Jowon Briggs Bio
Jowon Briggs (born September 1, 2001) is an American professional football defensive tackle for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and listed at 313 pounds, he plays on the interior of the defensive line. He was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL draft and joined the Jets the following year.
Early Life and Background
Jowon Briggs was born on September 1, 2001, and grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio. He attended Walnut Hills High School, where he developed into a standout defensive tackle. As a junior, he was named first-team All-ECC and All-SWO District, and as a senior he earned ECC Defensive Player of the Year honors along with first-team All-State and first-team All-SWO District recognition. He also competed in several high-profile all-star games, including the Under Armour All-America Game.
Briggs arrived as a highly recruited prospect. 247Sports ranked him as a four-star recruit, the 59th-best player nationally, the fifth-best defensive tackle, and the second-best player in the state of Ohio. He chose to play college football for the Virginia Cavaliers, turning down scholarship offers from programs such as the Ohio State Buckeyes and Michigan Wolverines. He is also a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.
Path to American Football
Briggs’s rise through the sport began at Walnut Hills High School, where his size and quickness off the line made him a priority recruit. By the end of his senior season he had built a résumé that included state-level honors and a national ranking among defensive tackles, which set the stage for his early contribution at the college level. His recruitment also reflected a level of polish beyond raw talent, including a high school career that balanced athletics with music and academics.
Jowon Briggs Career
Early Career (2019–2020, Virginia)
Briggs started the first game of his true freshman season at the University of Virginia in 2019, becoming the first freshman on the Cavaliers’ defensive line to start an opener since 1986. He finished the year with 19 tackles and a sack and was recognized as a mid-season Freshman All-American. In 2020, he appeared in seven games as the schedule was shortened, and at the end of the year he decided to enter the NCAA transfer portal.
Across his two seasons in Charlottesville, Briggs totaled 39 tackles, seven tackles for loss, and four sacks. He then transferred to the Cincinnati Bearcats, where he would spend the next three seasons and develop into one of the most productive interior defenders in the American Athletic Conference.
Cincinnati Era (2021–2023)
In his first season with the Bearcats in 2021, Briggs appeared in all 14 games and recorded 43 tackles, four tackles for loss, and three sacks. His quick adaptation to a new scheme showed the versatility that had marked his recruitment. The following season, 2022, he delivered his most productive college campaign, finishing with 60 tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss while earning first-team All-American Athletic Conference honors.
Briggs returned to Cincinnati for a final season in 2023, serving as a team captain. He started 12 games, recorded 27 tackles, and earned honorable mention All-AAC recognition. He finished his Cincinnati career with 130 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, and eight sacks. His play drew postseason invites to both the Hula Bowl and the East-West Shrine Bowl, which positioned him for the 2024 NFL draft.
Cleveland Browns (2024)
Briggs was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the seventh round, 243rd overall, of the 2024 NFL draft. He was waived on August 27 as part of final roster cuts, then re-signed to the practice squad. After spending time developing on the practice squad, he was promoted to the active roster on December 2, 2024, giving him an opportunity to close out his rookie season with the Browns.
New York Jets Era (2025–Present)
On August 20, 2025, Briggs was traded to the New York Jets along with a 2026 seventh-round pick in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick. The move gave him a fresh opportunity on a new defensive line and reunited him with a chance to compete for a larger role. On March 16, 2026, he re-signed with the Jets, signaling the organization’s confidence in his continued development.
Notable Events and Milestones
Briggs’s first NFL start came after his promotion to the Browns’ active roster late in the 2024 season, and his midseason trade to the Jets in 2025 marked his first significant professional change. Through the 2025 season, he had recorded 51 tackles, 4 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 1 fumble recovery, establishing himself as a reliable rotational defensive tackle.
Jowon Briggs Career Wins
Jowon Briggs’s professional career is still in its early stages, and his statistical résumé reflects steady development rather than headline totals. His most recognized individual accolade remains his first-team All-AAC selection in 2022, earned during his standout season with the Cincinnati Bearcats.
College Highlights
At Cincinnati, Briggs piled up 130 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, and 8 sacks across three seasons, including the All-AAC campaign of 2022. He was also invited to the Hula Bowl and the East-West Shrine Bowl following the 2023 season, two of the more prominent college all-star games for draft-eligible defensive linemen.
Other Performances
At Virginia, Briggs was a Freshman All-American in 2019 and finished his Cavaliers career with 39 tackles, seven tackles for loss, and four sacks.
Jowon Briggs Family
Personal Life
Outside of football, Briggs is widely known for his musical ability. He plays twelve instruments at varying levels of proficiency, including piano, violin, viola, cello, double bass, bass guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, saxophone, flute, recorder, and harmonica. During his time at the University of Virginia, he sang with the University Singers, the chamber choir, and an a cappella group called The Hullabahoos, and he performed The Star-Spangled Banner before basketball games at both Virginia and Cincinnati. His singing voice is a tenor.
2025 Season Performance
Briggs opened 2025 still with the Cleveland Browns before being traded to the New York Jets on August 20. The move placed him on a defensive line in need of interior depth and gave him a clear opportunity to expand his role. He responded with the most productive stretch of his young career, finishing the 2025 season with 51 tackles, 4 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 1 fumble recovery in his first full year of regular defensive snaps.
His production gave the Jets a dependable presence in their rotation and helped establish him as a player worth building around up front. The numbers also reflected the progress he had shown since his 2022 All-AAC season at Cincinnati. On March 16, 2026, the Jets re-signed Briggs, a move that pointed to continued growth and a stable role in the team’s defensive plans.
