Jalen Thompson Bio
Jalen Thompson is an American professional football safety for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). Born on July 18, 1998, in Compton, California, he played college football for the Washington State Cougars before being selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL supplemental draft. Across his professional career, Thompson has developed into a reliable starter in the Cardinals’ secondary, contributing in both regular season games and postseason play.
Known for his tackling, coverage instincts, and ball production, Thompson has paired with Budda Baker to form one of the more productive safety duos in the NFC West. He has recorded multiple interceptions in several seasons and has been a steady presence in the Cardinals’ defensive backfield since his rookie year.
Early Life and Background
Jalen Thompson was born in Compton, California, and grew up in the same city. He originally attended La Serna High School, where he played as a sophomore and helped the Lancers win the 2013 CIF Southern Section title. He earned honorable mention All-San Gabriel Valley League recognition during that season.
After his sophomore year, Thompson transferred to Downey High School, where he played both wide receiver and cornerback. He was named All-CIF and All-San Gabriel Valley League in both his junior and senior seasons. As a senior, he intercepted five passes and averaged 20.2 yards per reception, earning a spot on the All-Area Dream Team selected by the Long Beach Press-Telegram.
Thompson was rated a three-star recruit by ESPN, Rivals, and Scout, and was ranked as the No. 56 cornerback nationally by ESPN.com. He ultimately committed to Washington State over scholarship offers from San Diego State, New Mexico State, Army, and Navy.
Path to American Football
Thompson entered Washington State as an early enrollee and joined the Cougars’ spring practices. As a freshman, he was named the starting strong safety and earned True Freshman All-American honors from ESPN after recording 51 tackles and a team-leading seven pass breakups in 13 games.
During his sophomore season, Thompson led the Cougars with 73 tackles, including 5.5 tackles for loss, two pass breakups, and four interceptions. He also led the Pac-12 Conference with three fumble recoveries and was named second-team All-Pac-12 along with first-team all-conference by the Associated Press.
Heading into his junior season, Thompson was placed on the Chuck Bednarik Award watchlist and recorded 67 tackles, two interceptions, and eight passes broken up. He started all 39 games of his collegiate career at Washington State and finished with 191 tackles, six interceptions, and 17 passes broken up. His senior year of eligibility was lost due to an NCAA violation involving the purchase of an over-the-counter supplement that was not a steroid.
Jalen Thompson Career
Early Career (2019)
On July 10, 2019, the Arizona Cardinals were awarded Thompson with a fifth-round pick, making him the only player selected in the 2019 NFL supplemental draft. One week later, the Cardinals signed him to a four-year, $2.86 million contract that included a signing bonus of $342,920.
Thompson competed for a backup safety role during training camp and made his professional regular season debut on September 8, 2019, contributing on special teams against the Detroit Lions. He earned his first career start on October 6, 2019, replacing D.J. Swearinger at free safety, and finished his rookie season with 57 combined tackles, three passes defended, and an interception in 15 games and nine starts.
NFL Breakthrough (2020-2021)
In 2020, defensive coordinator Vance Joseph selected Thompson as the starting strong safety, paired with Budda Baker at free safety. An ankle injury suffered in Week 1 limited him to five games, but he returned later in the season and recorded a season-high seven combined tackles in a victory over the Buffalo Bills.
Thompson posted a career-best campaign in 2021, finishing with 121 combined tackles, seven pass deflections, and three interceptions in 17 games and 12 starts. He recorded a season-high ten combined tackles in a victory over the Chicago Bears and intercepted passes from both Andy Dalton and Russell Wilson during the regular season.
The Cardinals finished second in the NFC West with an 11-6 record and clinched a playoff berth. On January 17, 2022, Thompson led the team with 12 combined tackles during an NFC Wild-Card Game loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
Arizona Cardinals Era (2022-Present)
On September 2, 2022, Thompson signed a three-year, $36.00 million contract extension with the Cardinals, including $20.17 million guaranteed and a $10.17 million signing bonus. He returned as the starting free safety and started all 17 games, finishing with 110 combined tackles, eight pass deflections, and one interception.
In 2023, new head coach Jonathan Gannon and defensive coordinator Nick Rallis retained Thompson and Baker as the starting safeties. Thompson recorded a career-high four interceptions, 78 combined tackles, and nine pass deflections, and he also earned his first career sack on C.J. Stroud during a game against the Houston Texans.
During the 2024 season, Thompson started 15 games and finished with 98 combined tackles, three pass deflections, and two fumble recoveries. He received an overall grade of 68.8 from Pro Football Focus, ranking 51st among 171 qualifying safeties.
Driving Style and Strengths
Thompson is recognized for his tackling reliability, route recognition in coverage, and productivity as a ball-hawking safety. He has consistently generated interceptions and pass breakups while pairing with Budda Baker to anchor the Cardinals’ secondary, and he has earned steadily improved Pro Football Focus grades across his professional seasons.
Notable Events and Milestones
Thompson’s career milestones include his first career interception off Jimmy Garoppolo in 2019, his career-high 121-tackle season in 2021, his first career sack on C.J. Stroud in 2023, and a career-high four interceptions in the same season. His playoff experience includes leading the Cardinals in tackles during the 2021 NFC Wild-Card Game against the Los Angeles Rams.
Jalen Thompson Career Wins
Jalen Thompson has built a productive professional resume since being drafted in 2019, with consistent production as a tackler and playmaker in the passing game. Across his NFL career, he has accumulated multiple interceptions in three separate seasons and has recorded more than 100 combined tackles twice.
NFL Highlights
Thompson recorded his first career interception on November 17, 2019, against the San Francisco 49ers, picking off a pass by Jimmy Garoppolo. His most productive regular season came in 2021, when he set career highs with 121 combined tackles and three interceptions while starting 12 games.
In 2023, Thompson set another career milestone with four interceptions, the highest single-season total of his career. He also recorded his first career sack that season, taking down C.J. Stroud for a nine-yard loss during a road game against the Houston Texans.
Other Wins and Performances
During his college career at Washington State, Thompson was a two-time All-Pac-12 selection and earned True Freshman All-American honors from ESPN. He started all 39 games he played for the Cougars and finished his collegiate career with 191 tackles, six interceptions, and 17 passes broken up.
| Series | Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|
| NFL (Arizona Cardinals) | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Jalen Thompson Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public details about Jalen Thompson’s immediate family and parents are not widely documented in verified sources.
Personal Life
Jalen Thompson was born and raised in Compton, California. Verified details about his spouse, children, and other personal relationships are not publicly available at this time.
2025 Season Performance
Jalen Thompson entered the 2025 NFL season as the Arizona Cardinals’ starting free safety, continuing his partnership with Budda Baker in the secondary. His existing contract, signed in September 2022, runs through the 2025 season, placing him in the final year of that deal.
Defensive coordinator Nick Rallis has continued to rely on Thompson as a key contributor in coverage and run support. His career trajectory, including his four-interception 2023 campaign and steady tackling production, provides a foundation for another productive season.
Thompson will look to maintain his interception rate and contribute to a Cardinals defense aiming to improve on prior-season results. His experience and continuity in the secondary position him as a central figure in the team’s 2025 outlook.