Jordan Kunaszyk Bio
Jordan Kunaszyk (born October 15, 1996) is an American professional football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) and listed at 235 lb (107 kg), he plays the linebacker position and has built his career as a hard-working, special-teams contributor. After going undrafted in 2019, Kunaszyk signed with the Carolina Panthers and has since played for the Washington Football Team, the Cleveland Browns, and the Minnesota Vikings. He played college football for the American River Beavers and the California Golden Bears, earning First-team All-Pac-12 honors in his final college season.
Born in Sacramento, California, Kunaszyk grew up in nearby Roseville and developed into a versatile defender through local high school football and junior college competition before reaching the Pac-12 Conference. His professional path has been defined by perseverance, with stints on practice squads and active rosters across four NFL franchises.
Early Life and Background
Jordan Kunaszyk was born in Sacramento, California, on October 15, 1996, and grew up in the neighboring city of Roseville. He attended Roseville High School, where he developed his early love for the game of football and began laying the groundwork for a defensive career. The Sacramento area’s competitive high school football scene gave him the foundation he needed to move on to the next level.
In his first varsity season, Kunaszyk notched 77 tackles, including nine tackles for loss, along with three sacks, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries, earning second-team All-Sierra Foothill League recognition. As a senior, he was even more dominant, recording 101 tackles with 21 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, one interception, and a forced fumble, and was named first-team all league. Those production numbers hinted at a player ready to handle a heavier workload at the collegiate level.
Path to American Football
Following high school, Kunaszyk began his college career at American River College, where he was forced to redshirt his true freshman season after breaking his wrist on his very first snap. He bounced back the following year in a big way, leading all California junior college players with 118 tackles and adding three sacks, one forced fumble, and three pass breakups. His performance earned him first-team All-Big 8 Conference honors, a Junior College Freshman All-American selection, and the CCCAA NorCal Division Defensive Player of the Year award.
After his standout junior college season, Kunaszyk chose to transfer to the University of California over offers from Colorado, Iowa State, UNLV, and Fresno State. As a reserve linebacker in his first year with the Golden Bears, he posted 51 tackles. He then recorded 74 tackles, 3.5 sacks, two interceptions, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery as a redshirt junior despite missing three games to injury, before finishing his California career with 148 tackles, four sacks, and five forced fumbles. That senior campaign earned him First-team All-Pac-12 honors and second-team All-America recognition from Sports Illustrated.
Jordan Kunaszyk Career
Early Career (2019)
Kunaszyk signed with the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent on April 27, 2019, after not being selected in the 2019 NFL Draft. He made his NFL debut on September 12, 2019, against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, logging 15 snaps on special teams. The rookie linebacker appeared in nine games that season and finished with seven tackles, a modest but useful start to his professional career.
The Panthers waived Kunaszyk on September 5, 2020, ending his tenure in Carolina. That short stint, however, provided him with valuable NFL experience and a clearer sense of the path he would need to follow as an undrafted player trying to build a long professional career.
Carolina Panthers Era (2019)
Jordan Kunaszyk’s debut NFL season with the Carolina Panthers gave him a foothold in the league as a special-teams contributor and reserve linebacker. Working primarily on coverage units and in rotational defensive situations, he showed the kind of physicality and tackling reliability that had marked his college resume. The experience he gained in his nine appearances helped set the stage for the next chapter of his career.
Washington Football Team Era (2020–2021)
Kunaszyk signed with the Washington Football Team’s practice squad on September 26, 2020, quickly getting back onto an NFL roster after his release from Carolina. He was elevated to the active roster on November 14 and November 21 for the team’s weeks 10 and 11 games against the Detroit Lions and Cincinnati Bengals, reverting to the practice squad after each appearance. Washington signed him to the active roster on November 25, 2020, giving him a longer-term opportunity.
The following year, Kunaszyk was released on August 31, 2021, and re-signed to the practice squad the very next day, before being signed to the active roster again on October 5. He was placed on the COVID-19 reserve list on January 8, 2022, and was officially ruled out of Washington’s season finale. On May 16, Kunaszyk was released by Washington, closing out a two-year stretch in which he had to continually prove himself between practice squad and active roster moves.
