Daniel Brunskill Bio
Daniel Zachary Brunskill is an American professional football center for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the San Diego State Aztecs and entered the league as an undrafted free agent with the Atlanta Falcons in 2017. Across his career, Brunskill has also spent time with the San Diego Fleet of the Alliance of American Football, the San Francisco 49ers, and the Tennessee Titans.
Early Life and Background
Daniel Zachary Brunskill was born on January 27, 1994, in San Diego, California. He grew up in the San Diego region and attended Valley Center High School in Valley Center, California. At Valley Center, he played as a tight end and earned an all-league award in the lineman category while playing under coach Rob Gilster.
Brunskill moved on to San Diego State University, where he played college football for the San Diego State Aztecs. His time at San Diego State helped him develop into a more complete offensive lineman and prepared him for the next step toward professional football.
Path to Professional Football
After his college career with the San Diego State Aztecs, Brunskill pursued a professional opportunity in the NFL. Despite going undrafted, he earned a chance to compete at the highest level when the Atlanta Falcons signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2017. That signing launched a career that would later include stops in the AAF and with several NFL teams.
Daniel Brunskill Career
Early Career (2017–2018)
Daniel Zachary Brunskill signed with the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent on May 1, 2017. He was waived by the Falcons on September 2, 2017, but was signed to the practice squad the next day. On January 15, 2018, he signed a reserve and future contract with the Falcons to remain in the organization.
The 2018 season followed a similar pattern, as Brunskill was waived on September 1, 2018, and returned to the practice squad the next day. His work on the practice squad helped him build the foundation that would lead to bigger opportunities once the AAF launched in 2019.
San Diego Fleet Era (2019)
In January 2019, Brunskill joined the San Diego Fleet of the newly formed Alliance of American Football (AAF). The short-lived spring league gave him valuable game reps and a chance to showcase his versatility on the offensive line.
San Francisco 49ers Breakthrough (2019–2022)
On April 11, 2019, Brunskill signed with the San Francisco 49ers. During the 2019 season, he played 14 regular season games with seven starts at both right tackle and right guard, along with three playoff games. Brunskill reached Super Bowl LIV with the 49ers, but they lost 31–20 to the Kansas City Chiefs.
On March 20, 2020, Brunskill was re-signed to a one-year contract with the 49ers. During the 2020 season, he started all 16 games, playing a mix of positions on the offensive line. On March 12, 2021, the 49ers placed a one-year exclusive-rights free agent tender on him, and he signed it on April 13. He was named the 49ers starting right guard for the 2021 season, starting all 17 regular season games and playing every offensive snap, including the playoffs.
On March 15, 2022, the 49ers placed a restricted free agent tender on Brunskill, which he signed a month later. During the 2022 season, Brunskill played 14 games with two starts, appearing in 58 percent of the season offensive snaps while listed at both guard and center.
Tennessee Titans Era (2023–2024)
On March 19, 2023, Brunskill signed a two-year, $5.5 million contract with the Tennessee Titans. He was named the Titans right guard for the 2023 season, starting 14 games. Brunskill continued playing with the Titans as a rotational lineman during the 2024 season. After Week 8 of 2024, Brunskill became the Titans primary center after recently signed Lloyd Cushenberry suffered a season-ending injury.
Miami Dolphins Era (2025–Present)
On July 22, 2025, Brunskill signed with the Miami Dolphins. He joins the Dolphins roster as an experienced interior lineman who can play both guard and center, adding depth and flexibility to the offensive line.
Driving Style and Strengths
Brunskill has built his career on positional versatility along the offensive line, logging starts at right tackle, right guard, and center. His ability to step into multiple spots and play every offensive snap, as he did during the 2021 season, has made him a dependable depth piece and starter for several teams.
Notable Events and Milestones
The signature event of Brunskill career so far is his appearance in Super Bowl LIV with the San Francisco 49ers following the 2019 season. Other milestones include starting all 16 games in 2020 and all 17 regular season games in 2021, and taking over as the Titans primary center midway through the 2024 season after Lloyd Cushenberry injury.
Daniel Brunskill Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Publicly available information about Daniel Zachary Brunskill family background is limited. He grew up in the San Diego, California area and attended Valley Center High School, where he was coached by Rob Gilster and earned an all-league award as a lineman.
Personal Life
Verified public details about Brunskill personal life are limited beyond his football career. He is known to be active on Instagram under the handle dan_skill.94.
2025 Season Performance
Daniel Zachary Brunskill joined the Miami Dolphins on July 22, 2025, giving him a fresh start with a new organization. His signing fits a contract running through the 2027 season at a salary of $5,500,000. The Dolphins add a veteran interior lineman who has started games at guard and center and appeared in a Super Bowl.
Heading into the 2025 season, Brunskill is expected to compete for a starting role or a key rotational spot along the Dolphins offensive line. His track record of starting all 16 games in 2020 and all 17 regular season games in 2021 shows he is capable of handling a full workload when called upon.
With the Dolphins, Brunskill brings positional flexibility, playoff experience, and proven durability to an offensive line looking for reliable depth. His ability to play guard and center should help stabilize the interior as the team maps out its rotation for the 2025 season and beyond.