Tanner Muse Bio
Tanner Muse (born September 6, 1996) is an American professional football linebacker. He played college football at Clemson and was selected by the Las Vegas Raiders in the third round of the 2020 NFL draft. A two-time College Football Playoff national champion, Muse has spent his professional career as a depth and special teams contributor, moving across multiple rosters while continuing to develop his role at the linebacker position.
Standing 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing approximately 228 pounds, Muse is known for his versatility, having lined up at safety and linebacker during his time at Clemson. Since entering the league in 2020, he has been a member of the Las Vegas Raiders, Seattle Seahawks, Pittsburgh Steelers, Los Angeles Chargers, and Jacksonville Jaguars, building a résumé defined by perseverance and special teams work.
Early Life and Background
Tanner Muse was born on September 6, 1996, in Belmont, North Carolina. He grew up in the same small community and attended South Point High School, where he developed into a multi-sport athlete. Muse played center field on the baseball team and lined up at running back, safety, and long snapper for the football team, demonstrating the kind of positional flexibility that would later define his career.
As a senior, Muse starred on both sides of the ball and was named first team All-State. On defense, he recorded 150 tackles with four interceptions, while on offense he rushed for 1,292 yards. That production helped establish him as a four-star recruit and one of the most sought-after high school players in the Carolinas. Muse was rated a four-star prospect coming out of South Point High School.
Heading into his senior year, Muse committed to play both college football and baseball at Clemson. He chose the Tigers over scholarship offers from Michigan, Louisville, and Northwestern, opting to remain closer to home while joining one of the most competitive programs in the country. His decision set the stage for a championship-level college career.
Path to American Football
After arriving at Clemson, Muse made an early commitment to football by giving up baseball in order to participate in spring practices. He redshirted his true-freshman season, preserving a year of eligibility while adjusting to the speed and complexity of the college game. That patience paid off the following year, when he appeared in all 15 of the Tigers’ games as a reserve safety and a special teams contributor, making 24 total tackles during Clemson’s run to the 2016 National Championship.
Muse earned a starting role as a redshirt sophomore and finished the season with 64 tackles, two tackles for loss, four passes broken up, and a 63-yard fumble return for a touchdown. As a redshirt junior, he took another step forward with 76 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, five pass breakups, two sacks, and two interceptions, earning third-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) recognition while helping Clemson capture the 2018 National Championship.
In his final collegiate season, Muse became one of the most productive defensive players in the ACC. He recorded 73 tackles, six tackles for loss, two sacks, five passes broken up, and a team-leading four interceptions, performances that earned him first-team All-ACC honors and third-team All-American recognition from the Associated Press. His two national championship rings and All-American nod made him one of the most decorated linebacker prospects entering the 2020 NFL draft.
Tanner Muse Career
Early Career (2020)
Tanner Muse was selected by the Las Vegas Raiders in the third round with the 100th overall pick of the 2020 NFL draft, becoming one of the team’s top defensive selections that year. He was expected to contribute on defense and special teams as a rookie, but his first season was disrupted almost immediately. Muse was placed on injured reserve on September 7, 2020, with a foot injury, and later underwent season-ending surgery on his toe on November 3, 2020.
His rookie campaign was further complicated when he was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the Raiders on December 3, 2020, before being moved back to injured reserve on December 22. Muse never took a regular-season snap for the Raiders and was waived by the team on September 6, 2021, ending his brief tenure in Las Vegas without appearing in a game.
Seattle Seahawks Era (2021–2022)
On September 8, 2021, Muse was signed to the practice squad of the Seattle Seahawks, where he worked to rebuild his professional profile. His progress was rewarded on December 15, 2021, when he was promoted to the active roster. The opportunity allowed him to log time on special teams and within the linebacker rotation as Seattle pushed toward the postseason.
Muse returned to Seattle in 2022 after being waived and re-signed to the practice squad on August 30 and August 31, respectively. He was signed to the active roster again on September 14, 2022, and continued to provide depth and special teams value for the Seahawks. Although his defensive role remained limited, his reliability and willingness to contribute on multiple units helped him earn a longer look in the league.
