Jalen Ramsey Bio
Jalen Ramsey is an American professional football safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Florida State Seminoles and was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars fifth overall in the 2016 NFL draft. With the Jaguars, Ramsey quickly became one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL, making the Pro Bowl and being named an All-Pro in 2017, in addition to helping Jacksonville snap a 10-year playoff drought. In 2022, he won Super Bowl LVI as a member of the Los Angeles Rams, and he currently plays for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Early Life and Background
Jalen Ramsey was born on October 24, 1994, in Smyrna, Tennessee, to Lamont and Margie Ramsey. His father, Lamont, served as a District Chief in the Fire Department and later became Jalen’s training coach. Ramsey’s older brother, Jamal, competed in football, basketball, and track at Battle Ground Academy and later played quarterback at Middle Tennessee State University, where their father had once played football. Growing up around much older boys at a local park helped Jalen sharpen his football skills from an early age, and he grew up cheering for the Miami Hurricanes in a family of Florida Gators fans.
Ramsey attended Ensworth High School in Nashville, Tennessee, for his freshman year before transferring to Brentwood Academy in Brentwood, Tennessee. At Brentwood Academy, he became a two-sport star in football and track and field, and was rated as a five-star recruit by Rivals.com and Scout.com. He was also a decorated track athlete, breaking the Tennessee state record in the long jump with a mark of 25 feet 3.25 inches in his final high school meet in May 2013. That mark stood as a TSSAA record and, as of 2016, no other athlete in TSSAA history had surpassed the 25-foot mark.
Path to American Football
Originally committed to the University of Southern California, Ramsey later changed his commitment to Florida State University to play college football. He started all 14 games for the Florida State Seminoles as a true freshman in 2013, becoming the first true freshman to start a game at cornerback for the team since Deion Sanders in 1985. That season, he wore jersey number 13 and helped Florida State win the national championship over Auburn. He later switched to jersey number 8 for his sophomore and junior seasons, and he wore number 17 on kick returns during his junior year with permission from former FSU star Charlie Ward.
Across his three college seasons, Ramsey steadily built a reputation as one of the top defensive backs in the country. As a sophomore, he recorded 80 tackles, two interceptions, 12 passes defended, three forced fumbles, and two sacks. As a junior, he played 13 games with one sack, nine passes defended, and one fumble recovery on 52 tackles, and was named a Consensus All-American for the 2015 season. After his junior year, he announced his decision to forgo his senior season and enter the 2016 NFL draft.
Jalen Ramsey Career
Jacksonville Jaguars (2016-2019)
The Jacksonville Jaguars selected Ramsey fifth overall in the 2016 NFL draft, making him the highest cornerback taken in the draft and the earliest drafted cornerback in franchise history. He signed a four-year, $23.35 million rookie contract and was named the No. 1 starting cornerback as a rookie. He finished his first season with 65 combined tackles, 14 pass deflections, two interceptions, and a touchdown, earning a spot on the NFL All-Rookie Team.
Ramsey’s second season was his breakout. In 2017, he was named a First Team All-Pro, earned his first Pro Bowl selection, and helped lead the Jaguars to a 10-6 record and a run to the AFC Championship Game. He intercepted passes from quarterbacks such as Ben Roethlisberger and Joe Flacco, and started all 16 games with 63 combined tackles, 17 pass deflections, and four interceptions. He was ranked 17th by his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2018.
Los Angeles Rams Era (2019-2022)
On October 15, 2019, the Jacksonville Jaguars traded Ramsey to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for multiple first-round and a fourth-round pick. He was immediately installed as the No. 1 starting cornerback and finished the 2019 season with 50 combined tackles, five passes defensed, two forced fumbles, and one interception, earning his third consecutive Pro Bowl nomination.
In September 2020, the Rams signed Ramsey to a five-year, $100 million contract extension that made him the highest-paid defensive back in NFL history at the time. He earned First Team All-Pro honors in 2020 and 2021, and tied a career-high with four interceptions in 2021. That same season, he helped the Rams finish 12-5 and reach Super Bowl LVI, where he recorded four combined tackles and one pass deflection in a 23-20 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, earning his first career Super Bowl ring.
