Justin Herron Bio
Justin Herron (born November 27, 1995) is an American professional football offensive tackle. He played college football for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons and was selected by the New England Patriots in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He has also spent time with the Las Vegas Raiders, the New Orleans Saints, and the Detroit Lions.
Early Life and Background
Justin Herron was born on November 27, 1995, in Silver Spring, Maryland. He attended Bullis School in Potomac, Maryland, where he played as an offensive lineman. In addition to football, he played baseball and basketball and was a trumpeter in the jazz band, showing a wide range of athletic and musical interests during his formative years.
Coming out of high school, Herron was rated as a 3-star recruit. He received scholarship offers from several college programs, including Boston College, Old Dominion, Rutgers, and Villanova. He ultimately committed to Wake Forest, choosing to develop his game at the Atlantic Coast Conference level.
Path to Professional Football
At Wake Forest, Herron appeared across multiple seasons for the Demon Deacons and steadily grew into a reliable offensive lineman. In Week 1 of the 2018 college season, he suffered a torn ACL, a setback that tested his resilience. He returned for an additional year as a graduate student, was named a team captain, and earned third-team All-ACC honors in 2019.
Herron also set the Wake Forest record with 51 games played, a milestone that reflected his durability and longevity. His performance at the college level placed him on the radar of NFL scouts heading into the 2020 draft.
Justin Herron Career
Early Career (2020)
Justin Herron was selected by the New England Patriots in the sixth round, 195th overall, of the 2020 NFL Draft. He began his rookie season with the Patriots and saw action before being placed on injured reserve on October 31, 2020, with an ankle injury. He was activated on November 28 of that same year, finishing his first professional season on the active roster.
New England Patriots (2020–2022)
During his time with the New England Patriots, Herron worked to develop as an offensive tackle within a competitive organization. He appeared in games during the 2020 and 2021 seasons, contributing on special teams and along the offensive line. His steady work in New England helped him earn a role before the franchise reshuffled its depth chart.
On September 21, 2022, the Patriots traded Herron and a 2024 seventh-round draft pick to the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for a 2024 sixth-round pick. The trade ended his Patriots tenure after parts of three seasons with the organization.
Las Vegas Raiders (2022–2023)
Herron joined the Las Vegas Raiders midway through the 2022 season, bringing versatility to the offensive line. His time in Las Vegas was marked by challenges, including a torn ACL suffered in practice that led to a placement on injured reserve on October 7, 2022. He later dealt with a concussion, limiting his availability across the two seasons.
After playing in 7 regular season games across two seasons with the team, Herron was waived on December 27, 2023. Despite the injury setbacks, the Raiders stint provided him with additional starting-level experience in the AFC West.
New Orleans Saints Era (2024)
On April 29, 2024, Herron signed with the New Orleans Saints, joining the team as an offensive tackle. He was placed on injured reserve on July 28, 2024, ending his season before he could appear in regular season action for New Orleans. The signing reflected continued interest around the league in his size and positional flexibility.
Detroit Lions Era (2025)
On August 2, 2025, Herron signed with the Detroit Lions, looking to carve out a role on the offensive line. He was placed on injured reserve eight days later, on August 10. He was released by the Lions on November 4, 2025, bringing his most recent chapter in professional football to a close for the season.
Notable Events and Milestones
Beyond his on-field career, Herron received an “Outstanding Service” award from the Tempe, Arizona, Police Department on March 22, 2021, alongside another citizen, for helping save a woman from a violent sexual assault. He also holds the Wake Forest record for games played with 51 appearances, a mark he set during his final college season.
Justin Herron Family
Family Background and Athletic Lineage
Justin Herron’s father, Reggie Herron, played basketball at Villanova, embedding a strong athletic background in the family. His uncle, Keith Herron, was a second-round selection in the 1978 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers and played five seasons in the NBA. This family history of competitive sports helped shape Justin’s path into collegiate and professional football.
2025 Season Performance
Justin Herron signed with the Detroit Lions on August 2, 2025, aiming to compete for a depth role along the offensive line. His opportunity in Detroit was cut short when he was placed on injured reserve on August 10, 2025, sidelining him early in the preseason process. The Lions released him on November 4, 2025, ending his 2025 campaign with the organization.
Across his career as of the 2024 season, Herron has appeared in 35 games with 11 starts, according to available NFL statistics. His journeyman trajectory, marked by perseverance through injuries, has defined much of his professional arc since entering the league in 2020.