Ronald Darby

Ronald Darby's Biography

Born in 1994, Ronald Darby is a highly accomplished American football professional who specializes in the position of cornerback. Throughout his career, he has transcended many coveted teams such as the Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders, Denver Broncos, Baltimore Ravens, and Jacksonville Jaguars in the National Football League (NFL). His collegiate record is equally impressive, with his noteworthy performance for the Florida State Seminoles.

Darby indeed is a prolific athlete. Not just football, he made a name in the sprinting field during his high school years. With significant performances at the 2011 World Youth Championships in Athletics, he both increased his status as a formidable athlete and added to his accolades.

His education took place at Potomac High School, situated in Oxon Hill, Maryland. Darby demonstrated remarkable versatility during his high school years, playing as many as six different positions crossing offense, defense, and special teams. His defense work proved crucial for the Wolverines’ secondary, which had other skilled sportspersons such as Tavon Young in its team.

Darby was highly decorated as a high school football player. In 2011, ‘USA Today’ and ‘Sports Illustrated’ pronounced him as a High School All-American. He also exhibited his talent at the 2012 Under Armour All-American Game, showcasing his on-field prowess. His contribution to his team in both offensive and defensive roles was substantial, as evident from the 1,329 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns he achieved as a junior, along with three interceptions and eight pass breakups in defense.

As a prospect coveted by many, Darby was ranked as the No. 2 cornerback in his class by Rivals.com. Displaying his impressive speed with a 4.37-second 40-yard dash, Darby chose Florida State over several other prestigious options such as Notre Dame, Maryland, Clemson, and Auburn.

In addition to his adaptive capability in football, Darby also continued to excel in sprinting as he entered his collegiate years. He won a bronze medal in the 200 meters at the 2011 World Youth Championships in Athletics. He also ran a World Youth Best in the medley relay with Aldrich Bailey, Najee Glass, and Arman Hall. Darby’s personal records stand at 6.77 seconds in the 60 meters, 10.41 seconds in the 100 meters, and 21.05 seconds in the 200 meters.

At Florida State, Darby emerged as a dominant force in defense, leading his team to numerous victories. The Seminoles defense, boosted by Darby’s intervention, led the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in terms of points and yards allowed, ranking seventh in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). He also managed to leave significant marks in his personal space while attending the university, as he became a fraternity brother of Pi Kappa Alpha.

However, the journey to glory was not a smooth one for Darby. His freshman year saw Darby in a backup role to Xavier Rhodes and Nick Waisome. Despite this, he managed to put forth impressive figures, registering 18 tackles and breaking up seven passes. This feat earned him the ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, as well as being named Freshman All-American by the Football Writers Association of America. His excellent performance continued to reflect in the subsequent games.

Darby’s sophomore year presented him with opportunities to begin matches, including the prestigious 2013 BCS National Championship game, which the Seminoles went on to win. Winning titles and accolades became regular for Darby as the 2014 season saw him starting all 14 games and recording 43 tackles. Following his successful junior season, Darby declared for the 2015 NFL draft.

Entering the NFL, Darby was predicted to be selected in the second or third rounds by a majority of analysts and scouts. In a class misted with deeply skilled cornerbacks, Darby was considered the second-best from Florida State, following P.J. Williams. Impressive performances in the NFL Combine and Florida State’s Pro Day raised his draft stock further, irresistible for teams scouting for top-ranking cornerbacks.

Darby’s NFL journey started strongly. Drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the second round of the 2015 NFL draft, Darby outperformed incumbent players to earn a starting cornerback position. He registered his first career interception in his debut regular-season game against the Colts, leading to a 27-14 victory. He continued to perform well on the field, making his presence felt immensely in his rookie year.

Darby’s 2016 season was equally impressive. Despite missing a game due to injury, he returned stronger in subsequent games. However, a career-threatening concussion in a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars temporarily paused his skyward journey. Nevertheless, he bounced back stronger, ending the season with an imposing record of 69 combined tackles and 12 pass deflections in 14 games.

Darby’s talents attracted the attention of the Philadelphia Eagles, who acquired him in exchange for wide receiver Jordan Matthews and a third-round pick. Facing an unfortunate ankle dislocation in his first game for the Eagles, he missed several games and made a triumphant comeback in Week 11. His first season with the Eagles indeed was glorious as he helped the team secure a victory in Super Bowl LII.

The 2018 season was marred by another injury, resulting in Darby having to sit out half of the games. However, he successfully signed a one-year, $8.5 million contract with the Eagles in 2019. Despite suffering yet another injury, Darby managed to finish the season with notable playing stats.

Darby signed with Washington Football Team, then known as the Redskins, in April 2020. He used the opportunity well, starting each of the 16 games and making an essential contribution to the team’s success. He then moved on to the Denver Broncos, signing a three-year, $30 million contract. His stint with the Broncos was cut short due to a torn ACL, resulting in an eventual release from the team.

In August 2023, he found a new home with the Baltimore Ravens, signing with them as a replacement for their injured All-Pro cornerback Marlon Humphrey. After a brief stint with the Ravens, he joined his current team, the Jacksonville Jaguars, signing a two-year contract on March 13, 2024.