Dan Feeney Bio
Daniel James Feeney is an American professional football guard for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Indiana Hoosiers and was selected by the Los Angeles Chargers in the third round of the 2017 NFL draft. Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing 141 kilograms, Feeney has built a career as a dependable interior lineman known for his durability and football intelligence.
Across nearly a decade in the NFL, Feeney has played for six franchises, earning a reputation as a reliable backup and capable starter. His professional journey has included stints in Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Chicago, Minnesota, and Buffalo, before his most recent move to Tampa Bay.
Early Life and Background
Daniel James Feeney was born on May 29, 1994, in Orland Park, Illinois. He is the son of Tony Feeney and Kim Feeney, and he has a sister named Shannon Feeney. Growing up in the Chicago suburbs, Feeney was exposed to athletics at a young age and developed a strong work ethic shaped by his family environment.
Feeney attended Carl Sandburg High School, where he was a four-year letterman for the Carl Sandburg Eagles football team. He also earned one varsity letter in volleyball, showcasing his athletic versatility. During his junior year, Feeney was named team MVP while playing on both the offensive and defensive lines, signaling his early potential as a college prospect.
After high school, Feeney received scholarship offers from Illinois and Western Michigan, but he chose to commit to Indiana University in the summer of 2011. His decision to join a Big Ten program out of Illinois marked the beginning of a college career that would reshape his future in football.
Path to American Football
Feeney’s path to professional football began in earnest at Indiana, where he quickly established himself as a foundational piece of the Hoosiers’ offensive line. In his freshman year of 2012, he started all 12 games at right guard and earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors, while not allowing a single sack across the entire season. That kind of immediate production was rare and pointed to a long-term professional future.
Unfortunately, a Lisfranc fracture during a preseason scrimmage forced Feeney to miss the entire 2013 campaign, and he was redshirted to preserve three years of eligibility. He returned in 2014 to a group ESPN called the Big Ten’s most underrated position group. That year, he started all 12 games and helped Indiana set a program single-season rushing record of 3,163 yards, paced by Heisman candidate Tevin Coleman.
Ahead of his redshirt junior season in 2015, Feeney appeared on the Lombardi Award and Outland Trophy watch lists. He finished the year as a consensus first-team All-American, earning recognition from ESPN, CBS Sports, the Associated Press, and Sports Illustrated. He followed that with another strong senior season in 2016, repeating as a first-team All-American and first-team All-Big Ten selection.
Dan Feeney Career
Early Career (2017–2018)
Feeney entered the 2017 NFL draft as one of the top interior offensive line prospects. NFL analyst Lance Zierlein labeled him the best interior offensive lineman in the draft class back in June 2016, and he was ranked the second-best guard by NFLDraftScout.com, ESPN, and Mike Mayock. After the draft, the Los Angeles Chargers selected him in the third round with the 71st overall pick.
On June 2, 2017, the Chargers signed Feeney to a four-year contract worth $3.7 million, including a signing bonus of $924,632. He earned the backup right guard role out of training camp, but he became a starter on October 29, 2017, after Matt Slauson suffered a season-ending biceps injury. Feeney started the rest of the season at left guard and was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team. In 2018, he continued as the Chargers’ starting left guard and played all 16 regular-season games.
Los Angeles Chargers Breakthrough (2017–2020)
Feeney’s first extended action came with the Chargers in 2017, when he stepped into a starting role midway through his rookie season. Despite the team finishing with a losing record, his steady presence at left guard helped stabilize a young offensive line. His All-Rookie recognition confirmed what his college film had suggested: Feeney was a reliable, technically sound player.
In 2018, Feeney started all 16 regular-season games at left guard, an impressive workload for a second-year player. He became a fixture on the line and earned praise for his pass protection and run blocking. During the 2019 season, Feeney recorded his first NFL fumble recovery in a Week 4 win against the Miami Dolphins. He spent the 2020 season with the Chargers before becoming a free agent.
