Michael Dwumfour Bio
Michael Dwumfour (born January 1, 1998) is an American professional football defensive tackle who has spent his career navigating practice squads, active rosters, and short stints across the National Football League. After going unselected in the 2021 NFL Draft, he signed with the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent and has since appeared in regular-season and preseason games for multiple organizations. He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines and later the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.
Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and listed around 295 pounds, Dwumfour is built in the compact, powerful mold of an interior pass rusher. He has lined up for the New York Jets, Houston Texans, San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns, Tennessee Titans, Chicago Bears, and Denver Broncos, and has also spent time in the United Football League with the St. Louis Battlehawks. His journey reflects the perseverance required to remain in professional football as a roster-bottom player.
Early Life and Background
Michael Dwumfour was born on January 1, 1998, in Scotch Plains, New Jersey, and is of Ghanaian descent. He grew up in the same New Jersey hometown as future NFL defender Rashan Gary, attending Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School alongside him before the two transferred to different programs. While Gary moved on to Paramus Catholic High School, Dwumfour headed to DePaul Catholic High School, where he continued to develop along the defensive line.
As a junior at DePaul Catholic, Dwumfour recorded 42 tackles and three quarterback sacks, showing early signs of pass-rushing potential. His senior year brought even more production, with 55 tackles and seven sacks, helping him earn a three-star prospect rating from recruiting services ESPN, Rivals.com, and Scout.com. Those numbers drew attention from major college programs, and he ultimately committed to play at the University of Michigan.
Path to American Football
Dwumfour’s college career began with the Michigan Wolverines, where he spent four seasons working his way into a meaningful rotation. As a true freshman, he appeared in only one game, the season-opener against Hawaii, but he steadily earned more responsibility over time. By his sophomore year, he was playing in nine games, recording four tackles and one sack, and by his junior season he was on the field for all 13 games, including two starts, finishing with 21 tackles, one interception, and three sacks.
Heading into his senior campaign in 2019, Dwumfour continued to contribute for the Wolverines with two starts and nine tackles, but he opted to use his extra year of eligibility during the COVID-19-affected 2020 season. He transferred to the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, where he started eight games at defensive tackle and tallied 25 tackles on his way to earning honorable mention All-Big Ten recognition. That final college season gave him the platform he needed to pursue the NFL.
Michael Dwumfour Career
Early Career (2021–2022)
Following the 2021 NFL Draft, Dwumfour signed with the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent and looked poised to make a strong first impression. He flashed potential in the preseason opener against the New York Giants, but a subsequent injury led to his release with an injury settlement, cutting his initial run short. He cleared waivers and quickly found a new opportunity with the Houston Texans, who added him to their practice squad on October 13, 2021.
Dwumfour was elevated to the active roster in late December and made his regular-season debut against the Los Angeles Chargers, recording a half-sack in that appearance. He played in three games overall that season, finishing with five tackles, and later signed a reserve/future contract with the Texans in January 2022. After an injury-plagued 2022 campaign that included a stint on injured reserve, he was waived in December, and the San Francisco 49ers signed him to their practice squad before the season ended.
Houston Texans Era (2021–2023)
His time with the Houston Texans came in two separate stretches and produced his first real regular-season game experience. During his original stint, he was promoted from the practice squad on Christmas Day 2021 and played in three games, finishing with five tackles. He signed a reserve/future deal in January 2022, was placed on injured reserve in October, and was waived in December after being activated in November.
He returned to the Texans’ practice squad on September 27, 2023, providing veteran depth along the interior defensive line, but he was released on October 24 of that same year. Across both stints in Houston, Dwumfour showed he could step in on short notice, but he could not lock down a permanent role.
Tennessee Titans Era (2023)
Dwumfour signed with the Tennessee Titans on August 16, 2023, hoping to make the 53-man roster out of training camp. He was waived on August 29 but re-signed to the practice squad the same day to remain in the team’s development pipeline. His time in Tennessee ended on September 19, 2023, when he was released from the practice squad.
Chicago Bears Era (2023–2024)
On November 21, 2023, Dwumfour was signed to the Chicago Bears practice squad, giving him a fresh opportunity during the late stages of the regular season. He earned a reserve/future contract on January 8, 2024, indicating the organization saw enough potential to keep him in the building. That summer, however, he was waived on August 26, 2024, ending his Bears tenure.
