Tanner Muse

BIOGRAPHY

Tanner Muse was born on September 6, 1996, in the heart of football-loving America and subsequently forged a commendable career as a professional football linebacker. He is currently associated with the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL). His journey to the upper echelons of American football began with his high school years, developed during his college days, and solidified with the NFL Draft.

Coming of age in Belmont, North Carolina, Muse attended South Point High School, where he began to display signs of his emerging football talent. His high school years saw him juggle his passion for football with a knack for baseball. As an avid sportsman, he played center field for the baseball team while also securing key positions of running back, safety, and long snapper on the school’s football team. His athletic prowess culminated in his senior year as he was named first team All-State, having recorded 150 tackles with four interceptions defensively and rushing for an impressive 1,292 yards.

Although Muse had displayed a considerable talent for baseball, his heart lay on the football fields. He was rated as a four-star recruit, inspiring confidence within the ranks of Clemson University. After carefully weighing offers from Michigan, Louisville, and Northwestern, Muse committed to Clemson to play college football and baseball.

However, Muse redshirted his first year, forgoing the opportunity to play baseball to focus on Clemson’s spring practices. His dedication began to bear fruit when he played in all 15 of Clemson’s games the subsequent season – a reserve safety on special teams, making crucial 24 tackles and accompaning the Tigers to triumph as they won the 2016 National Championship.

In the subsequent seasons, Muse continued to escalate his performance, becoming a starter as a redshirt sophomore and recording impressive statistics including 64 tackles, two tackles for loss, four passes broken up, and a 63-yard fumble return for a touchdown. As a redshirt junior, he maintained this upward momentum, recording 76 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, five pass breakups, two sacks, and two interceptions. The season ended in celebration as the Tigers clinched the 2018 National Championship while Muse was named to the third-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).

He benefited from steady improvement and fine-tuning his technique, and Muse proved his worth as a redshirt senior. Registering 73 tackles, six tackles for loss, two sacks, five passes defensed, and a team-leading four interceptions, he claimed a spot on the first team All-ACC and secured third team All-American honors from the Associated Press.

Following a successful college career, Muse entered the professional arena after being selected by the Las Vegas Raiders in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft, securing the 100th overall pick. However, his much-anticipated debut season was derailed by a foot injury that led to his being placed on injured reserve on September 7, followed by a season-ending surgery on his toe in November of the same year. His tumultuous rookie season continued with a COVID-19 scare, resulting in his placement on the reserve/COVID-19 list by December 3, before he was moved back to injured reserve on December 22.

Despite the setback, Muse continued to chase his professional football dream. He was waived by the Raiders without having participated in the regular season, and subsequently signed to the practice squad of the Seattle Seahawks on September 8, 2021. His grit and determination led to his promotion to the Seahawks’ active roster on December 15.

However, this arrangement was short-lived as Muse was waived by the Seahawks and re-signed to the practice squad by August 30, 2022. A fortnight later, he found himself signed to the active roster again, suggesting a fluctuating trend in his career status. In April of 2023, Muse signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, only to be waived in August, a seemingly recurring theme in his professional journey.

Despite these changes, Muse continued to prove his worth on the football field, being claimed off the waivers by the Los Angeles Chargers on August 30, 2023. In 2024, he signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Despite an initial release, he was quickly re-signed to the practice squad, reflecting the high regard for his abilities.

Away from his own exploits, Muse shares his passion for football with his younger brother, Nick Muse, a successful tight end who played college football at South Carolina and was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2022 NFL Draft. The Muse brothers clearly share a wealth of talent, and Tanner Muse’s tale promises a bright future for him in professional football.