Brandon Scherff

Brandon Scherff Bio

Brandon Scherff (born December 26, 1991) is an American former professional football guard who competed in the National Football League (NFL) for 10 seasons. A native of Denison, Iowa, Scherff established himself as one of the premier offensive linemen of his generation, earning five Pro Bowl selections and one First-team All-Pro honor during his professional career. He played collegiate football for the Iowa Hawkeyes, where he won the Outland Trophy as the nation’s top interior lineman in 2014. The Washington Redskins selected Scherff in the first round (fifth overall) of the 2015 NFL Draft, and he later joined the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2022 before retiring in 2025.

Early Life and Background

Brandon Scherff grew up in Denison, Iowa, where he attended Denison High School. As a two-way lineman, he earned first-team all-state honors on offense as a senior after receiving second-team all-state recognition on defense during his junior year. During his sophomore season, Scherff played quarterback and passed for 1,200 yards. His high school coach was Dave Wiebers. Beyond football, Scherff was a multi-sport athlete, participating in basketball where he led the state in rebounds as a senior, and baseball where his team qualified for the state tournament as a junior.

Scherff also excelled on the track and field team at Denison High School. He was a standout shot putter and discus thrower, earning All-State recognition in both events. He won two state titles in the shot put as a sophomore and senior, placed third as a freshman, and finished second as a junior. Scherff captured the shot put event at the 2010 Drake Relays, recording a career-best throw of 18.77 meters that set a school record. At the 2010 Iowa State Track and Field Championships, he placed third in the discus throw with a personal-best throw of 48.95 meters.

Considered a three-star recruit by Rivals.com, Scherff was ranked as the No. 44 offensive tackle prospect in 2010. He chose to continue his academic and athletic career at the University of Iowa, selecting the Hawkeyes over offers from Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri, and Nebraska.

Path to Professional Football

After redshirting his initial year at Iowa, Scherff saw action at left guard in eleven games during his redshirt freshman season, starting three contests. During his sophomore year, he replaced Riley Reiff as the starting left tackle. He started the first seven games at left tackle before suffering a broken fibula and dislocated ankle in game seven, which caused him to miss the remainder of that season.

Despite being regarded as one of the top offensive lineman prospects for the NFL Draft after his junior year at Iowa, Scherff made the decision to return for his senior season. He completed his Bachelor of Arts degree in Leisure Studies in December 2014. After the 2014 season, Scherff was awarded the Outland Trophy as the country’s best interior lineman, solidifying his status as an elite collegiate player. He also earned unanimous All-American honors and was named the Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year. He was a two-time First-team All-Big Ten selection in 2013 and 2014.

Entering the 2015 NFL Draft, Scherff was projected by most analysts and scouts to be selected in the first round. He was ranked as the best offensive tackle in the draft by NFLDraftScout.com, the top interior lineman by Mike Mayock, the best offensive lineman and guard by Lance Zierlein, and the top offensive tackle by Sports Illustrated. Scouts and analysts were divided on his future NFL position, with debate over whether he was better suited to play offensive tackle or guard.

Brandon Scherff Career

Washington Redskins/Football Team (2015–2021)

The Washington Redskins selected Brandon Scherff in the first round with the fifth overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. This selection made him the first player from Iowa drafted in the top ten since Robert Gallery was chosen second overall in 2004. On May 12, 2015, Scherff signed a fully guaranteed four-year, $21.21 million contract with the team.

Scherff entered training camp competing with Morgan Moses for the starting right tackle position but was moved to right guard before the regular season began. Coaches determined his ability to handle bull rushes made him better suited for right guard, where his power would be more effective over a smaller area. Offensive line coach Bill Callahan named Scherff the Redskins’ starting right guard to begin the season after he won the job over Spencer Long during the preseason.

Scherff made his professional debut in the Redskins’ season-opening 17-10 loss to the Miami Dolphins. He started all 16 regular season games, played 752 snaps, and helped the Redskins finish first in the NFC East with a 9-7 record. He earned PFWA All-Rookie Team honors for his performance. In January 2016, he started his first career postseason game as the Redskins fell to the Green Bay Packers 35-18 in the NFC Wildcard round.

Scherff continued his strong play in 2016, starting all 16 regular season games. His highly regarded performance earned him his first Pro Bowl selection. The following year, he was voted to his second consecutive Pro Bowl. On April 16, 2018, the Redskins picked up the fifth-year option on Scherff’s contract. However, his 2018 season was cut short when he was placed on injured reserve on November 5 after suffering a torn pectoral in Week 9.

