Daryl Worley

Daryl Worley Bio

Daryl Worley (born February 22, 1995) is an American professional football safety who has played in the National Football League since being selected in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Worley developed his skills at William Penn Charter School before becoming a standout defensive back at West Virginia University. The Carolina Panthers originally drafted him with the 77th overall pick in 2016, and since then he has become a journeyman player across the NFL, serving as a valuable defensive back with versatility at cornerback and safety positions. Over his 11-season career, Worley has appeared in games with 11 different NFL franchises, demonstrating his adaptability and durability in professional football.

Early Life and Background

Daryl Worley grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he attended William Penn Charter School. Under head coach Jeff Humble, Worley excelled as both a receiver and safety. As a receiver, he earned first-team honors during his junior and senior seasons. As a defensive back, he earned first-team honors as a senior and was named an All-Southeastern Pennsylvania First-team defensive back and a two-time Penn Inter-Ac League First-team football player. The Philadelphia Inquirer rated him as the top cornerback in Southeastern Pennsylvania coming out of high school.

College Career and Path to the NFL

Worley attended West Virginia University from 2013 to 2015, where he played for the Mountaineers. As a true freshman in 2013, he appeared in 11 games with 5 starts, primarily contributing on special teams while finishing with 45 tackles, 3 tackles-for-loss, and 1 interception. He also recorded 5 pass breakups and was second on the team in that category. As a sophomore in 2014, he started all 11 games and led the team with 3 interceptions while ranking fifth on the team with 52 tackles. He was named the Iron Mountaineer honoree for excellence in the weight room, and his interceptions tied him for 11th in the Big 12 Conference.

In his junior season of 2015, Worley earned First-team All-Big 12 honors after finishing among the nation’s leaders with 6 interceptions and 12 pass breakups. He also recorded 49 tackles and forced 2 fumbles. Despite receiving a recommendation from the NFL Draft Advisory Committee to return to school for his senior year, Worley decided to forgo his final season of eligibility and enter the 2016 NFL Draft. He was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the third round with the 77th overall pick, becoming one of the top defensive backs from that draft class.

Daryl Worley Career

Carolina Panthers (2016–2017)

Worley was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the third round (77th overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft. On May 10, 2016, the Panthers signed Worley to a four-year, $3.23 million contract that included a signing bonus of $783,684. He opened the 2016 NFL season as the third cornerback on the depth chart behind Bené Benwikere and fellow rookie James Bradberry. After Julio Jones recorded 300 receiving yards against the Panthers in Week 4, primarily against Benwikere and Worley, Benwikere was released. This moved Bradberry to the number one starting cornerback position, Worley to number two, and Zack Sanchez to number three. Worley steadily improved throughout his rookie year and finished the season ranked as the twelfth best cornerback against the run by Pro Football Focus.

In 2017, Worley appeared in 15 games with 14 starts at right cornerback. He was declared inactive in the fourth game against the New England Patriots. He collected 64 tackles, 2 interceptions, 10 passes defensed, 1 sack, and 1 quarterback hit during the season. On March 9, 2018, the Panthers agreed to trade Worley to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for wide receiver Torrey Smith.

Philadelphia Eagles and Oakland Raiders (2018–2019)

The trade to the Philadelphia Eagles became official on March 14, 2018. However, on April 15, 2018, the Philadelphia Police Department arrested Worley for driving under the influence, disorderly conduct, and violation of the uniform firearms act. Police found him passed out in his vehicle while blocking a highway near the team facility. Officers were required to use a taser on Worley after he became combative. The Eagles officially released him the following day, ending his tenure with the team before he played a single regular-season game.

On April 23, 2018, the Oakland Raiders signed Worley to a one-year, $630,000 contract at the league minimum. He was suspended for the first four games of the 2018 season for violating the NFL Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse and the Personal Conduct Policy. In Week 6 against the Seattle Seahawks, Worley made 5 tackles and intercepted quarterback Russell Wilson. He was placed on injured reserve on December 24, finishing the season with 33 tackles, 7 passes defensed, and 1 interception in 10 games with 9 starts.

On March 7, 2019, the Raiders placed a second-round restricted free agent tender on Worley. In Week 9 against the Detroit Lions, Worley recorded a one-handed interception off Matthew Stafford intended for wide receiver Kenny Golladay in the end zone during a 31–24 win. In Week 15, he missed the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars with a neck injury. He started 15 games at left cornerback, totaling 58 tackles, 1 interception, 8 passes defensed, and 1 fumble recovery while also playing defensive snaps at safety and slot cornerback.

Dallas Cowboys, Buffalo Bills, and Las Vegas Raiders (2020)

On April 29, 2020, the Dallas Cowboys signed Worley to a one-year, $3 million contract that included a signing bonus of $1 million. Throughout training camp, Worley competed for the starting right cornerback position against Anthony Brown and rookie Trevon Diggs while also working at safety. In the team’s third game against the Seattle Seahawks, the Cowboys were forced to start him at left cornerback opposite Diggs after Chidobe Awuzie was placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. He struggled in four straight starts and was often targeted in coverage. In Week 6 against the Arizona Cardinals, Worley was benched after giving up an 80-yard touchdown reception to Christian Kirk while in zone coverage. The Cowboys released him on October 28, and he posted 13 tackles and 1 pass defended in 7 appearances including 4 starts.

