Mario Edwards Jr.

Mario Edwards Jr.'s Biography

Mario Lashun Edwards Jr., a renowned American professional footballer, was born on January 25, 1994. He hails from Denton, Texas, where his early life was shaped by his father’s career as a player for the Dallas Cowboys. Edwards Jr.’s sporting exploits have seen him traverse teams and cities across the country, carving out an inspiring career primarily as a defensive tackle.

Edwards Jr.’s High School years encompassed a dynamic array of sporting experiences that honed his athletic prowess. He attended Prosper High School as a freshman and sophomore, distinguishing himself as a three-sport athlete in football, basketball, and track. His proficiency in football won him a spot as a starting defensive end for the state champion Prosper Eagles. Perhaps indicative of his future professional career, he gave an impressive performance with 69 tackles and three sacks, in addition to catching 17 passes for 361 yards and three touchdowns. Later, Edwards Jr. moved to Denton’s Billy Ryan High School where his football career continued to blossom.

As a junior, he demonstrated exceptional defensive agility and strength, recording 127 tackles, 50 tackles for loss, and 18 sacks. His top-tier performance propelled Denton Ryan to a significant state runner-up finish against renowned rivals Austin Lake Travis. His final year in high school saw him amass 72 tackles and 11 sacks, a feat that won him the USA Today High School Defensive Player of the Year award in 2011. Several other recognitions, including All-American honors by esteemed publishers like Parade, Sports Illustrated, and ESPN, signaled Edwards Jr.’s promising future in football.

His prowess on the football field was equaled by his achievements in track and field, specifically as a shot putter. During his last two years at Denton, he recorded a laudable top-throw of 15.08 meters (49 ft, 3 in) at the 2012 Richardson Invitational, where he emerged as the tournament’s champion.

As his high school career came to a close, Edwards Jr. was recognized by Rivals.com as a five-star recruit and ranked as the No. 1 defensive tackle prospect in his class, further validating his future in professional football. Recruited by a host of schools, he ultimately chose to play for Florida State Seminoles in 2012.

Edwards Jr.’s college years at Florida State saw him shine in the defensive realm, positively impacting his team’s overall performance. Initially, he was expected to redshirt during his freshman year, but later was brought into the game due to an early-season injury to fellow teammate Brandon Jenkins. During his sophomore year in 2013, he recorded 34 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and an interception, and his performance continued to improve in his junior season with 44 tackles and three sacks. After his third year at FSU, Edwards Jr. declared his entry into the 2015 NFL draft.

Consequently, Edwards Jr. was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the second round of the 2015 NFL draft. Over the course of his professional career, he played for an array of teams including but not limited to the New York Giants, New Orleans Saints, Chicago Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Tennessee Titans. Each switch was met with new opportunities, challenges, and notable benchmarks in Edwards Jr.’s career trajectory.

Edwards’ life took an upward turn when he signed an impressive four-year, $6.01 million contract with the Raiders. However, injury setbacks led him to being placed on injured reserve in 2015 and 2016. His career steered into a new journey when he played for the New York Giants in 2018, and later signed a two-year contract with the New Orleans Saints in 2019.

An integral turn in Edwards Jr.’s professional life happened with the Chicago Bears, where he achieved a career-high of 4.0 sacks. Despite a suspension by the NFL for the first two games of the 2021 season due to a violation of the league’s performance-enhancing drugs policy, he still signed a three-year, $11.5 million contract extension with the Bears in 2021. His journey eventually led him to the Houston Texans in 2024, overcoming a suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.

Edwards Jr.’s journey is closely intertwined with his father, Mario Edwards Sr., who himself was a football player during his years at Florida State and the Dallas Cowboys. Despite the elder Edwards’ sporting commitments, the bond between them remained unbroken, and together they exemplify the promise and challenges of a life dedicated to football. From his humble beginnings in Denton, Texas, Mario Lashun Edwards Jr. has risen through the ranks to become a notable figure in American professional football.