Jalen Ramsey Bio
Jalen Ramsey is an American professional football safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Florida State Seminoles and was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars fifth overall in the 2016 NFL draft. Ramsey has established himself as one of the most dominant defensive backs in the NFL, earning eight Pro Bowl selections and three First-team All-Pro honors throughout his career. He won Super Bowl LVI with the Los Angeles Rams before joining the Steelers in 2025.
Early Life and Background
Jalen Ramsey was born on October 24, 1994, in Smyrna, Tennessee, to Lamont and Margie Ramsey. His father, Lamont, served as a District Chief in the Fire Department before becoming Jalen’s training coach. His older brother, Jamal, played quarterback at Middle Tennessee State University, where their father had once played football. Jalen developed his football skills by playing with older boys at a local park during his youth.
Ramsey attended Ensworth High School in Nashville, Tennessee, as a freshman before transferring to Brentwood Academy in Brentwood, Tennessee. At Brentwood Academy, he became a two-sport star in football and track and field. He was rated as a five-star recruit by both Rivals.com and Scout.com, ranking among the top overall recruits in his class. He originally committed to the University of Southern California (USC) before changing his commitment to Florida State University.
Beyond football, Ramsey excelled in track and field at the high school level. On May 24, 2013, he shattered the Tennessee state record in the long jump with a mark of 25 feet 3.25 inches, breaking a 16-year-old record. He also recorded personal best times of 10.50 seconds in the 100-meter dash and 21.44 seconds in the 200-meter dash.
Path to American Football
Ramsey arrived at Florida State University in 2013 and immediately made an impact. He started all 14 games as a true freshman, becoming the first true freshman to start at cornerback for the Seminoles since Deion Sanders in 1985. During his freshman season, Florida State won the BCS National Championship over Auburn, with Ramsey wearing jersey number 13.
As a sophomore in 2014, Ramsey played 14 games and recorded 80 tackles, two interceptions, 12 passes defended, three forced fumbles, and two sacks. He earned Second-team All-American honors and was named First-team All-ACC for his performance. During his junior season in 2015, he played 13 games with 52 tackles, one sack, and nine passes defended. He was named Consensus All-American and declared for the NFL draft after the season, forgoing his senior year of eligibility.
Jalen Ramsey Career
Jacksonville Jaguars (2016–2019)
The Jacksonville Jaguars selected Ramsey in the first round (fifth overall) of the 2016 NFL draft, making him the first cornerback selected and the highest drafted cornerback in franchise history. He signed a four-year, $23.35 million rookie contract that included $22.9 million guaranteed. Despite suffering a small meniscus tear during rookie training camp that required surgery, Ramsey competed for and earned the starting cornerback position.
In his rookie season, Ramsey recorded 65 combined tackles, 14 pass deflections, two interceptions, and one touchdown in 16 games and starts. He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team. The following year, he had a breakout 2017 season with 63 tackles, 17 pass deflections, and four interceptions. He earned First-team All-Pro honors and his first Pro Bowl selection. The Jaguars finished 10-6 and advanced to the AFC Championship game, snapping a 10-year playoff drought.
Ramsey continued his elite play in 2018 with 65 tackles and three interceptions despite the team finishing 5-11. He earned his second Pro Bowl selection. In 2019, a fallout with the Jaguars’ front office led to a standoff, and he was traded to the Los Angeles Rams midway through the season.
Los Angeles Rams Breakthrough (2019–2022)
On October 15, 2019, the Jaguars traded Ramsey to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for multiple draft picks. He finished the 2019 season with 50 combined tackles, five passes defensed, and one interception. He earned his third consecutive Pro Bowl nomination.
On September 9, 2020, the Rams signed Ramsey to a five-year, $100 million contract extension that included $71.2 million guaranteed, making him the highest-paid defensive back in NFL history at the time. He earned First-team All-Pro honors and a Pro Bowl selection for the 2020 season, finishing with 44 tackles, one interception, and nine passes defensed in 15 games.
In 2021, Ramsey switched his jersey number to 5 following the NFL’s new jersey number rule. He recorded 77 tackles, 16 pass deflections, and four interceptions. He earned another First-team All-Pro selection and Pro Bowl nomination. The Rams finished 12-5 and won the NFC Championship before defeating the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 in Super Bowl LVI, giving Ramsey his first championship ring.
Ramsey played through injuries during the 2022 season, including tears in both shoulders that required surgery in June. Despite this, he started all 17 games and had a career-high 88 combined tackles, 18 passes defended, four interceptions, and two sacks. He earned his sixth Pro Bowl nomination and was ranked 36th on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2023.
Miami Dolphins Era (2023–2024)
On March 15, 2023, the Miami Dolphins acquired Ramsey in a trade with the Rams. He suffered a torn meniscus during training camp and was placed on injured reserve, missing the first portion of the season. He returned in late October and made his Dolphins debut, recording one tackle and an interception against the New England Patriots.
