Daron Payne facts for kids
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Payne with the Washington Commanders in 2022
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| No. 94 – Washington Commanders | |||||||||||||
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| Position: | Defensive tackle | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born: | May 27, 1997 Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 320 lb (145 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | Shades Valley (Irondale, Alabama) | ||||||||||||
| College: | Alabama (2015–2017) | ||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2018 / Round: 1 / Pick: 13 | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
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| Roster status: | Active | ||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of 2024 | |||||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||||
Daron Payne (/dəˈrɒn/ DƏ-ron; born May 27, 1997) is an American professional football player. He plays as a defensive tackle for the Washington Commanders in the National Football League (NFL). Before joining the NFL, he played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide. While at Alabama, he helped his team win national championships in 2015 and 2017. The Washington team chose Payne in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft.
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Daron Payne's Football Journey
Growing Up and High School
Daron Payne was born on May 27, 1997, in Birmingham, Alabama. He went to Shades Valley High School in Irondale, Alabama. There, he played football and became a top player. Many colleges wanted him to play for them. He decided to join the University of Alabama for college football.
College Days at Alabama
Payne started playing for Alabama as a freshman in 2015. He made 13 tackles and helped with half a sack. In 2016, as a sophomore, he improved his game. He recorded 36 tackles and 1.5 sacks. He also played well in the 2017 National Championship Game.
Winning Championships
In 2017, during his junior year, Payne was a star. He was named the best defensive player in two important postseason games. In the Sugar Bowl, he caught an intercepted ball. He then helped his team score a touchdown on offense.
In the National Championship Game against Georgia, he made six tackles. His strong play helped Alabama win their second national championship in three years. After this successful year, Payne decided to enter the 2018 NFL draft. During his college time, his name was often spelled "Da'Ron." He later asked for it to be spelled "Daron" for his professional career.
| Season | GP | Tackles | Interceptions | Fumbles | ||||||||||
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| Solo | Ast | Cmb | TfL | Sck | Int | Yds | Avg | TD | PD | FR | FF | TD | ||
| 2015 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2016 | 13 | 12 | 24 | 36 | 3.5 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2017 | 14 | 21 | 32 | 53 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 21 | 21 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 35 | 39 | 63 | 102 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 21 | 21 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Starting His NFL Career
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The Washington Redskins picked Daron Payne in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft. He was the 13th player chosen overall. In May 2018, Payne signed his first professional contract.
He quickly made an impact in his first season. In Week 3, he got his first career sack against the Green Bay Packers. By the end of his rookie year, he had 56 tackles and five sacks. He also forced and recovered a fumble. Because of his great performance, he was named to the 2018 PFWA All-Rookie Team.
Making a Big Impact
In the 2020 season, Payne continued to shine. He forced a fumble against the San Francisco 49ers. This play led to a touchdown for his team. He also got his first career interception against the Seattle Seahawks. That season, he played in many snaps and recorded 54 tackles, 3 sacks, and 3 forced fumbles. In the playoffs, he even sacked famous quarterback Tom Brady twice.
In April 2021, the team decided to keep Payne for another year. He continued to be a key player for the team. In a game against the Carolina Panthers, he and teammate James Smith-Williams sacked the quarterback. This play helped seal a win for Washington.
By Week 9 of the 2022 season, Payne had a new career high of 5.5 sacks. In a close game against the Atlanta Falcons, he deflected a pass. This led to an interception by his teammate, securing a 19–13 win. He finished the 2022 season with career bests. He had 64 tackles, 11.5 sacks, and five pass deflections. In January 2023, Payne was chosen for his first Pro Bowl, which is a big honor for NFL players.
The Commanders gave Payne a special tag to keep him on the team. Then, on March 13, 2023, he signed a big four-year contract extension.
