De’Shaan Dixon Bio
De’Shaan Duane Dixon is an American professional football defensive end born on December 16, 1998, in Chesapeake, Virginia. He played college football at Norfolk State and joined the National Football League when he signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent in 2022. Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and playing at 112 kilograms, Dixon built a strong resume as a pass rusher during his time with the Norfolk State Spartans before reaching the professional level.
Across his college career, Dixon developed into one of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference’s most disruptive defensive linemen, earning postseason recognition for his production. He signed with the Jaguars and made the team’s initial 53-man roster out of training camp, beginning his professional journey in Jacksonville.
Early Life and Background
De’Shaan Duane Dixon grew up in Chesapeake, Virginia, where he attended Western Branch High School. Coming out of high school, he drew limited interest at the Division I level and received only two scholarship offers to play college football. His recruitment reflected a developmental path that required patience and steady improvement rather than early national exposure.
Dixon committed to Norfolk State on January 26, 2017, choosing the Spartans over Virginia State after a careful evaluation of his options. That decision set the foundation for a five-year college career in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
Path to American Football
At Western Branch High School, Dixon worked on the defensive line and began building the frame and technique that would later define his pass-rushing style. With limited college offers available, his move to Norfolk State required an early commitment to a developmental route rather than a high-profile program.
He spent his first seasons adjusting to the speed and physicality of college football while refining his hand usage and leverage as an edge defender. By his later college seasons, Dixon had grown into one of the conference’s most productive defensive linemen, recording tackles for loss and sacks on a consistent basis.
De’Shaan Dixon Career
Norfolk State Career (2017–2021)
Dixon played for the Norfolk State Spartans from 2017 through the 2021 season, appearing in 42 games over five years. During that span, he accumulated 154 tackles, including 69 solo stops, 24.5 tackles for loss, and 14.5 sacks, while also contributing one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, and 10 pass breakups. Those numbers reflected steady year-over-year growth as a defensive end.
His production earned him postseason recognition, including Third-team All-MEAC honors in 2019 and a First-team All-MEAC selection in 2021 following his senior season. After completing his eligibility, Dixon entered the 2022 NFL Draft as a prospect from a Historically Black College and University program.
Jacksonville Jaguars Era (2022–Present)
Following the 2022 NFL Draft, Dixon signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent on May 2, 2022. He impressed during the offseason program and preseason, and on August 30, 2022, he made the Jaguars’ 53-man roster out of training camp, securing his first professional season.
On August 29, 2023, Dixon was waived by the Jaguars and quickly re-signed to the team’s practice squad, keeping him within the organization. He later signed a reserve/future contract on January 8, 2024, ensuring his place on the roster heading into the next league year.
His progress was interrupted on August 8, 2024, when he was waived with an injury designation after suffering a torn ACL during the preseason. Because no other club claimed him, Dixon reverted to Jacksonville’s injured reserve list, beginning a recovery period that carried into the following season.
Driving Style and Strengths
At 6 feet 4 inches and 112 kilograms, Dixon brings the length and mass that defensive coordinators look for on the edge. His college statistical profile highlighted his ability to disrupt plays behind the line of scrimmage, with 24.5 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks across 42 games. He also showed awareness in coverage situations, recording 10 pass breakups during his time at Norfolk State.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Dixon’s early professional career came on August 30, 2022, when he made the Jacksonville Jaguars’ initial 53-man roster as an undrafted free agent. His First-team All-MEAC recognition in 2021 stood as the highest individual honor of his college career, and his 14.5 career sacks placed him among the most productive defensive linemen in Norfolk State history.
De’Shaan Dixon Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Dixon was raised in Chesapeake, Virginia, the community where he also completed his high school education at Western Branch. Public details about his immediate family are limited, and he has kept his personal relationships out of the spotlight while pursuing his professional football career. He continues to be listed as a resident of Chesapeake, Virginia.
2025 Season Outlook
De’Shaan Dixon enters the 2025 season recovering from a torn ACL suffered in August 2024. After reverting to the Jacksonville Jaguars’ injured reserve list, his immediate focus is rehabilitation, strength rebuilding, and a return to football activity once medically cleared. His previous reserve/future contract signed in January 2024 kept him within the Jaguars’ organization heading into the recovery period.
If he returns to full health, Dixon will compete for a depth role along the Jacksonville defensive line, an area where his combination of size, length, and prior college pass-rushing production could be valuable. His path back to the field will depend on his recovery timeline and the team’s evaluation of his readiness during training camp.
Longer term, Dixon remains a developmental edge rusher whose best football may still be ahead once he regains his pre-injury form. His history of earning All-MEAC honors and making an NFL roster as an undrafted free agent reflects the resilience that will shape his approach to the 2025 campaign.