Josh Sweat
Josh Brandon Sweat is an American professional football linebacker for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Florida State Seminoles before being selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL draft. Standing 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) and playing at 265 lb (120 kg), Sweat has developed into one of the league’s most productive edge rushers, highlighted by a Pro Bowl selection in 2021 and a Super Bowl championship with the Eagles in 2025.
Early Life and Background
Josh Brandon Sweat was born on March 29, 1997, in Chesapeake, Virginia, in the United States. He grew up in the Hampton Roads region and attended Oscar F. Smith High School, where he played alongside fellow defensive lineman Andrew Brown. As a junior, he posted 94 tackles and helped Oscar Smith advance undefeated into the 2013 VHSL 6A state championship game, where they were upset by Centreville High School 35–6. At offseason football camps, his combination of size and quickness drew early comparisons to former top overall pick Jadeveon Clowney.
Entering his senior year, Sweat was rated the top high school prospect in the country by ESPN. He opened the season with 25 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, and eight sacks across his first two games. During the third game of the year, against Western Branch High School, Sweat suffered a torn ACL that ended his season. He underwent reconstructive surgery in New York performed by New York Giants team physician Russell Warren, then graduated from Oscar Smith in December 2014 to enroll in college early.
Following the injury, Sweat slid to No. 11 in ESPN’s final 2015 class rankings while retaining his five-star status. He ultimately committed to Florida State over scholarship offers from Virginia Tech, Georgia, Ohio State, and Oregon.
Path to American Football
Sweat arrived at Florida State as one of the most decorated defensive recruits in program history. As a freshman in 2015, he played 12 games, recording 41 tackles, 5 sacks, an interception, 2 passes defended, and 3 fumble recoveries. The following season, he appeared in 11 games as a sophomore and added 41 tackles and 7 sacks, showing steady development as a pass rusher.
As a junior in 2017, Sweat started 12 games and posted 56 tackles, 5.5 sacks, and 3 passes defended, cementing his status as an NFL prospect. On January 4, 2018, he announced that he would forgo his senior season and enter the 2018 NFL draft.
Josh Sweat Career
Early Career (2018–2020)
The Philadelphia Eagles selected Josh Sweat in the fourth round, 130th overall, of the 2018 NFL draft. The pick was acquired in a trade that sent Sam Bradford to the Minnesota Vikings. He appeared in only nine games as a rookie, playing 68 defensive snaps before a December ankle injury sent him to injured reserve.
In 2019, Sweat competed for a starting role after Chris Long’s retirement but was beaten out by Derek Barnett and played all 16 games without a start, finishing with 21 tackles and 4 sacks. In 2020, he continued in a rotational capacity, starting three of 14 games and recording 6 sacks, 38 tackles, and 3 forced fumbles before a wrist injury ended his season in late December.
Eagles Breakthrough (2021–2022)
On September 18, 2021, Sweat agreed to a three-year, $40 million contract extension with Philadelphia. A torn Achilles suffered by Brandon Graham in Week 2 opened the door to a larger role, and Sweat delivered a breakout campaign, playing all 16 games with 13 starts and posting 7.5 sacks, 45 tackles, and a forced fumble. He was later named to his first Pro Bowl as an alternate, replacing an injured Nick Bosa, after undergoing emergency surgery to repair a ruptured artery in his stomach.
In 2022, Sweat started all 16 games and set new career highs across the board with 48 tackles, 11 sacks, a forced fumble, and an interception returned for a touchdown. He helped Philadelphia reach Super Bowl LVII against the Kansas City Chiefs, recording one tackle in the 38–35 loss.
Arizona Cardinals Era (2025–Present)
On March 10, 2025, the Arizona Cardinals signed Sweat to a four-year contract worth up to $76.4 million, with $41 million guaranteed. In his first season in Arizona, he recorded a career-high 12 sacks, reinforcing his value as a premier edge rusher and giving the Cardinals a foundational defensive piece.
Notable Events and Milestones
Sweat’s signature performance came in Super Bowl LIX, where he recorded 2.5 sacks, 6 tackles, and 3 quarterback hits in Philadelphia’s 40–22 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. He was later ranked 95th by his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2025, underscoring his standing among the league’s elite pass rushers.
Josh Sweat Career Wins
Across his professional career, Josh Sweat has built a consistent résumé highlighted by a Super Bowl LIX championship with the Philadelphia Eagles in February 2025 and a Pro Bowl selection in 2021. As of the 2025 NFL season, his career totals include 267 tackles, 55 sacks, 11 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 13 pass deflections, 1 interception, and 1 defensive touchdown.
NFL Highlights
Sweat’s first career multi-sack performance came during his 2021 breakout with the Eagles, where his 7.5 sacks earned him a Pro Bowl nod. He set an Eagles-era benchmark in 2022 with 11 sacks and an interception returned for a touchdown, then followed with 6.5 sacks in 2023 and 8 sacks in 2024, the latter culminating in his Super Bowl LIX triumph. His most recent milestone came in 2025, when he posted a career-high 12 sacks in his debut season with Arizona.
Josh Sweat Family
Personal Life
Josh Sweat is a native of Chesapeake, Virginia, and is publicly known by his full name, Josh Brandon Sweat. Limited public information is available regarding his parents, marital status, or children, and he has generally kept his personal and family life private.
2025 Season Performance
Josh Sweat’s 2025 campaign was defined by his blockbuster move to the Arizona Cardinals and an immediate impact on their defensive front. Signed to a four-year deal worth up to $76.4 million in March, he delivered a career-high 12 sacks in his first season with the team, validating the Cardinals’ significant investment in the veteran pass rusher.
The season represented a clean transition for Sweat, who arrived in Arizona as the centerpiece of a defensive overhaul. His production provided consistent pressure off the edge and helped stabilize a Cardinals pass rush that had previously lacked a featured disruptor.
Looking ahead, Sweat’s 2025 output positions him as a long-term anchor for Arizona’s defense through the 2029 season. With his health intact and his sack totals at a career peak, expectations remain high for continued Pro Bowl-caliber play in the seasons to come.
