Josey Jewell Bio
Josey Jewell is an American professional football linebacker. He played college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes, where he emerged as a unanimous All-American and a three-time All-Big Ten selection. He was selected by the Denver Broncos in the 2018 NFL Draft and has also played for the Carolina Panthers.
Early Life and Background
Josey Jewell was born on December 25, 1994, in Decorah, Iowa. He grew up in Decorah and attended Decorah High School, where he starred as a two-way player on the football team. Jewell lined up at linebacker and running back for the Vikings, becoming one of the most productive players in the program.
Jewell helped Decorah reach back-to-back Class 3A state title games, including a 49–21 victory over Sioux City Bishop Heelan in the 2012 championship. During his senior season, he posted 1,314 rushing yards, 21 rushing touchdowns, and 81 total tackles. Despite those numbers, recruiting services rated him as a two-star prospect with a 247Sports composite score of 0.7783, reflecting his under-the-radar status before college.
After his high school career, Jewell committed to the University of Iowa to play college football. The decision kept him close to home and launched the next chapter of his development as a defender.
Path to American Football
Jewell arrived at Iowa in 2013 and redshirted his first year with the Hawkeyes. He worked behind established linebackers while adjusting to the speed and complexity of Big Ten defenses. By 2014, he had earned a rotational role and started four games, finishing the year with 51 tackles and one sack.
His breakout came as a sophomore in 2015, when he started all 14 games and led the team with 126 tackles, three sacks, and four interceptions. The performance earned him second-team All-Big Ten recognition and announced him as a building block for the Hawkeyes defense. He continued to produce as a junior in 2016, again starting all 13 games and leading Iowa with 124 tackles while adding 1.5 sacks, which led to another second-team All-Big Ten selection and a Butkus Award finalist nod.
Jewell’s senior season in 2017 cemented his reputation as one of the top linebackers in college football. He was named a unanimous All-American, won the Jack Lambert Award, was a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, and was selected as the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year after pacing the conference with 125 tackles. His résumé at Iowa combined production, leadership, and durability, making him a logical NFL target.
Josey Jewell Career
Early Career (2018–2019)
The Denver Broncos selected Jewell in the fourth round, 106th overall, of the 2018 NFL Draft. He was the 14th linebacker taken in that class. Shortly after the draft, Denver signed him to a four-year, $3.17 million contract that included a signing bonus of $713,982.
Jewell entered training camp and competed for a backup inside linebacker role against Zaire Anderson, Joseph Jones, Jerrol Garcia-Williams, and Keishawn Bierria. He made his mark in his second career regular-season game against the Oakland Raiders, recording two combined tackles, and went on to develop into a reliable contributor in the Broncos’ front seven.
Denver Broncos Breakthrough (2018–2023)
Jewell spent his first six NFL seasons with the Denver Broncos after joining the team in 2018. He became a regular presence at inside linebacker, with his workload growing as he gained experience in the defense. By 2020, he was producing some of the most disruptive games of his early career, highlighted by a Week 4 Thursday Night Football performance against the New York Jets. In that 37–28 win, Jewell racked up a team-high 10 tackles and sacked quarterback Sam Darnold twice, showcasing his range and finishing ability.
His tenure in Denver included adversity. On September 21, 2021, Jewell was placed on injured reserve with a pectoral injury, briefly halting his momentum. He recovered and returned to the field, eventually earning a new deal with the Broncos when he signed a two-year contract extension on March 15, 2022. Later that season, on December 11, 2022, Jewell turned in one of the most complete stat lines of his career, recording two interceptions and nine tackles in a 34–28 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Carolina Panthers Era (2024–2025)
On March 13, 2024, Jewell signed a three-year, $22.75 million contract with the Carolina Panthers, beginning a new chapter in his professional career. The deal reflected his standing as a veteran presence capable of leading a young linebacking corps. He joined the Panthers looking to bring his experience in run defense and coverage to a defense in transition.
His time in Carolina was cut short when, on July 22, 2025, the Panthers released Jewell due to health concerns surrounding lingering concussion symptoms. The release marked an unexpected end to his Panthers tenure and left his playing future uncertain.
Driving Style and Strengths
Jewell built his reputation on football instincts, leverage, and dependable tackling form. He was most effective between the tackles, where he could read run plays quickly and trigger downhill against the ball carrier. He also showed coverage range in zone concepts, as evidenced by his interceptions in college and the NFL, and was trusted to communicate defensive calls at the second level.
Notable Events and Milestones
Jewell’s signature college moment came in 2017, when he was named a unanimous All-American and collected the Jack Lambert Award while leading the Big Ten in tackles. In the NFL, his two-sack performance against the New York Jets in 2020 and his two-interception game against the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022 stand out as defining professional milestones.
Josey Jewell Career Wins
Josey Jewell’s career has been defined less by trophy hauls at the professional level and more by consistent production and leadership. His most decorated season came in 2017, when he swept major linebacker awards in college football, including the Jack Lambert Award, the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, and unanimous All-American honors. He was also a three-time All-Big Ten selection across 2015, 2016, and 2017, with second-team nods in his first two years and a first-team selection as a senior.
NFL Highlights
Jewell appeared in regular-season games for the Denver Broncos from 2018 through 2023 and for the Carolina Panthers in 2024. His most notable individual showing came in a Week 4 win over the New York Jets in 2020, when he posted 10 tackles and two sacks, and again on December 11, 2022, when he recorded two interceptions and nine tackles against the Kansas City Chiefs. He exited his Panthers stint on July 22, 2025, after the team released him due to lingering concussion symptoms.
Other Wins and Performances
At Decorah High School, Jewell helped the Vikings win the 2012 Iowa Class 3A state title with a 49–21 victory over Sioux City Bishop Heelan. He also reached the state title game the previous season, establishing a winning foundation before his college career.
Josey Jewell Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Josey Jewell grew up in Decorah, Iowa, the same community where he attended Decorah High School. Detailed information about his parents and siblings is not publicly available in verified sources.
Personal Life
Jewell was born and raised in Decorah, Iowa, and his personal life has largely stayed out of the public spotlight. Verified details about a spouse or children are not available at this time.
2025 Season Performance
Jewell’s 2025 outlook changed dramatically on July 22, 2025, when the Carolina Panthers released him due to health concerns surrounding lingering concussion symptoms. The move ended his Panthers tenure before the regular season and placed his football future in question. After signing a three-year, $22.75 million contract with Carolina in March 2024, he had been expected to anchor the defense, but medical caution took precedence.
For the 2025 season, Jewell is no longer attached to an NFL roster. Any return to the field would require medical clearance and a new team willing to manage his concussion history. Until that process unfolds, his status remains that of a free agent with a decorated college résumé and six years of NFL experience.
Looking back, his 2025 chapter underscores how health can reshape even carefully planned career arcs. Jewell’s 2017 college awards and his production in Denver remain the foundation of his professional identity, and his next step, whenever it comes, will carry the same linebacker profile that defined his rise from Decorah to the NFL.