New York Jets Era (2021–2022)
On March 19, 2021, Feeney signed a one-year contract with the New York Jets, beginning a stretch as a journeyman interior lineman. In his first Jets season, he appeared in 16 games and made five starts, providing veteran depth and flexibility along the offensive line.
On March 16, 2022, Feeney re-signed with the Jets on another one-year deal, showing that the organization valued his experience and professionalism. After the 2022 season, he once again entered free agency.
Miami Dolphins and Chicago Bears (2023)
Feeney signed a one-year contract with the Miami Dolphins on March 17, 2023, looking to contribute on a contending roster. His time in Miami was brief, as the Dolphins traded him to the Chicago Bears on August 29, 2023, in exchange for a 2024 sixth-round draft pick. The trade reflected the value teams still placed on his veteran presence.
Minnesota Vikings (2024)
On March 15, 2024, Feeney signed a one-year deal with the Minnesota Vikings, continuing his pattern of providing experienced depth to playoff-hopeful rosters. He added another season of reliable service as part of an offensive line group with postseason aspirations.
Buffalo Bills and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2025)
On August 4, 2025, Feeney signed with the Buffalo Bills as he looked to extend his career into a ninth professional season. He was released on August 26 as part of final roster cuts but re-signed to the Bills’ practice squad the next day. On September 18, 2025, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed Feeney to their active roster off Buffalo’s practice squad, giving him an opportunity to return to a 53-man roster.
Notable Events and Milestones
Feeney’s career includes several noteworthy milestones, beginning with his selection as the 71st overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft. His PFWA All-Rookie Team selection that same year validated his third-round status. He started all 16 games at left guard for the Chargers in 2018 and recorded his first career fumble recovery in 2019. Moving across six franchises, he has shown the durability and consistency that keep veteran linemen in demand.
Dan Feeney Career Achievements
Feeney has collected several honors during his career, beginning with consensus first-team All-American recognition in 2015 from ESPN, CBS Sports, the Associated Press, and Sports Illustrated. He added another All-American selection in 2016 from the Associated Press, along with first-team All-Big Ten honors in both 2015 and 2016. As a professional, he was named to the PFWA NFL All-Rookie Team in 2017, an important early validation of his third-round draft status.
All-American Honors
Feeney’s back-to-back All-American seasons at Indiana established him as one of the top interior linemen in college football. In 2015, he earned consensus first-team All-American honors, a rare achievement for an offensive guard. In 2016, he added another first-team All-American nod from the Associated Press, completing one of the most decorated careers in recent Indiana history.
All-Big Ten Honors
Feeney was a two-time first-team All-Big Ten selection, earning the honor in both 2015 and 2016. His conference-level recognition mirrored his national accolades and reflected his consistency at the highest level of Big Ten play.
Dan Feeney Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Feeney is the son of Tony and Kim Feeney, and he has a sister, Shannon Feeney. While his family is not from a professional sports lineage, the support of his parents and sister helped shape his athletic development from his high school days at Carl Sandburg through his college career at Indiana.
Personal Life
Outside of football, Feeney is known for his charitable work, including donations to the MS Society. He maintains an active presence on social media and continues to live a relatively private life focused on his professional football career.
2025 Season Performance
Feeney’s 2025 season began with a contract signing by the Buffalo Bills on August 4, followed by a brief release and quick re-signing to their practice squad. His stay on Buffalo’s practice squad lasted only a few weeks before the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed him to their active roster on September 18, 2025. The move gave Feeney a chance to contribute to a Buccaneers team with playoff aspirations.
Now in his ninth professional season, Feeney continues to serve as a reliable interior reserve, providing veteran depth at guard. His path through six franchises in eight years has required constant adaptation, and his return to an active roster so late in the 2025 offseason reflects a continued belief in his technique and locker-room presence.
Looking ahead, Feeney’s role with Tampa Bay offers an opportunity to contribute to a contending roster and extend his NFL career into 2026. Whether as a starter or a key reserve, his steady play and experience remain valuable assets for any offensive line room.