Jake Funk Bio
Jake Funk, born January 11, 1998, in Gaithersburg, Maryland, is an American professional football running back. He rose to prominence as a standout at Damascus High School before playing college football for the Maryland Terrapins. Selected in the seventh round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams, he won Super Bowl LVI in his rookie season and has since moved across several NFL practice squads and active rosters in pursuit of a steady role.
Early Life and Background
Jake Funk grew up in Gaithersburg, Maryland, in a deeply athletic household. His father, Jim, played football for Penn State, and his mother, A’Lisa, was a national title-winning swimmer at Clarion University of Pennsylvania. Two of his grandparents also competed at Penn State, and his grandmother Jean was one of Penn State’s first female athletes, competing for the men’s rifle team.
Funk attended Damascus High School, where he developed into one of the most decorated running backs in Maryland history. He was named the 2015 Maryland Gatorade Player of the Year and earned The Washington Post All-Metro Offensive Player of the Year award that same season, along with two consensus all-state selections. During his senior year, Funk set a state championship game record with seven rushing touchdowns against Dundalk High School and finished the season with 57 total touchdowns, a Maryland state record.
Path to American Football
Despite his prolific high school production, Jake Funk entered the college recruiting cycle as a moderately rated prospect. He earned two-star ratings from ESPN and Rivals.com and three-star ratings from 247Sports.com and Scout.com, drawing offers from service academies, Ivy League programs, and Big Ten schools. After receiving an offer from Maryland, he committed quickly to his hometown school and became the first recruit for then-interim head coach Mike Locksley.
Funk did not redshirt his freshman year and debuted in 2016 against Howard University, rushing for 59 yards and a touchdown. He appeared in all 12 games as a sophomore and continued to contribute in a rotational role, flashing the burst that had defined his high school career. After an injury-shortened junior year that included a torn ACL, he used the extra eligibility granted during the COVID-19 pandemic to return for a standout final season at Maryland.
Jake Funk Career
Maryland Terrapins (2016–2020)
Across his Maryland career, Jake Funk battled injuries but showed flashes of elite production. As a freshman, he finished with 29 carries for 136 yards and a touchdown, plus seven receptions for 42 yards and a touchdown. His sophomore year brought 27 carries for 145 yards and four touchdowns, the second-most on the team.
Funk’s redshirt senior season proved his most statistically dominant. In Maryland’s four-game, COVID-19-shortened 2020 schedule, he rushed 60 times for 519 yards, averaging 8.6 yards per carry to lead the Big Ten Conference and rank second nationally among FBS running backs. He averaged 129 rushing yards per game and scored three rushing touchdowns and one receiving touchdown, earning third-team All-Big Ten honors. His single-season yards-per-carry mark ranked third in Maryland history.
Los Angeles Rams (2021–2022)
Jake Funk was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the seventh round, 233rd overall, of the 2021 NFL Draft. He signed his four-year rookie contract on May 16, 2021, and quickly carved out a role on special teams. A hamstring injury in October 2021 sent him to injured reserve, but he was activated in December and was part of the Rams roster when they defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 in Super Bowl LVI.
Funk was waived by the Rams on October 11, 2022, ending his initial NFL chapter. Although his time on the active roster was limited, his place on a Super Bowl-winning team marked the high point of his early professional career.
Practice Squad Circuit (2022–2024)
After leaving the Rams, Jake Funk bounced through practice squads across the league. He signed with the New Orleans Saints practice squad in October 2022 before being released in November 2022. He then joined the Indianapolis Colts practice squad, was promoted to the active roster in January 2023, and bounced between the active roster and practice squad through October 2023.
In late 2023, Funk signed with the Baltimore Ravens practice squad on December 19, 2023, and was released on January 10, 2024. He signed with the Detroit Lions practice squad in January 2024, earned a reserve/future contract, and was waived in late August 2024. On October 1, 2024, he signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars practice squad and was released on November 5, 2024.
Notable Events and Milestones
The defining milestone of Jake Funk’s career remains his Super Bowl LVI championship with the Los Angeles Rams following the 2021 season. His Maryland senior season, in which he led the Big Ten in yards per carry, also stands as a major collegiate achievement, capped by third-team All-Big Ten recognition.
Jake Funk Career Wins
Jake Funk’s career wins are anchored by team accomplishments rather than individual statistical titles. His most celebrated victory came as a member of the Los Angeles Rams, who defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 in Super Bowl LVI to claim the 2021 NFL championship.
Other Wins & Performances
Beyond his Super Bowl ring, Funk’s other major win was a state championship with Damascus High School, a game in which he set a record with seven rushing touchdowns. His 2015 Maryland Gatorade Player of the Year award and two consensus all-state selections highlighted his prep dominance.
Jake Funk Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Jake Funk comes from a family with deep athletic roots. His father, Jim, played football at Penn State, and his mother, A’Lisa, was a national title-winning swimmer at Clarion University of Pennsylvania. His paternal and maternal grandparents also competed at Penn State, with his grandmother Jean being one of the school’s first female athletes on the men’s rifle team. His brother, Jordan, played football at Army before transferring to James Madison, and his half-brother played lacrosse at Ohio State and professionally for the Minnesota Swarm.
Personal Life
Jake Funk married Hannah Ann Sluss, the former winner of The Bachelor, on June 26, 2024. The couple began dating in November 2021, announced their engagement on January 25, 2023, and revealed in June 2025 that they were expecting their first child. Funk’s half-brother, a physical therapist in Montgomery County, assisted him in his ACL rehabilitation during his college career.
2025 Season Performance
Jake Funk enters the 2025 season as a free agent following his release from the Jacksonville Jaguars practice squad on November 5, 2024. As of the start of the new league year, his immediate playing future remained unsettled, and he continued training while preparing for potential opportunities across the league.
Given his experience on multiple practice squads and active rosters, Funk profiles as a versatile special teams contributor and depth running back. His proven ability to contribute on coverage units and as a runner out of the backfield gives him a clear path back onto an NFL roster. A return to a competitive depth chart, whether on offense, special teams, or both, would represent a meaningful next chapter in his professional career.
Funk’s continued availability and his Super Bowl pedigree position him as a steady veteran option for teams seeking backfield or special teams help. The 2025 season represents another opportunity for him to cement a longer-term NFL role after several years of roster movement.