Jamie Sheriff Bio
Jamie Lee Sheriff II (born August 18, 2000) is an American professional football linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). Born and raised in central Mississippi, he played college football at the junior college level before transferring to a four-year program and eventually earning an NFL opportunity as an undrafted free agent in 2024. Sheriff has since established himself within the Seahawks organization after a brief detour with the Carolina Panthers, carving out a role through strong preseason play and perseverance.
Early Life and Background
Jamie Lee Sheriff II was born on August 18, 2000, in Jackson, Mississippi. He grew up in Terry, a small Mississippi town with a population of about 1,300, and attended Terry High School, where he played for the school’s football team. As a senior, he recorded 60 tackles, seven tackles-for-loss, five sacks and three safeties, numbers that showed his pass-rushing and defensive upside despite limited recruiting attention.
Coming out of high school, Sheriff received little recruiting interest and chose to walk on at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College to continue his football career. That path allowed him to develop his body and technique at the junior college level and to gain the exposure he would need to attract offers from four-year programs.
Path to American Football
Sheriff began his college career with the Mississippi Gulf Coast Bulldogs in 2018, recording 26 tackles and six sacks as a freshman. The following year, he helped the Bulldogs compile an undefeated 12–0 record and win a national championship. In that championship campaign he posted 50 tackles, 12 tackles-for-loss and eight sacks, earning second-team All-Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) honors and a three-star junior college ranking as a top-25 strongside defensive end nationally.
That production opened the door to a transfer, and Sheriff moved on to the South Alabama Jaguars to finish his collegiate career. In his first season with the Jaguars in 2020, he appeared in all 11 games, six as a starter, and recorded 21 tackles and a sack, showing he could compete at the NCAA Division I level after dominating at the junior college ranks.
Jamie Sheriff Career
Early Career (2018–2020)
Sheriff’s development years began at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, where he went from a lightly recruited walk-on to one of the most productive defensive players in the MACJC. His sophomore national championship season established him as a player to watch, and his move to South Alabama marked his transition into the Football Bowl Subdivision.
At South Alabama, Sheriff adjusted to a faster, more complex level of competition. He appeared in all 11 games in 2020 with six starts, finishing the year with 21 tackles and a sack. The campaign was a learning year that set the stage for his later production as an upperclassman.
South Alabama Breakthrough (2021–2023)
Sheriff missed the entire 2021 season due to injury, a setback that tested his commitment to the sport. He returned in 2022 and appeared in 13 games for the Jaguars, posting 34 tackles, 7.5 tackles-for-loss and six sacks, a clear sign that he was ready to contribute as a pass rusher at the Division I level.
Using an extra year of eligibility granted to all players because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sheriff returned for a final season in 2023. That year he totaled 45 tackles, 8.5 tackles-for-loss and three sacks. He was named the Defensive MVP in his final game as he helped South Alabama win the 2023 68 Ventures Bowl, the program’s first-ever bowl victory.
Seattle Seahawks and Carolina Panthers Era (2024–Present)
After going unselected in the 2024 NFL Draft, Sheriff attended the Seattle Seahawks’ rookie minicamp but was not initially signed. While waiting for another opportunity, he worked as a beer deliveryman in Ridgeland, Mississippi. He quit that job on August 4, and on August 6 he signed with the Seahawks as an undrafted free agent. Although he signed late in the offseason, he was a standout in preseason, recording eight tackles, three sacks and five quarterback hits in three games before being waived on August 27.
One day later, on August 28, 2024, Sheriff was claimed off waivers by the Carolina Panthers. He played 17 snaps in the Panthers’ 47–10 Week 1 loss to the New Orleans Saints but was waived on September 10 to make room for veteran pass rusher Charles Harris. On September 13, 2024, the Seattle Seahawks signed him to their practice squad, and he signed a reserve/future contract on January 6, 2025. Sheriff was waived as part of final roster cuts on August 26, 2025, and re-signed to the practice squad the next day.
Driving Style and Strengths
Sheriff’s game is built on edge-rush quickness, length and a high motor. His junior college production and three-sack preseason suggest he is most effective as a situational pass rusher who can also set the edge against the run. His ability to stay ready through practice-squad stints has become one of his defining professional traits.
Notable Events and Milestones
Sheriff’s signature moments include helping South Alabama to its first-ever bowl win in the 2023 68 Ventures Bowl, where he was named Defensive MVP, and his eye-opening 2024 preseason with the Seahawks in which he posted three sacks in three games. His path from beer deliveryman to NFL practice squad is itself a notable story of perseverance.
Jamie Sheriff Career Wins
Jamie Lee Sheriff II is still in the early stages of his professional career, and his win totals at the NFL level are limited. His most celebrated team victory to date is the 2023 68 Ventures Bowl with South Alabama, the first bowl win in program history.
South Alabama Highlights
Sheriff’s two most productive college seasons came in 2022 and 2023 at South Alabama, when he combined for 79 tackles, 16 tackles-for-loss and nine sacks. He capped his career with the 68 Ventures Bowl win and Defensive MVP honors, the high point of his college résumé.
Other Wins and Performances
Before South Alabama, Sheriff helped Mississippi Gulf Coast post a perfect 12–0 record and win a MACJC national championship in 2019. That undefeated campaign remains one of the most significant team achievements of his playing career.
Jamie Sheriff Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Jamie Lee Sheriff II grew up in Terry, Mississippi, a small community south of Jackson where football is a central part of local life. The name Jamie Lee Sheriff II indicates that he shares his name with his father, suggesting a family tradition of naming, though further details about his parents and any sports lineage are not publicly documented in available sources.
Personal Life
Sheriff is known for his work ethic away from the field, including his willingness to work as a beer deliveryman while waiting for an NFL opportunity. Public information about his marital status, spouse, or children is not available from verified sources.
2025 Season Performance
Sheriff’s 2025 campaign began on the Seattle Seahawks practice squad after he signed a reserve/future contract in January 2025. He was waived as part of final roster cuts on August 26, 2025, and re-signed to the practice squad the next day, August 27, keeping him within the organization heading into the regular season.
His path mirrors that of many late-blooming pass rushers, with the practice squad serving as a chance to develop further and be ready when called upon. A strong showing on the practice field and continued development of his pass-rush craft could position him for a promotion to the active roster during the season.
Looking ahead, the 2025 outlook for Sheriff centers on opportunity. With a defensive end background and a proven ability to produce sacks in both junior college and preseason settings, he has the tools to contribute if the Seahawks need edge depth. His story of perseverance from undrafted free agent to practice-squad mainstay is one of the more compelling underdog narratives on Seattle’s roster.