Jared Verse Bio
Jared Isaiah Verse (born November 4, 2000) is an American professional football defensive end who plays in the National Football League (NFL). After starring at Central Columbia High School in Pennsylvania, he built his reputation at the University at Albany before transferring to Florida State University, where he developed into one of the most disruptive edge rushers in college football. Verse was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft and quickly established himself as a cornerstone defender.
His impact was immediate, earning him the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award in 2024 and consecutive Pro Bowl selections. In June 2026, the Rams traded Verse to the Cleveland Browns, where he continues to compete at the highest level of professional football.
Early Life and Background
Jared Verse was born on November 4, 2000, in Dayton, Ohio. He grew up in Berwick, Pennsylvania, and later moved to Greenville, North Carolina, experiences that exposed him to a variety of athletic communities across the country. As a youth, he played football at Hope Middle School and spent one year at D.H. Conley High School before settling at Central Columbia High School in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania.
At Central Columbia, Verse played defensive end and tight end for the Bluejays football team, earning three straight All-Pennsylvania Heartland Athletic Conference (PHAC) honors. He was also a multi-sport athlete, playing basketball and running on Central Columbia’s state champion 4×400-meter relay team, an experience that helped develop the speed and explosiveness he later applied to the gridiron.
Path to American Football
Verse committed to the University at Albany, where he redshirted his freshman season before making an immediate impact during a pandemic-shortened redshirt freshman campaign in early 2021. He recorded 22 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and four sacks in just four games, earning second-team All-Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) honors and the conference’s Defensive Rookie of the Year award.
In 2021, Verse elevated his game with 53 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, and one forced fumble, earning first-team All-CAA recognition. Seeking a stronger stage to showcase his abilities, he transferred to Florida State University ahead of the 2022 season, a move that positioned him among the elite pass rushers in the Atlantic Coast Conference and set the stage for his entry into the NFL.
Jared Verse Career
Florida State Breakthrough (2022–2023)
Verse wasted no time announcing himself at Florida State, finishing his first season as Seminoles with 48 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, and nine sacks in 2022. He was voted Florida State’s Defensive MVP, selected as a first-team All-ACC performer, and named to numerous All-American teams, signaling his emergence as one of the premier defensive ends in college football.
Verse was equally dominant in 2023, recording 41 total tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, and nine sacks. He repeated as Florida State’s Defensive MVP, earned first-team All-ACC honors for the second straight year, and was again recognized as an All-American. Following the conclusion of his junior season, Verse declared for the 2024 NFL draft, confident that his production and physical tools would translate to the professional level.
Los Angeles Rams Era (2024–2025)
Verse was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the first round, 19th overall, of the 2024 NFL draft. He recorded his first career sack in his NFL debut on Sunday Night Football at Ford Field against the Detroit Lions in Week 1, a 26–20 overtime loss. Verse was named the Defensive Rookie of the Month for September after posting 19 total tackles, five for loss, and one sack. In Week 13, he delivered a strip sack on Derek Carr on fourth-and-three in the final minutes to seal a victory over the New Orleans Saints, and in the Wild Card Round he scored his first career touchdown on a 57-yard fumble recovery against the Minnesota Vikings, leading Los Angeles to a 27–9 win. Verse added four tackles, three tackles for loss, and two sacks in the Divisional Round against the Philadelphia Eagles. He closed his rookie campaign as the 2024 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, a member of the PFWA All-Rookie Team, and the lone Rams player voted to the Pro Bowl. He was also ranked 53rd by his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2025.
In 2025, Verse continued his rise with a memorable Week 17 performance against the Atlanta Falcons, blocking a Zane Gonzalez field goal attempt and returning it 76 yards for a touchdown. He finished the 2025 regular season with 7.5 sacks, 58 total tackles, and three forced fumbles, earning his second consecutive Pro Bowl selection. In the postseason, Verse recorded a sack on Sam Darnold in the NFC Championship Game against the Seattle Seahawks, reinforcing his reputation as a premier edge defender.
Cleveland Browns Era (2026–Present)
On June 1, 2026, the Los Angeles Rams traded Verse, along with a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-round pick, and a 2029 third-round pick, to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for Myles Garrett. The blockbuster move reflected Verse’s standing as one of the league’s most coveted young defenders.
Driving Style and Strengths
Verse is recognized for his combination of first-step quickness, leverage, and relentless pursuit off the edge. His background as a sprinter and multi-sport athlete contributes to his closing speed, while his refined hand technique and strength allow him to hold up against the run. Pairing physical tools with a high motor, he has proven equally effective as a pass rusher and a run-stopper, traits that have made him a foundational piece of every defense he has joined.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Verse’s signature moments are his first career sack against the Detroit Lions in Week 1 of 2024, the game-sealing strip sack of Derek Carr against the New Orleans Saints, and his 57-yard fumble recovery touchdown versus the Minnesota Vikings in the Wild Card Round. In 2025, his 76-yard blocked-field-goal return against the Atlanta Falcons and his sack of Sam Darnold in the NFC Championship Game further cemented his growing postseason résumé. He is also the reigning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and a two-time Pro Bowl selection.
Jared Verse Career Wins
While individual defensive statistics define much of Verse’s success, his résumé is anchored by team milestones and personal accolades across the collegiate and professional ranks. From conference recognition at Albany to back-to-back All-American honors at Florida State and immediate NFL recognition with the Rams, Verse has consistently delivered game-changing plays that swing outcomes for his teams.
Florida State Highlights
Across his two seasons at Florida State, Verse earned All-ACC and All-American honors each year while being named the Seminoles’ Defensive MVP in both 2022 and 2023. He accumulated 89 total tackles, 29.5 tackles for loss, and 18 sacks over that span, anchoring one of the top defenses in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Other Wins & Performances
At Albany, Verse was the 2020 CAA Defensive Rookie of the Year, a second-team All-CAA selection, and a first-team All-CAA honoree in 2021. In the NFL, he earned Defensive Rookie of the Month honors for September 2024 and was voted to consecutive Pro Bowls in 2024 and 2025, the only Rams player so honored in his rookie season. Through the 2025 season, his NFL totals include 124 tackles, 12 sacks, five forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, three pass deflections, and one touchdown.
Jared Verse Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Verse’s father, Eric, is a former member of the United States Marine Corps who works as an engineer, while his mother, Janienne, works in marketing and played a key role in guiding his college football recruiting. He has five siblings, and the discipline and structure of his family life have been credited with shaping his work ethic and competitive edge.
Personal Life
Verse’s upbringing spanned several states, moving from Ohio to Pennsylvania and North Carolina as a child, before his football career carried him to New York and Florida for college. He was married on July 8, 2025, to longtime partner Laney, with whom he has publicly shared major life milestones.
2025 Season Performance
Verse’s 2025 campaign with the Los Angeles Rams reaffirmed his place among the NFL’s most impactful edge defenders. He finished the regular season with 7.5 sacks, 58 total tackles, and three forced fumbles, capped by a Week 17 blocked field goal returned 76 yards for a touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons, one of the most memorable individual plays of the year. His production earned him a second consecutive Pro Bowl selection.
In the postseason, Verse continued to disrupt opposing offenses, recording a sack on Sam Darnold in the NFC Championship Game against the Seattle Seahawks. Following the season, the Rams traded him to the Cleveland Browns, signaling a new chapter for a player entering his prime. As he transitions to Cleveland, Verse carries momentum from consecutive Pro Bowl seasons, a Defensive Rookie of the Year award, and a track record of delivering in the league’s biggest moments.
