Joe Gaziano

Joe Gaziano's Biography

Joseph Matthew Gaziano, more commonly known as “Joe”, was born on September 27, 1996. Today, Gaziano is recognized as an accomplished American professional football player, well-renown for his position as a defensive end for the Jacksonville Jaguars in the National Football League (NFL). However, Gaziano’s success did not come overnight nor without hard work. His stems from Massachusetts, a football journey that start in Massachusetts, reach the world via college football at Northwestern, and rising in the professional NFL realm.

Born and raised in the large coastal town of Scituate in Massachusetts, Gaziano was a natural athlete from his youth. Honing his skills and strengthening his devotion to sports, Gaziano attended the Xaverian Brothers High School. Here, he exhibited his multifaceted abilities in both football and lacrosse. Gaziano’s exceptional prowess in football earned him the prestigious recognition of the Massachusetts Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior. The award was reflective of his impressive stats on the field, which included 21 tackles for loss and 16 sacks.

Upon graduating high school, Gaziano was drafted by the renowned Northwestern Wildcats. His tenure at Northwestern University stretched across five seasons, where he made his mark as a significant contributor to the Wildcats’ successes. Although it was deemed necessary for Gaziano to redshirt his true freshman year, his persistent hard work eventually paid off. By the end of his collegiate football career, Gaziano had fortified his status as one of Northwestern’s most valuable football players, boasting school records with 30 sacks, 10 forced fumbles, and an impressive second rank all-time with 48.5 tackles for loss. Amongst other notable feats included 153 total tackles, four recovered fumbles, 15 defended passes and a blocked kick in the 52 games he played.

In April 2020, Gaziano made his highly-anticipated jump into professional football. The Los Angeles Chargers signed him as an undrafted free agent. However, his initial start to his professional career was met with turbulence when he was waived during the final roster cuts at the end of the training camp on September 5, 2020. This did not deter Gaziano, who soon found his ground once again upon signing to the practice squad on September 10, 2020. By October 12, he had elevated to the active roster for the matches against the New Orleans Saints and Denver Broncos during weeks 5 and 16.

On January 1, 2021, he permanently signed to the active roster. Gaziano experienced a wave of roster changes when he was waived by the Chargers on August 31, 2021, only to be re-signed the next day, and activated for their week 2 game against the Cowboys. By October 1 of the same year, Gaziano had secured a spot on the active roster. However, another round of career changes awaited him in 2022. Once again, Gaziano was waived by the Chargers on August 30, 2022, re-signed to the practice squad and promoted to the active roster by November 19. Nevertheless, Gaziano’s series of ups and downs continued as he was placed on injured reserve later on December 21.

In 2023, Gaziano entered a new phase of his career, signing a one-year contract with the Atlanta Falcons on March 27. Later, on August 16, 2024, Gaziano switched things up again, agreeing to terms with the Jacksonville Jaguars—his current team. Briefly after joining the Jaguars, he was released on August 27, then re-signed to the practice squad. Through all the trials and triumphs, shifts and stirs, Gaziano stands as the embodiment of a true athlete, progressing through his career and establishing his name in the world of Professional American Football.