On November 3, 2020, Worley was signed to the practice squad of the Buffalo Bills. He was elevated to the active roster on November 14 for the Week 10 game against the Arizona Cardinals and reverted to the practice squad after the game. On December 9, 2020, Worley was signed by the Las Vegas Raiders off the Bills’ practice squad to provide depth with injuries to Damon Arnette, Lamarcus Joyner, and Johnathan Abram. He was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list on December 18 and activated on December 30. He appeared in 2 games for Las Vegas, starting 1, recording 8 tackles and 2 passes defensed.

Arizona Cardinals and Detroit Lions (2021)

On July 26, 2021, Worley signed with the Arizona Cardinals. He was released by the Cardinals on August 31 during roster cuts. On September 15, 2021, Worley was signed to the Detroit Lions’ practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster on September 22. Worley was released on October 26 and re-signed to the practice squad. He was released again on November 4.

Baltimore Ravens (2021–2023)

On December 21, 2021, Worley was signed to the Baltimore Ravens’ practice squad. He was brought back by the Ravens on August 8, 2022. He was released on August 29 and re-signed to the practice squad the following day. He was promoted to the active roster on September 17, then waived on September 27 and re-signed to the practice squad. He was promoted back to the active roster on October 8, then released three days later and re-signed to the practice squad. He was promoted back to the active roster on October 22. He was placed on injured reserve on December 10 before being activated on January 7, 2023. He was named a starter at cornerback in the season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals, making 5 tackles and defending 2 passes while helping defend wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase. He appeared in 8 games with 1 start during the 2022 season.

On February 15, 2023, Worley re-signed with the Ravens. He was released on August 29 and re-signed to the practice squad. He was elevated to the active roster on September 9 and promoted to the active roster three days later. Worley was placed on injured reserve on October 7 and later activated on November 4. He re-signed with the Ravens on July 26, 2024. He was released by Baltimore on August 27 as part of final roster cuts.

Tennessee Titans (2024)

On November 5, 2024, Worley was signed to the Tennessee Titans practice squad following a number of injuries to the Titans’ defensive backfield. Worley had three game day elevations, including his first start with the Titans in the team’s Week 12 win over the Houston Texans, substituting at safety for a sick Amani Hooker. He was promoted to the active roster on November 29. Worley started as cornerback in Tennessee’s Week 13 loss to the Washington Commanders, recording a career-high 17 tackles. He appeared in 9 games during the 2024 season, logging 52 tackles, 1 forced fumble, and 1 interception.

Washington Commanders (2025)

Worley signed with the Washington Commanders on August 14, 2025, but was released during roster cuts on August 27. On November 5, the Commanders re-signed him to their practice squad. Worley was released by Washington on November 20.

Daryl Worley Career Statistics

Throughout his NFL career, Worley has established himself as a reliable defensive back with consistent production across multiple franchises. His versatility has allowed him to contribute at various cornerback positions and safety, making him a valuable depth piece for teams in need of experienced defensive backs.

NFL Career Totals

Worley entered the NFL as a third-round draft pick in 2016. Over his 11-season career, he has appeared in games with 11 different NFL franchises. His career statistics include 344 total tackles, 6 interceptions, 42 passes defensed, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 1 fumble recovery.

Notable Achievements

Worley’s most prominent achievement came during his college career at West Virginia, where he earned First-team All-Big 12 honors in 2015. He led the Big 12 Conference with 6 interceptions that season, demonstrating the playmaking ability that translated to his professional career. His 2024 season with the Tennessee Titans saw him record a career-high 17 tackles in a single game against the Washington Commanders.

Daryl Worley Family

Personal Life

Daryl Worley was born on February 22, 1995, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. He attended William Penn Charter School in Philadelphia, where he developed into one of the top defensive backs in the region. His Philadelphia roots have been a consistent thread throughout his football career, and he has returned to play for his hometown area multiple times during his journeyman NFL career. Detailed information about his family, marital status, or children is not publicly available.

2025 Season Performance

The 2025 season saw Worley continue his journeyman career in the NFL. He initially signed with the Washington Commanders in August 2025 during training camp but was released during roster cuts on August 27. The Commanders brought him back on November 5, signing him to their practice squad to provide depth for their defensive backfield. He was released by Washington on November 20. Throughout his career, Worley has demonstrated adaptability and durability, appearing in games with 11 different NFL franchises over 11 seasons. His ability to play multiple positions in the secondary has kept him in demand as a veteran presence who can step in and contribute when called upon. His career statistics include 344 total tackles, 6 interceptions, and 42 passes defensed, showcasing his consistent production at the professional level.