A UNLV transfer nicknamed "the Windbreaker" whose battering-ram junior season at Michigan State keeps carrying him through a nomadic pro career.
Jacoby Windmon has never taken the easy road. He rebuilt his college career after transferring from UNLV to Michigan State, bounced back from suspension and injury to finish strong, and has spent his pro career shuttling between practice squads, active rosters and even a season in the UFL before landing back with the Steelers.
Path to the league
Windmon, born in Marrero, Louisiana, began his college career at UNLV as an early enrollee before transferring to Michigan State in 2022. He went undrafted in 2024 and signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers as a free agent on April 27, 2024.
Career highlights
Windmon's best college season came as a UNLV junior, when he posted 118 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks en route to second-team All-Mountain West honors. At Michigan State he became a starting defensive end despite a midseason suspension in 2022 and a season-ending pectoral injury in 2023.
2025 season recap
Windmon's path since going undrafted has run through both the Steelers and Carolina Panthers on practice squads and active rosters, plus a stint with the UFL's Columbus Aviators, before he re-signed with Pittsburgh. Across his NFL appearances he has totaled 22 tackles, 1.5 sacks and two pass deflections in a depth and special teams role.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Jacoby Windmon
- SteelersNow: Steelers Add Second Speedy Linebacker from 2024 Draft Class
Statistics
2025 season and career▶Defense · career
| Year | Team | GP | TOT | SOLO | SACK | INT | FF | FR | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | panthers | 8 | 22 | 13 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Linebacker
- Group
- defense
- College
- Michigan State
- Hometown
- New Orleans, LA, USA
- Age
- 24
- Status
- active
