C. J. Brewer Bio
C. J. Brewer (born November 22, 1997) is an American professional football defensive end for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 2 inches tall and competing at 290 pounds, Brewer plays on the interior and edge of the defensive line, contributing as both a run defender and a pass rusher. After a standout college career at Coastal Carolina University, he entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2022 and has since built his professional résumé through several practice squad promotions and team transitions.
Early Life and Background
C. J. Brewer was born on November 22, 1997, in Bowdon, Georgia, a small town west of Atlanta. He grew up in Bowdon and attended Bowdon High School, where he developed into a two-sport athlete in football and basketball. As a junior, he earned first-team All-Region 5-AA honors at linebacker and second-team recognition as an offensive lineman, while also being named the Times-Georgian Area Defensive Player of the Year and a fourth-team all-state selection.
As a senior, Brewer elevated his profile considerably. He was named the Times-Georgian All-Area Most Valuable Player and the Region 5-AA Defensive Player of the Year. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution selected him as a first-team 5-AA all-state player, while the Georgia Sports Writers Association named him a second-team pick. Rated as a Rivals.com two-star recruit, Brewer received limited national attention but signed with Coastal Carolina University to continue his football career.
Path to American Football
Brewer committed to Coastal Carolina University and redshirted during his freshman year in 2016, preserving a year of eligibility while adjusting to the college game. As a redshirt-freshman in 2017, he appeared in all twelve games as a defensive lineman and made his first career start on October 28 against the Texas State Bobcats. The following season, he started five games at defensive tackle and recorded twenty-nine tackles along with two forced fumbles across nine appearances, establishing himself as a reliable contributor on the Chanticleers’ front line.
During his redshirt-junior season in 2019, Brewer earned third-team All-Sun Belt Conference recognition after tallying fifty-four tackles, seven and a half tackles for loss, and three quarterback sacks. He also excelled academically, earning Dean’s List honors from fall 2019 through spring 2020 with a grade point average above 3.5. Entering 2020 as a preseason All-Sun Belt selection by multiple publications, he started all twelve games, served as team captain, and was named third-team All-America by the Associated Press.
C. J. Brewer Career
College Career (2016–2021)
Brewer’s college career reached its peak across the 2020 and 2021 seasons. In 2020, he was named first-team all-conference by Phil Steele and earned Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week honors on November 23. He finished the year with six and a half sacks and sixty total tackles, while also catching his only career touchdown pass against Kansas in the season opener.
Using the extra year of eligibility granted because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Brewer returned in 2021 as a fifth-year player. He started all thirteen games, served as team captain, and recorded fifty-four tackles, nine and a half tackles for loss, four and a half sacks, six quarterback hurries, an interception, and a recovered fumble. He was invited to the 2022 Hula Bowl senior all-star game and earned multiple postseason honors, including the Tailgreeter Cure Bowl Community Service Soldier Award. Brewer graduated with a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree in instructional technology, finishing his career on the President’s List with a 4.0 GPA.
Buffalo Bills Era (2022)
After going unselected in the 2022 NFL Draft, Brewer signed with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent. He was waived at final roster cuts but quickly returned to the team’s practice squad. On September 19, 2022, he was elevated to the active roster and made his NFL debut against the Tennessee Titans, recording two tackles. He was reverted to the practice squad the following day and was released on October 4 before being re-signed on November 26 and promoted again on December 6.
Houston Roughnecks Era (2023)
Seeking additional playing time, Brewer was selected by the Houston Roughnecks of the XFL in the league’s 2023 draft. His stint with the Roughnecks was short, as he was released from his contract on May 15, 2023, opening the door for a quick return to the NFL.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Era (2023–Present)
On May 15, 2023, Brewer signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and was waived on August 29 before re-signing with the practice squad. After a release on November 14 and a return on December 6, he signed a reserve and future contract on January 23, 2024. Brewer was again waived during the 2024 roster cuts on August 27 and returned to the practice squad the next day, then was promoted to the active roster on September 20.
Heading into 2025, Brewer was waived on August 26 as part of final roster cuts and re-signed to the practice squad on August 27. He was promoted to the active roster on September 23 before being waived and re-signed to the practice squad again on December 10, demonstrating the trust the Buccaneers continue to place in his versatility.
Driving Style and Strengths
Brewer is recognized for his physicality, durability, and ability to play multiple positions along the defensive line, having lined up at both defensive tackle and defensive end during his career. His combination of tackling consistency, gap discipline, and pass-rush productivity made him a productive college defender and a reliable practice squad piece in the NFL.
Notable Events and Milestones
Brewer’s NFL debut on September 19, 2022, against the Tennessee Titans stands as a key early milestone, followed by his Hula Bowl invitation after the 2021 college season. He leaves Coastal Carolina ranked eighth in school history with 230 career tackles, fifth with 140 assisted tackles, fifth in tackles for loss, third in quarterback hurries with 20, and fifth in sacks.
C. J. Brewer Career Wins
As a defensive lineman, Brewer’s contributions are measured more in statistical production and team achievements than in personal victories. Across his college and professional career, he has been recognized for tackles, sacks, tackles for loss, and conference and All-America honors.
College Highlights
Brewer earned third-team All-Sun Belt honors in 2019, 2020, and 2021, along with third-team All-America recognition from the Associated Press in 2020. He started 57 of 58 games played for the Chanticleers and finished with 230 total tackles, 32.5 tackles for loss, and 16.0 sacks. His academic accolades included Dean’s List and President’s List honors, a place on the 2022 National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society, and both a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree in instructional technology.
Professional Performances
Brewer has yet to record a signature statistical milestone at the NFL level, but his repeated promotions from the practice squad to the active roster reflect the respect he has earned from coaching staffs with the Bills and Buccaneers.
C. J. Brewer Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Brewer grew up in Bowdon, Georgia, where his athletic foundation was built at Bowdon High School. Specific details about his parents and family background are not publicly confirmed.
Personal Life
Brewer keeps his personal life largely private. He has been based in Florida since joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and remains focused on his professional football career.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represents another chapter of perseverance for Brewer with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After being waived during final roster cuts on August 26 and re-signed to the practice squad the next day, he was promoted to the active roster on September 23 and later waived and re-signed again on December 10. His repeated movement between the practice squad and active roster underscores his value as a versatile defensive lineman capable of stepping into rotational duty when needed.
While Brewer’s statistical impact has been limited at the NFL level so far, his continued presence on an active roster speaks to the trust the Buccaneers place in his preparation and locker-room presence. He remains a depth option along the defensive line, ready to contribute on special teams and in pass-rush situations.
Looking ahead, Brewer’s primary objective is to establish himself as a consistent rotational player in Tampa Bay and to translate his well-documented college production into a longer-term role. With the Buccaneers monitoring his development closely, the 2025 season offers him a chance to cement his place on the team’s defensive front.