Pittsburgh Steelers and Los Angeles Chargers (2023)
On April 17, 2023, Muse signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, joining a linebacker group in transition. His stay in Pittsburgh was brief, however, as he was waived on August 28, 2023, during final roster cuts. Just two days later, on August 30, 2023, Muse was claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Chargers, giving him a fresh opportunity on the West Coast.
His time with the Chargers added another chapter to a journeyman stretch in his career, as he continued to compete for a spot on special teams and as a reserve linebacker. The 2023 season underscored both the challenges and the resilience that have come to define his early professional journey.
Jacksonville Jaguars Era (2024)
On July 30, 2024, Muse signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joining a young defense looking to add experienced depth at linebacker. He was released on August 27, 2024, as part of roster reductions, but re-signed to the practice squad the same day, showing the Jaguars’ interest in retaining him as a developmental piece. Muse continued to contribute in practice and on special teams throughout the early part of the season.
His time in Jacksonville was cut short when he was released on November 5, 2024, ending his tenure with the Jaguars. Despite the stop-start nature of his career, Muse’s continued presence on NFL rosters reflects the value teams place on his versatility, special teams ability, and professional approach.
Driving Style and Strengths
As a linebacker, Muse is recognized for his positional flexibility, having played safety, linebacker, and special teams throughout his career. His background as a high school running back gives him good football instincts and the ability to read plays in space. Coaches have valued his willingness to take on multiple roles, including long snapping in high school, which speaks to his overall athleticism and team-first mentality. His coverage skills, developed during his years as a safety at Clemson, remain a defining trait at the professional level.
Notable Events and Milestones
Muse’s most notable achievements came at the college level, where he was part of two College Football Playoff national championship teams at Clemson in 2016 and 2018. He earned third-team All-American honors and first-team All-ACC recognition in 2019, capping one of the most decorated senior seasons of any linebacker in the conference. At the professional level, his selection in the third round of the 2020 NFL draft stands as his most significant milestone, marking him as a top-100 pick despite a series of injury and roster setbacks that have tested his early career.
Tanner Muse Career Wins
Tanner Muse’s most prominent victories came at the collegiate level, where he helped lead Clemson to two College Football Playoff national championships in 2016 and 2018. While his professional statistics remain limited, his perseverance through multiple teams underscores a career built on resilience rather than headline numbers.
Other Wins & Performances
Muse earned third-team All-ACC honors in 2018 and was named first-team All-ACC in 2019, in addition to receiving third-team All-American recognition from the Associated Press. His 63-yard fumble return for a touchdown during his redshirt sophomore season stands out as one of the most memorable individual plays of his college career. At the high school level, his first-team All-State selection at South Point High School marked the beginning of his ascent toward a Division I scholarship.
Tanner Muse Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Tanner Muse comes from an athletic family in Belmont, North Carolina. His younger brother, Nick Muse, is a tight end who played college football at South Carolina and was drafted in the seventh round (227th overall) by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2022 NFL draft. The brothers’ shared path through college football and into the NFL highlights a family tradition of competitive sport.
Personal Life
Tanner Muse was born and raised in Belmont, North Carolina, and continues to maintain ties to the region. Outside of football, limited public information is available about his personal life, and he has generally kept his private affairs out of the spotlight. His professional focus and family connections remain central to his identity as a working NFL linebacker.
2025 Season Performance
As of the 2025 NFL offseason, Tanner Muse’s roster status remains fluid following his release from the Jacksonville Jaguars on November 5, 2024. The coming season is expected to be a pivotal one for Muse, who will look to secure a depth role with a team in need of linebacker and special teams help. His experience across multiple organizations gives him a strong case for a training camp invitation.
Muse’s skill set, including his coverage ability, special teams reliability, and positional flexibility, aligns well with the modern NFL’s emphasis on versatile defenders. Coaches have consistently praised his professional approach, which has helped him bounce back from injury and roster moves throughout his career. Whether as a rotational linebacker or a core special teams player, he offers value to teams seeking experienced depth.
Looking ahead to the 2025 season, the focus for Muse will be on staying healthy, earning a roster spot, and re-establishing himself on defense. His track record of perseverance and adaptability suggests he will continue to compete for a place in the league, with the goal of contributing to a team in need of his unique combination of experience and athleticism.