Michael Dunn Bio
Michael Dunn (born August 28, 1994) is an American professional football guard who has played in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Maryland Terrapins and entered the professional ranks in 2017 after going undrafted. Dunn is best known for his time with the Cleveland Browns, where he made his NFL debut in 2020 and earned his first career start during a 2020 playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Standing 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) and listed at 315 lb (143 kg), Dunn has built his career on positional flexibility along the offensive line, lining up at both guard and tackle. Across the NFL and spring leagues, he has appeared in 53 regular-season games with 9 starts, according to career statistics through 2025.
Early Life and Background
Michael Dunn was born and raised in Bethesda, Maryland, the son of David Dunn and Tamara Dunn. He grew up in a Jewish household alongside two siblings, sister Renee and brother Eitan. The Bethesda community and his family environment shaped his early years before he committed to organized football at the high school level.
He attended Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda, where he played offensive tackle and guard for the school’s football team. As a senior, he was recognized for his development with a second-team all-county selection, an early sign of the projection that would later carry him to a Power Five college program.
Following high school, Dunn enrolled at the University of Maryland and graduated in 2016 with a degree in Economics. His college years paired academic focus with steady on-field production, setting the stage for a professional pursuit of football.
Path to American Football
Dunn’s progression from high school standout to college starter was a steady climb. At Maryland, he played for the Terrapins from 2012 through 2016 and started 48 games between 2013 and 2016, including a stretch of 37 consecutive starts. That durability drew the attention of NFL scouts and front offices.
His college résumé was also recognized off the field. Dunn was a two-time Honorable Mention All-Big Ten selection in 2015 and 2016, and a three-time All-Big Ten Academic honoree in 2014, 2015, and 2016. After his senior season, however, a labrum surgery kept him out of Maryland’s Pro Day, complicating his pre-draft visibility.
Despite the setback, Dunn pursued an NFL opportunity through a rookie minicamp tryout, the first step in a professional journey that would carry him through multiple practice squads, spring leagues, and eventually a starting role in a playoff game.
Michael Dunn Career
Early Career (2017–2019)
After going undrafted in the 2017 NFL draft, Dunn signed with the Los Angeles Rams on June 15, 2017, following a rookie minicamp tryout. He was waived during final roster cuts, signed to the Rams’ practice squad, and released days later. He re-signed with the Rams in February 2018 before being waived in June of that year, a period that illustrated the typical early-career churn for undrafted linemen.
Dunn continued to pursue chances across multiple leagues. He signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars in July 2018, spent time on their practice squad, and was released and re-signed during the season. In January 2019, he joined the Birmingham Iron of the Alliance of American Football. When the AAF suspended operations, he signed with the Miami Dolphins in April 2019, was waived in late August, and was later selected by the Seattle Dragons in the 2020 XFL draft, providing him with regular playing time before that league also suspended operations.
Cleveland Browns Breakthrough (2020–2024)
Dunn signed with the Cleveland Browns on August 9, 2020, beginning the most significant chapter of his NFL career. After a series of practice-squad elevations during the 2020 season, he was signed to the Browns’ active roster on December 23, 2020. His first career start came on January 10, 2021, in a 48-37 wild-card playoff victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, when he stepped in at left guard for Joel Bitonio, who was unavailable due to a positive COVID-19 test. Dunn did not allow a single pressure in pass protection that day, a performance that announced his arrival on the NFL stage.
Across his Browns tenure, Dunn continued to serve in a depth and rotational role. He was named to the Browns’ 53-man opening-day roster for the 2021 season, received an exclusive-rights free agent tender in March 2022, and split time between the active roster and injured reserve. He was released and re-signed to the practice squad in 2023 before being promoted again, and he re-signed with Cleveland in March 2024. His reliability and positional versatility made him a steady presence along the offensive line.
San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Chargers Era (2025)
On August 20, 2025, Dunn signed a one-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers. He was released six days later as part of final roster cuts, a familiar outcome for veteran depth linemen late in the preseason.
On September 30, 2025, Dunn signed with the Los Angeles Chargers’ practice squad. He was released on October 7, 2025. Through 2025, his career NFL totals stand at 53 games played and 9 games started, reflecting the journeyman path he has navigated since 2017.
Driving Style and Strengths
As an offensive lineman, Dunn’s value lies in positional flexibility, having played both guard and tackle at the high school, college, and professional levels. His 6 ft 5 in frame and 315-pound build suit interior line duties, and his college track record of 37 consecutive starts speaks to his durability. Coaches have relied on him as a dependable practice-squad presence who can step into starting duty when needed.
Notable Events and Milestones
Dunn’s signature moment came on January 10, 2021, when he made his first NFL start in a playoff game and helped the Browns defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers 48-37 without allowing a pressure in pass protection. That performance is the headline achievement of his NFL career, complemented by his durable college run of 48 starts at Maryland.
Michael Dunn Career Wins
Michael Dunn’s on-field milestones are best measured in starts, durability, and team achievements rather than traditional win totals for a lineman. His first career start resulted in a 48-37 playoff victory for the Cleveland Browns over the Pittsburgh Steelers, and he has contributed to offensive line units across multiple NFL and spring-league franchises since 2017.
Cleveland Browns Highlights
With the Cleveland Browns from 2020 through 2024, Dunn appeared in regular-season games and contributed to an offensive line that supported the team’s deep 2020 playoff run. His standout performance came in the wild-card win over the Steelers, where he logged a clean pass-protection stat line. He remained a steady depth presence through the 2021, 2023, and 2024 seasons.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside Cleveland, Dunn played for the Los Angeles Rams, Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins, San Francisco 49ers, and Los Angeles Chargers in the NFL, and for the Birmingham Iron of the AAF and the Seattle Dragons of the XFL. His professional journey through eight different organizations underscores a reputation as a resilient interior lineman who continued to find opportunities at the highest level.
Michael Dunn Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Michael Dunn was raised in Bethesda, Maryland, by his parents David Dunn and Tamara Dunn. He has two siblings, sister Renee and brother Eitan, and grew up in a Jewish household. His family’s support and his Bethesda roots provided a steady foundation as he pursued football from high school through the professional ranks.
Personal Life
Michael Dunn married Marissa Morris, a podcast producer for The Athletic whom he began dating in 2016, in February 2022. The couple welcomed a daughter in 2023. Dunn completed his degree in Economics at the University of Maryland in 2016 and has balanced his professional football career with family life in the years since.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has been a transitional year for Michael Dunn. He signed a one-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers on August 20, 2025, only to be released six days later during final roster cuts on August 26. That release reflected the crowded competition along the 49ers’ offensive line and the standard late-preseason decisions teams make with veteran depth players.
Shortly after his release from San Francisco, Dunn found a new opportunity when he signed with the Los Angeles Chargers’ practice squad on September 30, 2025. He was released by the Chargers on October 7, 2025, ending his brief 2025 stint in Los Angeles. Across the season, his career NFL totals stand at 53 games played and 9 games started, a résumé built on perseverance through multiple practice-squad promotions and short stints.
As 2025 continues, Dunn’s outlook depends on the next opportunity that arises, whether on a practice squad or active roster. His track record of stepping into starting roles when called upon, including his 2020 playoff debut, keeps him firmly in the conversation as a reliable depth interior lineman available to NFL teams in need.