Devin Bush Bio
Devin Marquese Bush Jr. is an American professional football linebacker for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He was born on July 18, 1998, in Pembroke Pines, Florida, and played college football for the Michigan Wolverines, where he earned multiple All-American honors. Selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of the 2019 NFL draft, Bush has built his career as a fast, instinctive inside linebacker known for his playmaking on defense and special teams.
Early Life and Background
Devin Marquese Bush Jr. was born on July 18, 1998, in Pembroke Pines, Florida. He is the son of Devin Bush Sr., a former NFL safety who played in the league from 1995 to 2002. Growing up in a household shaped by professional football gave Bush early insight into the demands of the sport, and he gravitated toward the game from a young age.
Bush attended Charles W. Flanagan High School in Pembroke Pines, where he starred on the football team. His performance in high school drew attention from several college programs, including Florida State, where his father had played.
Path to Professional Football
In December 2015, Bush turned down a scholarship offer from Florida State and committed to play college football for the Michigan Wolverines. In February 2016, the University of Michigan hired his father, Devin Bush Sr., as a defensive analyst on the coaching staff, further connecting the family to the program. Bush enrolled at Michigan in the fall of 2016 and appeared in all 13 games as a freshman, quickly earning a reputation as the hardest hitter on the roster.
During the 2017 season, Bush won the starting job at inside linebacker and delivered a strong sophomore campaign, finishing tied for seventh in the Big Ten Conference with 94 tackles, including 9.5 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks. He was named to the All-Big Ten defensive first team by the coaches and earned second-team All-American recognition from the Walter Camp Football Foundation.
Devin Bush Career
Michigan Wolverines (2016-2018)
After a promising freshman year, Bush became a defensive leader for the Wolverines. In 2018, his teammates voted him team captain, and he was named an Associated Press preseason first-team All-American. He led the team with 80 tackles that season, added 9.5 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks, and earned the Nagurski-Woodson Defensive Player of the Year and Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year awards. Following the season, he was named a consensus All-American, Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, and Big Ten Linebacker of the Year.
On December 19, 2018, Bush announced that he would forgo his senior season and declare for the 2019 NFL draft. He also elected not to play in Michigan’s Peach Bowl, choosing instead to prepare for the next stage of his career.
Pittsburgh Steelers Era (2019-2022)
The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Devin Bush Jr. in the first round, tenth overall, of the 2019 NFL draft, trading up with the Denver Broncos to secure him. On May 12, 2019, the Steelers signed him to a fully guaranteed four-year, $18.87 million contract that included an $11.74 million signing bonus. He made his NFL debut in Week 1 against the New England Patriots and immediately stepped into a starting role.
Bush’s rookie season featured several memorable performances. In Week 4 against the Cincinnati Bengals, he recorded his first career sack on quarterback Andy Dalton. The following week against the Baltimore Ravens, he picked off Lamar Jackson for his first career interception. In Week 6 against the Los Angeles Chargers, Bush returned a fumble for a touchdown and added an interception, becoming the first rookie to accomplish that feat in the same game since Eddie Jackson in 2017 and earning AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors. He finished the year on the PFWA All-Rookie Team.
Bush started the first five games of the 2020 season but suffered a torn ACL in Week 6 against the Cleveland Browns and was placed on injured reserve on October 23, 2020. He returned to play 14 games in 2021, recording two sacks, 70 total tackles, and one forced fumble. In 2022, the Steelers declined his fifth-year option, and he played 17 games with 14 starts, finishing with 81 tackles and two passes defended.
Seattle Seahawks (2023)
On March 16, 2023, the Seattle Seahawks signed Bush to a one-year, $3.5 million contract. He appeared in 13 games with three starts, working primarily on special teams and as a backup linebacker on defense.
Cleveland Browns Era (2024-Present)
On March 15, 2024, Bush signed a one-year contract with the Cleveland Browns. He made 16 appearances with 10 starts in 2024, recording 76 combined tackles, three pass deflections, and one sack. On March 11, 2025, Bush re-signed with the Browns on a one-year, $3.25 million contract to remain in Cleveland.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Bush’s career came in his 2019 rookie game against the Los Angeles Chargers, when he became the first rookie since Eddie Jackson in 2017 to record a fumble return for a touchdown and an interception in the same game. He was also recognized as a consensus All-American and a multi-year All-Big Ten selection at Michigan, and in 2024 he reached a new chapter as a starting linebacker for the Cleveland Browns.
Devin Bush Career Achievements
Devin Bush Jr. has built a strong résumé of team and individual honors since his college days. He is a two-time First-team All-Big Ten selection, a consensus All-American, a second-team All-American, the 2018 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, and a 2018 Big Ten Linebacker of the Year. In the NFL, he earned a place on the PFWA All-Rookie Team after his debut season with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Devin Bush Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Devin Bush Jr. is the son of Devin Bush Sr., a former NFL safety who played in the league from 1995 to 2002. The elder Bush was a first-round pick, 26th overall, in the 1995 NFL draft, giving his son a direct connection to the professional game from childhood. After his playing career, Devin Bush Sr. joined the University of Michigan as a defensive analyst in 2016, the same year his son enrolled with the Wolverines.
Personal Life
Bush attended Charles W. Flanagan High School in Pembroke Pines, Florida, before continuing his football career at the University of Michigan. In May 2025, Bush was arrested in Bell Acres, Pennsylvania, on simple assault and harassment charges; he was later found not guilty of those charges following a court hearing in December 2025.
2025 Season Performance
Devin Bush Jr. re-signed with the Cleveland Browns on March 11, 2025, on a one-year, $3.25 million contract, returning to the team where he served as a starting linebacker in 2024. The agreement reflected the Browns’ confidence in his experience at inside linebacker and his value on special teams. Heading into the new season, Bush is expected to compete for a starting role and provide veteran depth in the middle of the defense.
After finishing 2024 with 76 combined tackles, three pass deflections, and one sack in 16 games, Bush looks to build on that production. His speed, tackling range, and ability to make plays in coverage remain central to his role with the Browns. With a familiar defensive scheme in place, he is positioned to play a key part in Cleveland’s linebacker rotation during the 2025 campaign.