Nate Landman Bio
Nathan Landman, known professionally as Nate Landman, is a Zimbabwean-American professional football linebacker for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing around 235 pounds, he has built a reputation as a reliable tackler and playmaker at the linebacker position. Landman played his college football for the Colorado Buffaloes before signing with the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2022. He later joined the Los Angeles Rams in 2025, where he quickly became a starting inside linebacker and earned league-wide recognition.
Early Life and Background
Nathan Landman was born on 19 November 1998, in Harare, Zimbabwe, where his father, Shaun, was playing rugby union. When his family later moved to the United States, they settled in Danville, California, a community in the East Bay region near San Francisco. He became a U.S. citizen during his second year of college, a milestone that allowed him to fully pursue his athletic and academic goals in his adopted country.
Landman attended Monte Vista High School in Danville, where he was a multi-sport athlete. He competed in baseball, rugby union, and football, playing both wide receiver and linebacker. Over his four varsity seasons on the football team, he amassed more than 1,000 receiving yards and recorded over 160 tackles, 15 sacks, and 4 interceptions. In his senior year, he led Monte Vista on a state playoff run and was named the East Bay Athletic League Most Valuable Player.
His high school performance drew statewide recognition, including selection to the All-NorCal High School Football Team by MaxPreps and the East Bay Defensive Player of the Year award from the San Jose Times. Recruiting services ranked him among the top linebacker prospects in California, with ESPN listing him as the fifth-best linebacker and 57th-best player in the state.
Path to American Football
Landman’s athletic background in rugby union and multi-sport training gave him a physical foundation that translated well to American football. His high school accolades attracted offers from several major Division I programs, including Arizona, Boise State, Colorado State, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon State, Washington State, and Wyoming. On 20 July 2016, he committed to play college football at the University of Colorado, joining the Colorado Buffaloes program.
At Colorado, Landman quickly earned playing time as a true freshman, contributing mostly on special teams and as a rotational defender. His college debut against Texas State featured a tackle for a loss, and later that year he posted six tackles and a forced fumble against Utah in a starting role. His development through the Buffaloes’ program positioned him for an NFL opportunity despite going undrafted in 2022.
Nate Landman Career
Early Career (2022)
Landman signed with the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent on 2 May 2022, beginning his professional career. He earned a spot on the Falcons’ initial 53-man roster out of training camp, a notable achievement for a rookie without draft status. Later that season, on 10 December 2022, he was released and re-signed to the practice squad as the team adjusted its roster.
As a rookie in 2022, Landman appeared in seven games, gaining valuable NFL experience in a reserve role. The season laid the groundwork for his emergence as a starting linebacker the following year, when he would take on a much larger role within the Falcons’ defense.
Atlanta Falcons Breakthrough (2023-2024)
Landman signed a reserve or future contract with the Falcons on 9 January 2023, securing his place on the roster for the next season. In 2023, he appeared in 16 games and made 14 starts, establishing himself as a regular contributor on defense. He finished the year with two sacks, 110 total tackles (66 solo), one interception, three passes defended, and three forced fumbles, earning recognition for his tackling consistency and playmaking instincts.
Heading into 2024, Landman continued as a key piece of the Falcons’ linebacker group. On 16 September 2024, he was placed on injured reserve, but he returned to action on 12 October 2024 after being activated to the 53-man roster. His time in Atlanta helped him grow into a reliable three-down linebacker, setting the stage for a major move in free agency.
Los Angeles Rams Era (2025-Present)
On 18 March 2025, Landman signed a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Rams, joining a defense looking to bolster its linebacker depth. He was named a starting inside linebacker to begin the season, a clear sign of the Rams’ confidence in his ability to contribute immediately. In Week 1 against the Houston Texans, he forced a fumble, recorded 10 tackles, and earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors.
His strong start justified the Rams’ investment, and on 22 November 2025, the team signed him to a three-year, $22.5 million contract extension. The deal reflected his emergence as a central figure in the Rams’ defensive scheme and rewarded his consistent production through the first half of the 2025 season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Landman is recognized for his physical tackling, instincts in run support, and ability to make plays in coverage. His rugby union background contributes to his balance and open-field tackling technique, while his college experience at Colorado sharpened his ability to read offensive formations. He pairs strong on-field production with disciplined preparation, traits that have made him a dependable starter at the NFL level.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Landman’s signature moments are his All-Pac-12 selections in 2019 and 2020, and a second-team All-Pac-12 nod in 2021, highlighting his college consistency. In the NFL, his 110-tackle 2023 season with the Falcons and his NFC Defensive Player of the Week award in Week 1 of 2025 with the Rams stand out as defining performances. His three-year extension with Los Angeles also marked a major financial and career milestone.
Nate Landman Career Wins
Nate Landman’s professional resume continues to grow as he builds on his early career with the Atlanta Falcons and his current role with the Los Angeles Rams. While individual game victories are team achievements, his personal accolades, including All-Pac-12 honors and NFC Defensive Player of the Week recognition, mark the most verifiable highlights of his career to date.
NFL Highlights
Landman’s most notable NFL season came in 2023, when he recorded 110 total tackles, two sacks, one interception, three passes defended, and three forced fumbles across 16 games and 14 starts for the Atlanta Falcons. His Week 1 performance for the Los Angeles Rams in 2025, which included a forced fumble, 10 tackles, and NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors, stands as his most decorated single-game showing in the league.
Other Wins and Performances
At the college level, Landman earned First-team All-Pac-12 honors in 2019 and 2020, followed by a Second-team All-Pac-12 selection in 2021, reflecting sustained excellence throughout his time at Colorado. He was also recognized in high school as the East Bay Athletic League Most Valuable Player and an All-NorCal selection, underscoring a long track record of competitive success.
Nate Landman Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Nate Landman grew up in a sports-minded household shaped by his father, Shaun Landman, who played rugby union in Zimbabwe. The family’s move from Harare to Danville, California, provided the foundation for Nate’s athletic development. He has three siblings named Ty, Brendan, and Ocean, with Brendan having played college football at Arizona State and Ocean having swum collegiately at Oregon State.
Personal Life
Nate Landman is married to Brynna DeLuzio, a former Colorado Buffaloes volleyball player. The couple’s relationship traces back to their shared time at the University of Colorado. Landman is often referred to on the Nateland podcast, hosted by comedians Nate Bargatze, Dusty Slay, Aaron Weber, and Brian Bates, where he is known affectionately as the Nateland Man.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has been a defining year for Landman, beginning with his signing of a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Rams in March. He opened the season as a starting inside linebacker and immediately delivered, forcing a fumble and recording 10 tackles against the Houston Texans in Week 1. That performance earned him NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors and set the tone for his role in the Rams’ defense.
Through the early months of the season, Landman continued to anchor the linebacker group, providing tackling consistency and pass-coverage support. His strong play led the Rams to reward him with a three-year, $22.5 million contract extension on 22 November 2025, signaling long-term commitment from the franchise. The deal positioned him as a centerpiece of the team’s defensive plans heading into the future.
With the contract extension in place, Landman’s outlook for the remainder of the 2025 season and beyond is bright, as he is expected to remain a starter and leader on the Rams’ defense. His trajectory from undrafted free agent to multi-year starter reflects both his individual work ethic and the trust he has earned from coaching staffs at every level.