Jordan Kunaszyk

Jordan Kunaszyk's Biography

Jordan Kunaszyk is an exceptional American professional football linebacker, currently playing for the prominent Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). Born on October 15, 1996, in Sacramento, California, Kunaszyk has honed his athletic prowess and strategic mindset into a career that has seen the highs of extraordinary tackles and interceptions to overcoming injury-induced lows.

Growing up in Roseville, a suburb near Sacramento, Kunaszyk attended Roseville High School. His penchant for football was evident from an early age and he marked his entry into varsity football by amassing 77 tackles – nine for loss, three sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. His prowess on the field earned him second-team All-Sierra Foothill League honors. He proved his consistent commitment the following year, earning first-team all-league distinctions after recording 101 tackles, 2.0 sacks, an interception and a forced fumble.

Kunaszyk’s college career began at the American River College where he was forced to redshirt his true freshman season due to a wrist injury sustained in his first snap of the year. Despite this setback, he returned the following season and led the California junior college player statistics with 118 tackles – a testament to his grit. He also recorded three sacks, one forced fumble, and three pass breakups. Recognizing his talent, the college awarded him the CCCAA NorCal Division Defensive Player of the Year and named him both a Junior College Freshman All-American and first-team All-Big 8 Conference.

Following his tasty success at American River College, Kunaszyk committed to transfer to California for the final three seasons of his NCAA eligibility. He chose the institution over offers from Colorado, Iowa State, UNLV, and Fresno State. During his first season with the Bears, even as a reserve linebacker, he made 51 tackles which signaled the start of an impressive collegiate journey.

As a redshirt junior, he recorded 74 tackles, 3.5 sacks and two interceptions despite missing three games due to injury. In his final season, he compiled an extraordinary statistic of 148 tackles (11 for loss), four sacks and five forced fumbles. He also made three pass deflections and an interception, earning him the honor of being first-team All-Pac-12 Conference and second-team All-America by Sports Illustrated.

In 2019, Kunaszyk seized an opportunity with the Carolina Panthers. He joined the team as an undrafted free agent and made his NFL debut on September 12. During the debut, he played 15 snaps on special teams against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He participated in nine games in his first season, recording seven tackles.

However, he was waived on September 5, 2020, but landed on the practice squad of the Washington Football Team later that month. In November, he was elevated to the active roster for weeks 10 and 11 games. Following each game, he was reverted back to the practice squad, and eventually signed onto the active roster on the Thanksgiving day.

In August 2021, Kunaszyk parted ways with the team but was re-signed to the practice squad the very next day. He joined the active roster in October, where he stayed until January 2022 when he was placed on the COVID-19 reserve list and ruled out of the last game of the 2021 regular season.

May 16, 2022, saw Kunaszyk moving on from the Washington Football Team. A few months later in August, he signed with the Cleveland Browns. He played in 15 games with two starts and made a career-high 22 tackles. However, he was released in February 2023, only to be re-signed again in March. A shoulder injury led him to the injured reserve list in August, but by November 25th, he was activated again, showcasing his indomitable spirit.

Shifting teams again in August 2024, Kunaszyk signed with the Minnesota Vikings. Despite being placed on the injured reserve list soon after in August, his journey as an exceptional linebacker continues. His career is a testament to his love for the sport, proving time and again that setbacks are merely setups for comebacks.