Jamie Sheriff Bio
Jamie Lee Sheriff II is an American professional football linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). Born on August 18, 2000, in Jackson, Mississippi, he grew up in Terry, where he attended Terry High School and excelled in football. Sheriff played college football for the Mississippi Gulf Coast Bulldogs and later for the South Alabama Jaguars. Though he went undrafted in 2024, he impressed during preseason and has since established himself within the Seahawks organization.
Early Life and Background
Jamie Lee Sheriff II was born on August 18, 2000, in Jackson, Mississippi. He grew up in the small town of Terry, Mississippi, a community of roughly 1,300 residents. Sheriff attended Terry High School, where he developed into a disruptive defensive player during his prep career.
As a senior at Terry High School, Sheriff recorded 60 tackles, seven tackles for loss, five sacks, and three safeties, showcasing the playmaking ability that would later define his professional trajectory. Despite those numbers, he drew limited attention from college recruiters and arrived at the next level as a walk-on rather than a heavily pursued prospect.
Path to American Football
Sheriff began his collegiate career with the Mississippi Gulf Coast Bulldogs, a junior college program, where he had to earn his way onto the field. As a freshman in 2018, he posted 26 tackles and six sacks, immediately demonstrating the pass-rushing potential that had gone largely unnoticed during his recruitment.
In 2019, Sheriff helped Mississippi Gulf Coast compile an undefeated 12-0 record and win a national championship. That season he produced 50 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and eight sacks, earning second-team All-Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges honors. He was rated as a three-star junior college prospect and a top-25 strongside defensive end nationally, which opened the door for a transfer to a four-year program.
Jamie Sheriff Career
College Career (2018-2023)
Sheriff transferred to the South Alabama Jaguars to finish his collegiate career. In 2020, he appeared in all 11 games, starting six, and recorded 21 tackles and a sack. He missed the entire 2021 season due to injury, a setback that tested his resolve and forced him to rebuild his form the following year.
Sheriff returned healthy in 2022 and appeared in 13 games, posting 34 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, and six sacks. Using the extra year of eligibility granted to all players because of the COVID-19 pandemic, he returned for a final season in 2023. In that last campaign, he totaled 45 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, and three sacks, and was named the Defensive MVP in the 2023 68 Ventures Bowl, helping South Alabama secure the program’s first-ever bowl game victory.
NFL Breakthrough (2024)
After going unselected in the 2024 NFL Draft, Sheriff attended the Seattle Seahawks’ rookie minicamp but left without a contract. While he waited for an opportunity, he worked as a beer deliveryman in Ridgeland, Mississippi, to support himself. On August 6, 2024, he signed with the Seahawks as an undrafted free agent.
Despite joining late in the offseason, Sheriff stood out in preseason, recording eight tackles, three sacks, and five quarterback hits across three exhibition games. He was waived on August 27 as part of the Seahawks’ roster trimming, but was claimed off waivers by the Carolina Panthers the very next day. Sheriff made his NFL debut with the Panthers, playing 17 snaps in a Week 1 loss to the New Orleans Saints, before being waived on September 10.
Seattle Seahawks Era (2024-Present)
On September 13, 2024, Sheriff was signed to the Seattle Seahawks’ practice squad, beginning his second stint with the organization. He signed a reserve/future contract with Seattle on January 6, 2025, securing his place on the offseason roster. Sheriff has remained with the Seahawks through subsequent roster moves, continuing to develop within the linebacker group.
Playing Style and Strengths
Sheriff is a compact, athletic linebacker listed at 6 feet 1 inch and 254 pounds. His strengths lie in his quick first step, edge-rushing ability, and pursuit to the football, skills he refined during his junior college championship run. He has shown the versatility to line up as a pass rusher and contribute in run support, attributes that have made him a steady developmental piece for Seattle.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the most memorable chapters of Sheriff’s early career came in 2019, when he helped Mississippi Gulf Coast finish 12-0 and claim a national championship. He later earned Defensive MVP honors in the 2023 68 Ventures Bowl, leading South Alabama to its first bowl victory in program history. His perseverance between being waived and rejoining the Seahawks has also become a defining part of his story.
Jamie Sheriff Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Jamie Lee Sheriff II carries the suffix II in his name, indicating a family naming tradition, though further details about his parents and relatives have not been publicly documented in major sources. He grew up in a close-knit community in Terry, Mississippi, where local football played a central role in everyday life. Sheriff is known for his strong work ethic, including a period when he worked as a beer deliveryman while pursuing his NFL opportunity.
2025 Season Performance
Sheriff’s 2025 season began with a reserve/futures contract signed on January 6, 2025, locking in his place on the Seahawks’ offseason roster. He was part of Seattle’s roster battles through training camp, ultimately being waived on August 26, 2025, as part of the final cuts, before being re-signed to the practice squad the following day. The sequence demonstrated the team’s continued interest in keeping him within the organization.
Heading into the regular season, Sheriff is positioned as a practice squad contributor and emergency elevation candidate, ready to be called up when linebacker depth is tested. His preseason production the previous year suggests he remains a credible in-season option for Seattle if injuries or performance issues arise. His steady trajectory from undrafted free agent to a player on a reserve/futures deal highlights the Seahawks’ belief in his long-term potential.
