Derek Stingley Jr. Bio
Derek Stingley Jr. (born June 20, 2001) is an American professional football cornerback for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the LSU Tigers and was selected by the Texans third overall in the 2022 NFL draft. A top-ranked recruit out of high school, Stingley Jr. quickly developed into one of the most decorated young cornerbacks in the league.
Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing roughly 195 pounds, Stingley Jr. combines size, speed, and ball skills that have made him a fixture in the Texans’ secondary. After a challenging rookie season, he emerged as a Pro Bowl cornerback and one of the highest-paid players at his position in NFL history.
Early Life and Background
Derek Stingley Jr. was born on June 20, 2001, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He grew up in a football family, with deep ties to the sport through multiple generations. His father, Derek Stingley Sr., played in the Arena Football League, and his late grandfather, Darryl Stingley, played for the New England Patriots in the NFL.
Stingley Jr. attended The Dunham School in Baton Rouge, where he became one of the most decorated high school players in the country. He finished his high school career with 27 career interceptions and was named the Louisiana Gatorade Football Player of the Year as a senior. Rivals.com rated him as a five-star recruit and the top overall player in his class.
Following his standout prep career, Stingley Jr. committed to Louisiana State University (LSU) to play college football. His combination of length, instincts, and pedigree made him one of the most sought-after recruits in recent memory.
Path to American Football
Stingley Jr. enrolled at LSU in 2019 and immediately stepped into a starting role as a true freshman. He helped lead the Tigers to an undefeated season and a College Football Playoff National Championship, becoming one of the most impactful freshmen defenders in program history.
During that freshman campaign, he led the Southeastern Conference (SEC) with six interceptions and 21 passes defended. He earned first-team All-SEC honors from the Associated Press and was named a consensus All-American, collecting first-team recognition from outlets including the AP, the American Football Coaches Association, The Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, ESPN, and USA Today.
In his sophomore season, Stingley Jr. missed three games due to illness and injuries but still earned first-team All-SEC honors. A series of injuries limited his junior year to only three starts, prompting him to declare for the 2022 NFL draft.
Derek Stingley Jr. Career
Early Career (2022)
The Houston Texans selected Derek Stingley Jr. in the first round (third overall) of the 2022 NFL draft. His selection tied him with Shawn Springs and Jeff Okudah as the highest-drafted cornerbacks in NFL history, and made him the highest-drafted cornerback in Texans franchise history. On May 13, 2022, the Texans signed him to a fully-guaranteed four-year, $34.65 million rookie contract that included a $22.85 million signing bonus.
Stingley Jr. opened his rookie season as a starting cornerback under head coach Lovie Smith. He recorded 43 combined tackles, five passes defensed, one sack, and one interception across nine games, also picking off Trevor Lawrence for his first career interception in a win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Injuries cut his season short, as a hamstring injury and high-ankle sprain sent him to injured reserve in December 2022.
NFL Breakthrough (2023)
In 2023, Stingley Jr. played under new head coach DeMeco Ryans and defensive coordinator Matt Burke. He appeared in 11 games and recorded 39 combined tackles, 13 pass deflections, and a career-high five interceptions. A two-interception performance against the Denver Broncos earned him AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors.
His 2023 campaign helped the Texans finish first in the AFC South with a 10–7 record and clinch a playoff berth in Ryans’ first season. Stingley Jr. started in his first postseason game, a 45–14 Wild-Card victory over the Cleveland Browns, before the Texans fell to the Baltimore Ravens in the Divisional Round.
Houston Texans Era (2024–Present)
Stingley Jr. entered 2024 as the Texans’ clear No. 1 cornerback and started all 17 games for the first time in his career. He posted 54 combined tackles, a career-high 18 pass deflections, and five interceptions, earning his first Pro Bowl selection and First-Team All-Pro honors.
In the 2024 postseason, he delivered two interceptions and five pass deflections against Justin Herbert in a 32–12 Wild-Card win over the Los Angeles Chargers. His efforts that season placed him 18th on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2025.
On March 17, 2025, the Texans signed Stingley Jr. to a three-year, $90 million contract extension that includes $89.02 million in guaranteed money and a $25 million signing bonus. The deal made him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history.
Driving Style and Strengths
Stingley Jr. excels at press-man coverage, using his length, physicality, and fluid hips to disrupt receivers at the line of scrimmage. His instincts and ball-tracking allow him to produce takeaways in zone looks, and his tackling has steadily improved since his rookie season. He has developed into a true shutdown corner capable of matching up with opposing teams’ top pass-catchers.
Notable Events and Milestones
In 2024, Stingley Jr. became the first Texans cornerback to earn First-Team All-Pro honors and won the team’s annual AFL Record-Breaker Award following the season. His Week 17, 2024 performance included two interceptions off passes by Tua Tagovailoa in a victory over the Miami Dolphins, earning AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors for the second time in his career.
Derek Stingley Jr. Career Wins
Across his professional career, Derek Stingley Jr. has compiled 11 career interceptions, 36 passes defensed, and one sack in 37 games played through the 2024 regular season. He has earned two Pro Bowl selections (2024, 2025), one First-Team All-Pro nod (2024), and two AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors (2023, 2024).
NFL Highlights
Stingley Jr. has totaled 11 interceptions, 36 passes defensed, and one sack in his first three NFL seasons. His first career interception came against Trevor Lawrence in 2022, while his first career multi-interception game came in 2023 against Russell Wilson and the Denver Broncos. He has appeared in four postseason games, recording two interceptions and six passes defensed.
Other Wins & Performances
As a collegian at LSU, Stingley Jr. was a consensus All-American in 2019 and a two-time First-Team All-SEC selection (2019, 2020). He helped the Tigers win the College Football Playoff National Championship in 2019 and was the top-ranked cornerback on multiple pre-draft big boards entering the 2022 NFL draft.
Derek Stingley Jr. Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Derek Stingley Jr. comes from a multi-generational football family. His father, Derek Stingley Sr., played in the Arena Football League, and his late grandfather, Darryl Stingley, played for the New England Patriots in the NFL. This deep football pedigree helped shape his path to the sport from a young age.
Personal Life
On October 15, 2025, Stingley Jr. became engaged to his longtime girlfriend, Annabella Campagna. In November 2025, the couple announced that they are expecting a baby boy, due in April 2026.
2025 Season Performance
Derek Stingley Jr. entered the 2025 season as the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history after signing a three-year, $90 million extension with the Houston Texans in March. He continued to anchor the Texans’ secondary alongside second-year cornerback Kamari Lassiter under head coach DeMeco Ryans.
He earned his second consecutive Pro Bowl selection in 2025, cementing his status among the league’s elite cornerbacks. Stingley Jr. remained a focal point of the defense, providing leadership and consistency in coverage.
Looking ahead, the Texans aimed to build on consecutive AFC South titles and make a deeper postseason run. With Stingley Jr. locked in as a long-term cornerstone, Houston’s defense remained built around his shutdown ability on the outside.