Cleveland Browns Eras (2023, 2024)
Earlier in 2023, Dwumfour had signed a reserve/futures deal with the Cleveland Browns on February 7, giving him a chance to compete in training camp, but he was waived on August 10. He returned to the Browns organization later, joining their practice squad on December 6, 2024, for another short stint at the end of the regular season.
San Francisco 49ers Eras (2022, 2025)
His first 49ers run came in mid-December 2022, when he was added to the practice squad. Years later, on August 7, 2025, Dwumfour signed with the San Francisco 49ers in an attempt to make the roster out of camp, but he was waived on August 14, 2025. These brief windows reflect the league-wide trend of veteran journeymen defensive linemen moving between practice squads and 53-man rosters.
Denver Broncos Era (2025)
On August 20, 2025, Dwumfour signed with the Denver Broncos, continuing his preseason search for a roster spot. That opportunity was short-lived, as he was waived just five days later on August 25, 2025. Even with the quick release, his willingness to keep signing and competing has kept him in the league for several seasons.
St. Louis Battlehawks Era (2024–2025)
Looking for playing time outside the NFL, Dwumfour signed with the St. Louis Battlehawks of the United Football League on November 14, 2024. The spring league gave him a chance to log meaningful snaps at defensive tackle, complementing his ongoing pursuit of an NFL opportunity.
Driving Style and Strengths
Dwumfour is a compact, powerful defensive tackle whose game leans on leverage, quick hands, and the ability to disrupt gaps at the line of scrimmage. He has been used in rotation roles rather than as a full-time starter, and his practice-squad tenure across multiple teams suggests organizations value his motor and scheme flexibility. His experience in both 4-3 and odd-front looks has allowed him to fit into varied defensive game plans.
Notable Events and Milestones
His most memorable NFL moment came in his regular-season debut with the Houston Texans, when he recorded a half-sack against the Los Angeles Chargers after being elevated from the practice squad on Christmas Day 2021. Earning honorable mention All-Big Ten honors at Rutgers in 2020 stands as the most notable individual accolade of his career. Signing reserve/future contracts with multiple franchises also marks a milestone of perseverance for the undrafted defender.
Michael Dwumfour Career Wins
As an interior defensive lineman, Michael Dwumfour’s statistical impact is measured in pressures, sacks, and run-stops rather than team wins. His verified regular-season production includes a half-sack in his debut and five total tackles during the 2021 season with the Texans. He has notched a single interception in college, along with multiple sacks at both Michigan and DePaul Catholic, but no comprehensive NFL sack totals are publicly verified at this time.
Other Wins & Performances
Beyond the NFL, his honorable mention All-Big Ten selection at Rutgers in 2020 was one of the strongest individual performances of his career. In high school, he racked up 55 tackles and seven sacks as a senior at DePaul Catholic, demonstrating his pass-rushing ceiling before the college level. His signing with the St. Louis Battlehawks added another chapter to his professional resume in the UFL.
Michael Dwumfour Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Michael Dwumfour is of Ghanaian descent, a heritage he has carried with him from his upbringing in Scotch Plains, New Jersey. He attended Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School alongside Rashan Gary, a fellow future NFL defensive lineman, before both transferred to different Catholic-school programs. That shared journey with Gary has been one of the more discussed connections in his early football story.
Personal Life
Public details about Dwumfour’s personal life are limited, and he has not publicly shared verified information about a spouse, partner, or children. He grew up in New Jersey and has continued to base his football career around opportunities in the United States. He maintains an active presence on social media under the handle linked to his personal brand.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has been a continuation of the journeyman path for Michael Dwumfour, who has already moved between several rosters. He signed with the San Francisco 49ers on August 7, 2025, in hopes of locking down a roster spot out of training camp, but he was waived on August 14. Days later, on August 20, 2025, he signed with the Denver Broncos before being released five days later, a familiar pattern for veteran bottom-of-roster players.
With the NFL regular season already underway, his path back to a 53-man roster depends on either a practice-squad signing or an injury-driven promotion. His prior experience in multiple defensive schemes gives him a reasonable chance of finding another opportunity before the year ends. As always, his focus remains on staying ready for the next call.
Looking ahead, the rest of 2025 could include another practice-squad signing, a return to the UFL’s St. Louis Battlehawks, or a possible training-camp invite for 2026. His track record of being re-signed by teams he has previously worked with suggests he is well-regarded in league circles. For now, his 2025 storyline is one of persistence and patience on the margins of professional football.