Devin Lloyd
Devin Eric Lloyd (born September 30, 1998) is an American professional football linebacker for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Utah Utes and was selected by the Jaguars in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft. Lloyd quickly emerged as a tackling leader and a versatile defender capable of contributing in coverage, against the run, and as a blitzer.
Early Life and Background
Devin Eric Lloyd was born on September 30, 1998, in Kansas City, Missouri, and grew up in a household shaped by military service. He is the son of Joe Lloyd and Ronyta Johnson, and both of his parents served in the United States Navy. The family later settled in the San Diego area of Southern California, where Lloyd attended Otay Ranch High School in Chula Vista.
At Otay Ranch, Lloyd was a multi-role contributor on the football team, lining up at wide receiver, safety, and punter. As a senior, he caught 29 passes on offense, recorded eight interceptions on defense, and averaged 37.1 yards on 47 punts. In a win over Eastlake High School, he made four interceptions, returning two of them for touchdowns, a performance that announced his two-way potential.
Despite that production, Lloyd was lightly recruited and entered college as a three-star recruit. He chose the University of Utah over offers from UNLV, Colorado State, Sacramento State, San Jose State, and Utah State, with Utah representing his only Power Five scholarship opportunity. His commitment to Utah set the foundation for a college career that would eventually return him to the top of the draft board.
Devin Lloyd Career
Early Career (2017–2019)
After redshirting his first year at Utah in 2017, Lloyd worked into the rotation as a freshman in 2018, appearing in all 14 games as a backup and posting six tackles. The 2018 season gave him a year to learn the defense, build strength, and adjust to the speed of the college game without being asked to carry a starting role.
Lloyd became a full-time starter in 2019 and announced himself as one of the Pac-12’s most disruptive young linebackers. In 14 games, he racked up 91 tackles, 6.5 sacks, and one interception that he returned for a touchdown. That production established him as a three-down linebacker and positioned him as a building block for the Utes’ defense heading into 2020.
College Breakthrough (2020–2021)
The 2020 season, shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic, limited Lloyd to five games, but he still managed 48 tackles and two sacks. Even in a reduced slate, his pass-rushing and run-defense instincts remained obvious, and he entered his senior year as a candidate to be one of the most polished linebackers in the country.
As a senior in 2021, Lloyd chose to return to Utah rather than enter the 2021 NFL draft, a decision that paid off. He played in all 14 games, starting every contest except one following a controversial ejection against Oregon State, and finished with 66 tackles, a Pac-12-leading eight sacks, and four interceptions. One of those interceptions was returned for a touchdown in the Pac-12 Championship Game, a signature play that highlighted his range and ball skills.
His senior campaign brought national recognition. Lloyd was named First-team All-Pac-12 for the second straight season and earned consensus First-team All-American honors. He also won the Pat Tillman Defensive Player of the Year award, given to the top defensive player in college football. On January 13, 2022, he declared for the 2022 NFL draft, where his combination of instincts, athleticism, and production made him a clear first-round talent.
Jacksonville Jaguars Era (2022–Present)
The Jacksonville Jaguars selected Lloyd in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft with the 27th overall pick. He stepped into the league as a starter from the outset and was named the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Month for September after recording 24 tackles, six passes defended, and two interceptions. His strong debut season was capped by selection to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.
In 2025, Lloyd elevated his play into one of the most productive stretches of his career. In Week 4, he was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week after intercepting Brock Purdy twice in a 26–21 road victory over the San Francisco 49ers, a performance that also helped him earn AFC Player of the Month honors for September 2025. The following week, against the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football, he intercepted Patrick Mahomes at the goal line and returned the ball 99 yards for his first career touchdown. The play set the record for the longest pick-six in Jaguars history and the longest by an NFL linebacker in a regular-season game, and it proved to be the difference in Jacksonville’s 31–28 win.
Driving Style and Strengths
On the field, Lloyd is known for his football intelligence, clean tackling form, and ability to play in space. He diagnoses plays quickly, flows to the ball against the run, and shows the cover skills to match up with tight ends and running backs in the passing game. His knack for timing blitzes and breaking on routes has made him a three-down linebacker whose value is not limited to a single phase of the defense.
Notable Events and Milestones
Signature moments in Lloyd’s career include his four-interception senior night at Otay Ranch, his pick-six in the Pac-12 Championship Game, and his 99-yard interception return against the Kansas City Chiefs. He also reached the milestone of consensus First-team All-American and the Pat Tillman Defensive Player of the Year award at Utah, then became a PFWA All-Rookie selection in his first NFL season.
Devin Lloyd Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Lloyd is the son of Joe Lloyd and Ronyta Johnson, and both of his parents served in the United States Navy, a background that shaped his discipline and work ethic. He has spoken about how the structure and accountability of a military family influenced his approach to football and his development as a leader in the locker room.
Personal Life
Lloyd is a Christian and has been open about the role of faith in his life. He is widely known by his full name, Devin Eric Lloyd, and maintains a public presence on social media, where he shares updates from his career with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
2025 Season Performance
Lloyd’s 2025 campaign began with the best football of his professional career. His two-interception performance against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 4 earned him AFC Defensive Player of the Week, and his strong September overall brought him AFC Player of the Month honors. Those awards reflected a player who had grown into a true center-of-the-defense force for the Jaguars.
The highlight of the early season came on Monday Night Football in Week 5 against the Kansas City Chiefs, when Lloyd intercepted Patrick Mahomes at the goal line and raced 99 yards for a touchdown. The play set two franchise and league records and was the deciding score in a 31–28 Jacksonville victory, reinforcing Lloyd’s reputation as a player who delivers in the biggest moments.
With his production trending upward and his role expanding in the Jaguars’ defensive scheme, Lloyd enters the heart of the 2025 season as one of the team’s most influential defenders. Continued play at this level would place him squarely in the conversation for major individual honors and would strengthen Jacksonville’s outlook in a competitive AFC playoff picture.