John Jenkins Bio
Johnathan Jenkins (born July 11, 1989) is an American professional football nose tackle for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs and was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the third round of the 2013 NFL draft. Over the course of his NFL career, Jenkins has also spent time with the Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, New York Giants, Miami Dolphins, and Las Vegas Raiders.
Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and listed at 163 kilograms, Jenkins has carved out a long career as a run-stopping interior lineman. He returned to professional football in 2025 when he signed with the Baltimore Ravens, continuing a journey that began in the Northeast and carried him through the Southeastern Conference and into a dozen NFL seasons.
Early Life and Background
Johnathan Jenkins was born on July 11, 1989, in Stamford, Connecticut, and grew up in nearby Meriden, Connecticut. He attended Francis T. Maloney High School, where he played for the Maloney Spartans football team. At Maloney, Jenkins lined up primarily as a defensive end, though he also took occasional snaps at fullback in short-yardage and goal-line situations, scoring four touchdowns during his senior season.
Coming out of high school, Jenkins was regarded as a promising defensive line prospect, but he followed the junior college route to gain more experience and exposure. He spent two seasons at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in Perkinston, Mississippi, where the program posted a 19-5 combined record during his time there. As a sophomore, Jenkins recorded 41 tackles and two quarterback sacks, numbers that helped him attract four-year scholarship offers.
Path to American Football
Jenkins earned an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Georgia, joining the Georgia Bulldogs football team for the 2011 and 2012 seasons under head coach Mark Richt. Richt recruited Jenkins specifically to play nose tackle in Georgia’s 3-4 defensive scheme, where he rotated with teammate Kwame Geathers at the position.
During his two years in Athens, Jenkins developed into one of the more physical interior linemen in the Southeastern Conference. His play in 2012 earned him Second-team All-SEC honors, recognition that helped push his name up draft boards heading into his final year of eligibility. That performance set the stage for Jenkins to declare for the 2013 NFL draft, where he heard his name called in the third round.
John Jenkins Career
Early Career (2013-2015)
The New Orleans Saints selected Jenkins with the 82nd overall pick in the third round of the 2013 NFL draft. He signed a four-year contract with the Saints on May 10, becoming the last of New Orleans’ five draft picks that year to put pen to paper. Jenkins immediately worked into the Saints’ defensive line rotation, contributing as a space-eating nose tackle against the run.
Over his first three professional seasons, Jenkins appeared in games for New Orleans and built a reputation for steady, if unspectacular, play along the interior. That consistency kept him in the league even as his role evolved, leading to a series of stops that would define the next phase of his career.
New Orleans Saints Breakthrough (2013-2016)
Jenkins spent his first three-plus NFL seasons with the New Orleans Saints after being drafted in 2013. He played as part of a defensive front that relied on his size and strength to occupy blockers and free up edge defenders. His tenure with New Orleans ended on November 9, 2016, when the Saints released him.
Just days after his release, Jenkins was signed by the Seattle Seahawks on November 15, 2016, marking his first move to a new team. The short stint gave him a brief look at one of the league’s most respected defensive cultures before he moved on to the next opportunity.
Chicago Bears Era (2017-2018, 2020)
On March 17, 2017, Jenkins signed with the Chicago Bears, where he played in eight games during the 2017 season. He re-signed with the Bears on a one-year contract on April 7, 2018, but was released on September 1, 2018, before the regular season began. After a year away from Chicago, Jenkins returned to the Bears on April 28, 2020, on another one-year deal.
His 2020 season in Chicago was marked by unusual circumstances. Jenkins was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list on July 30, activated four days later, then placed on injured reserve on September 24 before being activated again on October 16. Despite the disrupted year, his willingness to return to a familiar organization showed his durability as a veteran presence.
New York Giants (2018-2019)
Jenkins signed with the New York Giants on September 4, 2018, providing interior defensive line depth late in that season. He re-signed with the Giants on May 13, 2019, in hopes of securing a longer role, but was released on August 31, 2019, ahead of the regular season.
Miami Dolphins (2019, 2021-2022)
On September 2, 2019, Jenkins was signed by the Miami Dolphins, marking his second team of that year. After spending 2020 back in Chicago, he returned to the Dolphins on April 2, 2021, and then re-signed on April 7, 2022, for another season. Across two separate stints with Miami, Jenkins continued to serve as a rotational run defender.
Las Vegas Raiders Era (2023-2024)
Jenkins signed with the Las Vegas Raiders on March 24, 2023, beginning what became the most productive stretch of his NFL career. On December 14, 2023, against the Los Angeles Chargers, Jenkins recovered a fumble and returned it for his first career touchdown in a 63-21 Raiders victory. He started all 17 games in 2023, recording a career-high 61 tackles, four passes defensed, and one sack.
He re-signed with the Raiders on March 18, 2024, and continued in a starting role along the interior defensive line. His time in Las Vegas represented the longest sustained stretch of starts in his career and cemented his value as a reliable veteran nose tackle.
Baltimore Ravens (2025-Present)
On May 16, 2025, Jenkins signed with the Baltimore Ravens, joining one of the league’s top defensive units. The move brought him back to a contending roster and offered a fresh start after several seasons bouncing between teams.
Notable Events and Milestones
Jenkins’ first career touchdown came on December 14, 2023, when he returned a fumble against the Los Angeles Chargers during a 63-21 Raiders win. He also posted a career-high 61 tackles that same season while starting all 17 games for Las Vegas. Being drafted in the third round of the 2013 NFL draft by the New Orleans Saints stands as one of the defining early milestones of his career.
John Jenkins Career Wins
Johnathan Jenkins has built a long NFL career as a defensive lineman rather than as a stat-sheet leader in the win column, so traditional win totals are not the focus of his résumé. Instead, his milestones are measured in starts, tackles, and longevity across multiple franchises.
NFL Highlights
Over more than a decade in the league, Jenkins has appeared for the New Orleans Saints, Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears (two stints), New York Giants, Miami Dolphins (two stints), Las Vegas Raiders, and Baltimore Ravens. He started all 17 games for the Raiders in 2023 and recorded a career-high 61 tackles, four passes defensed, and one sack that season. His first career touchdown came on a fumble return against the Los Angeles Chargers on December 14, 2023.
Other Performances
Jenkins earned Second-team All-SEC recognition in 2012 during his final season at the University of Georgia. At Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, he posted 41 tackles and two sacks as a sophomore and was part of a program that went 19-5 during his two seasons there.
John Jenkins Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Detailed information about Johnathan Jenkins’ parents and immediate family is not publicly documented in verified sources.
Personal Life
Johnathan Jenkins grew up in Meriden, Connecticut, where he attended Francis T. Maloney High School before pursuing his football career through the junior college and NCAA ranks. Further verified details about his spouse or children are not publicly available.
2025 Season Performance
Johnathan Jenkins joined the Baltimore Ravens on May 16, 2025, entering a defensive line room known for its physicality and depth. The signing gave Baltimore another veteran nose tackle capable of handling double teams and freeing up linebackers to flow to the ball.
Heading into the 2025 campaign, Jenkins brings more than a decade of NFL experience and the recent production of his Raiders tenure, where he started all 17 games in 2023 and recorded a career-high 61 tackles. His role with the Ravens is expected to focus on run defense and rotational interior work, complementing a young defensive front.
After stints with eight different franchises, Jenkins’ 2025 season represents a chance to contribute on a contender and add another chapter to one of the more durable journeyman careers in the modern NFL.