Jarius Monroe Bio
Jarius Monroe (born October 6, 2000) is an American professional football safety for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing around 205 pounds, he plays in the secondary and contributes on special teams. After going undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft, Monroe signed with the Jets and has since moved between the active roster and the practice squad. He is best known for his productive college career at Nicholls and Tulane, where he earned multiple All-Conference honors.
Early Life and Background
Jarius Monroe was born on October 6, 2000, in LaPlace, Louisiana, a small community along the Mississippi River between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. He grew up in a region where high school football is a central part of local culture, and that environment helped shape his early path in the sport. He attended East St. John High School in Reserve, Louisiana, where he developed into a standout defensive back.
Coming out of high school, Monroe was rated as a three-star recruit by recruiting analysts. His size, range, and ball skills drew attention from college programs looking for safety help. He ultimately chose to begin his college career close to home, a decision that allowed him to continue developing while staying near his family and community in southeast Louisiana.
Path to American Football
Monroe’s path to professional football began at East St. John High School, where he earned recognition as one of the top defensive prospects in the area. His performance on the field led to a college opportunity with the Nicholls Colonels, the football program of Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana. The move gave him a chance to compete at the NCAA level and to refine his technique as a safety.
After three seasons as a starter at Nicholls, Monroe entered the NCAA transfer portal following the 2021 season. He landed at Tulane University in New Orleans, joining the Green Wave for his final two collegiate seasons. The step up in competition in the American Athletic Conference allowed him to test himself against higher-level offenses and prepared him for a future in professional football.
Jarius Monroe Career
Early Career at Nicholls (2019–2021)
Monroe spent three seasons as a starter for the Nicholls Colonels from 2019 through 2021. He quickly grew into one of the team’s most reliable defensive backs, using his length and instincts to disrupt opposing passing attacks. Over the course of his time at Nicholls, he totaled 102 tackles, 28 pass deflections, and one interception, establishing himself as a consistent playmaker in the secondary.
His strong play in 2021 earned him First Team All-Southland Conference recognition, a major individual honor within the Southland Conference. That award season helped raise his profile and set the stage for a transfer to a higher-level program.
Tulane Breakthrough (2022–2023)
After entering the transfer portal, Monroe joined the Tulane Green Wave ahead of the 2022 season. He made an immediate impact, recording his first interception with Tulane in the season opener against UMass. He finished the 2022 season with 49 tackles, eight pass deflections, and three interceptions, earning First Team All-American Athletic Conference (AAC) honors.
Monroe’s most memorable moment with Tulane came in the 2023 Cotton Bowl Classic, where he intercepted Heisman-winning quarterback Caleb Williams to help the Green Wave upset USC. In 2023, he added 48 tackles, three sacks, ten pass deflections, three interceptions, and a forced fumble, repeating as a First Team All-AAC selection. Following the season, he was invited to the 2024 East-West Shrine Bowl, where he was named the game’s Defensive MVP, boosting his stock ahead of the NFL Draft.
New York Jets Era (2024–Present)
Monroe signed with the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent on May 3, 2024. He was waived on August 27, 2024, as part of the team’s final roster cuts, but was re-signed to the practice squad. On December 24, 2024, he was promoted to the active roster, giving him his first regular-season opportunity in the NFL.
In 2025, Monroe was waived with an injury settlement by the Jets on August 26 as part of final roster cuts. He returned to the organization on November 5, 2025, when he was re-signed to the practice squad. He was elevated to the active roster on November 13, making his season debut in a Week 11 loss to the New England Patriots. On December 16, 2025, Monroe was signed to the Jets’ active roster, where he has continued to contribute on defense and special teams.
Driving Style and Strengths
Monroe is a long, physical safety with a strong feel for the passing game. His college production at Tulane showed he can play the run, defend the deep ball, and create turnovers. He pairs his length with good ball skills, allowing him to break up passes and pick off quarterbacks, as he showed against Caleb Williams in the Cotton Bowl.
Notable Events and Milestones
Monroe’s interception of Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams in the 2023 Cotton Bowl Classic is the signature moment of his career so far. He was also named Defensive MVP of the 2024 East-West Shrine Bowl, an all-star game that gave him a national platform before the NFL Draft. Making the New York Jets’ active roster in 2024 and again in 2025 marks another important milestone in his young professional career.
Jarius Monroe Career Wins
Jarius Monroe has notched individual accolades and team victories across his college and professional career. While he has not yet recorded a major individual NFL win, his trophy case from college includes multiple All-Conference honors and a postseason all-star game MVP award. His first NFL regular-season game action came in 2024 after his promotion to the Jets’ active roster.
College Highlights
At Nicholls, Monroe was a three-year starter who helped lead the Colonels’ secondary before earning First Team All-Southland honors in 2021. At Tulane, he was a two-time First Team All-AAC selection in 2022 and 2023, and he played a key role in the Green Wave’s upset victory over USC in the 2023 Cotton Bowl Classic. He was also named the Defensive MVP of the 2024 East-West Shrine Bowl.
Other Performances
Monroe’s overall college production included 199 tackles, multiple interceptions, and a long list of pass deflections across his stops at Nicholls and Tulane. He also contributed on special teams units throughout his career, a role he has continued with the New York Jets.
Jarius Monroe Family
Family Background and Roots
Jarius Monroe was raised in LaPlace, Louisiana, and attended East St. John High School in nearby Reserve, where he became a highly regarded football recruit. His Louisiana roots have stayed with him throughout his career, from his first college stop at Nicholls to his move to Tulane in New Orleans.
Personal Life
Monroe keeps his personal life largely out of the public eye. He is known to be active on social media, where he connects with fans under his online nickname. His primary focus since turning professional has been on building his career in the NFL with the New York Jets.
2025 Season Performance
Jarius Monroe’s 2025 season with the New York Jets began with a setback when he was waived with an injury settlement on August 26, 2025, as part of the team’s final roster cuts. The Jets brought him back into the organization on November 5, 2025, signing him to the practice squad to give him time to recover and re-acclimate.
He was elevated to the active roster on November 13, 2025, and made his season debut in a Week 11 loss to the New England Patriots. After a short stretch on the practice squad, Monroe was signed to the Jets’ active roster on December 16, 2025, solidifying his place on the team heading into the final weeks of the season.
Through Week 10 of the 2025 season, Monroe had recorded 6 total tackles, a modest but encouraging statistical line for a young safety working to establish himself in the NFL. With the Jets giving him a longer look down the stretch, he will look to build on those numbers and earn a larger role in the secondary heading into 2026.