D.J. Humphries Bio
Dierrias J. Humphries Jr., known professionally as D.J. Humphries, is an American professional football offensive tackle for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighing roughly 307 pounds, he plays a premium position along the offensive line and has earned recognition as one of the league’s prominent linemen. Humphries won the 2011 Anthony Muñoz Award, given to the best lineman in high school football, before launching a college career with the Florida Gators. He was selected in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals and went on to spend nine seasons with the franchise.
Early Life and Background
Humphries was born on December 28, 1993, in Union, South Carolina, and grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina. He attended Mallard Creek High School, where he was a three-sport athlete competing in football, basketball, and track and field. As an offensive lineman, he earned All-American honors while blocking for a 2,000-yard rusher and protecting his quarterback, and he started from his freshman year without allowing a sack over the final three years of his prep career. In 2011, Humphries helped Mallard Creek post a 13–1 record and reach the NCHSAA Class 4AA State Semifinals. He also competed in the shot put and discus in track and field, recording top throws of 48 feet 9 inches and 105 feet 3 inches, respectively.
Regarded as a five-star recruit by Rivals.com, Humphries was ranked as the No. 1 offensive tackle prospect in his class, ahead of fellow lineman Zach Banner. He drew comparisons to longtime NFL left tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson and received scholarship offers from nearly every major Division I program. After weighing options from schools including Alabama, Georgia, and North Carolina, Humphries chose to attend the University of Florida.
Path to American Football
Humphries enrolled at the University of Florida in January 2012 to participate in spring practice, beginning his college career at an early age relative to most freshmen. As a true freshman in 2012, he appeared in all 12 games and started three, grading out at 80 percent or better in six contests and posting a perfect mark against Texas A&M and Tennessee. His play earned him First-team Offense Southeastern Conference Coaches’ All-Freshman honors and a Sporting News Freshman All-American selection.
His sophomore season in 2013 ended after seven games because of a season-ending injury. He returned as a junior in 2014, playing in 10 games while missing two due to injury. After his junior campaign, Humphries decided to forgo his remaining eligibility and entered the 2015 NFL Draft.
D.J. Humphries Career
Early Career (2015–2016)
Humphries was selected with the 24th overall pick by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2015 NFL Draft, becoming the highest-drafted Florida offensive lineman since Mike Pouncey in 2011. He signed a four-year, $8.91 million rookie contract that included $7.26 million in guarantees and a $4.74 million signing bonus. As a rookie, he was inactive for all 16 regular-season games and both postseason contests, making him the only first-round pick from his draft class to miss the entire season.
In 2016, Humphries opened the year as the Cardinals’ starting right tackle and made his professional debut in a Week 1 loss to the New England Patriots. Later that season he shifted to left tackle after Jared Veldheer suffered a torn triceps, and he logged his first career start at that position against the Atlanta Falcons. He suffered a concussion in a Week 14 loss to the Miami Dolphins, briefly halting his early momentum.
Arizona Cardinals Breakthrough (2017–2020)
Humphries entered 2017 as Arizona’s starting left tackle and started the first four games before an MCL sprain sidelined him. He returned in Week 6 and started four more games before dislocating his knee cap and tearing his MCL on Thursday Night Football in Week 10, ending his season. The Cardinals picked up his fifth-year option in April 2018, and he started the first nine games at left tackle before another knee injury landed him on injured reserve in December.
On February 17, 2020, Humphries signed a three-year, $45 million contract extension with the Cardinals through the 2022 season. The deal reflected his development into a full-time starter and a foundational piece of the offensive line.
Los Angeles Rams Era (2025–Present)
After his release from Arizona and a brief 2024 stint with the Kansas City Chiefs, Humphries signed with the Los Angeles Rams on June 12, 2025. He had originally agreed to a deal with the San Francisco 49ers in April 2025 before that agreement fell through. The Rams brought him in to add veteran experience to their offensive line as he works back from the ACL injury he suffered late in 2023.
Kansas City Chiefs (2024)
Humphries signed with the Kansas City Chiefs on November 25, 2024. During the regular season he started at left tackle in Week 14 against the Los Angeles Chargers and in Week 18 versus the Denver Broncos. In the postseason he played special teams in the divisional round and the AFC Championship Game and was active but did not play in Super Bowl LIX.
Notable Events and Milestones
Humphries earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2021, recognizing one of the strongest stretches of his career. He was also named a Freshman All-American in 2012, becoming the first Florida offensive lineman to earn that distinction since Mike Pouncey. His rookie contract extension in 2020 and a follow-up three-year, $66.6 million extension signed August 2, 2022, cemented his status as a long-term cornerstone of the Cardinals’ offensive line.
D.J. Humphries Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
His father, also named D.J. Humphries, played college football and basketball at Presbyterian College and went on to play in the Arena Football League. The athletic pedigree shaped Humphries’ early development and helped fuel his rise as a multisport high school athlete.
Personal Life
Humphries is a father and has a son. He grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina, and maintains ties to the region where he starred at Mallard Creek High School.
2025 Season Performance
Humphries joined the Los Angeles Rams in mid-2025 after an offseason that began with a deal agreed to in April with the San Francisco 49ers before falling through. His move to Los Angeles pairs him with a Rams offensive line looking for veteran stability as the team competes in the NFC. After missing the second half of 2023 with a torn ACL, his 2025 role will center on reclaiming a starting job and shaking off the rust from his layoff.
Working with the Rams’ offensive coaching staff, Humphries is expected to push for playing time at either tackle spot, providing depth and leadership up front. His prior success with the Cardinals, including a 2021 Pro Bowl nod, gives Los Angeles a proven presence to lean on while younger linemen develop. The Rams will monitor his health closely as the regular season progresses, hoping his experience translates into a steady late-career run.