Malik Herring Bio
Al’Malik Demichia Herring is an American professional football defensive end who has played in the National Football League (NFL). After going unselected in the 2021 NFL Draft, he signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent and went on to win two Super Bowl championships during his time in Kansas City. He later joined the Tennessee Titans, where he continues his professional career on the defensive line.
Early Life and Background
Malik Herring was born on November 9, 1997, in Forsyth, Georgia. He grew up in the same Monroe County community that produced several notable athletes, and he attended Mary Persons High School in Forsyth. As a senior, he emerged as a highly regarded defensive lineman, and recruiting services rated him as a four-star prospect before he graduated.
Coming out of high school, Herring received scholarship offers from more than twenty college programs across the country. After weighing his options, he chose to continue his football career in the Southeastern Conference, a decision that allowed him to compete against top-tier competition each week and helped shape his development as a pass rusher.
Path to American Football
Herring enrolled at the University of Georgia in 2017, joining a Bulldogs program that has historically produced NFL-caliber defensive linemen. He appeared in all 15 games as a freshman, recording seven total tackles while adjusting to the speed and physicality of the college game. In his sophomore season, he played in 14 games, finishing the year with 24 tackles and two assisted sacks.
As a junior, he appeared in 12 of 14 games, earning nine starts and being named the recipient of Georgia’s Defensive Most Improved Player Award. During his senior year in 2020, he served as the starting defensive end in eight of the team’s ten games, finishing the campaign with 20 tackles. That senior season led to an invitation to the Senior Bowl, where he suffered a torn ACL in practice that affected his draft prospects.
Malik Herring Career
Early Career (2021–2022)
After going unselected in the 2021 NFL Draft, Herring signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent. He was placed on the reserve/non-football injury list at the start of his rookie year while he recovered from the ACL injury he had suffered at the Senior Bowl. The Chiefs kept him around through his rehabilitation, giving him time to return to full strength.
Herring made the Chiefs’ final roster in 2022, working as the team’s sixth defensive end. He made his NFL debut in Week 3 of that season, registering two tackles in a 20–17 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. The 2022 season ended with a championship, as Kansas City defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 38–35 in Super Bowl LVII, earning Herring his first career Super Bowl ring.
Kansas City Chiefs Breakthrough (2023–2024)
In 2023, Herring carved out a larger role on the Chiefs’ defensive line. He finished the regular season with 10 tackles, 1.5 sacks, one fumble recovery, and one pass deflection, showing the kind of disruptive ability the team had hoped to see when it signed him two years earlier. That season again ended on the game’s biggest stage.
Herring started in Super Bowl LVIII, where Kansas City defeated the San Francisco 49ers 25–22 to claim back-to-back championships. He recorded one tackle in the contest, and the victory gave him his second Super Bowl title. On March 11, 2024, the Chiefs re-signed him, signaling the organization’s continued confidence in his development as a rotational defensive end.
Tennessee Titans Era (2025–Present)
On October 29, 2025, the Kansas City Chiefs released Herring, and he rejoined the team on the practice squad on November 4. The brief departure and return reflected a roster shuffle along the defensive front. Shortly after the new league year opened, his career took another turn.
On March 13, 2026, Herring signed with the Tennessee Titans, joining a defensive line in need of experienced depth. The move to Tennessee gives him an opportunity to expand his role, contribute to a new defensive scheme, and continue his professional trajectory after four seasons in Kansas City.
Notable Events and Milestones
Herring is one of the few undrafted free agents from his class to win multiple Super Bowls, with rings from Super Bowl LVII and Super Bowl LVIII. His recovery from a torn ACL suffered at the Senior Bowl to become a championship contributor stands out as a defining story of his early professional years. He is also a member of one of the most decorated recent defensive line rooms in the league, having shared a roster with multiple Pro Bowl-caliber players in Kansas City.
Malik Herring Career Wins
Malik Herring has built his professional résumé on team success, highlighted by two Super Bowl championships with the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2022 and 2023 seasons. While he has not been a primary statistical leader at the defensive end position, his value has come in rotational duty, special-teams contributions, and depth along a championship defensive line.
Kansas City Chiefs Highlights
Herring’s first NFL win came in his debut with the Chiefs, and his first major title came in Super Bowl LVII, a 38–35 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. He added a second championship the following season in Super Bowl LVIII, a 25–22 win over the San Francisco 49ers. His most recent postseason appearance with Kansas City was part of the team’s sustained run of conference dominance during the early 2020s.
Other Wins and Performances
At the collegiate level with the Georgia Bulldogs, Herring was part of programs that competed for Southeastern Conference titles and national recognition during his four seasons. His 2018 and 2019 campaigns included regular-season victories over ranked opponents, and his work in the Bulldogs’ defensive line rotation helped the team reach New Year’s Six bowl games.
Malik Herring Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Malik Herring grew up in Forsyth, Georgia, where the local football culture played a central role in his upbringing. He attended Mary Persons High School, the same program that has produced several college and professional athletes over the years. The community’s support and the area’s strong high school football tradition helped shape his early development as a defensive player.
Personal Life
Off the field, Herring has kept a relatively private personal life. He is known to be closely connected to his hometown of Forsyth and to the University of Georgia community that nurtured his college career. His social media presence, including an active Instagram account, offers glimpses of his training and time with teammates.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season began with Herring still in a Kansas City Chiefs uniform, working within a defensive line that was once again expected to contend for a championship. He contributed in a rotational role through the early portion of the schedule, helping the Chiefs’ defense maintain its depth along the edge.
On October 29, 2025, the Chiefs released Herring as part of an in-season roster move, and he returned to the team on the practice squad on November 4. The late-season shuffle was part of a broader effort by Kansas City to manage its defensive front and special-teams contributors down the stretch.
Looking ahead, Herring’s situation changed again after the season concluded, as he signed with the Tennessee Titans on March 13, 2026. The move positioned him to compete for an expanded role in Tennessee, and the upcoming campaign will provide him with a fresh opportunity to showcase his skills in a new defensive system. His 2025 experience, combined with two Super Bowl rings, leaves him well positioned for continued production in the years ahead.