Jalen Mills Bio
Jalen Mills is an American professional football safety for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the LSU Tigers, earning first-team All-American honors. Mills was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the seventh round of the 2016 NFL draft, developed into a starting cornerback, and won Super Bowl LII with Philadelphia.
Across his NFL career, Mills has played for the Philadelphia Eagles, New England Patriots, New York Giants, New York Jets, Houston Texans, and Detroit Lions. Known for his green hairdo and nicknamed the “Green Goblin,” he has appeared in more than 100 professional games at cornerback and safety.
Early Life and Background
Jalen Mills was born on April 6, 1994, in Dallas, Texas. He attended Lancaster High School in Lancaster before transferring to DeSoto High School in DeSoto, Texas, for his senior year. At DeSoto, he was part of a strong football program that reached the UIL 5A Division 1 playoffs during his final prep season.
In 2011, Mills registered 26 tackles, one interception, and six pass breakups, helping the DeSoto Eagles to a 10–2 record and a second-round playoff appearance, where they lost 41–31 to Dallas Skyline. He was rated by Rivals.com as a three-star recruit and committed to Louisiana State University to play college football under head coach Les Miles.
Path to American Football
Mills began his college career as a true freshman starter at cornerback for LSU in 2012. He recorded 57 tackles and two interceptions while starting all 13 games, immediately earning a role in the Tigers’ secondary. As a sophomore in 2013, he started all 13 games and produced 67 tackles, three interceptions, and three sacks.
As a junior in 2014, Mills started 12 games at safety and one at cornerback, finishing the season with 62 tackles and one interception. His senior season in 2015 was interrupted by injury, but he was still recognized as a first-team All-American by CBS Sports, cementing his status as an NFL prospect.
Jalen Mills Career
Early Career (2016)
The Philadelphia Eagles selected Mills in the seventh round, 233rd overall, of the 2016 NFL draft. On May 4, 2016, he signed a four-year, $2.41 million contract that included a signing bonus of $75,856. He competed with several veterans for a backup cornerback job throughout training camp and was named the fourth cornerback on the depth chart to begin the regular season.
Mills made his professional regular-season debut on September 11, 2016, against the Cleveland Browns, recording two solo tackles in a 29–10 victory. He played in all 16 games with two starts as a rookie, finishing with 61 combined tackles, 51 of them solo, and seven passes defensed.
Philadelphia Eagles Breakthrough (2017–2020)
Mills entered the 2017 season as a starting cornerback. On September 10, 2017, he recorded nine combined tackles, two pass deflections, and his first career interception off a pass attempt by Kirk Cousins in a 30–17 win against the Washington Redskins. Later that season, he intercepted Cam Newton and returned a separate interception for a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers, performances that earned him NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors.
On January 21, 2018, in the NFC Championship Game, Mills had three tackles, one pass deflection, and surrendered only two completions for 27 yards in the Eagles’ 38–7 rout of the Minnesota Vikings. He then appeared in Super Bowl LII, where Philadelphia defeated the New England Patriots 41–33 to win the franchise’s first Super Bowl title.
Mills remained a starter in 2018 and 2019, though a foot injury limited him to nine games in 2019. In 2020, he signed a one-year contract, switched to jersey number 21, and moved between cornerback and safety. He recorded 1.5 sacks, 74 total tackles, one interception, three passes defended, and one forced fumble across 15 starts.
New England Patriots Era (2021–2023)
On March 19, 2021, Mills signed a four-year, $24 million contract with the New England Patriots. In his first season, he served mainly as the No. 2 cornerback behind J.C. Jackson, finishing 2021 with 47 total tackles, seven passes defended, and one fumble recovery in 16 starts. In 2022, he recorded 31 total tackles, two interceptions, and five passes defended in ten starts.
Mills was released by the Patriots on March 17, 2023, but was re-signed five days later. His time in New England concluded later that offseason as he entered free agency.
New York Giants, Jets, and Houston Texans (2024–2025)
On March 12, 2024, Mills signed with the New York Giants and was later released from the non-football injury list in August 2024. On September 24, 2024, he signed with the New York Jets practice squad and was promoted to the active roster on October 23. In nine games with eight starts for the Jets, he totaled one interception, six pass deflections, and 44 combined tackles before a stint on injured reserve in December.
On August 11, 2025, Mills signed with the Houston Texans. He was released on August 26 as part of final roster cuts, re-signed to the practice squad on September 17, and promoted to the active roster on December 6. Three days later, he was released following the acquisition of Naquan Jones.
Detroit Lions Era (2025–Present)
On December 10, 2025, Mills was claimed off waivers by the Detroit Lions. He joined a competitive Lions secondary and provides veteran experience at both cornerback and safety.
Driving Style and Strengths
Mills is valued for his positional versatility, having started games at cornerback and safety across multiple schemes. He shows strong ball skills in contested catches, dependable open-field tackling, and the ability to line up across from a variety of receiver alignments.
Notable Events and Milestones
Mills’ signature moment remains Super Bowl LII, where he helped the Eagles defeat the New England Patriots 41–33 for the franchise’s first championship. His 2017 interception returned for a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers earned him NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors.
Jalen Mills Career Wins
Mills’ most celebrated career win is Super Bowl LII, in which he started for the Philadelphia Eagles in their 41–33 victory over the New England Patriots. Beyond that championship, he has accumulated multiple regular-season and postseason victories across his stops with the Eagles, Patriots, Giants, Jets, Texans, and Lions.
NFL Highlights
During his five seasons in Philadelphia, Mills helped the Eagles to NFC East titles and a Super Bowl LII championship. His first NFL victory came on September 11, 2016, against the Cleveland Browns, and his first career interception came against Kirk Cousins in the 2017 season opener against Washington.
Other Wins & Performances
In his 2024 season with the New York Jets, Mills contributed a Week 7 victory over his former team, the Philadelphia Eagles, and recorded an interception while logging significant defensive snaps. His signing with the Detroit Lions in December 2025 adds him to a contending roster for the late-season stretch.
Jalen Mills Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Mills grew up in the Dallas–Fort Worth area of Texas, attending schools in Lancaster and DeSoto before leaving the state for college. His family supported his athletic path, with his parents bailing him out of jail in 2014 following an arrest in Baton Rouge.
Personal Life
Mills is nicknamed the “Green Goblin” for his distinctive green hairdo, a look that has become part of his public identity on and off the field. Public details about his long-term relationships and children are not widely confirmed.
2025 Season Performance
Mills entered 2025 as a veteran defensive back searching for a stable roster home. His year featured brief stints with the Houston Texans practice squad and active roster before a quick release following a roster move, making the Lions his fourth team of the calendar year.
With Detroit, Mills joined a defense chasing postseason positioning in the NFC. His veteran presence and positional flexibility gave the Lions additional depth in the secondary during the December stretch run, and he will look to contribute on special teams and in reserve defensive roles.
Looking ahead, Mills is signed with Detroit through the remainder of the 2025 season. His performance in practice and in rotational defensive snaps will determine whether he remains with the organization into the next league year.