James Daniels Bio
James Daniels, born on September 13, 1997, is an American professional football guard for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes before being selected by the Chicago Bears in the second round of the 2018 NFL draft. Across his professional career, Daniels has played for the Bears, the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Dolphins, lining up at both guard and center.
Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing 145 kilograms, Daniels has built a reputation as a dependable interior offensive lineman. He entered the NFL as a Day 2 draft pick and has since started games at every interior position on the offensive line, with the exception of long snapper, during his time in the league.
Early Life and Background
James Daniels was born on September 13, 1997, in Warren, Ohio, in the United States. He grew up in his hometown and attended Warren G. Harding High School, where he developed into a standout high school football player.
At Harding High School, Daniels was a three-year starter on the varsity football team, demonstrating early the size and athleticism that would later make him an NFL prospect. In addition to football, he also participated in track and field, an experience that helped develop his footwork and conditioning. He committed to play college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes in July 2014, choosing the program over other notable suitors, including Alabama, Auburn, and Ohio State.
Path to American Football
Daniels’ path to the NFL began in earnest with his commitment to the Iowa Hawkeyes. He had drawn national recruiting attention during his senior year at Harding High School in 2014, and his commitment to Iowa was considered a significant pickup for the program at the time.
He enrolled at the University of Iowa in 2015 and immediately began working within the Hawkeyes’ offensive line system. After spending three seasons in the college ranks, Daniels decided to forgo his senior year and declared for the 2018 NFL draft, where his combination of size, technique, and football intelligence made him a top interior line prospect.
James Daniels Career
Early Career (2018–2019)
James Daniels was selected by the Chicago Bears in the second round, 39th overall, of the 2018 NFL draft. He began his rookie year behind veteran Eric Kush at left guard, splitting early-season time with Kush as the Bears gradually worked him into the lineup. On October 28, 2018, he became the full-time starter at left guard against the New York Jets after Kush suffered a neck injury. Daniels went on to start 10 games as a rookie, including nine at left guard and one at right guard.
Before the 2019 season, the Bears shifted Daniels to center, with then-incumbent Cody Whitehair moving to left guard. Later that season, in November 2019, with the offense struggling and right guard Kyle Long placed on injured reserve, Daniels returned to the left guard spot. His positional flexibility became an early hallmark of his career in Chicago.
Chicago Bears Breakthrough (2018–2021)
Daniels’ time with the Chicago Bears established him as a reliable young interior lineman. He earned the starting left guard job midway through his rookie season and held it into his second year, where the Bears’ staff tested his versatility by moving him to center. Despite the positional changes, he started games consistently and provided steady play at the line of scrimmage.
His tenure in Chicago was cut short in the fifth game of the 2020 season, when he suffered a season-ending pectoral muscle tear against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was placed on injured reserve on October 14, 2020. Daniels remained with the Bears through the 2021 season before departing in free agency.
Pittsburgh Steelers Era (2022–2024)
On March 17, 2022, James Daniels signed a three-year, $26.5 million contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He stepped into a starting role on the Steelers’ offensive line and quickly became a fixture along the interior. His tenure in Pittsburgh was marked by both on-field performance and a notable piece of league history.
On August 9, 2024, Daniels became the first player to wear a Guardian Cap in any organized professional game, doing so during a preseason contest against the Houston Texans. The 2024 season, however, ended prematurely for him when he suffered a torn Achilles in Week 4. He was placed on season-ending injured reserve on October 1, 2024.
Miami Dolphins Era (2025–Present)
On March 13, 2025, James Daniels signed with the Miami Dolphins on a three-year, $24 million contract. The Dolphins named him the Week 1 starting right guard, signaling a clear role for him along their offensive front.
His Dolphins debut was short-lived, however, as he suffered a pectoral injury during the Week 1 game and was placed on injured reserve on September 9, 2025. The injury marked a difficult start to his Miami tenure, though the multi-year contract reflects the Dolphins’ confidence in his long-term fit with the team.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the most unique milestones of James Daniels’ career came on August 9, 2024, when he became the first player in professional football history to wear a Guardian Cap during an organized game. He was also a Day 2 NFL draft pick, selected 39th overall in 2018, and has started games at center, left guard, and right guard across his professional career.
James Daniels Career Wins
James Daniels’ professional résumé is defined less by individual win totals and more by durable starting roles at the NFL level. As an offensive lineman, his statistical value is reflected in snaps played, positions handled, and team success rather than headline win counts. The sections below summarize his career arc rather than a specific victory total.
Chicago Bears Highlights
With the Chicago Bears from 2018 through 2021, Daniels developed into a full-time starter after earning the left guard job in October 2018. He started 10 games as a rookie and added center duties in 2019, showcasing the positional versatility that has defined his career. His Bears tenure was cut short by a 2020 pectoral injury, but he remained a starter on the interior line when healthy.
Pittsburgh Steelers Highlights
Daniels joined the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022 on a three-year deal and became a fixture on the offensive line. His most celebrated moment in Pittsburgh came in August 2024, when he made league history by wearing a Guardian Cap in a professional game. A torn Achilles in Week 4 of 2024 ended his final Steelers season on injured reserve.
Other Wins & Performances
At the college level, James Daniels earned Third-team All-Big Ten honors in 2016 during his time with the Iowa Hawkeyes. He played in 37 games for the Hawkeyes across three seasons before declaring for the 2018 NFL draft.
James Daniels Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
James Daniels comes from a family with an established football background. His older brother, LeShun Daniels, played running back at the University of Iowa and was James’ teammate with the Hawkeyes. LeShun Daniels later signed with the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2017.
Personal Life
James Daniels grew up in Warren, Ohio, where he attended Harding High School. His path to the NFL was shaped by his high school training in both football and track, as well as the family football connection he shared with his brother LeShun.
2025 Season Performance
James Daniels’ 2025 season with the Miami Dolphins began with a clear vote of confidence from the coaching staff, as he was named the team’s Week 1 starting right guard. The move completed a full-circle transition across the offensive line, as Daniels had previously started at left guard and center earlier in his career.
His Dolphins debut, however, was cut short by a pectoral injury suffered in the Week 1 contest, leading to a placement on injured reserve on September 9, 2025. The injury mirrors the pectoral tear he suffered with the Bears in 2020, which had previously cost him the remainder of that season.
Looking ahead, Daniels is signed in Miami through the 2027 season on a three-year, $24 million contract. His long-term outlook will depend on the recovery timeline from his 2025 pectoral injury, but the Dolphins’ commitment to him suggests a defined role in the offensive line rotation once he returns to full health.