# Jamal Duff
**Jamal Duff** (Jamal Edwin Duff; born 1972 in [Columbus, Ohio](https://www.edgepedia.org/columbus-ohio)) is a former [American football](https://www.edgepedia.org/american-football) defensive end who played three seasons in the NFL for the [New York Giants](https://www.edgepedia.org/new-york-giants) and Washington Redskins, and later worked as an actor and stunt performer in films including *Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story*, *The Marine*, and *Transformers: Dark of the Moon*.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1972, Columbus, Ohio[1](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DuffJa20.htm) |
| Size | 6 ft 7 in, listed at 276 to 285 lb during his playing career[1](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DuffJa20.htm) • [2](https://www.profootballarchives.com/players/d/duff00200.html) |
| College | San Diego State, lettered 1991 to 1994; high school: Foothill (Santa Ana, California)[2](https://www.profootballarchives.com/players/d/duff00200.html) |
| Draft | Sixth round, 204th overall, by the New York Giants, 1995 NFL Draft[1](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DuffJa20.htm) |
| NFL career | 41 games, 10 starts, 9.0 sacks with the Giants (1995) and Redskins (1997, 1998)[2](https://www.profootballarchives.com/players/d/duff00200.html) |
| XFL | Los Angeles Xtreme, 2001: 10 games, 10 starts, 4.0 sacks, 18 tackles[2](https://www.profootballarchives.com/players/d/duff00200.html) |
| Acting | Me'Shell Jones in *Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story* (2004), Paul in *The Marine* (2006), stunts on *Transformers: Dark of the Moon* (2011)[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1410687/) |
## Early life and college
Duff attended Foothill High School in [Santa Ana, California](https://www.edgepedia.org/santa-ana-california), where he recorded 97 tackles as a senior, was a SuperPrep All-Far West selection, and lettered three times in basketball[4](https://a.espncdn.com/nfl/profiles/profile/3349.html) • [5](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-11-11-sp-2020-story.html). USC, Ohio State, Washington, and Arizona recruited him as a defensive end, but he signed with San Diego State because recruiters told him he could play linebacker[5](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-11-11-sp-2020-story.html).
His college career moved across the front seven. He won the starting middle linebacker job as a freshman in 1990, injured his thigh early in the season, and received a medical redshirt[5](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-11-11-sp-2020-story.html). Over the next four seasons he played reserve strongside linebacker (21 tackles and a sack in 1991), weakside defensive end (All-WAC second team in 1992), strongside defensive end (39 tackles and four sacks, All-WAC honorable mention in 1993), and left end as a senior in 1994, when he recorded 35 tackles with 7.5 sacks[5](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-11-11-sp-2020-story.html). He arrived at 228 pounds and added 25 pounds before his senior year, when coach Ken Delgado moved him onto the line[5](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-11-11-sp-2020-story.html). He majored in graphic design[4](https://a.espncdn.com/nfl/profiles/profile/3349.html).
## NFL career
**A sixth-round surprise with the Giants.** NFL scouts liked Duff's height and quickness but thought he needed to add weight; Giants defensive line coach Earl Leggett persuaded head coach [Dan Reeves](https://www.edgepedia.org/dan-reeves) to take him with the 204th pick, the 29th defensive lineman selected that year[5](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-11-11-sp-2020-story.html). As a 1995 rookie he worked his way into the rotation as a pass-rush specialist, usually facing the opposing team's best offensive tackle on passing downs, and finished the season with 15 games, 2 starts, and 4.0 sacks[5](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-11-11-sp-2020-story.html) • [1](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DuffJa20.htm). His best game that season was a nationally televised 24-15 victory over Washington, in which his first-quarter hit forced quarterback Gus Frerotte into an interception and he later batted a Frerotte pass to defensive lineman [Michael Strahan](https://www.edgepedia.org/michael-strahan), who returned it 62 yards to the Redskins' two-yard line[5](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-11-11-sp-2020-story.html).
His 1996 season ended before it began: he was placed on injured reserve on August 25, 1996, after foot surgery, and the Giants released him on August 19, 1997[2](https://www.profootballarchives.com/players/d/duff00200.html) • [6](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1997/10/11/redskins-duff-learns-art-of-line-play/7a3b84f3-cb5e-4546-a251-c8890039e5fd/?isMobile=1).
