DJ Coleman Bio
DJ Coleman (born September 2, 1998) is an American professional football defensive end. He played college football for the Jacksonville State Gamecocks and Missouri Tigers and has been a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars in the National Football League (NFL). Standing 196 cm tall and competing at 128 kg, Coleman has built his reputation as a hard-working edge rusher whose career has spanned the FCS, the SEC, the NFL, the UFL, and the Canadian Football League.
Early Life and Background
Coleman was born on September 2, 1998, in Atlanta, Georgia. He grew up in the same metropolitan area that has produced a long line of notable football talent, and he developed his game on local fields before reaching the high school level.
He attended South Atlanta High School, where he played football as a defensive lineman and earned all-region recognition. His high school performance was strong enough that he was invited to the APS All-Star Game, where he was named the contest’s defensive Most Valuable Player. These honors helped establish him as a college prospect to watch.
Following his senior season, Coleman committed to play college football for the Jacksonville State Gamecocks, choosing the program over several other scholarship offers. The decision launched a college journey that would eventually carry him to two different conferences and prepare him for a professional career.
Path to American Football
Coleman joined Jacksonville State in 2018 and immediately saw the field, playing in 11 games while posting 11 tackles and 2.5 tackles-for-loss. As a sophomore in 2019, he broke out with 59 tackles, 10.5 tackles-for-loss, and five sacks, finishing fourth on the team in total tackles and leading the Gamecocks in both tackles-for-loss and sacks. That production earned him second-team All-Ohio Valley Conference honors and third-team FCS All-American recognition from HERO Sports.
He continued to ascend during the 2020 and 2021 seasons. In 2020 he recorded 54 tackles, 12 tackles-for-loss, and nine sacks, finishing second nationally in sacks, while earning first-team All-OVC and second-team All-American recognition. As a senior in 2021, he added 55 tackles, 5.5 tackles-for-loss, and three sacks and was named to the All-ASUN Conference team.
After his senior season, Coleman entered the NCAA transfer portal and moved to the Missouri Tigers for the 2022 campaign. In one season at Missouri he appeared in 12 games and posted 37 tackles, 8.5 tackles-for-loss, and 4.5 sacks, then declared for the NFL Draft and opted out of his team’s bowl game. Across 47 games at Jacksonville State he finished with 179 tackles, 30.5 tackles-for-loss, and 18 sacks.
DJ Coleman Career
Early Career (2018-2022)
Coleman’s early career unfolded across two collegiate stops. At Jacksonville State he evolved from a rotational defender into one of the most disruptive pass rushers in the Ohio Valley Conference, capping his time there with 18 career sacks and 30.5 tackles-for-loss in 47 games.
His lone season at Missouri, an SEC program, served as a transition to a higher level of competition. He matched his production by contributing 8.5 tackles-for-loss and 4.5 sacks across 12 appearances, then chose to begin his professional career by entering the 2023 NFL Draft.
Jacksonville Jaguars Era (2023-Present)
After going unselected in the 2023 NFL Draft, Coleman signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent. He appeared in all three preseason games that summer and totaled eight tackles. He was waived on August 29, 2023, and re-signed to the practice squad the following day, then signed a reserve and future contract on January 9, 2024.
In the 2024 preseason Coleman again played in all three games, starting one of them, and recorded six tackles. He was waived on August 27, 2024, and returned to the practice squad a day later. His persistence paid off when he was elevated to the active roster for the Jaguars’ Week 15 game against the New York Jets. He made his NFL debut in that contest, appearing on 15 defensive snaps and finishing with three tackles. He was released from the practice squad on December 27, 2024.
Coleman has continued to be listed as a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars organization, keeping his NFL pathway open while also exploring opportunities in alternative professional leagues.
Driving Style and Strengths
Coleman is a long, powerful defensive end whose game is built on edge leverage and the ability to convert speed into pressure at the line of scrimmage. His college tackle-for-loss and sack totals show a defender who finishes plays, while his willingness to contribute on special teams and in multiple defensive roles has helped him remain on professional rosters.
Notable Events and Milestones
Coleman’s most significant milestone came in December 2024, when he made his NFL debut for the Jacksonville Jaguars against the New York Jets and recorded three tackles in a Week 15 appearance. Earlier highlights include leading Jacksonville State in sacks and tackles-for-loss during the 2019 and 2020 seasons, ranking second nationally in sacks in 2020, and earning All-OVC, All-ASUN, and All-American recognition across his college career.
DJ Coleman Career Wins
DJ Coleman has accumulated individual and team accolades across the FCS, SEC, NFL, UFL, and CFL rather than a single professional championship trophy. His verified win totals are reflected in All-Conference and All-American selections earned during his college career with the Jacksonville State Gamecocks and Missouri Tigers.
Jacksonville State Highlights
Coleman was a second-team All-Ohio Valley Conference selection and a third-team FCS All-American by HERO Sports in 2019. The following year he was named first-team All-OVC and second-team All-American, finishing the season ranked second nationally in sacks. He also earned All-ASUN Conference honors during his senior season in 2021.
DJ Coleman Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Coleman was raised in Atlanta, Georgia, where he attended South Atlanta High School and developed into a regionally recognized defensive lineman. Publicly available details about his parents or extended family are limited, and no additional family information has been verified for this profile.
Personal Life
Coleman has kept his personal life largely private. He was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and has continued his professional football career in the United States.
2025 Season Performance
In January 2025 Coleman signed with the Birmingham Stallions of the United Football League, expanding his professional resume in spring football. He was released by the Stallions on April 8, 2025, while continuing to pursue opportunities back in the NFL.
Shortly afterward, on April 22, 2025, Coleman signed with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League. His time in Montreal lasted less than a month, as he was released on May 20, 2025.
Through these moves Coleman has positioned himself for another opportunity with the Jacksonville Jaguars or another NFL organization. His combination of SEC experience, FCS accolades, and multiple preseason camps with the Jaguars gives him a credible path back to an active NFL roster during the 2025 season.