Johnathan Abram Bio
Johnathan Jauquez Abram is an American professional football safety who has built a career in the National Football League through hard-hitting play and a strong reputation as a run-stopping defender. Born on October 25, 1996, in Columbia, Mississippi, Abram developed his skills on the high school gridiron before moving on to a winding college journey that ultimately led him to the NFL. He was selected in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders and has since played for the Green Bay Packers, Seattle Seahawks, and the New Orleans Saints.
Early Life and Background
Johnathan Jauquez Abram was born and raised in Columbia, Mississippi, a small city in the southeastern part of the state. He attended East Marion High School, where he played football for the East Marion Eagles and began attracting attention for his physical, aggressive style on defense. In addition to his work in the secondary, Abram also took snaps at linebacker during his high school years, an experience that gave him a broad view of defensive responsibilities and helped shape his tackling ability.
Coming out of high school, Abram was rated as a 2-star recruit, which meant he had to fight for every opportunity as he advanced in the sport. His upbringing in Mississippi kept him connected to the region’s strong football culture, where hard work and toughness are foundational values.
Path to American Football
On November 1, 2014, Abram committed to the University of Georgia, beginning his collegiate career as a Bulldog. Following his freshman season at Georgia, he announced that he would be transferring out in search of a better fit. He landed at Jones College, a junior college program where he continued to develop his game, and he later received a scholarship offer to return to Georgia just four months after leaving.
On December 16, 2016, Abram announced that he would spend his final two years of college eligibility at Mississippi State. With the Bulldogs of the SEC, he was used both at safety and, at times, at linebacker, taking advantage of his high school versatility. Following his senior year, in which he led Mississippi State with 93 tackles, he was named to the first-team All-Southeastern Conference by the media and to the second team by the coaches. Abram was also invited to the 2019 Senior Bowl, where he worked under San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan, an important step in his draft preparation.
Johnathan Abram Career
Early Career (2019–2020)
The Oakland Raiders selected Abram in the first round, 27th overall, of the 2019 NFL Draft, using a pick acquired from the Dallas Cowboys in the October 2018 Amari Cooper trade. He made his NFL debut in Week 1 against the Denver Broncos, recording five tackles in a 24–16 win. Unfortunately, reports emerged after the game that he had torn his rotator cuff and labrum, and he was placed on injured reserve on September 13, 2019, ending his rookie season.
Abram returned in 2020 and quickly reasserted himself as a physical presence. In Week 1 against the Carolina Panthers, he recorded a team-high 13 tackles in a 34–30 win. In Week 3 against the New England Patriots, he picked off his first career pass, intercepting a throw from Cam Newton.
Las Vegas Raiders Breakthrough (2021)
Abram entered the 2021 season as the Raiders’ starting strong safety and was a consistent force against the run. He finished the year with a career-high 116 tackles, which ranked second on the team, along with one interception across 14 starts. His season was cut short when he was placed on injured reserve on December 25, 2021, after undergoing shoulder surgery.
Free Agency and Short Stints (2022)
On April 29, 2022, the Raiders announced that they would not pick up the fifth-year option on Abram’s contract, making him a free agent the following offseason. He was waived by the Raiders on November 8, 2022. Just two days later, on November 10, the Green Bay Packers claimed him off waivers, only to waive him again on November 29. He was then claimed off waivers by the Seattle Seahawks on November 30, 2022. The Seahawks did not re-sign him after the 2022 season, leaving him to find a new home in 2023.
New Orleans Saints Era (2023–2024)
On March 22, 2023, Abram signed with the New Orleans Saints, where he would find a longer-term opportunity. He was waived during final roster cuts on August 29 and re-signed to the practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster on November 30, and in Week 17 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he put together one of his most complete games, tallying one interception against Baker Mayfield, one forced fumble, one pass deflection, and five tackles.
On March 20, 2024, Abram re-signed with the Saints. Despite being a contender for a starting safety role, he was cut during final roster cuts on August 27 and re-signed to the practice squad on August 28. He was released on October 22.
Driving Style and Strengths
Abram has built his reputation on physicality, run support, and tackling in the box, a skill set that traces back to his days playing linebacker in high school. He has been deployed at both safety and linebacker at Mississippi State, and his instincts near the line of scrimmage have been a defining feature of his game. He also showed coverage upside with his first career interception against Cam Newton in 2020 and an interception of Baker Mayfield in 2023.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the signature moments of Abram’s career are his first-round selection by the Oakland Raiders in 2019, his team-high 13 tackles in the 2020 season opener against the Carolina Panthers, his career-high 116 tackles in 2021, and his multi-stat impact game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 17 of 2023, where he recorded an interception, a forced fumble, a pass deflection, and five tackles.
Johnathan Abram Career Wins
Johnathan Jauquez Abram’s career wins span a first-round draft selection, a return from a major shoulder injury, and standout tackle totals in multiple seasons. While the available records do not provide a verified team-by-team win total for Abram as an individual, his contributions are reflected in the totals he produced for his teams during his years as a starting and rotational safety.
NFL Highlights
Abram’s NFL career began with a win in his debut against the Denver Broncos in 2019, a game in which he recorded five tackles before his season-ending injury. In 2020, he helped the Raiders to a 34–30 win over the Carolina Panthers in the season opener with a team-high 13 tackles. His career-best statistical season came in 2021, when he finished with 116 tackles and an interception across 14 starts.
Other Wins and Performances
At the college level, Abram was named to the first-team All-Southeastern Conference by the media and to the second team by the coaches in 2018, after leading Mississippi State with 93 tackles. He was also invited to the 2019 Senior Bowl, a marquee postseason showcase for top NFL draft prospects, where he was part of the squad coached by San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan.
Johnathan Abram Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Publicly available verified information on Johnathan Jauquez Abram’s parents and immediate family is limited. He grew up in Columbia, Mississippi, and built his early football identity at East Marion High School, where he developed the work ethic that carried him through college and into the NFL.
Personal Life
Verified details about Johnathan Jauquez Abram’s spouse, children, and broader personal life are not publicly confirmed in the available sources. He remains active on social media, where he engages with fans and shares updates about his professional football journey.
2025 Season Outlook
As the 2025 season approaches, Johnathan Jauquez Abram is once again a free agent looking to carve out a role in the NFL. After spending time with the New Orleans Saints in 2023 and into 2024, including a stint on the practice squad after final roster cuts, he brings a versatile skill set built around tackling, run support, and positional flexibility at safety and linebacker.
A return to the Saints remains a possibility given his familiarity with the organization, but he could also attract interest from teams seeking a physical, box-style safety. The 2025 season will be an important one for Abram as he works to extend his NFL career past the injury setbacks that have shaped his path so far.
His track record of bouncing back from major injuries, including the torn rotator cuff and labrum in 2019 and the shoulder surgery that ended his 2021 campaign, suggests that perseverance will continue to define his approach. Whether he lands on a roster before the season opener or works his way up from a practice squad, Abram’s physicality and experience give him a credible path back onto an active NFL roster in 2025.