Malcolm Koonce Bio
Malcolm Koonce (born June 6, 1998) is an American professional football defensive end for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and listed at 243 pounds, he plays on the edge of the Raiders’ defensive line. He played college football for the Buffalo Bulls and was selected by the Raiders in the third round of the 2021 NFL draft.
Malcolm Koonce
Early Life and Background
Malcolm Koonce was born on June 6, 1998, in Peekskill, New York, and grew up in the same Hudson Valley community. He attended Archbishop Stepinac High School in White Plains, New York, where his athletic career first took shape. Although his primary sport at first was rugby, he switched his focus to football after realizing that it could earn him a college scholarship. In 2015, his senior season, he led Stepinac to a New York State Catholic High School Athletic Association championship.
After graduating from Archbishop Stepinac, Koonce completed a post-graduate year at Milford Academy in New Berlin, New York, a well-known football preparatory program. That extra year of competition helped him sharpen his pass-rushing skills and prepared him for the jump to FBS-level college football. His time at Milford also gave college recruiters a longer look at his physical tools and on-field instincts.
Path to Professional Football
Koonce committed to the University at Buffalo, where he became a member of the Buffalo Bulls football program from 2017 through 2020. He served primarily as a backup for his first two seasons before earning a larger role as a junior. His breakout college moment came in 2019, when he was named first-team All-Mid-American Conference (MAC) after recording 34 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, and nine sacks. He was also named the Defensive MVP of the 2019 Bahamas Bowl after a two-sack performance against the Charlotte 49ers.
As a senior in the MAC’s COVID-19-shortened 2020 season, Koonce repeated as a first-team All-MAC selection despite playing in only six games, posting 30 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, and five sacks. He became only the fourth Buffalo player to be invited to play in the Senior Bowl, capping one of the most decorated defensive careers in program history. That Senior Bowl invitation, combined with his pass-rushing production, set the stage for his transition to the NFL.
Malcolm Koonce Career
Early Career (2021)
Koonce was selected in the third round with the 79th overall pick of the 2021 NFL draft by the Las Vegas Raiders, who had acquired that selection in a trade that sent center Rodney Hudson to the Arizona Cardinals. On July 23, 2021, he signed his four-year rookie contract with the team. He was activated for Week 2 against the Pittsburgh Steelers but did not appear in the game, and was next activated before Week 13 following an injury to linebacker Carl Nassib.
Koonce made his NFL debut on December 5, 2021, and, despite taking the field for only seven defensive plays and four special teams snaps, recorded a sack of Washington quarterback Taylor Heinicke. That first career sack offered an early glimpse of the pressure ability that had defined his college tape.
Las Vegas Raiders Breakthrough (2023)
Koonce had a breakout year in 2023, playing opposite Maxx Crosby on the Raiders’ defensive line. Under interim head coach Antonio Pierce, his playing time roughly doubled by Week 14 against the Minnesota Vikings, and he posted more quarterback hits in Weeks 14 through 16 than he had the rest of the season combined. The increased role allowed him to attack opposing protections with far more consistency.
His best statistical game as a professional came on Christmas Day against the division rival Kansas City Chiefs, with the Raiders needing a win to keep their playoff hopes alive. Koonce harassed Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes throughout the afternoon, finishing with career highs of eight pressures and three sacks. That performance cemented him as a key piece of Las Vegas’ pass rush heading into the next phase of his career.
Las Vegas Raiders Era (2024–Present)
Koonce’s 2024 season was cut short when he was placed on injured reserve on September 7, 2024, after suffering a knee injury in practice. On September 20, 2024, the Raiders announced that the injury would end his season. The recovery period forced him to take a step back from the on-field role he had built in 2023, but he remained part of the team’s long-term defensive plans.
On March 11, 2025, Koonce signed a one-year, $12 million contract extension with the Raiders, and he returned to play in all 17 games with three starts, recording 30 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and a forced fumble. He followed that with another one-year, $11 million contract extension on March 11, 2026, continuing his run as a full-time edge presence in Las Vegas.
Driving Style and Strengths
Koonce is a long, technically refined edge rusher who wins with a combination of quick first-step burst and disciplined hand usage. He is most effective on passing downs, where he can attack the outside shoulder of offensive tackles, and he has shown the stamina to hold up as a three-down player. His ability to complement an elite defender like Maxx Crosby has been central to his value in the Raiders’ defense.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his signature moments, Koonce’s three-sack Christmas Day performance against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in 2023 stands out as a career-defining game. He also became only the fourth Buffalo Bulls player invited to the Senior Bowl, joined a two-time first-team All-MAC list, and was named the 2019 Bahamas Bowl Defensive MVP. His continued contract extensions with Las Vegas reflect his standing as a core piece of the team’s defensive front.
Malcolm Koonce Career Statistics
Through the 2025 NFL season, Malcolm Koonce has built a steady resume as a pass-rushing defensive end for the Las Vegas Raiders. His career totals include 85 total tackles, 14.5 sacks, and 4 forced fumbles, with the bulk of his production coming in 2023 and 2025. He has also added a Bahamas Bowl MVP and two first-team All-MAC selections from his time at Buffalo.
| Stat | Total |
|---|---|
| Total tackles | 85 |
| Sacks | 14.5 |
| Forced fumbles | 4 |
Malcolm Koonce Family
Family Background and Early Roots
Malcolm Koonce was raised in Peekskill, New York, and came from a community where multi-sport athleticism was the norm. While his parents are not publicly documented in major profiles, his upbringing in the Hudson Valley and his attendance at Archbishop Stepinac High School shaped his early competitive habits. The values and structure of his family environment helped him transition from a rugby background to a focused football path.
Personal Life
Off the field, Koonce has largely kept his personal life private, and public details about a spouse or children are not consistently reported. He has remained based in the Las Vegas area during his time with the Raiders, in line with the team’s home market. His focus has stayed on his professional career and his continued development as a defensive end.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked Malcolm Koonce’s return to full health after the knee injury that ended his 2024 campaign. He signed a one-year, $12 million contract extension on March 11, 2025, and went on to play in all 17 games with three starts. His role alongside Maxx Crosby gave the Raiders one of the more dangerous edge duos in the league.
Koonce finished the year with 30 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and a forced fumble, providing consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks throughout the schedule. His ability to stay on the field for a full season was a key part of the Raiders’ defensive identity after the prior year’s injury setback. He followed that campaign with another one-year, $11 million extension on March 11, 2026, signaling that Las Vegas views him as a long-term building block on the edge.
