Jalen Dalton Bio
Jalen Dalton (born August 5, 1997) is an American professional football defensive end who has spent time across the National Football League (NFL) and spring football leagues. He played college football for the North Carolina Tar Heels and was signed by the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2019. He has also spent time with the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons. Standing 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) and listed at 300 lb (136 kg), Dalton has remained a project-style defensive lineman, working to carve out a role at the professional level.
Across his career, Dalton has appeared in professional camps and practice squads, with his most extended NFL action coming in 2022 with Atlanta. He has also played in the XFL and UFL, including stints with the Seattle Sea Dragons and the San Antonio Brahmas. As of late 2024, he is a member of the Dallas Cowboys practice squad.
Early Life and Background
Jalen Dalton was born on August 4, 1997, in Clemmons, North Carolina. He grew up in the same community where he would later attend high school, developing his frame and athletic background in a region known for producing football talent. He attended West Forsyth High School, where he became one of the most decorated defensive line prospects in the state.
At West Forsyth, Dalton earned first-team all-state honors and was rated as one of the top defensive end recruits in the country. Rivals.com ranked him the fourth-best defensive end recruit nationally and the best player in the state. Following his senior season, he announced his commitment to play college football at the University of North Carolina in November 2014, choosing the Tar Heels over other programs.
Path to American Football
Dalton joined the North Carolina Tar Heels as one of the program’s highest-rated recruits. He appeared in nine games as a true freshman, recording 15 tackles, an early sign that he would develop into a rotational defensive lineman. Coaches considered him lean for his position at around 250 pounds, and he worked to add mass before his sophomore season.
By 2016, Dalton had bulked up to 290 pounds and played in all 13 games, starting two, while totaling 27 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, a blocked kick, and a fumble recovery. As a junior in 2017, he started three games and appeared in six more, finishing with 28 tackles, three sacks, and 8.0 tackles for loss, the latter ranking second on the team. In his senior year, he appeared in seven games and produced 23 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and 4.5 tackles for loss, finishing his college career with 93 total tackles and 6.5 sacks.
Jalen Dalton Career
Early Career (2019)
After going unselected in the 2019 NFL draft, Dalton was signed by the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent following a successful rookie minicamp. He spent the preseason in Chicago competing for a roster spot along the defensive line. He was waived at the final roster cuts on August 31, 2019, closing his first NFL chapter without appearing in a regular-season game.
Shortly after his release, Dalton found a new opportunity when he was signed to the practice squad of the New Orleans Saints on December 18, 2019. He finished the year developing within the Saints’ system and was later signed to a futures contract on January 6, 2020, securing his place with the team heading into the next league year.
New Orleans Saints (2019–2022)
Dalton’s time in New Orleans was marked by promising momentum and frustrating setbacks. He suffered a season-ending injury in August 2020 that kept him off the field for the entire campaign. In 2021, he appeared to be heading toward a final roster spot with the Saints but suffered another season-ending injury, once again limiting him to the sidelines.
Across his four seasons with New Orleans, Dalton never appeared in a regular-season game. He was released by the Saints on May 3, 2022, ending a stretch defined more by perseverance than by statistical production. The stint still gave him an extended look inside a stable NFL organization.
Atlanta Falcons (2022)
On June 16, 2022, Dalton signed with the Atlanta Falcons in search of a fresh start. He suffered an injury during the preseason and was released with an injury settlement shortly afterward, a familiar obstacle in his young career. The Falcons later re-signed him to the practice squad on October 18, 2022, opening the door to his long-awaited NFL debut.
Dalton was elevated to the active roster for a Week Eight game against the Carolina Panthers, making his NFL debut in the 37–34 win and recording one tackle. He was signed to the active roster on November 5 and finished the 2022 season with seven games played and 13 total tackles, his first extended body of NFL work. The Falcons waived him on June 7, 2023.
Carolina Panthers (2023)
On June 8, 2023, Dalton was claimed off waivers by the Carolina Panthers, returning to his home state. The opportunity was brief, as he was waived with a failed physical designation on June 12, 2023. The short stay did not result in any regular-season appearances.
Seattle Sea Dragons (2023–2024)
On October 30, 2023, Dalton signed with the Seattle Sea Dragons of the XFL, looking to get back on the field in a spring football setting. The Sea Dragons’ run was cut short when the XFL and USFL merged to create the United Football League (UFL), folding the Seattle franchise.
San Antonio Brahmas (2024)
On January 5, 2024, Dalton was drafted by the San Antonio Brahmas during the 2024 UFL dispersal draft, giving him a new landing spot in the revamped spring league. He was placed on injured reserve on May 14, 2024, which limited his on-field contribution with the Brahmas.
Dallas Cowboys Era (2024–Present)
On October 16, 2024, Dalton signed with the Dallas Cowboys practice squad, returning to the NFL. The move placed him back in a top-tier organization where he could continue his development as a defensive end. As of late 2024, his role with the Cowboys is centered on practice-squad work rather than active-roster duty.
Driving Style and Strengths
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Notable Events and Milestones
Dalton’s most notable milestone came in 2022 when he made his NFL debut with the Atlanta Falcons against the Carolina Panthers, recording his first career tackle. The appearance came after several seasons of waiting, including two separate season-ending injuries with the New Orleans Saints. He finished that 2022 campaign with 13 total tackles across seven games, establishing his first real body of NFL production.
Jalen Dalton Career Wins
Jalen Dalton’s professional résumé is defined less by headline wins and more by perseverance through injuries and roster turnover. Across his NFL stops with the Chicago Bears, New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons, and Carolina Panthers, plus spring football time with the Seattle Sea Dragons and San Antonio Brahmas, his most significant victory has been simply staying in professional football.
NFL Highlights
Dalton’s only NFL action came during the 2022 season with the Atlanta Falcons, where he appeared in seven games and recorded 13 total tackles. His debut against the Carolina Panthers, a 37–34 team win, marked his first regular-season appearance. He was part of a Falcons defense that helped the team to multiple wins down the stretch of that season.
Other Wins and Performances
In college with the North Carolina Tar Heels, Dalton posted career totals of 93 tackles and 6.5 sacks across four seasons, with a productive 2017 junior campaign that included 8.0 tackles for loss. Detailed game-by-game win tallies at the pro level are not available from the supplied inputs, so further breakdowns are omitted.
Jalen Dalton Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
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Personal Life
Public details about Jalen Dalton’s immediate family, marital status, or children are not available from the supplied sources. He grew up in Clemmons, North Carolina, and has remained based in the United States throughout his professional career.
2025 Season Performance
Looking ahead to the 2025 NFL season, Dalton’s outlook centers on whether he can convert a practice-squad role with the Dallas Cowboys into a more permanent position on the defensive line. The Cowboys added him in mid-October 2024, giving him a full offseason to learn the scheme and build chemistry with the coaching staff. His experience at defensive end and his 6 ft 6 in frame give him the physical profile teams look for in edge and interior pass-rush rotations.
The 2025 offseason is critical for Dalton, who has battled multiple season-ending injuries since 2019. Staying healthy through training camp would give him his clearest path to an active-roster opportunity since his 2022 stint in Atlanta. A strong showing in preseason action could also put him in line for special-teams snaps, a route many reserve defensive linemen use to earn a roster spot.
Beyond Dallas, Dalton’s 2025 plans could also be shaped by the broader spring and fall football calendar, given his prior experience in the XFL and UFL. For now, the focus is on the Cowboys’ defensive line room, where his combination of size, college production at North Carolina, and perseverance through injuries form the foundation of his next chapter.