Jordan Jenkins

Jordan Jenkins's Biography

Jordan Montae Jenkins, born on July 1, 1994, has established himself as trailblazer in American football, gracing the pitch mainly as a defensive end. Currently a free agent, he had his first foray into football on the collegiate level where he presented a solid showing at the University of Georgia, and then transitioned to the professional realm as a recruit for the New York Jets in the NFL draft of 2016.

The foundation for Jenkins’ career was set in Harris County High School, Hamilton, Georgia. His high school years saw him become a Rivals.com four-star recruit, and consequently, he was ranked among the premier defensive end recruits in his class. Post-high school, he resolutely committed himself to embracing the rigors and thrill of college football at the University of Georgia.

Jenkins immediately got off to a promising start as a freshman in 2012, making significant contributions in 14 games and earning six starting assignments as an outside linebacker. His commitment and skill were tangible as evidenced by his record of 31 tackles and five sacks. Jenkins continued to impress in his sophomore year wherein he started in 13 games and accomplished 45 tackles along with five sacks. Moreover, his junior year in 2014 saw him record 70 tackles and five sacks in all the 13 games that he started.

Coming into his 2015 senior year, after contemplating entering the NFL draft, Jenkins declared his interest in returning to Georgia. His decision was seen by many as the right move and one that ultimately helped solidify his spot as one of the top linebacker prospects in the 2016 NFL draft. This assertion is underscored by the fact that Jenkins was then invited to the NFL combine, where he unfortunately suffered a hamstring injury during drills which hindered him from performing the short shuttle and three-cone drill. On March 16, 2016, though, he decided to participate in Georgia’s pro day, during which he lowered his time in the 40-yard dash and increased his vertical to 38 inches and his reps on the bench press to 19. This performance helped cement his status as a top linebacker.

Jenkins caught the attention of the New York Jets and was ultimately drafted in the third round in the 2016 NFL draft. His hard work and potential did not go unnoticed, compelling the Jets to make him their second linebacker to be drafted that year. Notably, Jenkins was also taken in as the ninth linebacker selected in the draft, a testament to his ability.

Jenkins continued to illustrate his mettle in the professional space, landing a starting position as an outside linebacker at the New York Jets after outperforming the likes of Trevor Reilly, Lorenzo Mauldin, and Deion Barnes during training. Despite suffering a calf injury early in the season, he made his professional regular season debut in a game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Jenkins steadily improved with each match, resulting in an impressive record of 41 combined tackles, 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble and two passes defended in 14 games.

Jenkins encountered a major breakthrough in November 2017 when he was named the American Football Conference Defensive Player of the Week for his exceptional performance in Week 9. On the back of such a distinguished record, he was signed by the Jets on a lucrative one-year contract worth $3.75 million in March 2020. Unable to escape the specter of injury, Jenkins was placed on injured reserve later that year.

In 2021, Jenkins joined the Houston Texans on a two-year contract that could potentially reach up to $8 million. Despite a torn Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) injury, he was reactivated before the end of the year. Notably, this move to the Texans marked the end of his spell with the Jets, rendering him the longest-tenured player on the team.

Though he was released by the Houston Texans in August 2022, Jenkins soon found another foothold in the NFL as he signed with the Las Vegas Raiders. Unfortunately, he was again placed on injured reserve due to a torn Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury shortly after his signing. Undeterred by these setbacks, Jordan Jenkins continues to demonstrate resilience and dedication to his craft, firmly ensconced as a remarkable talent in American football.