Jordan Kunaszyk Bio
Jordan Kunaszyk is an American professional football linebacker who has competed in the National Football League since 2019. Born on October 15, 1996, in Sacramento, California, Kunaszyk attended Roseville High School before embarking on a collegiate career at American River College and the University of California. He signed with the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent in 2019 and has since played for the Washington Football Team, Cleveland Browns, and Minnesota Vikings, establishing himself as a reliable special teams contributor and rotational linebacker across five NFL seasons.
Early Life and Background
Jordan Kunaszyk grew up in Sacramento, California, and attended Roseville High School in the nearby city of Roseville. During his freshman year of varsity football, Kunaszyk recorded 77 tackles including nine tackles for loss, three sacks, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. His impressive debut earned him second-team All-Sierra Foothill League recognition. As a senior, Kunaszyk elevated his performance significantly, finishing with 101 tackles including 21 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, one interception, and one forced fumble, earning first-team All-Sierra Foothill League honors.
Path to Professional Football
Following his standout high school career, Kunaszyk began his collegiate journey at American River College, a junior college in California. He was forced to redshirt his true freshman season after breaking his wrist on the very first play of the year. Despite this setback, Kunaszyk bounced back with an exceptional sophomore campaign, recording 118 tackles, which led all California junior college players, along with three sacks, one forced fumble, and three pass breakups. His dominant performance earned him first-team All-Big 8 Conference honors, Junior College Freshman All-American recognition, and the CCCAA NorCal Division Defensive Player of the Year award.
His remarkable junior college career attracted attention from multiple Division I programs. Kunaszyk ultimately chose to transfer to the University of California, joining the Golden Bears for the 2016 season. He chose California over offers from Colorado, Iowa State, UNLV, and Fresno State, beginning his transition to major college football.
Jordan Kunaszyk Career
College Career at California (2016–2018)
In his first season with the California Golden Bears, Kunaszyk appeared in 12 games as a reserve linebacker, recording 51 tackles. His versatility and ability to make an immediate impact earned him a larger role in the defense. During his redshirt junior season, Kunaszyk tallied 74 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and two interceptions with one forced fumble and one fumble recovery despite missing three games due to injury, demonstrating his durability and playmaking ability when on the field.
Kunaszyk saved his best statistical season for his final year of collegiate eligibility. In 2018, he delivered a breakthrough campaign with 148 tackles including 11 tackles for loss, four sacks, and five forced fumbles, complementing his performance with three pass breakups and one interception. His outstanding season earned him First-team All-Pac-12 Conference honors and Second-team All-America recognition from Sports Illustrated, establishing him as one of the top linebackers in the conference.
Carolina Panthers (2019)
Kunaszyk entered the 2019 NFL Draft but went undrafted. He signed with the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent on April 27, 2019. He made his NFL debut on September 12 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, playing 15 snaps on special teams. Kunaszyk appeared in nine games during his rookie season, recording seven tackles. The Panthers waived him on September 5, 2020, as part of their final roster reductions.
Washington Football Team (2020–2021)
Following his release from Carolina, Kunaszyk joined the Washington Football Team practice squad on September 26, 2020. He was elevated to the active roster on November 14 and November 21 for games against the Detroit Lions and Cincinnati Bengals, respectively, returning to the practice squad after each contest. Washington signed him to the active roster permanently on November 25. He continued with the team through the 2021 season, during which he was placed on the COVID-19 reserve list on January 8, 2022, and ruled out for the season finale. Washington released him on May 16, 2022.
Cleveland Browns (2022–2023)
Kunaszyk signed with the Cleveland Browns on August 9, 2022. He was released during final roster cuts but rejoined the practice squad the following day. He was promoted to the active roster on September 21, 2022. Kunaszyk played in 15 games with two starts, recording a career-high 22 tackles. He was released by the Browns on February 14, 2023, but re-signed with the team on March 20. He was placed on injured reserve at the end of August 2023 before being activated on November 25, 2023.
Minnesota Vikings (2024)
On August 13, 2024, Kunaszyk signed with the Minnesota Vikings. He was placed on injured reserve on August 27, 2024, limiting his contribution during his debut season with the team. Kunaszyk was released by the Vikings on December 17, 2024. His tenure with Minnesota was brief due to the injury circumstances, but he remained in the league and continued his professional football career.
Defensive Style and Strengths
Kunaszyk has established himself as a reliable special teams performer and rotational linebacker throughout his NFL career. His college production at California demonstrated his ability to make plays against both the run and pass, with instincts for locating the football and wrapping up tackles. His experience at multiple organizations has allowed him to adapt to different defensive schemes while contributing primarily on special teams coverage units.
Notable Career Milestones
Throughout his professional career, Kunaszyk has appeared in over 30 NFL games with two starts. His career-high 22 tackles with Cleveland in 2022 represented his most productive NFL season to that point. The journey from undrafted free agent to a consistent roster presence across multiple teams reflects his resilience and ability to earn opportunities through special teams performance.
Jordan Kunaszyk Career Statistics
Kunaszyk has compiled his NFL career statistics across five seasons with four different organizations, primarily contributing on special teams while seeing limited defensive snaps.
NFL Career Summary
During his NFL career spanning 2019 to 2024, Kunaszyk has recorded 45 total tackles, one forced fumble, and one pass deflection. His most productive season came in 2022 with Cleveland, where he recorded 22 tackles in 15 games. His career has been characterized by consistency in making the roster through special teams contributions rather than defensive statistics.
College Career Highlights
At California, Kunaszyk accumulated 273 tackles over three seasons, including 11 for loss, along with 7.5 sacks, three interceptions, and six forced fumbles. His senior season in 2018 represented his finest collegiate campaign, featuring 148 tackles and five forced fumbles, showcasing his ability to be a difference-maker at the Power Five level.
| Competition | Tackles | Forced Fumbles | Sacks |
|---|---|---|---|
| NFL Career | 45 | 1 | 0 |
| College (California) | 273 | 6 | 7.5 |
Jordan Kunaszyk Family
Family Background and Education
Kunaszyk grew up in the Sacramento metropolitan area of California, attending Roseville High School where he first showcased his football abilities. His educational path included two years at American River College, a junior college, before completing his collegiate career at the University of California, where he earned a degree while competing for the Golden Bears.
Personal Life
Kunaszyk maintains a public profile on Instagram under the handle jordankunaszyk. As a professional athlete, he has navigated the challenges of playing for multiple teams across different regions, demonstrating flexibility and adaptability throughout his career. He continues to pursue opportunities in the NFL following his release from Minnesota in December 2024.
2025 Season Performance
Following his mid-season release from the Minnesota Vikings in December 2024, Kunaszyk entered the 2025 NFL offseason as a free agent. At 28 years old, he remains in his athletic prime and brings five seasons of professional experience along with special teams expertise that could appeal to teams seeking depth at linebacker. His career trajectory shows resilience, having bounced back from previous releases to earn new opportunities with different organizations.
The 2025 season presents Kunaszyk with the opportunity to secure a roster spot with a new team through training camp performance and special teams evaluations. His familiarity with multiple defensive systems and proven ability to contribute on special teams coverage units remain his strongest attributes for earning a spot on an NFL roster. Teams seeking experienced linebacker depth who can immediately contribute on special teams may view him as a viable option as they build their rosters through the spring and summer months.