**Second chance in Washington.** The Redskins claimed Duff off waivers on August 20, 1997, nine days before their season opener, to patch a defensive line short on bodies while Sean Gilbert remained unsigned and several ends were injured[7](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1997/08/23/redskins-claim-duff-to-patch-defensive-line/4150955b-4b2b-42b7-be74-4f1d7f771ad4/). Defensive coordinator [Mike Nolan](https://www.edgepedia.org/mike-nolan) and line coach Earl Leggett, both former Giants assistants, recommended the move[6](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1997/10/11/redskins-duff-learns-art-of-line-play/7a3b84f3-cb5e-4546-a251-c8890039e5fd/?isMobile=1). Duff played 13 games with 5 starts at left defensive end in 1997 (2.0 sacks) and 13 games with 3 starts in 1998 (3.0 sacks)[1](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DuffJa20.htm). The Washington coaching staff regarded him as a work in progress; he had started against Jacksonville in 1997 after Kenard Lang, the team's first-round pick, needed ear surgery[6](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1997/10/11/redskins-duff-learns-art-of-line-play/7a3b84f3-cb5e-4546-a251-c8890039e5fd/?isMobile=1).
**Later stops.** Duff signed with the [Chicago Bears](https://www.edgepedia.org/chicago-bears) in March 1999 and was released that September; he signed with the [Oakland Raiders](https://www.edgepedia.org/oakland-raiders) in April 2000 and was released in August[2](https://www.profootballarchives.com/players/d/duff00200.html). In 2001 he played in the XFL for Los Angeles, starting all 10 games and recording 4.0 sacks and 18 tackles[2](https://www.profootballarchives.com/players/d/duff00200.html). His NFL totals stand at 41 games, 10 starts, 9.0 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 5 passes defensed[1](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DuffJa20.htm) • [8](https://www.nfl.com/players/jamal-duff/stats/career).
## Family
Duff's older brother John Duff played tight end and defensive end for the Raiders and was taken by Jacksonville in the 1995 expansion draft; John had signed with Dallas as a free agent in 1989, spent two seasons in the World League, and joined the Raiders in 1993[5](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-11-11-sp-2020-story.html) • [4](https://a.espncdn.com/nfl/profiles/profile/3349.html). Jamal consulted his brother regularly during his own early career[5](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-11-11-sp-2020-story.html).
## Acting career
After football, Duff moved into acting and stunt work. He is credited as Me'Shell Jones in *Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story* (2004), as Paul in *The Marine* (2006), and performed stunts on *Transformers: Dark of the Moon* (2011)[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1410687/). He also had a small part in *The Marine*, the 2006 [John Cena](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-cena) film[9](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/jamal-duff.html).
## References
1. [Jamal Duff Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College, Pro-Football-Reference.com](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DuffJa20.htm)
2. [Jamal Duff Stats, Transactions, Draft, College, Pro Football Archives](https://www.profootballarchives.com/players/d/duff00200.html)
3. [Jamal Duff, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1410687/)
4. [Jamal Duff profile, statistics and more, ESPN](https://a.espncdn.com/nfl/profiles/profile/3349.html)
5. [Duff Turns Out to Be a Nice Surprise for Giants, Los Angeles Times, November 11, 1995](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-11-11-sp-2020-story.html)
6. [Redskins' Duff Learns Art of Line Play, The Washington Post, October 10, 1997](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1997/10/11/redskins-duff-learns-art-of-line-play/7a3b84f3-cb5e-4546-a251-c8890039e5fd/?isMobile=1)
7. [Redskins Claim Duff to Patch Defensive Line, The Washington Post, August 22, 1997](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1997/08/23/redskins-claim-duff-to-patch-defensive-line/4150955b-4b2b-42b7-be74-4f1d7f771ad4/)
8. [Jamal Duff Career Stats, NFL.com](https://www.nfl.com/players/jamal-duff/stats/career)
9. [Jamal Duff, Famous Birthdays](https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/jamal-duff.html)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Rugby and other football codes › American football players, coaches, and executives › Defensive ends › Retired and historical defensive ends*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license