Dorance Armstrong Jr. Bio
Dorance Armstrong Jr. (born June 10, 1997) is an American professional football defensive end for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and listed around 256 pounds, he plays a pass-rushing role on the defensive line and is known for his length, motor, and ability to disrupt opposing backfields. He attended the University of Kansas before launching his NFL career and now ranks among the more productive edge defenders of his draft class.
Armstrong was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL draft and spent his first six professional seasons in Dallas. In March 2024 he signed with the Washington Commanders, joining head coach Dan Quinn, who had previously served as his defensive coordinator in Dallas. He earned All-Big 12 recognition in college and has developed into a reliable contributor with multiple double-digit pressure seasons at the professional level.
Early Life and Background
Dorance Armstrong Jr. was born on June 10, 1997, in Houston, Texas. He grew up in the greater Houston area and attended North Shore Senior High School, part of the Galena Park Independent School District. At North Shore he lined up at defensive end and developed into one of the more closely watched front-seven prospects in the region.
As a junior in high school, Armstrong was named second-team All-District. As a senior, he earned first-team All-District honors, which helped him attract attention from college recruiters. In addition to football, he also played basketball during his prep years, an experience that aided his overall athleticism and coordination.
Path to American Football
Coming out of high school, Armstrong was rated as a 3-star defensive end recruit by scouting services. He accepted a football scholarship from the University of Kansas, choosing the Jayhawks over offers from California, Indiana, Iowa State, Michigan State, Purdue, and Texas Tech. The decision launched a college career that quickly put him on the radar of NFL evaluators.
As a freshman at Kansas, Armstrong appeared in all 12 games and started the final five contests at defensive end, finishing with 23 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and 4 passes defended. His production and physical tools convinced the Kansas coaching staff that he was ready for a featured role the following season, setting the stage for a true breakout.
Dorance Armstrong Jr. Career
College Career (2014–2017)
Armstrong’s sophomore season at Kansas served as his breakout campaign. Starting at left defensive end, he led the team and finished second in the Big 12 Conference with 10 sacks, the highest total by a Jayhawks player since 2008. He added 56 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 5 quarterback hurries, 3 forced fumbles, and 2 fumble recoveries, with a career-high 11 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery against the University of Texas.
As a junior, his role on defense shifted and his statistical production dipped. He posted 63 total tackles, 9 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, 7 quarterback hurries, 4 passes defended, 3 forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. On January 3, 2018, Armstrong announced he would forgo his senior season and enter the 2018 NFL draft, finishing his Kansas career with 142 tackles and 15.5 sacks.
Dallas Cowboys Era (2018–2023)
The Dallas Cowboys selected Armstrong in the fourth round, 116th overall, of the 2018 NFL Draft. He made his first career start on October 14, 2018, against the Jacksonville Jaguars and recorded his first career sack on November 5, 2018, against the Tennessee Titans, splitting the play with Caraun Reid. As a rookie he played in 15 games with one start, finishing with 13 tackles, 8 solo tackles, and a half-sack.
In 2019 he appeared in 15 games without a start and recorded 16 tackles, 2 sacks, 9 quarterback pressures, one forced fumble, and 2 special-teams tackles. He notched his first full career sack against the Green Bay Packers and his first forced fumble against the New York Giants. The 2020 season saw him play all 16 games with two starts, producing 33 tackles, 9 quarterback pressures, 2 pass breakups, 2 fumble recoveries, and 3 special-teams tackles, including a productive game against the San Francisco 49ers on special teams.
Armstrong’s role grew in 2021, when he played 13 games with five starts and totaled 37 tackles, 5 sacks, 22 quarterback pressures, 2 pass breakups, and a 37-yard fumble recovery returned for a touchdown. He missed four games with a high ankle sprain but started in place of Randy Gregory against the Los Angeles Chargers and the Atlanta Falcons. On March 17, 2022, he signed a two-year contract extension with Dallas, then appeared in 17 games with five starts, registering 28 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 25 quarterback pressures, 2 fumble recoveries, and 2 blocked kicks, including blocked kicks against the New York Giants and the Los Angeles Rams. In 2023, he played all 17 games with one start and posted 28 tackles, 7 for loss, 7.8 sacks, and 12 quarterback pressures, opening the year with 3 tackles for loss and 2 sacks against the New York Giants.
Washington Commanders Era (2024–Present)
On March 14, 2024, Armstrong signed a three-year contract with the Washington Commanders with a maximum value of $45 million. The move reunited him with head coach Dan Quinn, his former defensive coordinator in Dallas, who personally recruited him to Washington. In his first season with the Commanders he played 16 games and finished 2024 with 39 tackles, 5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and one pass deflection.
Armstrong made seven appearances with five starts for Washington in 2025, recording 5.5 sacks and 24 combined tackles. On October 21, 2025, he was placed on injured reserve after suffering a season-ending knee injury, cutting his year short. His role under Quinn continued to emphasize edge rushing and run support on early downs.
Playing Style and Strengths
Armstrong is a long, athletic edge rusher who wins with first-step quickness, length, and effort against the run. He has produced consistently as a pass rusher in both 4-3 and situational packages, finishing among the team leaders in sacks and pressures in multiple seasons with the Cowboys. His special-teams work, including blocked kicks, has also been a defining part of his professional profile.
Notable Events and Milestones
Armstrong recorded his first career sack on November 5, 2018, against the Tennessee Titans and his first full sack against the Green Bay Packers in 2019. He became the sixth player in Cowboys history with multiple career blocked punts and returned a fumble 37 yards for a touchdown in 2021. In March 2024 he signed a contract with Washington valued at up to $45 million, joining head coach Dan Quinn in the process.
Dorance Armstrong Jr. Career Highlights
Across his college and professional career, Armstrong has built a résumé highlighted by a 10-sack sophomore season at Kansas, a steady climb into a starting edge role with Dallas, and a sizable free-agent contract with Washington. He has recorded multi-sack games against teams such as the Cincinnati Bengals and the New York Giants.
NFL Highlights
Armstrong has posted multiple seasons with at least 5 sacks at the NFL level, including 8.5 sacks in 2022 and 7.8 sacks in 2023 with Dallas, and 5 sacks in 2024 with Washington in 16 games. He recorded his first career sack on November 5, 2018, against the Tennessee Titans and produced a multi-sack game against the Cincinnati Bengals during the 2022 season.
College and High School Honors
At Kansas, Armstrong was a second-team All-Big 12 selection in 2016 and a first-team All-Big 12 selection in 2017. He also earned first-team All-District honors as a senior at North Shore Senior High School.
Dorance Armstrong Jr. Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Dorance Armstrong Jr. grew up in the Houston area and attended North Shore Senior High School. His bio is largely centered on his football career, and verified public information about his broader family background is limited.
Personal Life
Armstrong maintains a public profile on Instagram under the handle linked to his name. Verified public details about a spouse or children have not been confirmed in available sources.
2025 Season Performance
Armstrong opened the 2025 season as a starting defensive end for the Washington Commanders under head coach Dan Quinn. In seven appearances with five starts, he produced 5.5 sacks and 24 combined tackles, continuing the pressure rate he established during the previous season in Washington.
His 2025 campaign, however, was cut short on October 21, 2025, when he was placed on injured reserve after suffering a season-ending knee injury. The injury removed a key veteran voice from the Commanders’ defensive front for the remainder of the year.
Looking ahead, Armstrong remains under contract with Washington through the 2026 season as part of the three-year deal signed in 2024. His return from injury and continued fit in Dan Quinn’s defensive scheme are expected to shape the Commanders’ edge-rushing plans in the seasons to follow.