Cleveland Browns Era (2022–2023)
On August 9, 2022, Kunaszyk signed with the Cleveland Browns, adding another chapter to his journeyman NFL story. He was released on September 5 and re-signed to the Browns’ practice squad the following day, a familiar pattern for a player with his career arc. He was promoted to the active roster on September 21 and went on to play in 15 games with two starts, finishing the season with a career-high 22 tackles.
In 2023, Kunaszyk was released on February 14 before being re-signed on March 20. He was placed on injured reserve on August 31 and later activated on November 25. While his time in Cleveland was again defined by roster movement, his career-high tackle total in 2022 marked his most productive professional season to that point.
Minnesota Vikings Era (2024)
Kunaszyk signed with the Minnesota Vikings on August 13, 2024, continuing his run of late-summer opportunities around the league. He was placed on injured reserve on August 27, limiting his early-season availability. He was released by the Vikings on December 17, 2024, ending his most recent NFL stint.
Driving Style and Strengths
On the field, Kunaszyk has built his reputation as a physical, dependable linebacker whose strongest work has come on special teams and as a run-stopping reserve. His college tackle totals at California, including 148 stops in his senior year, point to a player who diagnoses plays quickly and finishes tackles in space. Coaches have consistently valued his toughness and willingness to take on special-teams roles, the kind of profile that helps undrafted linebackers stay on NFL rosters.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Kunaszyk’s career milestones are his 2018 First-team All-Pac-12 selection and his second-team All-America nod from Sports Illustrated during his final season at California. In the NFL, his career-high 22 tackles in 2022 with the Cleveland Browns stand out as his most productive single-season workload to date. He has suited up for four NFL franchises, a testament to his perseverance as an undrafted free agent.
Jordan Kunaszyk Career Wins
Across his NFL career, Jordan Kunaszyk has appeared in regular-season games for the Carolina Panthers, Washington Football Team, Cleveland Browns, and Minnesota Vikings. While he has not been credited with major team championships or division titles, his career wins are best measured in roster stability and on-field production for an undrafted linebacker. His career NFL statistics include 45 total tackles, one forced fumble, and one pass deflection.
NFL Regular-Season Highlights
Kunaszyk made his NFL debut on September 12, 2019, against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers while with the Carolina Panthers, playing 15 snaps on special teams. He went on to play nine games that season, recording seven tackles. His most productive stretch came in 2022 with the Cleveland Browns, when he played 15 games with two starts and set a career high with 22 tackles.
Other Performances
Beyond his regular-season work, Kunaszyk has logged meaningful reps on practice squads across multiple organizations, including stints with the Washington Football Team and the Cleveland Browns practice squad. His ability to bounce between the practice squad and active roster has been a defining feature of his professional journey.
Jordan Kunaszyk Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Jordan Kunaszyk grew up in the Sacramento, California, area, raised in nearby Roseville, where he attended Roseville High School. Public sources about his immediate family and extended relatives are limited, so further details about his parents or siblings are not included here.
Personal Life
Kunaszyk was born on October 15, 1996, in Sacramento, California, and is a United States national. He has not publicly disclosed details about a spouse or children in widely available sources. His professional journey from Roseville High School through American River College, the University of California, and four NFL teams reflects a steady commitment to his football career.
2025 Season Performance
Jordan Kunaszyk’s 2025 outlook begins with him as a free agent after being released by the Minnesota Vikings on December 17, 2024. With his most recent NFL stint ending in late 2024, the immediate storyline for 2025 is whether he can land another opportunity on a roster or practice squad. His experience on special teams and as a reserve linebacker gives him a clear role to offer any interested team.
Coming off a 2024 campaign that was shortened by an injured-reserve placement, Kunaszyk will likely need to show that he is healthy and ready to contribute in training camp. A return to the kind of role he had in 2022 with Cleveland, when he set a career high with 22 tackles, would represent a strong bounce-back scenario. His track record of moving between practice squads and active rosters also suggests he is comfortable competing for a spot.
Looking across the league, teams often search late in the offseason for veteran linebackers with special-teams value, which could work in Kunaszyk’s favor. If he signs in 2025, his most realistic path to playing time will once again come through special teams and short-yardage defensive packages. Regardless of where he lands, his 2025 storyline will center on extending a quietly resilient NFL career that began as an undrafted free agent in 2019.