Jordan Kunaszyk Bio
Jordan Kunaszyk (born October 15, 1996) is an American professional football linebacker currently in the National Football League. He played college football for the American River Beavers and the California Golden Bears and signed with the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent in 2019. Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing around 235 pounds, Kunaszyk has built a career as a reliable reserve and special teams contributor across multiple teams.
Born and raised in Northern California, Kunaszyk developed into a productive tackler at the high school and junior college levels before earning a scholarship to the University of California. Over the course of his professional career, he has spent time with the Carolina Panthers, Washington Football Team, Cleveland Browns, and Minnesota Vikings.
Early Life and Background
Jordan Kunaszyk was born in Sacramento, California, and grew up in the nearby city of Roseville. He attended Roseville High School, where he developed into a standout defensive player on the football team. During his formative years in the Sacramento region, he focused on linebacker play and built the physical foundation that would later support his college recruitment.
In his first year of varsity football at Roseville High School, Kunaszyk recorded 77 tackles, including nine tackles for loss, along with three sacks, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. His strong debut campaign earned him second-team All-Sierra Foothill League honors. As a senior, he elevated his play further, posting 101 tackles with 21 tackles for loss, two sacks, one interception, and one forced fumble, which secured first-team all-league recognition.
Path to American Football
Following his high school career, Kunaszyk began his collegiate journey at American River College, a junior college in Sacramento. He was forced to redshirt his true freshman season after breaking his wrist on the very first snap of the year, a setback that delayed his development but did not derail his long-term prospects. The experience taught him patience and resilience as he worked his way back onto the field.
In his next season with the Beavers, Kunaszyk emerged as one of the top junior college defenders in California, recording 118 tackles to lead all California junior college players. He added three sacks, one forced fumble, and three pass breakups, earning first-team All-Big 8 Conference honors, Junior College Freshman All-American recognition, and CCCAA NorCal Division Defensive Player of the Year. After the season, he committed to transfer to the University of California over scholarship offers from Colorado, Iowa State, UNLV, and Fresno State.
Jordan Kunaszyk Career
California Golden Bears (2016-2018)
Kunaszyk joined the California Golden Bears and made an immediate impact as a reserve linebacker during his first season, finishing with 51 tackles. As a redshirt junior, he elevated his production despite missing three games to injury, recording 74 tackles, 3.5 sacks, two interceptions, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. His versatility and ball-hawking ability began to draw attention from NFL scouts.
In his final collegiate season, Kunaszyk delivered a career-defining performance with 148 tackles, including 11 for loss, four sacks, five forced fumbles, three pass breakups, and an interception. He was named first-team All-Pac-12 Conference and earned second-team All-America recognition from Sports Illustrated. His strong senior campaign positioned him as a priority undrafted free agent target.
Carolina Panthers (2019)
Kunaszyk signed with the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent on April 27, 2019. He made his NFL debut on September 12, 2019, against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, playing 15 snaps on special teams. As a rookie, he appeared in nine games and recorded seven tackles, demonstrating his value on special teams units.
Despite a promising start to his professional career, Kunaszyk was waived by the Panthers on September 5, 2020, as the team reshaped its roster heading into the new season. The release opened the door for the next chapter of his career in the Washington, D.C. area.
Washington Football Team (2020-2021)
Kunaszyk signed with the practice squad of the Washington Football Team on September 26, 2020. He was elevated to the active roster on November 14 and again on November 21 for the team’s Week 10 and Week 11 games against the Detroit Lions and Cincinnati Bengals, respectively, before reverting to the practice squad after each contest. On November 25, 2020, Washington signed him to the active roster, where he continued contributing on defense and special teams.
In 2021, Kunaszyk was released on August 31 and re-signed to the practice squad the following day, showing the organization’s continued interest in his services. He was promoted back to the active roster on October 5, 2021, and finished the season on the COVID-19 reserve list after being placed there on January 8, 2022, ruling him out of the regular-season finale. He was released by Washington on May 16, 2022.
Cleveland Browns (2022-2023)
On August 9, 2022, Kunaszyk signed with the Cleveland Browns, but was released on September 5 before being re-signed to the practice squad the next day. He was promoted to the active roster on September 21 and went on to play in 15 games with two starts, setting a career high with 22 tackles during the 2022 season.
In 2023, Kunaszyk was released on February 14 before re-signing with the Browns on March 20. He was placed on injured reserve on August 31, 2023, and was later activated on November 25, working his way back to contribute down the stretch of the season.
Minnesota Vikings Era (2024-Present)
On August 13, 2024, Kunaszyk signed with the Minnesota Vikings. He was placed on injured reserve on August 27, 2024, and later released on December 17, 2024, as the team adjusted its roster during the season. His time in Minnesota reflected the journeyman nature of his career, as he continued to compete for roster spots across the league.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Kunaszyk’s career came during his senior season at California, when he led the Pac-12 with 148 tackles and earned first-team All-Pac-12 and Sports Illustrated second-team All-America honors. His NFL debut with the Panthers in 2019 and his career-high 22-tackle season with the Browns in 2022 stand as additional milestones in his professional journey.
Jordan Kunaszyk Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Jordan Kunaszyk was raised in the Sacramento region of Northern California, where he attended Roseville High School. Limited public information is available about his immediate family, including parents, spouse, or children. He has maintained a relatively private personal life throughout his football career, focusing public attention on his on-field work.
2025 Season Outlook
As of early 2025, Jordan Kunaszyk’s contract status with the Minnesota Vikings remains uncertain after his December 2024 release from the team. Heading into the new league year, he is likely to pursue opportunities as a depth linebacker and special teams contributor, drawing on his experience across four NFL organizations.
Given his track record of signing with practice squads and working his way back onto active rosters, Kunaszyk’s 2025 season could follow a similar path. His versatility on special teams and proven production at the college and professional levels should keep him in demand as training camps approach across the league.