Ramsey started ten games in 2023 and recorded 22 combined tackles, five pass deflections, and three interceptions. He earned his seventh consecutive Pro Bowl selection and was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week for Week 11. In September 2024, the Dolphins signed him to a three-year, $72.3 million contract extension worth $24.23 million guaranteed, making him the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL.
He started all 17 games in the 2024 season, finishing with 60 combined tackles, 11 passes defended, two interceptions, and one sack. After mutually agreeing to part ways, the Dolphins announced they would seek trade partners for Ramsey on April 15, 2025.
Pittsburgh Steelers Era (2025–Present)
On June 30, 2025, Ramsey was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers along with Jonnu Smith and a 2027 seventh-round pick in exchange for Minkah Fitzpatrick and a 2025 fifth-round pick. The trade included a $1.5 million raise, bringing his expected earnings to $26.6 million for the 2025 season.
During the season opener against the New York Jets, Ramsey had two tackles and a game-sealing hit on wide receiver Garrett Wilson with 18 seconds left to secure a 34-32 victory. In Week 6, he recorded his first career multi-sack game with two sacks during a 23-9 victory over the Cleveland Browns. In Week 11, Ramsey was ejected after punching Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, who was suspended for spitting on him. Ramsey was fined $14,491 for the incident. He finished the 2025 season with three sacks, 88 tackles (53 solo), one interception, and eight passes defended.
Defensive Style and Strengths
Ramsey is known for his exceptional cover skills, physicality, and versatility in defending multiple receiver types. His ability to shadow elite receivers, combined with his ball skills and tackling ability, makes him a complete cornerback. His confidence and trash-talk mentality have made him one of the most recognizable personalities in the NFL.
Notable Events and Milestones
Throughout his career, Ramsey has been involved in several high-profile incidents. His 2017 altercation with A.J. Green during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals resulted in his ejection. He has famously traded barbs with players like Tyreek Hill and DK Metcalf. In an August 2018 interview with GQ, he offered unfiltered opinions about multiple NFL quarterbacks, drawing significant media attention.
Jalen Ramsey Career Highlights
Ramsey has accumulated numerous accolades throughout his NFL career. He has been named a First-team All-Pro three times and has earned eight Pro Bowl selections. He won Super Bowl LVI with the Rams in 2022 and was a major contributor to Jacksonville’s playoff run in 2017. His career statistics include 622 total tackles, 25 interceptions, 116 pass deflections, and 6 sacks.
NFL Highlights
Ramsey’s NFL career began with a Pro Bowl rookie season in 2016, followed by his breakout First-team All-Pro campaign in 2017. His 2020 contract extension made him the highest-paid defensive back in league history. His Super Bowl victory with the Rams in 2022 represented the pinnacle of his professional achievements thus far. His continued Pro Bowl selections through 2025 demonstrate his sustained excellence.
College Achievements
Prior to his NFL career, Ramsey was a key member of Florida State’s 2013 BCS National Championship team. He earned Consensus All-American honors in 2015 and Second-team All-American recognition in 2014. He was a two-time First-team All-ACC selection and was rated as the top cornerback prospect in the 2016 NFL draft class.
| Achievement | Count |
|---|---|
| Pro Bowl Selections | 8 |
| First-team All-Pro | 3 |
| Interceptions (Career) | 25 |
| Pass Deflections (Career) | 116 |
| Total Tackles (Career) | 622 |
Jalen Ramsey Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Ramsey comes from an athletic family. His father, Lamont Ramsey, was a former football player at Middle Tennessee State University before serving as a District Chief and later becoming Jalen’s training coach. His older brother, Jamal Ramsey, played quarterback at Middle Tennessee State University and also participated in football, basketball, and track at Battle Ground Academy.
Personal Life
Ramsey is a Christian and frequently mentions his faith on his social media accounts. He is in a relationship with Breanna Tate, the younger sister of retired NFL wide receiver Golden Tate. The couple had their first daughter together in July 2018 and a second daughter in September 2019. Ramsey is known for his confident personality and trash-talk ability on the field, often engaging in memorable battles with opposing players.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked a new chapter for Ramsey with the Pittsburgh Steelers after being acquired in a trade from the Miami Dolphins. His transition to the Steelers was seamless, as he immediately became a leader in the defensive backfield and contributed to several key victories throughout the season.
Ramsey’s standout moments included a season-opening victory against the New York Jets with a game-sealing tackle and a two-sack performance against the Cleveland Browns that showcased his versatility as both a coverage defender and pass rusher. The incident with Ja’Marr Chase in Week 11 resulted in an ejection and fine, but did not significantly derail his overall season performance.
Finishing with 88 tackles, three sacks, one interception, and eight passes defended, Ramsey demonstrated his continued ability to compete at an elite level despite being in his tenth NFL season. The Steelers’ defense benefited from his experience and playmaking ability as the team pushed for playoff positioning throughout the year.