Jack Heflin Bio
Jackson Dean Heflin (born March 8, 1998) is an American professional football defensive end for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and competing at around 305 pounds, Heflin has built a journeyman career across multiple professional rosters since entering the league in 2021. He played college football for the Northern Illinois Huskies and the Iowa Hawkeyes before launching his professional journey as an undrafted free agent.
Since signing with the Green Bay Packers in 2021, Heflin’s career has included stints with several organizations, including the New York Giants, the Houston Roughnecks of the XFL, and the New Orleans Saints, before reaching his current role with the Los Angeles Rams. Along the way, he earned All-XFL recognition in 2023 for his work in the spring football league.
Early Life and Background
Jackson Dean Heflin was born on March 8, 1998, in Galesburg, Illinois. He grew up in the rural stretches of western Illinois, a region with a long tradition of producing tough, hard-working athletes. His hometown roots shaped the blue-collar identity that has followed him through every level of football.
Heflin attended Prophetstown High School, where he began his organized football career. The small-school environment in Prophetstown, Illinois, gave him an early opportunity to develop against regional competition and grow into a Division I prospect. His progression through the high school ranks caught the attention of Mid-American Conference recruiters, paving the way for his college commitment.
Path to American Football
Heflin’s path to professional football began in earnest at Northern Illinois University, where he spent four seasons developing as a defensive lineman. Competing in the Mid-American Conference gave him consistent game experience against a wide range of offensive schemes, and his work in DeKalb helped him grow into one of the conference’s top interior defenders.
In 2019, Heflin earned second-team All-Mid-American Conference honors for the Huskies, a recognition that validated his development as a senior leader. After the 2019 campaign, he entered the transfer portal and joined the Iowa Hawkeyes in 2020, starting at defensive tackle alongside Daviyon Nixon. The jump to the Big Ten gave Heflin a taste of high-level competition and prepared him for the next step toward the professional ranks.
Jack Heflin Career
Early Career (2021)
After going unselected in the 2021 NFL Draft, Jackson Dean Heflin signed with the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent. He impressed the Packers’ coaching staff throughout the offseason and made the team’s opening day roster, an early milestone for a player who entered the league without a draft selection.
During his first season in Green Bay, Heflin contributed on the defensive line as a rotational piece while continuing to develop his game at the professional level. The Packers kept him in the organization through the regular season before ultimately parting ways in January 2022, setting the stage for the next phase of his professional journey.
Green Bay Packers (2021–2022)
Heflin was released by the Packers on January 21, 2022, but was re-signed to a futures contract on January 27, 2022, following Green Bay’s playoff exit. That offseason he continued to compete for a roster spot, working to refine his game as a defensive tackle and end in the Packers’ scheme.
On August 30, 2022, Heflin was waived as part of final roster cuts, and he signed to the Green Bay practice squad the following day. He remained in that role until December 13, 2022, when he was released from the practice squad. His Green Bay tenure gave Heflin two NFL seasons of experience and a foundation of professional habits to build on.
New York Giants (2022–2023)
On December 15, 2022, Heflin was signed to the New York Giants practice squad, giving him a quick landing spot after his release from Green Bay. The move placed him on a contending NFC East roster, where he continued to develop as a depth piece on the defensive line.
The Giants released Heflin from their practice squad on January 3, 2023, then re-signed him on January 6 before parting ways again four days later. Even with the short stints, the experience added another chapter to his growing professional resume and exposed him to another franchise’s defensive system.
Houston Roughnecks (2023)
On January 8, 2023, Heflin signed with the Houston Roughnecks of the XFL, a spring football league that offered him a chance to earn meaningful playing time. With the Roughnecks, he took on a more prominent role and was able to showcase his pass-rushing and run-defending skills on a regular basis.
His strong spring with Houston was rewarded on May 8, 2023, when Heflin was named to the All-XFL team. He was released from his contract on May 15, 2023, but the All-XFL honor served as a major validation of his development and helped him secure another NFL opportunity.
New Orleans Saints (2023–2024)
On May 15, 2023, Heflin signed with the New Orleans Saints, transitioning back to the NFL after his XFL success. The Saints waived him on August 29, 2023, as part of final roster cuts, then re-signed him to their practice squad to retain his services through the regular season.
Following the end of the 2023 regular season, New Orleans signed Heflin to a reserve/future contract on January 8, 2024, signaling their long-term interest in his development. He remained in the organization through the 2024 offseason before being waived on August 27, 2024, as the Saints trimmed their roster ahead of the regular season.
Los Angeles Rams Era (2024–Present)
On December 3, 2024, Heflin was signed to the Los Angeles Rams practice squad, joining one of the NFL’s most consistent defensive organizations. He signed a reserve/future contract on January 20, 2025, locking in his future with the franchise beyond the 2024 campaign.
On August 26, 2025, Heflin was waived by the Rams as part of final roster cuts and re-signed to the practice squad the next day. The sequence of moves kept him within the Rams organization, where he continues to compete for a depth role on the defensive line.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Heflin’s career came on May 8, 2023, when he was named to the All-XFL team after a strong spring with the Houston Roughnecks. Earning league-wide recognition in a developmental league validated the work he had put in since leaving Iowa and helped him land another NFL opportunity with the New Orleans Saints.
Jack Heflin Career Honors
Jackson Dean Heflin’s professional résumé is highlighted by his selection to the 2023 All-XFL team with the Houston Roughnecks. The honor recognized his impact as a defensive lineman during the XFL season and remains the headline individual award of his career.
All-XFL Honors
Heflin earned All-XFL recognition in 2023 after signing with the Houston Roughnecks on January 8, 2023. Playing a leading role on the Roughnecks’ defensive front, he delivered consistent production that caught the attention of league observers and earned him a spot on the All-XFL team when selections were announced on May 8, 2023.
Jack Heflin Family
Personal Life
Jackson Dean Heflin was raised in Galesburg, Illinois, and attended Prophetstown High School before beginning his college career. Publicly available details about his immediate family, marital status, and personal life outside of football remain limited, and only confirmed information is shared here.
2025 Season Performance
Jackson Dean Heflin entered the 2025 season as a member of the Los Angeles Rams organization after signing a reserve/future contract on January 20, 2025. The Rams waived him on August 26, 2025, as part of final roster cuts before the regular season, then re-signed him to the practice squad the next day to keep him within the team’s development pipeline.
Heflin’s role with the Rams is built around providing depth along the defensive line, with the practice squad serving as a flexible resource for the active roster throughout the year. His path mirrors that of many journeyman defensive linemen, who move between the active roster and practice squad as teams navigate injuries and performance needs over the long NFL season.
Looking ahead, Heflin’s experience across multiple organizations and his 2023 All-XFL recognition give him a credible foundation to compete for elevated opportunities in Los Angeles. With the Rams consistently investing in their defensive front, he remains a candidate to be called up if the team needs additional depth during the 2025 campaign.