DJ Reader

DJ Reader's Biography

Born on July 1, 1994, David Vernon “D.J.” Reader Jr. is an acclaimed American professional football athlete recognized for his stellar defensive skills as a nose tackle. Currently, he holds a valuable position in the Detroit Lions, a team part of the National Football League (NFL). His journey has seen him perform admirably at college, several NFL teams, battle injuries and personal loss but never lose sight of the game he loves.

Developing a passion for sports at a young age, Reader’s inborn talent and dedication helped him smoothly transition from an eager student-athlete to a celebrated professional. He played both football and baseball at the revered Clemson University, where he notably served as a pitcher for the Tigers’ baseball team during the 2013 season.

Our journey then takes us to the 2016 NFL draft when the Houston Texans, recognizing Reader’s potential, selected him in the fifth round (166th overall), following a trade that involved Keshawn Martin moving to the New England Patriots. Reader quickly made his presence felt, starting seven games in his rookie year, recording one sack and registering seven solo tackles and fifteen assisted tackles.

The year 2017 heralded a more profound role for Reader. He assumed the mantle of the starting nose tackle for the Texans following the retirement of Vince Wilfork. He started in the first 14 games of the season but was rendered inactive as he was put on the injured reserve list on December 19, 2017.

Eager to prove his mettle, Reader marked the 2018 season opener against the New England Patriots on September 9, 2018, with his career’s first multi-sack game where he recorded two sacks on Tom Brady. His heroics continued in Week 3 of the 2019 season against the Los Angeles Chargers, where he made a significant contribution to the 27-20 victory by recording 1.5 sacks on Philip Rivers.

Meanwhile, Reader’s prowess didn’t go unnoticed, and on April 2, 2020, the Cincinnati Bengals signed the him with a hefty four-year, $53 million contract. However, a quad injury in October the same year led to him being placed on injured reserve.

Bouncing back in 2021, Reader was named the starting nose tackle for the Bengals, delivering a commendable performance with 43 tackles and two sacks. In his second season with the Bengals, the team surged forward to reach Super Bowl LVI after winning three playoff games, marked by Reader’s notable sack in a 23-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

However, the following 2022 season was plagued with injury for Reader as he suffered a knee injury in Week 3 and was placed on injured reserve on September 29, 2022. Yet again, demonstrating resilience, Reader returned to play in each of the team’s remaining seven regular-season games, all of which were victories.

In the 2023 season, for the third consecutive year, Reader retained his position as the starting nose tackle. His performance was, however, hampered by a torn quadriceps tendon injury that occurred during a game with Minnesota Vikings in Week 15, ending his season. Despite this, he still managed 34 tackles, a sack, and a pass deflection for the season.

On March 14, 2024, Reader signed with the Detroit Lions, marking another milestone in his illustrious professional career. Off the field, Reader has had his share of personal hardships. His father, David Sr., sadly passed away from kidney failure on June 30, 2014. In a happier development, Reader welcomed his son, born in November 2019, further enriching his life beyond football.