In 2022, Ramsey played through tears in both shoulders, finishing the year with career highs of 88 combined tackles, 18 passes defended, four interceptions, two sacks, and two forced fumbles. He earned his sixth Pro Bowl nomination.
Miami Dolphins (2023-2024)
On March 15, 2023, the Miami Dolphins acquired Ramsey from the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for tight end Hunter Long and a 2023 third-round pick. A torn meniscus limited him early in the season, but he returned to record 22 combined tackles, five pass deflections, and three interceptions in ten starts, earning Pro Bowl honors for the seventh consecutive season.
In 2024, the Dolphins signed Ramsey to a three-year, $72.3 million extension that made him the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL at the time. He started all 17 games, finishing with 60 combined tackles, 11 passes defended, two interceptions, and one sack. On April 15, 2025, the Dolphins announced that they would be seeking potential trade partners for Ramsey.
Pittsburgh Steelers Era (2025-Present)
On June 30, 2025, Ramsey was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers along with Jonnu Smith and a 2027 seventh-round pick in exchange for Minkah Fitzpatrick and a 2027 fifth-round pick. The trade included a $1.5 million raise, bringing his expected 2025 earnings to $26.6 million. In the season opener against the New York Jets, he had three combined tackles and a game-sealing hit on wide receiver Garrett Wilson to give the Steelers a 34-32 win. He later recorded his first career multi-sack game with two sacks in a 23-9 win over the Cleveland Browns.
Driving Style and Strengths
Ramsey is widely recognized for his physical press coverage, ball skills, and confidence at the line of scrimmage. He is considered equally effective in man and zone schemes, and he pairs shutdown corner play with strong run support and tackling.
Notable Events and Milestones
Ramsey’s career is defined by his Super Bowl LVI victory, eight Pro Bowl selections, three First Team All-Pro honors, and a record-setting 2020 contract that made him the highest-paid defensive back in NFL history. He also memorably wore a low hospital bracelet after the birth of his second daughter while still playing for the Jaguars.
Jalen Ramsey Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Ramsey comes from a deeply athletic family based in Tennessee. His father, Lamont Ramsey, played college football at Middle Tennessee State University and later became Jalen’s training coach. His older brother, Jamal Ramsey, played football, basketball, and track at Battle Ground Academy and went on to play quarterback at Middle Tennessee State.
Personal Life
Ramsey is a Christian and frequently mentions his faith on social media. In July 2018, he and Breanna Tate, the younger sister of retired wide receiver Golden Tate, had a daughter together. The couple had a second daughter in September 2019, though they had broken up earlier that summer. Ramsey is known for his outspoken trash talk on the field, including memorable on-field altercations with A. J. Green and DK Metcalf, and a viral 2018 GQ interview in which he ranked several NFL quarterbacks.
2025 Season Performance
Ramsey’s 2025 campaign began with a major trade to the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he joined a competitive defense seeking veteran leadership in the secondary. He made an immediate impact in Week 1 against the New York Jets, recording three combined tackles and a game-sealing hit on Garrett Wilson to preserve a 34-32 win. He added his first career multi-sack performance in a Week 6 win over the Cleveland Browns, underscoring his ability to contribute as a pass rusher when needed.
As the season progressed, Ramsey remained a central figure in the Steelers’ secondary and was named to his eighth career Pro Bowl. His play continued to reflect the same confidence and physicality that defined his prime years with the Jaguars and Rams. The Steelers viewed him as a tone-setter both in the locker room and on the field, leaning on his experience from three previous playoff runs and a Super Bowl championship.
Looking ahead, Ramsey’s 2025 earnings are reported at $26.6 million under his current contract that runs through 2026. With the Steelers positioned as contenders in the AFC, his presence in the secondary gives Pittsburgh one of the most accomplished cover corners in league history, and his 2025 season will likely be remembered as another strong chapter in a Hall of Fame-caliber career.