Josh Ball Bio
Josh Ball (born May 15, 1998) is an American professional football offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL draft after a college career that included stops at Florida State, Butler Community College, and Marshall University. Standing 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) and listed at 325 lb (147 kg), he plays the tackle position and has spent time with the Cowboys and the New Orleans Saints.
Ball is a native of Fredericksburg, Virginia, and built his path to the NFL through a non-traditional college route. His professional career has featured stints on active rosters and practice squads as he has worked to establish himself as a reliable swing tackle at the highest level of American football.
Early Life and Background
Josh Ball grew up in Fredericksburg, Virginia, and attended Stafford Senior High School, where he developed into a highly regarded offensive line prospect. As a senior, he was a starter at left tackle and earned All-State and All-Conference honors, credentials that helped establish him as one of the top high school linemen in the region. His size, footwork, and length made him a natural fit for the tackle position even at the prep level.
Coming out of high school, Ball was rated as a four-star recruit and drew attention from multiple college football programs. He ultimately committed to Florida State University, choosing the Seminoles for the opportunity to develop within an Atlantic Coast Conference program with a strong reputation for producing NFL offensive linemen. The combination of his physical tools and his early honors at Stafford set the foundation for his transition to major college football.
Path to American Football
Ball’s journey to the NFL was not a straight line. After arriving at Florida State in 2017, he was a redshirt freshman who earned the starting left tackle job by the fifth game of the season, starting the final nine contests at left tackle. The following year, however, his path changed when, on May 21, 2018, he was suspended by the school for one year amid allegations of dating violence against a former girlfriend. Although he was never charged, he opted to leave the program and transferred to Butler Community College, where he was immediately named the starter at left tackle.
In 2019, Ball chose to continue his career at Marshall University rather than return to Florida State, joining a Thundering Herd program competing in Conference USA. As a junior, he served as a key reserve on the offensive line, appearing in 13 games with one start against Western Kentucky. The following season, he became a full-time starter at left tackle, anchoring the line during a pandemic-shortened schedule and earning First-team All-Conference USA honors in 2020. He then opted out of the 2020 Camellia Bowl to begin preparing for the NFL draft, and a positive COVID-19 test kept him out of the 2021 Hula Bowl, but his film and Conference USA recognition positioned him as a Day 3 prospect.
Josh Ball Career
Early Career (2021)
Ball was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round, 138th overall, of the 2021 NFL draft. Some analysts had previously projected him as a top-70 pick before his off-field issues, and the Cowboys viewed him as a developmental tackle with starting upside. He signed his rookie contract on May 20, 2021, and joined a deep offensive line room that included veterans Tyron Smith and Terence Steele.
His first Cowboys season was disrupted almost immediately. On September 2, 2021, Ball was placed on injured reserve with a high ankle sprain, sidelining him for an extended stretch as a rookie. The injury slowed his development and limited his opportunities to contribute on game days during his first year in the league.
Dallas Cowboys Era (2021–2024)
In 2022, Ball was given a chance to compete with rookie Matt Waletzko for the reserve swing tackle position behind the Cowboys’ veteran starters. He struggled with pass protection at tackle during the preseason, and when Tyron Smith suffered a torn hamstring, Dallas signed the 40-year-old Jason Peters to stabilize the position. Ball saw limited action, playing only 41 snaps across 13 games as a backup, but he was thrust into a larger role in Week 14 against the Houston Texans when Steele tore both the ACL and MCL in his left knee.
Replacing Steele, Ball gave up a late strip sack on quarterback Dak Prescott that was recovered deep in Cowboys territory, and on the next play he was beaten again, leading to a hit on Prescott’s throwing arm and a second interception. The performance forced Peters to shift to right tackle for the first time since 2006 during the Cowboys’ eventual 98-yard game-winning drive. The outing served as a learning moment, and Ball was placed on injured reserve on August 29, 2023, after suffering a hip injury in the final preseason game. He returned to the Cowboys in 2024, was released during roster cuts on August 27, 2024, and re-signed with the team’s practice squad the following day.
New Orleans Saints Era (2024–2025)
On December 31, 2024, the New Orleans Saints signed Josh Ball to their active roster, giving him a fresh opportunity late in the season. He was declared inactive for the season finale against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, preserving his roster spot heading into the offseason. The move to New Orleans marked his first change of organization since entering the league.
During the 2025 preseason, Ball competed for the backup right tackle position behind starter Taliese Fuaga. On July 28, 2025, he was waived by the Saints as the team shaped its final offensive line group, leaving his next career stop open heading into the regular season.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining early moments of Ball’s NFL career came in that Week 14, 2022 game against the Houston Texans, when he was suddenly elevated into a full-time role after Steele’s knee injury. The difficult stretch of two consecutive pressures leading to turnovers on Prescott was a high-profile learning experience, but it also demonstrated the kind of adversity he has had to navigate on his path toward becoming a long-term NFL tackle.
Josh Ball Career Wins
As an offensive lineman, Josh Ball’s professional résumé is measured less by individual victories and more by team results and individual development milestones. Through the 2024 season he had appeared in 13 NFL games, primarily as a reserve swing tackle, and had spent additional time on practice squads with the Dallas Cowboys and the active roster of the New Orleans Saints.
Other Wins and Performances
Ball’s most significant individual honor came in 2020, when he was named First-team All-Conference USA following his senior season at Marshall. He also earned All-State and All-Conference recognition as a senior at Stafford Senior High School, and he was a starter on the Marshall offensive line during the 2020 Conference USA Championship Game against the University of Alabama at Birmingham before being ejected for two personal foul penalties.
Josh Ball Family
Personal Life
Josh Ball was born and raised in Fredericksburg, Virginia, and is the product of a Stafford, Virginia, community that helped launch his football career. He has largely kept his personal and family life out of the public eye, with limited verified details available about his relationships or immediate family beyond his parents and upbringing in the Fredericksburg area.
2025 Season Performance
Josh Ball’s 2025 storyline began with a late-season opportunity after the New Orleans Saints signed him to their active roster on December 31, 2024, giving him a fresh start in a new organization. Although he was inactive for the regular-season finale against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the move positioned him to compete for a depth role along the Saints’ offensive line heading into the offseason program and training camp.
During the 2025 preseason, Ball competed for the backup right tackle position behind starter Taliese Fuaga, working to show he could provide reliable depth at both tackle spots. On July 28, 2025, however, the Saints waived him as they finalized their offensive line group, leaving his roster status unsettled heading into the regular season.
Looking ahead, Ball remains a young, physically imposing tackle with starting-caliber measurements and starting experience at the college level. His next opportunity will likely come as a swing tackle or practice-squad addition, where his combination of size, experience, and Conference USA pedigree could appeal to teams in need of offensive line depth.