Tremaine Edmunds Bio
Fe’Zahn Tremaine Edmunds, known professionally as Tremaine Edmunds, is an American professional football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). After beginning his career with the Buffalo Bills, he plays for the New York Giants. He played college football for the Virginia Tech Hokies and entered the NFL as a first-round pick in 2018.
Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing around 251 pounds, Edmunds has built a reputation as a versatile and durable defender. He is a two-time Pro Bowl selection and is regarded as one of the most athletically gifted linebackers of his generation.
Early Life and Background
Tremaine Edmunds was born on May 2, 1998, in Danville, Virginia. He grew up in Ringgold, Virginia, and attended Dan River High School, where he developed into a multi-position defensive standout.
During his junior season, Edmunds recorded 123 tackles, four sacks, two interceptions, two blocked kicks, and two forced fumbles, earning a nomination for Virginia’s defensive player of the year. He missed most of his senior season due to injury but was still named all-state at both tight end and linebacker. Rated as a 3-star recruit, he chose Virginia Tech over offers from Cincinnati, East Carolina, Hampton, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, USC, and Virginia.
Path to American Football
Edmunds enrolled at Virginia Tech in 2015 and played under head coaches Frank Beamer and Justin Fuente. He appeared on defense as a true freshman and steadily grew into one of the ACC’s most productive linebackers across his three college seasons.
As a junior in 2017, he was a Butkus Award finalist after posting 108 tackles and 5.5 sacks. He finished his college career with 213 tackles, 10 sacks, and one interception. In January 2018, he announced through Twitter that he would forgo his senior year and enter the NFL draft.
Tremaine Edmunds Career
Pre-Draft Process (2018)
Edmunds attended the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, where he finished fifth among linebackers in the 40-yard dash, 12th in the broad jump, and tied for 14th in the bench press. He skipped the short shuttle, three-cone drill, and vertical jump, then held his combine numbers at Virginia Tech’s pro day and only ran positional drills.
He visited the Buffalo Bills, Green Bay Packers, and San Francisco 49ers before the draft. DraftScout.com and ESPN analyst Jeff Legwold ranked him as the top outside linebacker prospect, while Sports Illustrated listed him as the second best stack linebacker and Mike Mayock ranked him as the second best linebacker overall.
Buffalo Bills Breakthrough (2018–2022)
The Buffalo Bills selected Edmunds with the 16th overall pick in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft, trading their 22nd and 65th picks to the Baltimore Ravens to move up. At 19 years, 11 months, and 24 days old, he became the second-youngest player ever drafted. He signed a fully guaranteed four-year, $12.65 million contract that included a $7.28 million signing bonus.
As a rookie, Edmunds started every game at middle linebacker alongside Matt Milano and Lorenzo Alexander. He earned NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month honors in December 2018 after recording 43 tackles, 4 passes defended, 1 sack, and 2 interceptions. He finished his first season with 121 tackles, two sacks, two interceptions, and two forced fumbles.
In 2019, Edmunds was named a team captain and recorded his first career interception return touchdown and a team-high 12 tackles in a win over Miami. He was selected to his first Pro Bowl as a replacement for the injured Dont’a Hightower. He earned a second Pro Bowl nod in 2020 after playing through a shoulder injury and recording 119 tackles, two sacks, and four tackles for a loss.
The Bills picked up Edmunds’ fifth-year option in May 2021, guaranteeing him $12.716 million for the 2022 season. In a Week 4 win over the Houston Texans, he recorded six tackles and an interception to earn AFC Defensive Player of the Week.
Chicago Bears Era (2023–2025)
On March 15, 2023, Edmunds signed a four-year, $72 million contract with the Chicago Bears. He quickly became a leader on defense, recording a team-leading 16 tackles in a Week 2 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. During a Week 15 loss to the Cleveland Browns, he intercepted Joe Flacco and returned it 45 yards for his first career defensive touchdown.
Edmunds opened the 2025 season as a starting linebacker for Chicago, posting four interceptions, nine pass deflections, one sack, and 89 combined tackles across 10 starts. A groin injury in Week 11 against the Minnesota Vikings landed him on injured reserve on November 22, 2025, before he was activated on December 20 in time for a Week 16 game against the Green Bay Packers. The Bears released him on March 6, 2026.
Driving Style and Strengths
Edmunds is known for his rare combination of size, length, and sideline-to-sideline range. His football intelligence, tackling consistency, and coverage instincts allow him to thrive in both run support and pass defense.
Notable Events and Milestones
Edmunds became the youngest player in NFL history to record an interception when he picked off Sam Darnold at age 20 in 2018. His selection alongside his brother Terrell in the first round of the 2018 draft made them the first brothers ever chosen in the first round of the same NFL draft.
Tremaine Edmunds Career Wins
Edmunds has accumulated steady production throughout his NFL career, with career totals through the 2025 season including 900 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 14 interceptions, 59 pass deflections, 4 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, and 1 defensive touchdown.
NFL Highlights
He has been selected to two Pro Bowls in 2019 and 2020 and earned NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month in December 2018. He also earned AFC Defensive Player of the Week after his Week 4 performance in 2021 against Houston.
Other Wins and Performances
In college, Edmunds earned First-team All-ACC honors in 2017 and Second-team All-ACC recognition in 2016. He was also a Butkus Award finalist following his junior season at Virginia Tech.
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Tremaine Edmunds Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Edmunds comes from a strong football family. His father, Ferrell Edmunds, played in the NFL and appeared in two Pro Bowls. His brothers Trey and Terrell also played college football at Virginia Tech, continuing the family’s defensive tradition.
Personal Life
Terrell Edmunds was drafted in the first round by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2018 NFL Draft, making Tremaine and Terrell the first pair of brothers drafted in the first round of the same NFL draft. Trey Edmunds has also spent time in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints.
2025 Season Performance
Edmunds began the 2025 season as a starting linebacker for the Chicago Bears and quickly established himself as a playmaker. Through 10 starts he compiled four interceptions, nine pass deflections, one sack, and 89 combined tackles, providing veteran leadership on a young Bears defense.
His season was interrupted in Week 11 when a groin injury against the Minnesota Vikings sent him to injured reserve on November 22, 2025. The Bears activated him on December 20 ahead of a Week 16 matchup against the Green Bay Packers, where he returned to the field to finish the year.
Following the conclusion of the 2025 season, the Bears released Edmunds on March 6, 2026, ending his three-year stint in Chicago. He signed a three-year, $36 million contract with the New York Giants on March 12, 2026, opening a new chapter in his career.
