Jonathan Greenard
Current teamPhiladelphia Eagles
Number52
PositionLinebacker
Birth dateMay 25, 1997 (age 29)
Birth placeHiram, Georgia, U.S.
Height6 ft
Height in3
Weight lb263
High schoolHiram
College
Draftyear2020
Draftround3
Draftpick90
Pastteams
StatusActive
Highlights
StatleagueNFL
Statseason2025
Statlabel 1Total tackles
Statvalue 1217
Statlabel 2Sacks
Statvalue 238.0
Statlabel 3Forced fumbles
Statvalue 38
Statlabel 4Fumble recoveries
Statvalue 41
Statlabel 5Pass deflections
Statvalue 514
Statlabel 6Interceptions
Statvalue 61
Statlabel 7Defensive touchdowns
Statvalue 71
PfrG/GreeJo04

Jonathan Raymond Greenard (born May 25, 1997) is an American professional football linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Louisville Cardinals and the Florida Gators and was selected by the Houston Texans in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Greenard has also played for the Minnesota Vikings.

Early life

Greenard grew up in Hiram, Georgia and attended Hiram High School, where he played basketball and football.[1] As a senior, he was named the 5-A regional defensive player of the year.[2] Rated a three-star recruit, Greenard committed to play college football at Louisville over Kentucky.[3]

College career

Greenard was a member of the Louisville Cardinals, redshirting his true freshman season. He was a key reserve at linebacker as a redshirt freshman recording 22 tackles (seven for loss) and 2.5 sacks along with two passes broken up and an interception, which he returned 42 yards for a touchdown.[4][5] He made his first career start in the 2016 Citrus Bowl, making five tackles (1.5 for loss).[6] Greenard became a starter for the Cardinals in his redshirt sophomore season and led the team with 15.5 tackles and tied for the team lead with seven sacks.[7] Greenard dislocated his wrist in the first series of first game of his redshirt junior season against Alabama and was forced to miss the entire season.[8] He announced that he would be transferring to the University of Florida at the end of the season.[9]

While injured as a redshirt junior, Greenard took extra courses in order to graduate a semester early and was able to enroll at Florida in January 2019 as a graduate transfer.[10] He was named the Southeastern Conference co-Defensive Lineman of the Week after making six tackles with 1.5 sacks against Miami in his first game as a Gator.[11] Greenard finished the season with 52 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks with three forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, four passes defended and an interception, earning him first-team All-SEC honors.[12]

Professional career

Houston Texans

Greenard was drafted by the Houston Texans in the third round, 90th overall, of the 2020 NFL draft.[13] On May 14, 2020, Greenard signed a four-year contract with the Texans that included a nearly $900,000 signing bonus.[14] Greenard made his NFL debut on October 4, against the Minnesota Vikings.[15] In Week 11 against the New England Patriots, Greenard recorded his first career sack on Cam Newton during the 27–20 win.[16] Greenard finished his rookie season with 19 tackles, two tackles for loss, and one sack in 13 games played with one start.[17]

On October 22, 2022, Greenard was placed on injured reserve.[18] He was activated on December 17.[19]

Minnesota Vikings

On March 13, 2024, Greenard signed a four-year, $76 million contract with the Minnesota Vikings.[20] In Week 3 of the 2024 season, Greenard recorded three sacks and four tackles in a 34–7 win over the Houston Texans, earning NFC Defensive Player of the Week.[21]

Greenard made 12 appearances (10 starts) for the Vikings during the 2025 season, recording three pass deflections, one forced fumble, three sacks, and 38 combined tackles. On December 15, head coach Kevin O'Connell announced that Greenard would miss the remainder of the season due to a left shoulder injury that required surgery.[22] He had initially suffered the injury in Week 10 against the Baltimore Ravens, and aggravated the injury in Week 15 against the Dallas Cowboys.[23]

Philadelphia Eagles

On April 24, 2026, Greenard was traded along with a 2026 seventh-round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a 2026 third-round pick (Jakobe Thomas) and a 2027 third-round pick. Upon being acquired, Greenard signed a four-year, $100 million deal with $50 million guaranteed.[24]

