Dante Fowler Jr. is a professional American football defensive end currently playing for the Washington Commanders in the NFL. Born on August 3, 1994, in St. Petersburg, Florida, he attended Lakewood High School, where he excelled in both football and track. He was named an honorable mention to the Sports Illustrated All-American football team following his senior season and participated in the 2012 Under Armour All-America Game.
Fowler played college football for the Florida Gators from 2012 to 2014. He earned second-team All-SEC honors in 2013 and first-team All-SEC honors in 2014. In the 2015 NFL Draft, he was selected third overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Unfortunately, he tore his ACL during his first training camp, causing him to miss his entire rookie season. He made his NFL debut in 2016 and played for the Jaguars until 2018, recording a total of 14 sacks over his tenure. Fowler’s career then took him to the Los Angeles Rams, Atlanta Falcons, and Dallas Cowboys, with whom he signed one-year contracts in 2022 and 2023.
In March 2024, Fowler signed a one-year contract with the Washington Commanders. He reunited with head coach Dan Quinn, who had previously served as his defensive coordinator with the Cowboys. Fowler had a standout season, recording over 10 sacks and establishing himself as a valuable asset to the Commanders’ defense.
As a free agent in the 2025 offseason, Fowler expressed dissatisfaction with the Commanders’ contract offer, hinting at a potential departure from the team. On social media, he shared cryptic messages suggesting he felt disrespected, possibly due to a low offer or lack of contract extension.
This development adds to the uncertainty surrounding his future with the Commanders, especially considering the team’s aim to retain key free agents like Fowler to maintain a competitive roster.