For the 2019 season, Scherff was voted to his third Pro Bowl. He was placed on injured reserve again later that season due to elbow and shoulder injuries. Heading into 2020 as an impending free agent, Washington placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Scherff, which he agreed to on April 8, 2020. He was placed on injured reserve on September 22 following an MCL sprain suffered in Week 2 against the Arizona Cardinals before being reactivated on October 16, 2020. Scherff was named to the 2021 Pro Bowl, his fourth career selection, and became the first Washington player to be named First-team All-Pro since punter Matt Turk in 1996. He was also ranked 98th on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2021 list.

In March 2021, Washington placed another non-exclusive franchise tag on Scherff, worth $18 million, which he signed shortly after. He was placed on the team’s COVID-19 reserve list on July 31, 2021, and activated on August 5. During the Week 4 game against the Atlanta Falcons, Scherff left in the second quarter due to another MCL sprain. He missed Weeks 15 and 16 against the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys after being placed on the COVID-19 reserve list for a second time on December 20, 2021, before returning to the active roster a week later.

Jacksonville Jaguars (2022–2024)

Scherff signed a three-year, $49.5 million contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars on March 16, 2022, joining his former Iowa offensive line coach as part of the coaching staff. He played and started at right guard for all 17 regular season games during the 2022 season. In his second career playoff run, Scherff played through an abdomen injury in the Jaguars’ Wild Card round win against the Los Angeles Chargers and their Divisional round loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

He continued as the Jaguars’ starting right guard for all 17 regular season games in both the 2023 and 2024 seasons, providing stability and leadership to an offensive line that was central to Jacksonville’s offensive identity under head coach Doug Pederson.

Playing Style and Strengths

Scherff was known for his exceptional power and physicality at the guard position. His background as a tackle gave him versatile footwork and the ability to handle speed rushers despite his primarily power-based approach. Coaches valued his consistency, durability when healthy, and leadership qualities in the locker room. His ability to dominate in short-yardage and goal-line situations made him a key component of running games throughout his career.

Notable Achievements and Milestones

Scherff’s most significant career milestone came in 2020 when he earned First-team All-Pro honors, becoming the first Washington player at his position to achieve that recognition in over two decades. His five Pro Bowl selections (2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021) demonstrated sustained excellence across multiple seasons. His durability was occasionally challenged by injuries, but when on the field, he was considered among the league’s top guards.

Brandon Scherff Career Wins and Honors

Across his 10 NFL seasons, Scherff established himself as one of the most decorated offensive linemen of his era, earning recognition at both the collegiate and professional levels.

NFL Honors

Scherff earned five Pro Bowl selections during his career, with his first coming in 2016 after his second season with Washington. He received subsequent selections in 2017, 2019, 2020, and 2021. His 2020 First-team All-Pro selection marked the pinnacle of his professional career, recognizing him as the top guard in the league that season. He was also named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team in 2015 following his debut campaign.

College Achievements

Prior to his NFL career, Scherff was recognized as the best interior lineman in college football when he won the Outland Trophy in 2014. He earned unanimous All-American honors that same year and was named the Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year. He was a two-time First-team All-Big Ten selection in 2013 and 2014.

Career Statistics

Throughout his NFL career, Scherff played and started 140 games across 10 seasons with the Washington Redskins/Football Team and Jacksonville Jaguars.

Brandon Scherff Personal Life

Family Background

Scherff grew up in a supportive family environment in Denison, Iowa. While detailed information about his parents is not publicly available, his Midwestern upbringing contributed to the work ethic and discipline that defined his football career.

Personal Life

Scherff is a lifelong Lutheran who has regularly contributed autographed memorabilia for fundraisers supporting his Lutheran grade school. He completed his Bachelor of Arts degree in Leisure Studies from the University of Iowa in December 2014, demonstrating his commitment to education alongside athletics.

2024 Season Performance

The 2024 NFL season marked the final chapter of Scherff’s distinguished professional career. Serving as the Jacksonville Jaguars’ starting right guard for the third consecutive season, he provided veteran leadership and consistency along the offensive line. Scherff started all 17 regular season games, continuing his streak of durability that had become a hallmark of his career with Jacksonville. His presence in the locker room and on the field helped anchor a Jaguars offensive line that was integral to the team’s offensive schemes. Following the conclusion of the 2024 season, Scherff reflected on his decade-long NFL journey before announcing his retirement in August 2025, concluding his career as one of the most accomplished offensive linemen from Iowa in NFL history.