Darin Jordan facts for kids

Darin Godfrey Jordan, born on December 4, 1964, is a former American football player. He played as a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for six seasons. He was part of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Los Angeles Raiders, and San Francisco 49ers. The Steelers picked him in the 1988 NFL draft after he played college football at Northeastern University.

Early Life and College Football

Darin Jordan was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on December 4, 1964. He went to Stoughton High School in Stoughton, Massachusetts. There, he was great at both track and football. He was the captain of his football team. He was also chosen for the All Hockomock League in both his junior and senior years.

Before going to Northeastern University, Darin worked with his uncle. For three summers, he cleaned Venetian blinds. He said this job helped him feel connected to the school and its people.

Playing at Northeastern University

At Northeastern, Darin studied speech communication. He became one of the best defensive players in the history of Huskies football. He took a "redshirt" year in 1983. This meant he practiced with the team but did not play in games. This allowed him to play for four full seasons later.

By the fourth game of 1984, he was a starting player. In his first season, Darin made 24 tackles and had two quarterback sacks.

Darin Jordan's NFL Career

The Pittsburgh Steelers chose Darin Jordan in the fifth round of the 1988 NFL draft. He was the 121st player picked overall.

Time with the Steelers and Raiders

In his first year, 1988, Darin played in 15 games for the Steelers. He started in two of those games. He recovered four fumbles and made one interception, which he ran back for a 28-yard touchdown.

The Steelers released him before the 1989 season began. Soon after, the Los Angeles Raiders signed him. However, he was released after only three days because he did not know their plays well enough. He signed with the Raiders again in February 1990 but was released later that year. He joined the Raiders one more time in January 1991 for the playoffs. He played in two playoff games for them that year.

Playing for the San Francisco 49ers

On April 1, 1991, Darin signed with the San Francisco 49ers. He played in 44 regular season games for the 49ers from 1991 to 1993. He started five of those games. He also played in two playoff games during the 1992 season.

In 1994, the 49ers released him before the preseason ended. To stay in shape, he skated with former players from the San Jose Sharks. He had played pickup hockey until 10th grade. In January 1995, the 49ers signed Darin again. He joined as a special teams player and backup linebacker. He played his first game of the season in Super Bowl XXIX against the Chargers. He was part of their special teams. After the 1994 season, Darin became a free agent. He re-signed with the 49ers in May 1995 but was released in August 1995.

Life After Football

Darin Jordan was married to Andrea Hayes-Jordan. She is a special kind of surgeon who helps children with rare cancers. They have a son and a daughter together.

After he stopped playing football, Darin started working for the NFL. He inspects game balls and uniforms at NRG Stadium.