NFL career statistics

Legend
BoldCareer high

Regular season

YearTeamGamesTacklesInterceptionsFumbles
GPGSCmbSoloAstSckSftyPDIntYdsAvgLngTDFFFRYdsTD
2020HOU131191091.001000.0000000
2021HOU12123323108.004000.0002000
2022HOU8416971.50113939.03910100
2023HOU151552361612.502000.0001000
2024MIN171759411812.003000.0004000
2025MIN12103819193.003000.0001000
Career77592171387938.001413939.03918100

Postseason

YearTeamGamesTacklesInterceptionsFumbles
GPGSCmbSoloAstSckSftyPDIntYdsAvgLngTDFFFRYdsTD
2023HOU215410.000000.0000000
2024MIN113210.000000.0000000
Career328620.000000.0000000

References

  1. ^ Wood, Kyle (October 31, 2019). "UF's Jonathan Greenard eager to beat Georgia after growing up Gators fan among hostile Bulldogs". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  2. ^ Payne, Weston (August 28, 2018). "Defense preview: Greenard is football's constant". The Louisville Cardinal. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  3. ^ Demling, Jody (December 10, 2014). "U of L commit has 'awesome' time with Cards". 247Sports.com. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  4. ^ Jones, Steve (August 7, 2017). "Who are U of L's options on the defensive line?". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  5. ^ "The Cardinal Countdown: 58 Days Until Kickoff". CardChronicle.com. July 6, 2017. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  6. ^ Knudson, Nick (July 28, 2019). "Florida football: Better Know a Gator: BUCK LB Jonathan Greenard". HailFloridaHail.com. FanSided. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  7. ^ Amunndson, Cassandra (January 10, 2019). "Florida lands talented linebacker Jon Greenard". WRUF.com. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  8. ^ Adelson, Andrea (September 3, 2018). "Louisville DE Jonathan Greenard (wrist) 'out a while'". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  9. ^ Crawford, Eric (December 25, 2018). "Jonathan Greenard announces he'll transfer from Louisville". Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  10. ^ "Orlando Opener Comes Full Circle for Florida Gators' Jonathan Greenard". Tampa Bay Times. August 22, 2019. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  11. ^ Casanova, Paul (September 5, 2019). "Florida Football: Jonathan Greenard gets well-deserved award". HailFloridaHail.com. FanSided. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  12. ^ Goldkamp, Thomas (February 7, 2020). "Eight Florida players to participate at the NFL Combine". 247Sports.com. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  13. ^ "Texans pick Florida's Jonathan Greenard for more pass rush". Houston Chronicle. April 24, 2020. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
  14. ^ Hellman, Sam (May 13, 2020). "Houston Texas reach deal with third-round pick Jonathan Greenard". 247Sports
  15. ^ Wood, Anthony (October 5, 2020). "The Bad, The Bad, And The Ugly: Texans Lose To Vikings". SI.com. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  16. ^ "New England Patriots at Houston Texans - November 22nd, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 28, 2020.
  17. ^ "Texans DE Jonathan Greenard among players still not practicing". Houston Chronicle. August 25, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  18. ^ "Houston Texans Transactions (10-22-2022)". HoustonTexans.com. October 22, 2022.
  19. ^ "Houston Texans Transactions (12-17-2022)". HoustonTexans.com. December 17, 2022.
  20. ^ "Vikings Agree to Terms with Jonathan Greenard, Blake Cashman & Andrew Van Ginkel". Vikings.com. March 13, 2024.
  21. ^ Gordon, Grant (September 25, 2024). "Bills quarterback Josh Allen, Commanders QB Jayden Daniels highlight Players of the Week". NFL.com
  22. ^ "Vikings' Jonathan Greenard (shoulder) to miss rest of season". espn.com. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
  23. ^ "Jonathan Greenard to undergo season-ending shoulder surgery". nbcsports.com. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
  24. ^ Spadaro, Dave. "Eagles acquire OLB Jonathan Greenard from Vikings". philadelphiaeagles.com. Philadelphia Eagles. Retrieved 24 April 2026.