Hills, McLaughlin piled up 1,401 rushing yards on 167 attempts with 16 touchdowns in just 12 games, averaging more than eight yards per carry. Despite those numbers, NCAA Division I programs did not extend offers, and most Division II programs projected him as a defensive back because of his 5 ft 7 in frame. Notre Dame College was among the few schools willing to let him play running back, and he committed to the Falcons.
Path to American Football
McLaughlin’s college career began with a record-setting debut for the Notre Dame Falcons. As a freshman, he rushed for a school-record 302 yards in his first game, which also stood as the Division II record for most rushing yards in a player’s debut. He later broke his own mark with 340 yards and three touchdowns against West Liberty in just three quarters of work.
By the fifth game of his freshman season, McLaughlin led all of Division II in rushing with 1,091 yards and nine touchdowns, averaging 9.3 yards per carry. He finished the year with 2,421 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns, leading the entire NCAA in rushing, and became the first true freshman in Notre Dame College history to be named a first-team All-American. He placed third in voting for the Harlon Hill Trophy.
As a sophomore, McLaughlin again led Division II in rushing and scoring, amassing 2,316 yards and 33 touchdowns while finishing as the runner-up for the Harlon Hill Trophy. After two seasons at Notre Dame College, he transferred to the FCS-level Youngstown State Penguins to elevate his competition and visibility. Across his five college seasons, he compiled 8,166 rushing yards and 79 touchdowns on 1,250 carries, finishing his career as the NCAA’s all-time leading rusher.
Jaleel McLaughlin Career
Early Career (2023)
After going unselected in the 2023 NFL Draft, McLaughlin signed with the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent. He impressed throughout the preseason and earned a spot on Denver’s final roster, beginning his professional career as a depth back behind the Broncos’ established rushers.
McLaughlin scored his first career touchdown on a five-yard carry against the Washington Commanders in Week 2 and added a 72-yard rushing performance with a receiving touchdown in Week 4 that earned him the game ball. As a rookie, he appeared in all 17 games and made three starts, finishing 2023 with 76 carries for 410 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown, plus 31 receptions for 160 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns.
NFL Breakthrough (2024)
McLaughlin expanded his role in his second NFL season, becoming a regular contributor in the Broncos’ rotation. He showed the same explosive per-touch averages that defined his college career, providing Denver with a change-of-pace option in both the running and passing games.
Through his career as tracked in official NFL statistics, McLaughlin has logged 226 rushing attempts for 1,093 yards and three rushing touchdowns, along with 59 receptions for 263 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns. His receiving production has highlighted his versatility out of the backfield and on designed routes.
Denver Broncos Era (2023–Present)
McLaughlin has spent his entire professional career with the Denver Broncos after signing as an undrafted free agent in 2023. Wearing jersey No. 38, he has steadily grown into a complementary offensive piece whose big-play ability and pass-catching skills provide a different look for the Broncos’ offense.
Following his rookie contract, McLaughlin was a restricted free agent, and the Broncos initially chose not to tender him during the 2026 offseason. The team later brought him back on a one-year, $1.145 million contract signed on March 13, 2026, signaling continued faith in his role within the backfield.
Driving Style and Strengths
On the field, McLaughlin pairs compact size with exceptional contact balance and short-area quickness. He is at his best in space, capable of turning short passes and pitches into sizable gains, and he has shown a knack for finishing runs with sudden cuts rather than power. His receiving volume also speaks to a comfort level as a third-down and mismatch weapon against linebackers.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his signature moments, McLaughlin set the all-time college football rushing record in 2022 by totaling 8,166 career yards, surpassing the previous mark held by Nate Kmic. He also booked his first NFL touchdown against Washington, posted a 72-yard rushing game with a receiving score in Week 4 of 2023, and became Notre Dame College’s first true freshman first-team All-American.
Jaleel McLaughlin Career Wins
McLaughlin’s victory ledger is built around individual rushing records and team championships rather than race-style wins. At the high school level, he won a state basketball championship and multiple track titles, including first-place finishes as part of Forest Hills’ championship 4×100 and 4×200 relay teams.
College Highlights
Across his college career, McLaughlin earned the Harlon Hill Trophy runner-up honor twice, was named a two-time First-team Division II All-American at Notre Dame College in 2018 and 2019, and was a First-team FCS All-American in 2022 at Youngstown State. He collected two First-team All-Mountain East Conference selections, two First-team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference nods, and was named both the MEC and MVFC Offensive Player of the Year in 2019 and 2022, respectively.
Other Performances
McLaughlin’s 2018 freshman season included the Division II debut rushing record, while his 2022 senior campaign produced the all-time college rushing record. He set the school rushing records at both Notre Dame College and Youngstown State, and his senior-year 227-yard output against Missouri State delivered the milestone performance that secured the NCAA’s career rushing crown.
Jaleel McLaughlin Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
McLaughlin was raised by his mother in Marshville, North Carolina, alongside three siblings. His extended family played a formative role in his upbringing, including a grandmother whose death left the family without a stable home during his middle school years, and a cousin who served as a role model before passing away from a brain tumor.
Personal Life
McLaughlin’s mother has been a central figure throughout his journey, supporting him through periods of poverty and homelessness that defined his early years. The experience shaped the perseverance he has often credited in interviews, and it remains a defining part of his off-field story as he continues his professional career in Denver.
2025 Season Performance
Entering the 2025 season, McLaughlin was positioned as a rotational back and pass-catching option within the Broncos’ offense. His production tracked through his first two NFL seasons suggested continued growth, with career totals reaching 226 carries for 1,093 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns, plus 59 receptions for 263 yards and four receiving scores.
His per-carry averages and receiving usage made him a consistent matchup problem for opposing defenses, especially on passing downs. The Broncos leaned on his ability to generate explosive plays in space, a role that complemented the team’s broader offensive scheme under head coach Sean Payton.
Looking beyond 2025, McLaughlin’s re-signing in March 2026 on a one-year deal indicates that Denver views him as part of its competitive backfield plans. His 2025 campaign provided a foundation of experience and production that the Broncos hope will translate into an even larger role in the seasons ahead.
